Cubs spending to maximize wins, minimize luxury tax

When the Ricketts family completed their purchase of the Cubs franchise in October 2009, fans were excited to have an invested ownership group after years of corporate ownership by the Tribune Company, which ended with a few years under Sam Zell.

In a sport where great teams were owned by families such as Steinbrenner (Yankees), Henry (Red Sox), Ilitch (Tigers), and DeWitt (Cardinals), Cubs fans hoped to add Ricketts to that list.

Eight years later, the Ricketts family has firmly planted their flag in the ground as one of the most successful owners in baseball having overseen the rebuilding of Wrigley Field and the building of the Cubs’ first championship team in over a century, supported by…