Theo Epstein's Comments About Payroll Should Infuriate Cubs Fans

The Chicago Cubs haven't done much to re-ingratiate themselves to their fans this offseason. They've been stingy in free agency, and have shown an unwillingness to go big and do what it takes to keep their core of stars together for years to come.

And Theo Epstein just made things even worse.

Chicago's president of baseball operations said that, in regards to payroll, "Transparency is very important to us, but there are times we can't be fully transparent, obviously."

In other words, Theo and the rest of the front office on the North Side have absolutely no intentions of explaining themselves when it comes to cutting salary, sleeping through the free agent market, and openly shopping around Kris Bryant. If Cubs fans are going to be kept in the dark, they have every right to be upset.

The team's window isn't necessarily closed just yet. They still have at least one more year with all of their key producers in place to try and replicate their famous 2016 World Series success. But instead of stocking up on weapons for one final push in 2020, they've made miserly moves around the edges that only feign the intent of fielding a truly competitive team next year.

Epstein's comments are the latest evidence of just how out of touch the organization is with its fanbase at the moment. If they're intent on cutting costs, then at the very least, the fans deserve to know what the long-term plan is.

Keeping one of the sports world's most loyal fanbases in the dark while also making penny-pinching moves will not help matters. It will only breed more restlessness -- and eventually resentment.