The Cubs entered Spring Training hopeful of securing long-term contracts with multiple pending free agents but weren’t able to come to terms with any of Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez or Kris Bryant. Fans in Chicago are holding out hope that some of the team’s 2016 core can be retained, but Rizzo gave little reason for optimism today when appearing on the Kap & Hood show on ESPN 1000 radio (Twitter link via Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago).
Rizzo, who already indicated that he was “at peace” with the lack of progress just prior to Opening Day, said that he feels the Cubs have had a “fair” opportunity to get a deal done both in 2021 and in years past, but nothing has come together.
“I don’t see any reason for us to listen,” the first baseman said in response to the Cubs’ recent efforts. Obviously, a sizable increase in years and/or dollars would surely change that thinking, but the team’s reported initial offer — five years and $70MM, per The Athletic — didn’t get the ball rolling.
The 32-year-old Rizzo has already inked one club-friendly deal in the past and delivered considerable surplus value to the Cubs over the life of that contract. For some context, Chicago’s reported offer of $70MM clocked in at just north of half the five-year, $130MM commitment the Cardinals made to Paul Goldschmidt for what will be the same block of his career (his age-32 through age-36 seasons).
Of course, Goldschmidt was coming off a brilliant run with the D-backs at that point and had slashed .290/.389/.533 in his final season prior to being traded to St. Louis; Rizzo’s .222/.342/.414 slash in last year’s shortened season was his least-productive showing since 2013. It’s understandable both that Rizzo would feel the offer to be well below market and that the Cubs may be a bit cautious with their long-term overture after a down year in 2020. As things stand, the disconnect between the two sides seems prohibitive, although president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said last week that he remains “confident” an accord will eventually be reached.
As for Baez, he’s not speaking in such definitive terms. The shortstop told reporters after yesterday’s game that his representatives and the Cubs continue to talk, though his personal focus is on the field at this point (links via Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times and Jordan Bastian of MLB.com).
Baez was, however, happy to discuss Francisco Lindor’s recent extension with the Mets and the manner in which it benefited next year’s class of shortstops. The 28-year-old called the Lindor contract “huge” for other shortstops in the game — next year’s class of free agents in particular. (Baez, Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Carlos Correa and Marcus Semien will all hit the market next winter.) “No one was going to get more than Lindor, and you’ve got to be honest about it,” Baez said. “[But] he opens doors for other people.”
Like Rizzo, Baez is attempting to put an uncharacteristically poor 2020 season in the rearview mirror. The former NL MVP runner-up batted just .203/.238/.360 through 235 plate appearances last year, but he’s not far removed from a .286/.321/.544 showing from 2018-19. Baez connected on his first homer of the season yesterday and has swiped a pair of bases already after stealing just three bags in 2020.
However, Hoyer made clear that a fast start to the year for any of their players won’t necessarily change the calculus in the team’s offers. Said Hoyer (via Dorsey): “These guys have long track records, and how a guy’s hitting in April — positively or negatively — is not going to impact our perception of that player’s value.”
Resign Javy and KB. Let Rizzo walk.
Please tell me, ‘why KB’? If any of the three, KB would be the player I would want to see, perform this year to prove he will be of value, going forward.
Rizzo is older. Has back problems. Limited to first base. Bryant has more versatility. I’d move KB to first, and when Christian Hernandez is ready, move Javy to third. Just my opinion. Appreciate the non hostile response.
If Rizzo is looking for Goldschmidt money, then yea you have to move on. But I don’t see the value in KB. He isn’t looking to sign for his real value and so you’re getting a great OBP player who has already lost a fair amount of athleticism that just doesn’t hit the ball with authority. I don’t see the value there.
Key to Cubs’ offense is KB. If he could return to close to his previous self, he is a keeper. I think u try to keep all three, though financially improbable.
The sad part is that it should be financially easy. This is a huge market team with plenty of new revenue coming in future years all while other contracts will be expiring
Resign Rizzo. Franchise player tbh that’s what I think of when I think Cubs besides a pile of crap. Let Bryant walk and test out what Baez thinks. I’m only saying that because I’m a Sox fan nothing personal.
Sign Javy to an extension, trade him to the Padres for Gore. would you?
If I were the Padres, then no. Too much that you are giving up for a guy who hit 2.03 this year. But, maybe at the deadline if Baez has a good start
Wow, I didn’t know he did so poorly. I agree, maybe at the deadline.
Yea I’m a Sox fan (we never should have traded Tatis) and I think that with Tatis an injury issue, you can trade Cronenworth, Campuzano and Gore for Baez and Contreras (Baez can also play 2nd)
What do you think?
As a 63-year-old lifelong Cub fan my advice is trade them ALL to the White Sox……as Sinclair Broadcasting and cheapskate owners have done what years of horrible Cub teams couldn’t…..made the Cubs my SECOND favorite Chicago team.
