Expect the Cubs to Clean House Before 2021 Based on Latest Payroll Update

Just three seasons removed from a World Series championship, the Chicago Cubs are now in a very different kind of position. Keeping star players rostered for the long haul costs a ton of money, and it's all starting to cut into the organization's bottom line.

The Cubs have one of the most expensive payrolls in baseball, and are set to surpass the luxury tax for the second year in a row in 2020 -- and for a third year in 2021 if they don't reduce their salary burden in due time.

In 2021, the Cubs are projected to have the highest payroll in the MLB, and it is not hard to see why. The massive contracts they handed to pitcher Yu Darvish and outfielder Jason Heyward will still be on the roster, and even more harrowing is the looming arbitration process that winter.

After the 2020 season, Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, Kyle Schwarber, and Willson Contreras will all be headed to arbitration, which will create a massive bill for the Cubs. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will need to make significant moves to shed salary this season in order to afford retaining enough cornerstone stars going forward. Otherwise, the luxury tax will decimate them.

The effects of the impending financial squeeze has already reached the clubhouse, with players like Anthony Rizzo suggesting that teams still need to spend if they want to win, period.

Trade rumors continue to swirl around guys like Rizzo and Kris Bryant, and it's clear that the Cubs are going to need to make some notably moves in order to reduce salary before 2021. It's only a matter of time.