Speaking as a Cubs fan I'm not sure I really understand the move. Cubs get a player around the same value as Kris but while paying more for the same level of production. They also get stuck with the downside of the player option being that if Nolan continues to play at a high level he will just opt-out the same year Kris becomes a free agent and if his production dips due to leaving Coors he continues to get paid a top dollar contract his production doesn't match. I could partially understand the Darvish salary dump if the FO is super worried about getting under the luxury tax, but his contract looks like a bargain now compared to the contracts handed out to Cole and Stras especially if he can continue to build off of his strong 2nd half last year.