When Theo Epstein left Boston to become president of the Chicago Cubs after the 2011 season, he forecasted a rebuilding process that would include purging bad contracts of veterans, upgrading a woefully barren farm system and acquiring low-risk, high-reward players. The project has continued this offseason.
On Tuesday, ESPNDeportes.com reported that the Cubs signed right-handed reliever Jose Veras to a one-year, $4 million deal that includes a $5.5 million option for 2015 and incentives.
So far this offseason, the Cubs have acquired backup catcher George Kottaras and outfielder Justin Ruggiano via trades; signed outfielders Casper Wells and Darnell McDonald, and infielder Ryan Roberts, to minor league deals; and inked left-handed reliever Wesley Wright in addition to Veras.
Though he is signed to a long-term deal and is just 23, Starlin Castro could eventually be moved if Baez is deemed good enough defensively to man shortstop.
This offseason, trade rumors have been attached to second baseman Darwin Barney and right-handed starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
The Cubs outfield is lean with Ruggiano as the projected center fielder and Nate Schierholtz as the projected right fielder. That isn’t appealing for the long term, but the club does have promising 23-year-old left fielder Junior Lake (who hit .288 with six home runs in 236 at -bats last season) and highly regarded prospects Jorge Soler and Albert Almora.
The high ceiling Arodys Vizcaino, who missed last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery but is expected to content for a rotation spot in 2014, is still just 23.
Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson can lead the rotation if Epstein decided to unload Samardzija for a haul of prospects.
