Remember when the Chicago Cubs let World Series-winning manager Joe Maddon go, hired David Ross to oversee an inevitable rebuild, and then surprised everyone by looking like an actual NL Central contender?
The Northsiders are ready to light up Wrigleyville again, and they’re bringing Cody Bellinger back on a new contract. Ross is gone and there’s a new sheriff in town. The Cubs even dipped their toes in the international market and signed Japanese veteran Shu014dta Imanaga on a four-year, $53 million contract. It’s easy to forget that despite missing the playoffs, the Cubs won 83 games and had a Top 10 offense.