MLB Free Agency: 5 Players Chicago Cubs Should Avoid

The Chicago Cubs are a team that needs to completely rebuild. The first great move was hiring Theo Epstein, who has a track record in building championship teams.

He worked his magic when he was on the Boston Red Sox and lifted their curse, and I believe he has the capability to do the same for the Cubs. 

The Cubs are looking to unload the virus that is Carlos Zambrano and are hoping there are takers for Alfonso Soriano. Once Theo can shed these contracts, he can work his magic on signing some players. 

Epstein must realize that it will almost be impossible to bring a championship to Chicago in just one year. Therefore, he will have to hold back on over paying for certain players this offseason. He must spend wisely and continue to develop and rely on young talent.

Here are the players that the Cubs should avoid signing this offseason.

Aramis Ramirez

Ramirez had first stated that he did not want to be apart of a rebuilding team and would likely opt out of his contract. Then, when the Cubs got Epstein, he was happy and had stated would want to come back. He ended up opting out because he is looking for his last big contract. 

Ramirez did have the best season out of any third baseman in the league last year, but he was only really motivated for that next contract. He hit 26 home runs, 93 RBIs and had a batting average of .306. These are great numbers, but Ramirez is 33 years old, and this is when a hitter’s swing tends to slow down.

Ramirez's numbers and motivation will go down next season as he ages and signs his new contract. He is the type of signing that most teams should be wary of once he signs his new contract, and that includes the Cubs.

Jonathan Papelbon

Papelbon is going to command a big contract in the free-agent market. He has the stuff that you are looking for in a closer and he is Theo Epstein’s guy, but I just don’t trust him. 

He is looking to get a contract at about $40 million over three years, and the price seems too steep. A player of Papelbon’s talent can be had for a lot cheaper. 

The Cubs current closer, Carlos Marmol, had his fair share of problems last year, but he does have the talent and skill level of Papelbon. With a little coaching and patience, I believe that Marmol can be the closer that the Cubs expected.

Theo should wait and develop the closer he currently has rather than giving a boat load of money to Papelbon or any other closer on the market.

Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran never lived up the contract that the Mets gave him. In my mind, he was a total bust. He was suppose to take this team to the next level, but never could. He was suppose to do the same in his lone year as a Giant, but that did not pan out as well. 

Epstein loves signing big bats, and Beltran is that kind of player, but he should stay away. Beltran shrinks in pressure situations and he is 34 years old. Beltran is the type of player that does not make a team better. He will be 35 years old next year and has been already declining the last few years.  

Someone will offer Beltran a big four-year contract, to which the final years of the contract will be a disappointment. Epstein should stay away and look elsewhere for a power hitter.

C.J. Wilson

C.J. Wilson has been to two World Series but has not led his team to the championship. He is currently 1-5 in two postseasons, and that is not how the ace of your staff should be playing when he is receiving big-time money.  

Wilson has only been a full-time starter for two years, even though he has been in the league for six seasons. He has some nice pitches that should translate into the postseason, but for some reason, he tightens up in the pressure games. 

The Texas Rangers’ hitting helped Wilson in a lot of situations the past two seasons. The Cubs currently do not have that kind of hitting to help a pitcher out, and Wilson would fail in Chicago. 

Pitching is always in demand and someone will pay too much for Wilson’s services. Wilson will ultimately end up being the second- or third-best pitcher on most pitching rotations.

Epstein must stay away from Wilson and the hype, and go after someone like Mark Buehrle, who is solid and will have a lower price tag.

Albert Pujols

The prize of this year's free-agent class is Albert Pujols. It has been said numerous times that he is on the Cubs radar. I don’t believe the Cubs should even make an attempt to go after him. Epstein and the Cubs should put their full attention and all their tactics onto Prince Fielder. 

Although Pujols is one of the most prolific batters of all time and has accomplished everything there is to do in baseball, he does not deserve the type of contract that he believes he should receive. A 10-year, $300 million contract is absurd for a player who will be 32 years old come next season. He will be playing into his 40's at $30 million a year, and you have to expect his numbers to go down by then.  

Fielder is much younger and had the same type of season this past year as Pujols had. Fielder would undoubtedly be the face of the Cubs franchise, and the fans will welcome him. The cost of Prince would also be significantly lower as it would fall in line of what Mark Teixeira received from the Yankees a few years back.  

Fielder will be tempted by a lot of teams in the American League, including the Rangers, Red Sox and Angels, so Epstein must make zero effort toward Pujols and place it all on Prince.

Fielder, not Pujols, would be the right choice for Epstein and the Cubs.