Slow and Steady... But Is The Player Market Passing The Cubs By?

In the 40 hours or so since the conclusion of the World Series, four trades have sent nine Major Leaguers to new teams. Eight players filed for free agency, and two more were released by their 2009 organizations. Milton Bradley, however, remains a Cub. This is not yet a critical failing on the part of Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry. The key word, however, is "yet." Cubs fans have seen this movie before. In the winter of 2003-04, Hendry dragged his feet and over-thought the necessary dumping of disgraced slugger and clubhouse pariah Sammy Sosa, hemming and hawing into early February before unloading Sosa on the Baltimore Orioles, getting far below market value even for the controversial and aging right fielder, and derailing the Cubs' off-season by putting a number of other needs on hold until it was too late fill them. The 2005 Cubs went 79-83. Bradley, according to reports by everyone from FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal to the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan, has generated much higher levels of ... (link)