We all the know the Cubs are rebuilding for the future... for a future of long sustained success. At least... that's the plan, and they've hired a very smart executive team led by Theo Epstein to put it all together. It's a process of rebuilding the organization from top to bottom, both on the field (with players and coaches) and off the field (with baseball executives, scouts, staticians & analytics, videographers, facilities, etc).

But, many of you can't wait to rebuild (as if 100+ years wasn't long enough). You want to see the team use it's deep Chicago pockets to spend in free agency and act like a big market team. And, that's pretty much a knee-jerk reaction from an impatient fan base, just to put a quick contender on the field and put more butts in the seats.

Every time I read an argument on BCB to spend on free agents, the only names I hear are Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels (who is now off the market). Is that all you got? That's your master plan for throwing money around in free agency and putting a band aid contender on the field?

This team has major deficiencies in the starting rotation, third base, and in the outfield. And to top it off, they could use some help at catcher and in the bullpen as well. Help is on the way from our farm system, but it won't be here fast enough. Josh Vitters is having an excellent season at the plate, but is still a defensive liability at 3B. And Brett Jackson is striking out in 39% of his at-bats. Yet, I haven't heard any BCB member put together a plan of how to fill these holes in the roster to "contend" quickly, or add young enough free agent veterans to the roster who could be considered as valuable players on a future contender in 2015.

And, even if you wanted to throw millions of dollars around in free agency this year, you'd just be throwing that money away.

[UPDATED from original post] There really are no true perennial All-Stars or future HOFers among the position players on this list, unless you count Josh Hamilton, who has horrible daytime splits: that won't translate well in Wrigley day games. And the same can pretty much be said for the pitchers. I don't see anyone on this list who's on a path to the HOF. And if you're gonna throw $100 mil at a player in free agency, like some of our fan base wants to see, you better be getting someone who has a chance at a HOF career.

The Cubs will most certainly need to sign a pitcher or two to fill out their rotation, but the 2013 Free Agent market is absolutely terrible. It's so bad, that I could've just posted this list without writing anything, to justify the headline of this fanpost:

We don't need 1B, 2B, or SS. So I've crossed that off the list, and I've CAPPED the best options based on age and performance. Almost all of the All-Star caliber players with team options will not be considered, as the option is likely to be picked up and they will be unavailable. If I CAP a player with a team option, it's because I expect the team to buyout that option.

An updated list of 2013 Free Agents from MLBTR:

Updated 7-29-12

Catchers
Rod Barajas (37) - $3.5MM club option, no buyout
Henry Blanco (41) - $1.24MM mutual option
Chris Iannetta (30) - $5MM club option with a $250K buyout; player can void
Gerald Laird (33)
Russell Martin (30)
Jeff Mathis (30)
Brian McCann (29) - $12MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jose Molina (37) - $1.5MM club option with a $300K buyout
Mike Napoli (31)
Dioner Navarro (29)
Wil Nieves (35)
Miguel Olivo (34) - $3MM club option with a $750K buyout
Ronny Paulino (32)
A.J. Pierzynski (36)
Humberto Quintero (33)
David Ross (36)
Carlos Ruiz (34) - $5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Brian Schneider (36)
KELLY SHOPPACH (33)
Chris Snyder (32) - mutual option
Yorvit Torrealba (34)
Matt Treanor (37)

First basemen
Lance Berkman (36)
Russell Branyan (37)
Jason Giambi (42)
Brad Hawpe (34)
Eric Hinske (35)
Aubrey Huff (36) - $10MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Casey Kotchman (30)
Adam LaRoche (33) - $10MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Carlos Lee (37)
James Loney (29)
Xavier Nady (34)
Mike Napoli (31)
Lyle Overbay (36)
Carlos Pena (35)
Ty Wigginton (35) - $4MM club option with a $500K buyout

Second basemen
Jeff Baker (32)
Robinson Cano (30) - $15MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Mike Fontenot (33)
Orlando Hudson (35) - $8MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Maicer Izturis (32)
Kelly Johnson (31)
Adam Kennedy (37)
Jeff Keppinger (33)
Jose Lopez (29)
Aaron Miles (36)
Freddy Sanchez (35)
Ryan Theriot (33)

Shortstops
Jason Bartlett (33) - $5.5MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout; vests with 432 PAs in 2012
Yuniesky Betancourt (31)
Geoff Blum (39)
Ronny Cedeno (30)
Stephen Drew (30) - $10MM mutual option with a $1.35MM buyout
Alex Gonzalez (35) - vesting option
Cesar Izturis (33)
Jhonny Peralta (31) - $6MM club option with a $500K buyout
Marco Scutaro (37)
Miguel Tejada (39)
Ryan Theriot (33)
Omar Vizquel (46)
Jack Wilson (35)

