As we enter the next era for the Chicago Cubs, the importance of the farm system reaches a place not seen in six years. Jed Hoyer has now repeated himself, on multiple occasions, speaking to how the Cubs now have “one eye on the future.” Their actions indicate it might even be more like one and a half eyes. Hoyer, and Theo Epstein on his way out the door, both indicated their optimism about what the farm system will show when it is permitted to return to the field: the actualization of a substantially increased investment in player development.
Last year, in my introduction to the 2020 BN prospect rankings, I said the Cubs had a good first tier, nice depth in the third tier, and very little in-between. The season was, for me, about building a good second tier of prospects. Without a minor league season, I’m not sure we have the evidence necessary to make many