Chicago Cubs Ready to Rebuild with Theo Epstein

The Chicago Cubs are now on the cusp of a major rebuild, and bringing in general manager Theo Epstein is going to put that plan on the fast track. As the Cubs and Boston Red Sox try to figure out a compensation package, it is allowing fans to start hypothesizing about what the franchise can do next.

According to ESPN, the Epstein deal with Chicago is just about done, with the only hitch being the names of the players heading back to Boston as compensation. Epstein is still under contract with Boston, meaning Chicago has to make it worthwhile for the organization to part ways with the now former GM. Once that deal gets done, Epstein can begin his offseason moves with a franchise longing for a championship.

One huge asset that Epstein will have in Chicago is that the Cubs will be down to just $72.8 million in salaries for the 2012 season. The contracts then plummet to just $28.8 million in 2013, showing just how much room he will have to bring in new players. There hasn't been a ceiling established for how much Epstein can spend, but it probably won't be as much as he had to work with in Boston.

Two players that the Cubs would love to get off the books are Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano, who both stand to make $19 million in 2012. Soriano has a deal through 2014, but Zambrano's comes to an end in the 2012 season. Aramis Ramirez has a team option for 2012 as well, but if the Cubs decline the option, the price will be just $2 million for the organization.

The immediate questions for Chicago will be whether to re-sign first baseman Carlos Pena and reliever Kerry Wood. Then arbitration deals or long-term contracts with Matt Garza and Geovany Soto will take place. Several other free agents and arbitration eligible players will probably receive smaller deals, and then Epstein can begin the real re-building process.

The Cubs also finished 2011 with the fifth worst record in baseball, meaning at least one high-value pick will come from the 2012 MLB Draft. Re-building through the draft isn't want fans are going to want to see though, and Epstein gets tasked with pulling off big trades and signing big name free agents that will make an immediate impact on the lineup. His success with the Cubs will also be measured against the two championships he helped bring to Boston, and the window to reconstruct the Cubs won't be as big.