Why Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs Will Build a Great Outfield

The Chicago Cubs are starting on a new road to success and it all starts in the outfield!

Led by Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, the new gurus of the front office, the Cubs are dismantling a team of ageing veterans.  That group under-performed in the last few years and the franchise needs a fresh start. Nowhere is that more apparent than the outfield, where Marlon Byrd and Kosuke Fukodome made nearly $40 million for mediocre production in 2011.

The Cubs are looking to create a young, dynamic offense.  To do that they will need strong run production from their future outfield. Epstein and Hoyer will begin facilitating the transition to that young, powerful outfield in 2012.  

Brett Jackson, the franchise's top overall prospect, will become the Cubs center fielder late in 2012.  He will take over from Byrd, who is likely to be traded in the summer (or move to a corner if Alfonso Soriano is traded).  Jackson is not a future superstar but he is a powerful hitter who should hit .280 with 20-30 home runs if he can keep his strikeout totals down.  Combined with 15-20 steal speed, he should develop into a strong center fielder.

The team also has two other in-house prospects, Matt Sczur and Reggie Golden, who could develop into outfield stars.  Both have exceptional raw potential but are still learning baseball.  Szcur has particularly compelling potential and could be a star in right field.

Last, the Cubs are still expected to sign Cuban sensation Jorge Soler when he officially becomes a free agent. Soler has the potential to be an outfield star with 30-plus homer power.  Together with Jackson and either Sczur or Golden, the Cubs would have the young, powerful and athletic outfield they need to contend in the future!