The Ricketts family paid $845 million for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field in October 2009 Juan Marichal Jersey , nearly 10 years ago. (Man, hard to believe it’s already been a decade!)Friday, Robert Channick of the Tribune revealed some information that pins the current team value at $2.15 billion:Of course, that $2.15 billion is all on paper http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , not to be realized in actual cash money until and unless the Ricketts family sells the team, which they say they won’t. Team chairman Tom Ricketts has always stated he wants his family to own the Cubs for “generations.”Forbes magazine releases an annual list of team valuations, which are, of course http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , only an estimate. They haven’t published a 2019 list yet, but their 2018 list had the Cubs valued at about $2.9 billion. That ranked third behind the Yankees ($4 billion) and the Dodgers ($3 billion) and just ahead of the Giants and Red Sox (both at $2.8 billion). This current valuation doesn’t mean the Cubs would drop in the 2019 Forbes ranking, just that we now know how much the team’s value was for the transaction that put all the Cubs’ shares in the hands of the Ricketts family. Start your day with some of the best Astros links around"Astros NewsBrian McTaggart takes a crack at fan’s questions in his latest mailbag column (Astros.com)One he does not cover is whether the Rangers or the Astros have had it better in the last decade (Nolan Writin’)Some fast food employees had it good this Christmas as Alex Bregman handed out $100 tips (Yahoo Sports)Correa got in on the holiday giving by donating his personal piano to Texas Children’s Hospital (ABC 13)Gerrit Cole has joined that there fancy social media (ABC 13)Here’s a little bit of speculation on a possible backyard draft pick for the Astros (The Runner Sports)Around the LeagueFlorida kid and baseball prospect Brady Singer gives back to his parents by paying off their debt for Christmas (Orlando Sentinel)The offseason is getting a little long now, so let’s grade all the teams so far (Bleacher Report)Someone could improve their grade by picking up Zach Britton Dave Dravecky Jersey , one of the more unique free agent relievers out there (MLB.com)Inflation is playing a bigger role in baseball than some realize (Rum Bunter)Which has probably helped the teams to divide into their current state of haves and have-nots (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)Do you think the Indians will trade Corey Kluber? (MLB Trade Rumors)The 1973 World Series champions Mets remain baseball’s worst team to make the fall classic (Rising Apple)