You’re not the only one. A lot of us were raised as Cub fans but became fed up with the Ricketsville mall of America megaplex and dealing with what has become an increasingly uninformed sheeplike fan base. Evidenced by how their TV play by play man Len Kasper jumped ship to the Sox radio booth.
Dumpster Divin Theo
You’re not the only one. A lot of us were raised as Cub fans but became fed up with the Ricketsville
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Y’all are a lot like some of my fellow RS fans. You seemed to be much happier as failures than as successes.
The Cubs have averaged 94 wins over the past 6 years, made the playoffs 5x, finished 1st 3x, and won their first WSC in 100+ years.
But it feels like you are yearning for the good olde days of finishing last 5 straight years.
How can you say the Cubs a cheap? one of the highest payroll for the last 3 to 4 years
Dude.
Hardly a single peep about Kris Bryant in the actual article, just the headline, man.
Guys, I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Kris Bryant won’t be back with the Cubs in 2022.
I doubt he even finishes this season in the Cubs uniform, man.
But I tell you what, bro. That club needs to take care of Anthony Rizzo, yo.
He’s going to the White Sox.
Bryant or Rizzo?
Offer Rizzo and Baez both $90mil over 5 years and leave it there. If they don’t want to take that, have them go test the market. Baez might get a slightly better offer, Rizzo will not.
The Cubs can hold onto Baez, Rizzo and Hendricks to keep people coming to the park to watch a mediocre team until the next crop of youngsters can take over and the bad contracts currently on the books can expire.
What you can’t do is let everyone walk, go into next season with a $80mil payroll while being a Top 5 valued franchise in the game..
But, when it’s all said and done, baseball will likely be on strike next year anyway.
You seriously believe that Baez would take $18M AAV on a 5 year deal?
I could see 5/100 for Rizzo but Baez will want at least 7/175 I’m sure
that’s all he’s worth.. he’s flashy, yes, but his strikeouts and plate approach are nothing near the likes of Seager or Lindor… He wouldn’t take that offer, but if I’m the Cubs, I’m not paying a guy superstar money that wouldn’t even hit in the #2-#5 hole on a really good team. He’s a .340 OBP guy at best.. look at the other superstars in this game, his OBP is pathetic compared to theirs.
Pathetic is kind of an overstatement. A career .340 OBP would put him in the top 40-50 of active players (along with Arenado). Its not elite but pathetic is a pretty hot take.
That was supposed to say .304 OBP, bc that’s what Baez has for his career.
Lmao delusional
I agree that I’m not spending top dollar on a guy I cannot build a line up around.
Baez is a fantastic defender but, as you mentioned, he is a six hole hitter (or a number one hitter similar to Soriano). The frustrating thing is that Baez is talented enough to be a top 5 player in baseball if he would just learn to take a walk and occasionally shorten his swing. His opposite field approach can be top notch when he isn’t being pull happy and trying to hit 500 foot home runs.
My concern with Baez and a long term contract is that he relies so much on athleticism and when he gets just a little older it’s going to back fire on him big time. Right now, you won’t see any player as slick as Javy but it isn’t sustainable. Neither Correa nor Seager will command what Javy will most likely get, but I’d take either one for less than Baez.
As far as Rizzo is concerned, Cubs are not wrong. He is going to get 85-100 million as a free agent given his age, health issues and having a Qualifying Offer attached to him. Cubs offered 70 with escalators which I’d be willing to bet would have placed him right into that range.
IMO, let them all go to free agency, attach QO on all three and let the smoke clear. Rizzo re-signs (not resigns for all those English majors on this board) Baez probably walks and Bryant, despite everything, stays because it’s familiar to him.
Also, Seager re-signs, Correa, Story and Baez all walk, all end up with around a 25 million AAV.
There’s no way Bryant stays due to familiarity. Too much bad blood from the service time manipulation and greener pastures elsewhere. Could even see him signing with the White Sox just to stick it to Ricketts. Thinking of the three, Baez might be the most likely to feel comfortable playing before an adoring but undemanding fan base, relishing the opportunity to retire as the face of the franchise, especially if Rizzo overplays his hand.
There isn’t “bad blood” between Bryant and the Cubs. Bryant has publicly stated that he wants to be a life long Cub and that has been before and after his grievance regarding service time.
Unlike FANS, players understand that baseball is a business and teams are going to do what is best for the business. Bryant actually was thanking the high heavens that the Cubs were awarded an extra year of service time given his last season.
Bryant has shown a knack for retreating to his comfort zones and he isn’t going to San Diego or either LA team so going back home, like many predicted, isn’t going to happen. So where does KB play? Assuming he rebounds back to his median average, only a large market can shell out the money. Washington maybe? Probably not the Braves who most likely took themselves out of play with Ozuna this year.
