...: there is no excuse for the 2023 Cubs - who have at least top 5 resources in the game, banked salary from 2022, play in the terrible NL Central, and multiple serious needs that can be addressed via FA - to spend just ~$190M in 2023.
The White Sox spent nearly $210M in 2022. I cannot envision any valid reason for any Cub team to ever spend less than the Southsiders.
"...multiple serious needs that can be addressed via FA..."
Good post. No excuse to not be willing and not to try.
The hesitation I have, and have expressed before, is whether FA really both can and will address as many of the needs as we want?
1. What if guys we want don't want us? Bogaerts has deep roots by now in Boston. What if Hoyer offers him $270 but he'd rather stay in Boston for $220? Turner is in a fun city with a nice group of players, and their great team hasn't won a title yet with him on it, right? What if he'd rather stay and achieve the WS goal in LA, for $180, even if Hoyer offers $240?
In those hypothetical cases, should Hoyer just offer $280 and overpay by so very much that Bogaerts or Turner can't say no?
2. Pitchers? What if Rodon doesn't want to come here for whatever reason? Who knows? Or if the Cub scouts don't really see Senga as being that good?
There really aren't all THAT many ideal targets at the positions we need most. 2B or 3B, like nobody, right?