Chicago Cubs: Theo Epstein's 9 Keys to 'Complete and Total Rebuild' Success

When Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts was searching for a man to take over total control of baseball operations, he envisioned someone who could formulate a long-term plan for success, not someone with a "win now" mentality.

Sure, 103 years is certainly a long time between championships, and no doubt that Ricketts wants a winner now; however, he also wants his Cubs to be in a position to contend year after year. He had to look no further than former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein.

Epstein has promised a new way of doing things in Chicago, and most recently, that new way of doing things appears to be in the way of a "complete and total rebuild," according to David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com.

Kaplan cites several sources around baseball, who believe that the Cubs just don't have the roster or the farm system to be competitive right now, and that a full-scale housecleaning will be necessary.

Indeed, Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer have already started the process, trading Sean Marshall to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Travis Wood, 24-year-old outfielder Dave Sappelt and 19-year-old infield prospect Ronald Torreyes.

What else will Epstein and Co. need to do to effect a complete rebuild? Let's take a look.

1. Find a Suitor for Outfielder Alfonso Soriano

Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano has three years and $54 million remaining on his albatross of a contract, and the Cubs will have a difficult time finding a suitor who will take on the majority of that deal.

VP of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer should do all they can to find a suitor and be willing to eat a significant portion of Soriano's contract. Soriano will definitely have value as a DH for American League teams as well as occasional outfield duty, however, no team will bite unless Cubs owner Tom Ricketts okays eating much of the money owed to Soriano.

Epstein and Hoyer can get value back, provided Ricketts approves money to go along with Soriano.

2. Find a Suitor for Pitcher Carlos Zambrano

The Cubs are in a similar position with starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano, with whom they owe $18.5 million for the 2012. While the money isn't nearly as much as what is owed to Soriano, Zambrano is still a thorn in the Cubs' side that must be removed.

Zambrano is only 30 years old, so clearly he is not "over the hill" in terms of age. A change of scenery may be the best thing for both Zambrano and the Cubs. Epstein and Hoyer would do themselves well to unload Zambrano, and a bit of money, and get some prospects in return.

Zambrano probably can't be dealt for current major leaguers, but with the Cubs farm system in disarray, getting prospects in return would go a long way toward a long-term rebuilding process.

3. Explore Options for Center Fielder Marlon Byrd

Center fielder Marlon Byrd is clearly one of the Cubs' assets that can fetch great value in return. An All-Star in 2010, Byrd was slowed last season when he was beaned by Boston Red Sox pitcher Alfredo Aceves in late June; however, Byrd has been a solid contributor for the Cubs over the last two seasons when healthy.

Byrd will make $6.5 million in the final season of his three-year deal, so cost won't be an issue for teams bidding for his services.

4. Explore Options for Closer Carlos Marmol

The Chicago Cubs may have a difficult time with this one, considering the wealth of closers currently on the free agent market, but if Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer can somehow swing a deal for Carlos Marmol, they would be pulling off a huge coup.

Marmol, owed $16.8 million over the next two seasons, has accumulated 72 saves over the last two years, and the Cubs have received calls regarding Marmol's availability in recent weeks.

Marmol did blow 10 saves last season; however, teams are definitely interested in his potential, and could very well draw a decent package in return.

5. Use Starter Matt Garza as a Rebuilding Tool

While starting pitcher Matt Garza got off to a slow start in his first year with the Chicago Cubs, he finished strong, posting a 6-3 record and 2.45 ERA in the second half of 2011, posting a career best 3.32 ERA for the season.

At just 28 years of age and still arbitration-eligible, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer should do all they can to find the best package of prospects in return for Garza, who would immediately upgrade the starting rotations of several teams.

6. Have the Guts to Be Patient

In the past, the Chicago Cubs have never been known to be a team who was willing to build a team from within and take steps to formulate a long-term plan of success.

Signings made by former GM Jim Hendry and the team's woeful finishes despite those signings are what ultimately cost him his job, and now, even though Cubs fans want to win now, mistakes of the past certainly cannot be repeated.

One unnamed NL executive told David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com that is exactly what the Cubs need right now.

"

“The Cubs have never had the guts to completely blow up their roster and build it the right way," the executive told Kaplan. They have to have a plan for sustained success instead of always trying to patchwork a roster for a surprising season. They should have done that when Andy MacPhail took over but for whatever reason they couldn’t or wouldn’t. By the time Jim Hendry became the GM they had some young starting pitching and a mandate from management in 2006-09 to try to buy their way to a championship. It never worked out so the rebuild is the right way to go.”

"

It's hard to be patient when it's already been 103 years since the last championship, but the previous regimes' ways of doing things didn't work. Patience here will be a big key.

7. In Epstein We Trust

When the Boston Red Sox hired Theo Epstein as their new general manager in 2002, he became the youngest GM in the history of baseball at the age of 28.

Epstein was mentored by Sox president Larry Lucchino, and brought along by Lucchino from San Diego. Over the course of the next nine seasons, Epstein set forth on a long-term plan to turn around the fortunes of the Red Sox and have them in contention each and every year.

Obviously, two World Series titles and seven playoff appearances later, his plan worked.

Chicago Cubs fans need to have patience, and trust that Epstein can work the same magic in Chicago. If any one GM was ready for the challenge of turning Cubs' fortunes around, Epstein was that man.

8. Turn the Farm System into One of the Best in MLB

The Chicago Cubs currently have only one minor league prospect who could impact the team positively in 2012: outfielder Brett Jackson.

At the start of the 2011 season, the Cubs' farm system was ranked 16th in baseball, according to Baseball America. Under Epstein's tenure in Boston, he worked diligently in replenishing the farm system, having them ranked in the top 10 in MLB in the latter part of the last decade.

While 16th may seem okay in the middle of the pack, most of the prospects in the Cubs' organization are lower-level. With some smart trades and solid draft picks over the next few years, the Cubs can put themselves in prime position for the future.

9. Stay Away from Overpriced Free Agents

In looking at past regimes in Chicago, including those of Andy MacPhail and Jim Hendry, the Cubs chose a "win now" approach and threw loads of cash at several free agents, and all they have to show for it are two playoff appearances in which they got swept in the first round over the last eight seasons.

While players like Prince Fielder are certainly tempting and could very well provide a huge upgrade, the "win now" mentality simply didn't work. Epstein, Hoyer and Co. need to stay the course, build a solid farm system, seek out trades that only benefit the team long-term, and absolutely stay away from overpriced free agents.

Doug Mead is a featured MLB columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.