The Cubs were in the unique position of having a ton of money already on the books when it was time to rebuild. They were a top spending team through 2011.

Also, after the free agent parade of the last regime, especially the bad ones at the end, people were ready to try something else

I think it's pretty disingenuous to insist that, "ALL. THAT. MATTERS. ARE CHAMPIONSHIPS." with a patented slow-talking over-pronounced voice of authority, only to turn around and suggest that teams that have won less championships over the last ten seasons have somehow used a better model than the White Sox. Some might even say it makes the speaker appear ridiculous.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Well, Boston did use a better model than the White Sox, but Boston's model doesn't exist anymore.

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