Lost in all the arbitration hoopla yesterday was a subtle indication that the Cubs may be taking a slightly different tack with spending than what we’ve seen in the past. Or maybe it’s more of a return to what we saw when Theo Epstein was running things. Epstein and Jed Hoyer had a reputation for never going to the arbitration table with eligible players, thus avoiding the risk of having to sit down and explain to said player why he’s not worth the money he asked for.
It’s an acrimonious process that can lead to bruised egos and eroding trust, something we saw with Corbin Burnes in Milwaukee a few years back.