Even when you know something to be true based on overwhelming evidence, it can be a little jarring to hear the party in question admit to it. Anyone who’s been following the Cubs’ moves closely over the last two years or so knows they’ve been scaling back on their payroll expenditures, almost certainly in an effort to avoid another competitive balance tax overage and the ensuing financial losses that come along with it.
Their biggest moves in free agency over the past two winters have been Daniel Descalso, Brad Brach, Steven Souza Jr.