A new regime has brought new hope to the Chicago Cubs.
Of course, optimism is sanity for Cubs' fans after 103 years of watching other teams celebrating a World Series title. But Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are taking drastic steps to get this franchise away from the "lovable losers" we have seen.
The first order of business is shedding albatross contracts and older players, and infusing the farm system with the kind of high-upside talent that has been missing for years.
The system is in slightly better shape today than it was five years ago, but there is still a lot of work that has to be done in order to get this team back into contention, even in the weak National League Central.
Here are the top 5 players in the Cubs' system who hope to be a part of the future turnaround.
1. Javier Baez, 3B, 19
Baez, who was the ninth pick in the 2011 draft, is exactly the kind of player the Cubs should be going after every year. He is a potential star with his tools, particularly his ability to hit, and has the kind of upside that scouts drool over and fans can get excited about.
Strengths: Baez has as much bat speed as anyone in the minors, and that was before he stepped on the field. He gets his hands through the zone so quickly that he could develop into a 25-30 home run player. He played shortstop in high school, but will likely end up at third as his body fills out. He has the instincts and arm strength to be at least average defensively.
Weaknesses: He has a great swing, but he can be too aggressive at the plate. He will have to develop patience in the minors, or else he will end up like Josh Vitters, another Cubs farmhand who has a great swing but doesn't know how to take a walk. He has had some attitude issues in the past, which should go away as he matures mentally.
Report: Baez is going to be a power hitting third baseman regularly hitting for a high average, getting on base, and his defense at the hot corner should be average. He doesn't have great athleticism, but the skills he has are more than enough to satisfy the critics.
ETA: 2015
2. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, 22
It should not have been a surprise when the Cubs acquired Rizzo from the San Diego Padres for Andrew Cashner. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer drafted him when they were in Boston back in 2007. He had clearly fallen out of favor with the Padres, and the Cubs were happy to find their first baseman of the future.
Strengths: Rizzo is a very good all-around first baseman. He is one of the better defensive players at a position that doesn't demand great defense, and could win his share of gold gloves. He should hit for 25-30 home runs in Wrigley Field. His patient approach and eye at the plate should help his average and on-base percentage in the majors.
Weaknesses: Despite his good hitting tools, Rizzo has always had a platoon split, struggling against left-handed pitching. He likely won't be a .300 hitter due to his problems against lefties, but as long as he is adequate against them he should be fine.
Report: Rizzo is one of the best first basemen in the minors, and doesn't have a lot of development left, so it will be interesting to see how the Cubs handle him in spring training. His ceiling is 25-30 homers on average, with a solid average and good on-base percentage. His defense is top-notch at first base.
ETA: 2012
3. Brett Jackson, OF, 23
Jackson has some of the best tools in the system, which is why I have him ranked third overall. That said, I am not as high on him as some scouts, because he has had problems making consistent contact and strikeouts throughout his career.
Strengths: He has solid physical skills across the board, with the potential to hit for power and play good defense in center field. He has good speed and arm strength for the position, but he could move to a corner if need be.
Weaknesses: Despite solid overall performance in the minors, Jackson's inability to make consistent contact has caused his numbers to drop as he has moved up. He strikes out too often, which will likely be what holds him back.
Report: As long as Jackson's strikeout totals continue to go up, his stock will go down. He has great tools, but it is not hard to envision a scenario in which he winds up as a bench player or a AAAA player.
ETA: Mid-2012
4. Dillon Maples, RHP, 19
Maples was another high-upside high school player the Cubs drafted in 2011. He fell to the 14th round and signed at the deadline last August for $2.5 million. He would have gone much earlier, but he was one of those players who was supposed to be "unsignable."
Strengths: At just 19 years old, Maples already has two dominant pitches, a fastball and curveball. Most high schoolers just use a fastball with a show-me pitch to get by, so he is already ahead of the curve in that regard.
Weaknesses: Maples has a delivery that could be problematic in the future. He short arms his pitches, which puts extra strain and torque on his shoulder. His upside depends on him being able to clean up his mechanics in the minors.
Report: If you are just looking at raw stuff, it is easy to see why the Cubs gave Maples the signing bonus that they did. He has the potential to be a No. 2 or 3 starter in the future, but it all depends on how his arm holds up. Worst-case scenario he becomes a late-inning reliever.
ETA: 2015
5. Matt Szczur, OF, 22
Szczur had an interesting journey to baseball. He was a two-sport athlete in college when the Cubs drafted him. He wanted to keep playing football, so he signed a contract that allowed him to keep doing both in 2010. Then, he signed a new deal last January to become a baseball-only player.
Strengths: Szczur's best tool is his speed, which he uses to make the rest of his game look better than it is. He earns high marks for his character, and made headlines last year when he donated bone marrow to a 15-month-old child. (I doubt he was doing it for the publicity, though.)
Weaknesses: He is not as polished as most college players would be, due to his commitment to football. He also doesn't have another average or better tool aside from his legs. He is a great athlete, but has to show marked improvement in all aspects of the game this season.
Report: Szczur has been one of the most hyped prospects in the Cubs system, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of justification for it. He has upside, which is why he is on the list, but he is not going to be the impact player some expect him to be.
ETA: 2014
Jorge Posada Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis Kevin Russo
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