(670 The Score) While the Cubs added Japanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki on an $85-million deal in March and were among MLB’s top spenders during their recent championship window, Jon Heyman of MLB Network and Audacy Sports believes chairman Tom Ricketts and the organization haven’t put enough money back into the team payroll considering they’re a big-market operation.
“I’m concerned for the Cubs – I don’t think they spend enough considering their revenue,” Heyman said on the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score on Tuesday morning. “I think they should spend more. We’re always on Oakland, which they’re being ridiculous with their (small) spending. And obviously Cincinnati had a big fire sale. But the Cubs’ revenues are rather large. I don’t think their spending is commensurate with it, with their revenues.
“I would be concerned generally if I’m a Cubs fan.”
The Cubs enter the 2022 regular season with a payroll that ranks in the middle of the sport. Their payroll is 15th among the 30 teams, according to Spotrac. It ranks 14th and sits at a projected $144 million in Fangraphs’ calculations.
The Cubs are in a transition phase now after moving core players like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez ahead of the trade deadline last July. They were sellers in an effort to restock their farm system then but still hope to compete for a division crown in 2022 while also understanding they aren’t on a championship-contending level yet.
In Heyman’s mind, they’re the third-best team in the NL Central entering the season.
“They’re a little behind St. Louis and Milwaukee,” Heyman said of the Cubs. “Those look like the two best teams in that division. I can see Chicago, I would say the Cubs are probably third-best. Obviously, there’s an extra team making the playoffs. But looking at the National League, it’s pretty tough. If you pick six teams, the six top teams, you probably have to leave out either San Diego, San Francisco or Philadelphia now as it stands. The National League is pretty stacked. I wouldn’t rule it out – (the Cubs) are not a Pittsburgh or Baltimore or something like that. They could easily .500 or better. But to me, they’re unlikely … I wouldn’t pick them for the playoffs.
But they’re good enough where you could say they have a shot at it.”
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