CubsPS+ Episode 69: Nothing Good Comes from Tom Ricketts Talking Money

CubsPS+ Episode 69 — Nothing Good Comes from Tom Ricketts Talking Money Spring training games start Friday, Cody Bellinger is still unsigned, and Tom Ricketts opened his mouth about budgets again. This week I break down what Tom actually said, what it means, what he's gotten right as an owner, and what he keeps getting catastrophically wrong — then take stock of where this roster actually stands heading into camp. This episode: The Ricketts record, honestly assessed — from saving Wrigley to "biblical losses," the full arc of what this ownership has and hasn't delivered Tom's comments on the Diamondbacks, payroll, and "more revenue" — not wrong exactly, but never, ever helpful to say out loud A full tour of Cubs payroll from 2014 to now — fifth in 2016, fourth in 2018, third in 2019, and what the numbers actually tell us about who's cheap and who isn't The Scott Boras standoff explained — why Tom's hands-off ownership style and Boras's go-around-the-owner strategy are a perfect recipe for a stalemate Where I think the Bellinger deal actually stands — and why "no formal offer" is not the same as no negotiation Why baseball is trending younger and what that means for the mid-tier free agent market that keeps getting left behind Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and the case against nine-year deals for guys who give you five innings Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, and the guys who probably aren't signing anywhere soon What this team actually is right now — rotation optimism, bullpen depth, and why Morel at third changes everything My current read on the NL Central: Cubs and Cardinals as co-favorites, Reds right behind, and a division that the healthiest team probably wins