Who Are The Cubs’ Core Players?
With the Cubs in full rebuild mode the term ‘core-player’ is thrown around quite frequently.
It could be interpreted any number of ways, but I simply view it as meaning the players who are already being counted on as long-term solutions of the Cubs’ rebuild.
Anthony Rizzo, for example, is one such player. He’s young, affordable, super talented and has all the characteristics of a winning player. He’s unquestionably a core-player of the Cubs’ rebuild.
However, when I set out to make a list of all the Cubs I would deem core-worthy I quickly realized there are too many uncertainties, especially with the younger prospects who have yet to reach the major leagues.
Another problem arises with players such as Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija and Darwin Barney because their future standings with the club is uncertain, despite their talents being well qualified as core-players.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have committed long-term contracts to Starlin Castro (7-years, $60M) and Jorge Soler (9-years, $30M), but neither player appears an absolute lock.
Will Castro’s questionable mental game prevent him from being the long-term solution at shortstop? Will Soler reach the high potential he’s been praised for in the minor leagues?
We just don’t know…and the list of questions go on and on.
In the end I used good judgment to devise a list with three separate categories: “Core Players,” “Should-Be Core Players” and “Could-Be Core Players.”
Here’s the list. Did I miss anyone? Agree or disagree?
- CORE-PLAYERS: These players appear essential locks to be a part of the Cubs’ rebuild.
- SHOULD BE CORE-PLAYERS: These players appear in position to become core-players in the near future, others unofficially qualify as core-players but haven’t fully been committed to by the Cubs.
- COULD BE CORE-PLAYERS: Many of these players are the Cubs’ top prospects who have mostly shown only the potential to become core-players.
