For the past few years, we’ve heard about how much money the Chicago Cubs would have to spend once they had their own network. Once it was announced, the fans hoped they’d see the fruits of it this offseason with a signing of Bryce Harper. But money was going to be tight, as the Ricketts family bought the remaining shares from the Tribune Company, making them the full-owners of the Cubs.
So there was little free-agency money to be had, and most of it went into the bullpen, the rest to Daniel Descalso. Even with little money out this winter, the Cubs will surpass $200 million, a record for the storied franchise.