It has been building toward this point for a while. Chicago Cubs Theo Epstein pointed that out a couple of weeks ago when he said that they knew the financial limitations were coming as soon as the ink was dry on the 2017-2021 CBA after the 2016 World Series win.
So, here were are. We are facing the most consequential Cubs season since well, maybe forever. A confluence of circumstances has brought the Cubs to this point.
Chicago Cubs: Finances cramp team again
Not since before Theo Epstein have the Cubs faced a situation where the payroll strained against the moves that needed to be made.