Chicago Tribune baseball columnist Phil Rogers fantasizes about a trade for Alex Rodriguez, “A dream shortstop.”

But if such a trade were to happen, it would be more like a nightmare. Rodriguez may be the best all-around player in the game today, but he is vastly overpaid and his interminable contract only calls for even higher salaries in the years to come.

If A-Rod were a basketball player who could pretty much win singlehandedly every game out, then it might be worth it. But, after all, he still only gets four or five at bats and a few chances in the field. To pour that much money ($179 million) into one player would handicap any kind of flexibility the Cubs might have down the road.

Yes, it’s quite possible the Cubs will find a way to screw up this golden opportunity to build a perennial contender, but at least they now have the option of not screwing it up. With A-Rod on board, all choice in the matter would be gone.