On December 09, 1997 the Chicago Cubs signed shortstop Jeff Blauser to a free agent contract. Signed to a two year deal worth $8.4 million Blauser was supposed to be the answer to the Cubs woes at shortstop. With Ryne Sandberg out of the picture the Cubs needed a power bat in the middle of the infield. They certainly weren’t going to get that from second baseman Mickey Morandini. That’s why general manager Ed Lynch went after the Atlanta Braves all-star. It was a move that proved to be a day late and a dollar short.
The Jeff Blauser who donned the Cubbie blue was not the same Jeff Blauser who had touted Braves threads for the beginning of his career.