Jed Hoyer and Tom Ricketts very much remind me of the parable of the chicken and the egg. Are Hoyer’s hands tied because his boss won’t approve spending on top-tier free agents, or is he so risk-averse to the potential perils of free agency that he refuses to swim outside his lane?
The Cubs were seventh in payroll last season and regularly outspend the Brewers by about $100 million annually. The last time Chicago finished ahead of Milwaukee in a full season was in 2017. The issue is not about the availability of funds but the manner in which those dollars are spent.