3 Worst Contracts on the Cubs' Payroll Right Now

The Chicago Cubs were looking to cut costs this offseason after having one of the highest payrolls in the MLB last year, which is why they pretty much spent nothing heading into 2020. A big reason for that ballooning payroll is some players carrying bad contracts at the moment.

While these all aren't bad in terms of the move when we're talking time and place, they've now officially become a burden.

3. Jon Lester

Chicago Cubs Jon Lester has a club option for the 2021 season / Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

The Chicago Cubs signed Jon Lester to a six-year $155 million contract prior to the 2015 season. While Lester did help the Cubs snap their 108-year World Series drought and had some great years in Chicago, the Cubs still will have to pay him $20 million in 2020. At 36, Lester is not the pitcher he once was, registering a 4.46 ERA and giving up a league-high 205 hits in 2019. Luckily for Chicago, they aren't stuck overpaying Lester for much longer.

2. Craig Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs last June. / Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

Craig Kimbrel was known as one of the best closers in baseball during his time with the Atlanta Braves. He was not as dominant with the Red Sox, but still a pitcher that batters feared in the box. Kimbrel waited until June to sign with Chicago when he agreed to a three-year, $43 million deal, and is currently the sixth-highest paid reliever in baseball. In his first year with the Cubs, Kimbrel had the worst season of his career. His 6.53 ERA was an atrocity and he did not seem like himself. The Cubs thought they were getting an elite arm in Kimbrel, but now they're stuck paying the 32-year-old reliever for two more years at a high price.

1. Jason Heyward

Jayson Heyward is under contract with the Cubs until the conclusion of the 2023 season. / Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Jason Heyward is a good baseball player, but the Cubs simply paid too much for him when they gave him $184 million. At no point in time did Heyward seem like he should be getting paid a contract inching close to the $200 million benchmark. His bat in the Cubs' lineup was almost non-existent in the beginning of his tenure with the club. While his bat has improved the past two seasons and he continues to provide tremendous defense in the outfield, he simply isn't worth being the team's highest-paid player.