Chicago Cubs payroll has been drastically cut from last season

The Chicago Cubs made it a point to trade and get off of Cody Bellinger $27.5 million which he was owed for this season when he opted into his deal. The Cubs ended up finding a buyer in the New York Yankees and only had to give them a total of $5 million for the buyouts.

Some more subtractions that contribute to that loss was the Cubs cutting ties with right-hander and longtime Cub Kyle Hendricks who signed with the Los Angeles Angels for $2.5 million. The Chicago Cubs also bought out Drew Smyly for $2.5 million with him set to make $10 million on a mutual option that the Cubs declined to pick up. 

Some others who will no longer be with the Cubs for this season are Patrick Wisdom ($2.725 million), Mike Tuchman ($1.95 million), and Isaac Paredes ($1.169 million) for a total of $5.844 million. All that adds up to according to Brooks Gate and Jon Heyman the Cubs payroll is down an estimated $60,074,166 million with all these subtractions.

Significant additions

The biggest addition the Chicago Cubs made this offseason that will prove to be the most expensive so far is adding Kyle Tucker who they acquired from the Houston Astros. Currently the Cubs and Tucker will head to arbitration to settle the dispute they have with the Cubs offering Tucker $15 million and Tucker and his camp wanting $17.5 million.

The Cubs added left-handed Matthew Boyd on a two-year deal worth $29 million with him set to make $10 million for this season. The Cubs also added Carson Kelly on a two-year $11.5 million deal and Colin Rea who they signed for one-year $5 million.

All these additions add up to a total of (I’m including Kyle Tucker winning his case and making $17.5 million) $63 million. With that being the case then the Chicago Cubs have made back all the money they have cut and added $3 million to boot.