Bleacher Bums Forum

Budgets are flexible. The team could sacrifice some of their operating profit if they wanted to keep the player.

Well, sure, up to a point, and we'd all like to see that. Although I doubt that even the most virulent critics of the Ricketts family would claim that the Cubs have any profits from this season. In any event, the Cubs have three key players whose contracts end after next season. At least two of those are going to be very demanding in their financial expectations. Not to mention the other salary increases that will be needed for current roster guys, the other needs the Cubs will have or the financial realities this financially damaged season and the uncertainty of what next season will look like.