OAKLAND, Calif. _ Jon Lester, Addison Russell and Chris Coghlan need only look across the diamond this weekend to be reminded of Cubs President Theo Epstein's recent declaration that "every chance to win is sacred."
Those players treasure their chance to compete for a World Series with the Cubs after missing out on an opportunity with the Athletics or being traded from Oakland to the Cubs.
"There's that saying of, 'We'll get them next year,' " Lester said. "You never can predict the future. Look at last year. Nobody could have predicted where we ended up. You don't know how many shots you have."
Lester was part of a short-lived A's rotation, along with Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, that was eliminated in the 2014 American League wild-card game by the eventual league champion Royals.
Lester pointed to the fragility of a team's mission, as the Cubs have coped with the loss of slugger Kyle Schwarber. That eventually led to the June 10 reacquisition of Coghlan, who was dealt to the A's on Feb. 25 to make room for Dexter Fowler.
"When you go to a team and you're not winning, it's really tough," said Coghlan, who went spent 2 { months with the A's, who are in last place in the AL West. "It doesn't matter how good of a year you're having. It's really tough on older guys.
"You realize it's not about winning, and it becomes a political game. Younger players need to play, and rightfully so because the season is a wash and why not give them exposure? ... And when you come to a team that's about winning like the Chicago Cubs and at all costs, you realize everything gets played to 'Is this for the win or not?' And that's what it essentially was about when we first started playing (as kids) anyway. So it becomes more pure."
It's not uncommon for A's fans to wince on social media when Russell's achievements are documented. It didn't help the A's that they failed to win a playoff game in 2014 after trading Russell, their first pick in the 2012 draft, in a five-player trade involving Samardzija and Hammel.
Russell appreciates that the A's accelerated his process in the minors and is glad to see former minor-league teammates Max Muncy, Ryon Healy and Billy Burns have reached the majors. But the chance to win at an early age isn't lost on him.
"I never planned on being in this type of organization, but I'm very fortunate that I am and that I'm with a close-knit, young and diverse ballclub," Russell said.
Coghlan knows how lucky he is to be back with the Cubs. He has had his share of ups and down, starting his career with a mercurial Marlins organization. He produced for a 2014 Cubs team that lost 89 games, then lost some playing time toward the end of the 2015 season when the Cubs advanced to the NL Championship Series.
"I'm so grateful I'm here," Coghlan said. "And it makes it more special with the guys I'm doing it with, the relationships I've formed here and the history we're chasing. We're chasing history, not just a World Series.
"And it makes the challenge that much sweeter. That's more difficult to deal with, but it makes it so precious. I wouldn't want to be on any other team."
