Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning you’ll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
There are, at least, two sides to every decision-maker in baseball: the optimistic buyer and the cold, calculating seller. The advice of both must be given the proper weight to guide the direction of each franchise. It's sort of like the shoulder angel and devil—except there's no telling whether buying or selling ultimately represents the angel that will lead each team to salvation.
It appears Cubs GM Jed Hoyer has reluctantly embraced the seller’s lifestyle in the wake of Chicago’s 11-game losing streak.