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When MLB.com unveiled its farm system rankings in August, a striking pattern emerged: the top three systems belonged to playoff contenders. The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed the No. 1 spot, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays at No. 2 and the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 3. Conventional wisdom might suggest that teams with elite farm systems would be far from playoff contention, but the opposite holds true. A robust farm system doesn't guarantee perpetual dominance, yet it supplies crucial depth that fosters sustained success.
The Chicago Cubs, in contrast, find themselves ranked a mere 28th overall. Several factors contributed to this low standing. While some prospects naturally graduated to the majors, the organization also executed numerous trades to bolster the big-league roster. The system is so thin that Cade Townsend, the team's 2026 first-round pick, is already rated as the No. 4 prospect. If the Cubs aspire to return to the World Series, they must rebuild their farm system to become genuine contenders.
Lessons from Theo Epstein's Success
Consider the track record of Theo Epstein. During his tenure leading the Boston Red Sox, Epstein constructed a farm system from scratch that yielded two World Series championships, in 2004 and 2007. Even after his departure, Boston continued to benefit from the talent pipeline he established. When Epstein took over the Cubs, he applied a similar philosophy, rebuilding the farm system through drafts and trades for top prospects. That young core, blended with seasoned veterans, ultimately delivered a World Series title to Chicago.
However, after that triumph, the Cubs failed to maintain momentum. Rather than exercising patience, the front office traded away minor-league talent to acquire immediate major-league help. To their credit, this strategy made sense and paid off in 2016, when they dealt top prospect Gleyber Torres to the New York Yankees for Aroldis Chapman, a move that helped secure the championship. But subsequent trades arguably pushed the team further from long-term contention.
Missed Opportunities and Poor Drafting
Had the Cubs remained patient, they might be in a stronger position today. Look at the 2014 MLB Draft: Chicago selected Kyle Schwarber, Justin Steele, and Dylan Cease. Impatience led to Cease being traded and Schwarber departing via free agency. Both are now among the game's best players. A core featuring those talents, a healthy Steele, and an MVP-caliber Pete Crow-Armstrong could have propelled the Cubs to another World Series. Hindsight, of course, is 20/20.
To be fair, President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer began rebuilding the farm system after trading away the core players, and it improved significantly. Led by Cade Horton and Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs seemed on the verge of something special. Yet that promise has not materialized, and now the minor-league system has been gutted once again. The Cubs have traded away top prospects such as Owen Cassie, Jackson Ferris, Moises Ballesteros, Jefferson Rojas, and others. Combined with a lack of successful drafting under Vice President of Scouting Dan Kantrovitz, this has cost the Cubs precious time. Ed Howard was a miss, Jordan Wicks has become a bust, and Matt Shaw projects as a role or utility player with limited star potential. After all, the Cubs signed Alex Bregman to replace Shaw at third base. Additionally, they traded away 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith for a one-year rental in Kyle Tucker.
The Path Forward: Patience and Development
If the Cubs want to improve, they must finally show patience with their farm system and adjust their draft strategy. In baseball, winning almost always begins with rebuilding the farm. The Cubs already have a core in the majors; to achieve sustained high-level success, they need to prioritize development. The teams competing in the 2026 playoffs underscore that a well-developed farm system is the better approach. In other words, the Cubs must be cautious about trading away players like Ethan Conrad, Josiah Hartshorn, Myles Bailey, and Cade Townsend. These individuals represent the potential future core. The focus should be on continuing to build up the farm system while making smart, cost-effective free-agent acquisitions. The Cubs faced a major setback this season, and only patience and development will guide them back to the promised land.