If we were to apply for a trademark on a defining characteristic of this historically successful Cubs team, it’d be their ability to develop top position-player draft picks. Javy Baez, Albert Almora Jr., Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and Ian Happ are all contributing to the big league roster in a big way, a far cry from the days of empty prospect promises.
On the flip side of that coin, however, is the organization’s lack of success in developing pitchers. That has led in turn to a willingness to deal from redundant position-player prospect depth in order to acquire top-flight pitching.