After being traded from Cubs, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez all homered in their first games with the new teams. (1:32).About an hour had passed before Friday's MLB trade deadline. Kyle Hendricks made his way to the outfield of Nationals Park's visitors side to play catch, just as he does every day. The team he had helped to lead to the 2016 World Series was not recognisable when he returned to Chicago Cubs clubhouse.It was emptied.Hendricks stated that "I didn’t know the entire scope until I got back into it" over the weekend. It's been very difficult. It is. It will take some time to process. Without them, it's very different here. It was an exhausting 24 hours. It's still being processed. It will take some time."Hendricks, along with the few remaining players from the team that ended the franchise’s 108-year drought for the title, are now starting over. Does this mean that the Cubs are back in rebuild mode? Do they have years of mediocrity ahead of them? Or is Jed Hoyer, president of baseball operations, able to come up with a better plan?Although his trade-deadline actions appear to be putting the former strategy into play, he claims it's the reverse: The dramatic July teardown by the Cubs will accelerate their return to glory.Understanding what happened to four of the team's most important players is key to understanding their future. It took years to make it happen."You don't let any crisis go to waste"Hoyer was left with no choice after a series of events, some caused by the Cubs and others due to the cost of doing it almost every year. This included:The Cubs' inability sign any of their core players, other than Hendricks, to long-term contracts is a major problem. This is a problem for both Hoyer and ex-executive Theo Epstein. They believed they made fair offers but were denied at every turn.Hoyer stated Monday morning on Chicago radio that "that will probably be my biggest source of frustration from the era."Many key players were in the same arbitration window due to the Cubs' rebuild. Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and other key players started to become expensive at the same moment, and all were on their way to free agency.The Cubs didn't produce the next generation of talent after their 2016 champs, particularly on the mound. This meant that the team's continued success was dependent upon the same group.While trying to maintain a winning streak, they traded away the best young talent. The lack of reinforcements in the lineup and rotation meant that the champion players never reached the same level.The company stopped spending. The only major offseason signing after Yu Darvish arrived in Chicago on a six year deal was Craig Kimbrel's $33 million three-year contract. After Yu Darvish arrived in Chicago on a six-year contract, the Cubs dropped him and the remaining $59 million from his $126 million contract. This was just as Darvish was at his peak. Ownership claimed they were experiencing "biblical loss" during the pandemic and decided to subtract from a 2020 playoff team rather than adding to it.The team prepared for the deadline by creating a roster of future free agents. Zach Davies was appointed Darvish's replacement. He is nearing the end of his six year tenure as team control. Joc Pederson, Trevor Williams, and Jake Arrieta signed one-year contracts. Hoyer had to make the same moves last week as the rest of the team or risk half of the roster leaving at the season's end without anything.Hoyer stated that he would not let a crisis pass him by after Friday's deadline. "There's no reason to stop at the halfway point."Hoyer knew that trading one player would mean committing to trading all core players. He needed to hear the correct return for Bryant and Baez, Anthony Rizzo, Craig Kimbrel.He said, "With each trade we targeted players that we really liked and wouldn't move out of that position." Was it difficult emotionally? Yes. Yes. "I do."What is the difference between this and the last rebuild?Hoyer and Epstein chose a direction for their franchise late in 2011. This led to Epstein becoming the World Series champion. Partly due to changes in the collective bargaining agreement the pair decided that a complete downsizing was the best option and set out to rebuild their team from scratch - even though it took a lot of bottoming out.Although Friday's moves may look like the start of a similar plan for Hoyer, he hasn't made any commitments other than to taking advantage of a large roster of free agents.Hoyer stated that he believes the team has sped up things a lot in the last few days. "We'll get down to work and plan how we can build the next great Cubs team. It doesn't matter if you finish in second or third place. It's about winning championships.David Ross, Cubs manager for the remainder of 2021 will oversee a Cubs team that looks quite different to the one that began the season in Chicago following a series of deadline trades. Matt Marton-USA TODAY SportsIt's still a shock to see so many talented players leave in such a short time span. This is especially in comparison to the St. Louis Cardinals' record at the deadline, which was similar to theirs. St. Louis managed to keep their promises of Nolan Arenado's acquisition, despite not meeting them. The Cardinals actually added to their edge by trading for J.A., a veteran starter. Jon Lester and Happ.John Mozeliak, President of Baseball Operations, stated that "Overall we still want to compete." "Hopefully, we can get on the run and make some noise, still in Central... We still believe that this team is good but we also believe that we will be better next year. That was critical to our decision-making."Mozeliak's strategy for the Cubs is to continue pushing forward, even though they have no chance of catching them this season.Mozeliak stated that although they took a different approach, they were still in a position where there were many expired contracts. "You have one team who's turned it page now to 2022, and there are a few of us still concerned about 2021."The question now is: When will the Cubs field a team capable of competing with the Brewers and Cardinals at the top of the division?Hoyer stated that the goal was to build the next great Cubs team, not the next OK Cubs team. "I don’t know what we’re going do yet. So no one knows what they’re going do yet."It is obvious to compare what we have done before."Hoyer insists that they aren't repeating 2012 Hoyer insists they are not repeating 2012.MLB Trade Deadline: From the big winners to those who did not do anything, this is how each team fared at a wild deadline for trades. PassanTo speed up the process, will they sign one the many free-agent shortstops? They might also consider transferring some of their newly acquired prospects to major league talent. Perhaps the longer approach is necessary again. The blueprint is still not complete.Hoyer stated that this could mean that the garden should be allowed to grow long-term because it is important for prospects to mature. Sometimes it might mean that you can accelerate it through free agency.Some pieces are already in place. Nick Madrigal, who was acquired by the White Sox in trading Craig Kimbrel to them, joins Nico Hoerner, 2018, first-round pick in infield cornerstones. Willson Contreras, the Cubs' catcher, said that he would like to stay on and Hendricks has been signed through 2024. In an effort to build the remainder of the rotation, the Cubs will be trying out young pitchers in the next two months.Hendricks stated, "We trust those around us." "Whatever their plan may be, clearly they have one. That's all we can do."It's not clear where we are headed, but I know it will all be for the best in the end."Hoyer was asked if there was a trade story that emerged from the chaotic weeks leading up to deadline. Instead, he paused and spun it forward.He replied, "I don’t want to be that side (subtracting)," "That's what I would most say. The teams I dealt with have earned my respect. They were open to trying. That's exactly what you should do.