Third basemen
Geoff Blum (39)
Miguel Cairo (39)
Eric Chavez (35)
Mark DeRosa (38)
Brandon Inge (36)
Maicer Izturis (32)
Jose Lopez (29)
Placido Polanco (37) - $5.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Mark Reynolds (29) - $11MM club option with a $500K buyout
Scott Rolen (38)
Mark Teahen (31)
Miguel Tejada (39)
Ty Wigginton (35) - $4MM club option with a $500K buyout
David Wright (30) - $16MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Kevin Youkilis (34) - $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout

Left fielders
Jay Gibbons (36)
Jonny Gomes (32)
Scott Hairston (33)
Josh Hamilton (32)
Willie Harris (35)
Brad Hawpe (34)
Eric Hinske (35)
Conor Jackson (31)
Reed Johnson (36)
Andruw Jones (36)
Austin Kearns (33)
Mark Kotsay (37)
Carlos Lee (37)
Fred Lewis (32)
Ryan Ludwick (34) - mutual option for 2013
Juan Pierre (35)
Juan Rivera (34) - $4MM club option for 2013 with a $500K buyout
Delmon Young (27)

Center fielders
Alfredo Amezaga (35)
Rick Ankiel (33)
MICHAEL BOURN (30)
MELKY CABRERA (28)
Mike Cameron (40)
Curtis Granderson (32) - $13MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Scott Hairston (33)
Angel Pagan (31)
Corey Patterson (33)
Cody Ross (32)
Grady Sizemore (30)
Ryan Spilborghs (33)
B.J. UPTON (28)
Shane Victorino (32)

Right fielders
Lance Berkman (36)
Matt Diaz (35)
Kosuke Fukudome (36) - $3.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Willie Harris (35)
Torii Hunter (37)
Andruw Jones (36)
Mark Kotsay (37)
Ryan Ludwick (34) - mutual option for 2013
Xavier Nady (34)
Juan Rivera (34) - $4MM club option for 2013 with a $500K buyout
Cody Ross (32)
Ryan Spilborghs (33)
Ichiro Suzuki (39)
NICK SWISHER (32)

Designated hitters
Bobby Abreu (39)
Johnny Damon (39)
Vladimir Guerrero (38)
Travis Hafner (36) - $13MM club option with a $2.75MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (41)
Hideki Matsui (39)
David Ortiz (38)
Luke Scott (35) - $6MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jim Thome (42)

Starting pitchers
Scott Baker (31) - $9.25MM club option
Erik Bedard (34)
Joe Blanton (32)
Fausto Carmona (29) - $9MM club option
Bartolo Colon (40)
Aaron Cook (34)
Kevin Correia (32)
Doug Davis (37)
Jorge De La Rosa (32) - $11MM player option with a $1MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (36)
R.A. Dickey (38) - $5MM club option with a $300K buyout
Zach Duke (30)
Scott Feldman (29) - $9.25MM club option with a $600K buyout
Jeff Francis (32)
Gavin Floyd (30) - $9.5MM club option
Freddy Garcia (37)
ZACK GREINKE (28)
Jeremy Guthrie (34)
Rich Harden (31)
DAN HAREN (32) - $15.5MM club option with a $3.5MM buyout
Livan Hernandez (38)
Tim Hudson (37) - $9MM club option with a $1MM buyout
EDWIN JACKSON (29)
Hiroki Kuroda (38)
Colby Lewis (33)
FRANCISCO LIRIANO (29)
Kyle Lohse (34)
Rodrigo Lopez (37)
Derek Lowe (40)
Paul Maholm (31) - $6.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
SHAUN MARCUM (31)
Jason Marquis (34)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (32)
BRANDON MCCARTHY (29)
Kevin Millwood (38)
Jamie Moyer (50)
Brett Myers (32) - $10MM vesting option with a $3MM buyout
Ramon Ortiz (40)
Roy Oswalt (35)
Carl Pavano (37)
JAKE PEAVY (31) - $22MM club option with a $4MM buyout
Brad Penny (35)
Joel Pineiro (34)
ANIBAL SANCHEZ (29)
Jonathan Sanchez (30)
ERVIN SANTANA (30) - $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Joe Saunders (32)
James Shields (31) - $9MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Chien-Ming Wang (33)
Kip Wells (36)
Jake Westbrook (35) - $8.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout if club declines
Randy Wolf (36) - $10MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Chris Young (34)
Carlos Zambrano (32)