The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything about the way the Cubs approached the trade deadline, from evaluations based on small sample sizes to the risks of the virus ending an already short season abruptly, to limits on adding payroll at a time of steep financial losses.
But that’s barely the beginning of how the business of baseball has and will change during the pandemic, with much wider ripples yet to be felt by the Cubs and other teams.
A significant example was seen in the week leading up to Monday’s deadline, when the Cubs informed seven pro scouts and advisors in that department that their contracts will not be renewed after this year.