Kansas City Royals have to be patient during rebuild
By John McCarty
After winning 76 games in 2010, the Astros went into a full-on rebuild and would lose a combined 416 games over the next four seasons, trading off pieces to add younger assets and using high draft picks to emerge from the ruble.
In 2015 the Astros stormed to 86 wins, through the AL Wild Card to the American League Division Series. The core, headlined by the likes of Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, George Springer and Lance McCullers were all acquired thanks to high draft picks.
Houston’s recent records
- 2010: 76-86
- 2011: 56-106
- 2012: 55-107
- 2013: 51-111
- 2014: 70-92
- 2015: 86-76
- 2016: 84-78
The Cubs time frame is very similar, approaching identical. After 75 wins in 2010, the Cubs would tear it all down including their front office, bringing in Theo Epstein, and would lose a combined 377 games between 2011 and 2014.
In 2015, they erupted for 97 wins and advanced to the National League Championship Series. Obviously, they would follow the next year with a championship with a team built in large part through acquisitions during the losing.
Acquisitions of guys like Jon Lester, Addison Russell, Anthony Rizzo and Jake Arrieta along with draft selections like Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Kyle Schwarber helped the Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years. Here’s what the Cubs’ records looked like dating back to 2010.
- 2010: 75-87
- 2011: 71-91
- 2012: 61-101
- 2013: 66-96
- 2014: 73-89
- 2015: 97-65
- 2016: 103-58