It certainly was a surprise when the Cubs acquired veteran free agents Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward and Dexter Fowler. Their acquisitions blocked vaunted prospects Jorge Soler and Javier Baez from regular at-bats. Usually when top rated prospects advance to the majors, clubs make sure that player has a clear spot. This is to ensure that player gets as much playing time as they need to continue their development and to avoid stunted growth. Let’s take a look at why the Cubs are seemingly doing the opposite.
Since the hiring of Joe Maddon as manager, much has been made of his relaxed approach to the long season.