No, Cubs were not over in 2018. Over in 2019.
I suppose they could still get under in 2020 if things go bad.
Thanks. So next year's draft pick won't be compromised. That's potentially helpful. In such a short season, things could be pretty unpredictable. I don't anticpate the Cubs taking 12th place or anything in the NL, but with such a short season, it wouldn't really be that hard. Maybe they'll end up with a top-10 pick next year?
I think it's going to be hard to get under "if things go bad".
Spotrac has a really detailed competitive balance tax total.
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/chicago-cubs/payroll/*It lists the Cubs at $8.6 million over the cap.
*Even if you give up and trade guys after only 20 games, it would take at least 3 big-ticket dumps to unload $8.6 in salary:
-40 games: Quintana: $2.6M, Kimbrel: $3.54, Chatwood: $3.13
I wonder how they'll calculate lux tax: 30 games is half of a 60-game season, but 18.5% of 162. If you trade Quintana after 30 games, would the Cubs be only liable for 50% of his full-season lux line, because 30 games is half of the actual season? Or if they trade him after 30 games, are they still liable for over 80% of his lux line?
Or if they got somebody to take Q right now, might they be fully relieved of his full $10.5 line, because he played the full season elsewhere? Or would the Cubs still be liable for the 102 unplayed games, and he'd still count as $6.6 against their lux line?