Short Family Trees

I thought it would make for an interesting post to trace the lineage of some of the current Cubs players.  I'd follow their transactions going backwards and see how far it would lead me.

It didn't lead very far.

Most of the current roster is made up of players that were acquired via free agency or through the draft.  Very few came via trades.

Drafted by the Cubs (6) - Almora, Happ, Baez, Bryant, Schwarber, Contreras
Free Agents (12) - Lester, Farrell, Mazzoni, Duensing, Morrow, Cishek, Chatwood, Rosario, Heyward, Zobrist, Giminez, Darvish

The guys that game through trades were either prospects gained from when the Cubs were flipping veterans 4-5 years ago or were acquired by giving up prospects.  Either way leaves a short family tree.

Addison Russell - Jeff Samardzija - draft pick

Kyle Hendricks - Ryan Dempster - free agent

Mike Montgomery - Dan Vogelbach - draft pick

Jose Quintana - Eloy Jiminez (free agent) and Dylan Cease (draft pick)

Justin Wilson - Jeirmer Candelario - free agent

Pedro Strop - Steve Clevenger (draft pick) and Scott Feldman (free agent)

Anthony Rizzo - Andrew Cashner - draft pick

The only player with a family tree that goes any further back is Tommy LaStella....

Obtained in a trade with the Braves for Arodys Vizcaino, who came to the Cubs for

 

Reed Johnson (free agent) and Paul Maholm (free agent).

Only three branches on this tree, but it is the longest.