KB stays in Chicago.
I too feel that MLB will strike next year. I think they are both playing a very dangerous game if they do strike. You already have some fans that are mad about pulling the AS game out of Atlanta and they won’t be back, do you really want to risk pissing off the masses by going out on strike? It might take a long long time for fans to come back if this happens.
People turning their backs on baseball because they pulled out of Atlanta is ridiculous. Boo freakin’ hoo.
Yea lmao get over it. And honestly no real Braves fan is going to quit being a fan because of that, it sent a good clear message for social and racial justice. Glad the mlb actually made a bold move on something for once. Sorry but if you don’t understand the reasoning behind the move even if you don’t necessarily liked or wanted it, baseball is better off without you as a fan.
This. Handful of redneck yuppies who have their panties in a bunch over MLBs decision in a year they were planning to pay tribute to the Hammer? The yahoos who gleefully tomahawk chop but can’t sell out their stadium in the playoffs? No major loss there.
Bullshit, this cancel culture and boo-ho crap and getting involved in politics is pissing me off! When is see BLM spray painted on the outfield , that chaps my ass too because I watch sports I want to escape the world, not have it follow me into it!
There was more reason for fans to be upset with MLB and Player’s Union last year with the scheduling BS than pulling an AS Game out of Atlanta.
All good players, but I would only keep Rizzo.
Baez OBP is horrid and he strikes out too much. Qualities that don’t age well at all. Super over rated player.
Bryant has fallen apart. He is going to be one of those guys that has to ride a one year deal somewhere and hope to stay healthy. Plus the guy sounds like he has tuned out why would you spend money on that.
Even though, I like Rizzo he will be in his Age 32-33 to start his contract and he is not in Goldschmidts league. 5 years is a lot. Rizzo is very good, but Goldschmidt is a great player.
I mostly agree. These are good players, but not great players.
Baez had two big seasons, courtesy of high BABIPs and high HR/FB, but has been fairly mediocre otherwise. It’s almost impossible to believe that someone with a career 6/1 K/W can succeed.
Rizzo will be a solid 32 to start his next contract.
Bryant is pretty good, but hardly a beacon of good health.
Like Downsr30 said, the Cubs can’t go into next year with a $80M payroll, but I also wouldn’t go out of my way to extend any of those guys. Waiting for the market might work best for the Cubs.
Bryant is not coming back to the Cubs, if for no other reason he is bitter about the Service Time issue ( not to mention Boras). Rizzo or Baez? Maybe. I think one of the big issues in the next CBA will involve service time. Maybe the solution is a player can be a Free Agent 7 years after he first signs.
I like the idea of time after being signed but it could make signing a 16 year old from DR an issue as well as change the dynamic of signing HS players.
I do not think this will be as big an issue as people think. Step one is a Universal Draft. If they have it in the NBA and NHL why not MLB? Perhaps the best solution is the NHL System. Let me use the example of Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders. They drafted him in the first round, but decided he was not ready for the NHL, so he went back to his Junior Team in Canada, but the Islanders kept his rights. Next season he was ready for the NHL and us playing for the Islanders. You can do that with a kid who decides to go to college or the Dominican or Venezuelan who remains in their country. If however a player is professionally ready like Conor McDavid he can sign immediately.
“Free agency 7 years after he first signs,” seems pretty unlikely. I’m guessing that you mean initially signing with a team after being drafted. That would be a non-starter for owners. IF you meant free agency 7 years after signing their major league contract, that still seems like a non-starter for the MLBPA.
7 years after he signs. But if he does not, the team still keeps his rights for a period of time just like in the NHL
I do think it could change the dynamics for the up to 18 year olds. Could but not will. I do like the idea of keeping rights for a period of more than a week.
The only way it “Could” is if the player is an Arod/Griffey jr type prospect who will be ready for the Big Leagues in about two years and elects to sign at age 17 ( of course the team knows he can be a free agent earlier say at age 24 but that kind of talent makes it worth it. The more common case would be Rocker who goes to Vanderbilt and signs at age 19 and the team that originally drafted him knows they have him ( if they choose) until age 26.
Me personally, I think the better option is to allow restricted free agency and due away with QO all together. RFA would allow a player to opt into free agency a year sooner but with the restricted tag hanging over him (pretty similar to the QO).
I also think it’s time to adjust the service time manipulation. If a player is called up and plays more than 40% of a teams games then he should be credited with an entire year of service time.
Priority should be Baez as he is the youngest and plays a premium position. Rizzo on a high dollar – short term contract makes sense but he is the easiest to replace. KB needs to prove he is still great to earn big money.
Did KB not prove he was great from 15-17???
Yeah, and then Bryant fell off a cliff.
Bryant has fell off a cliff?
As recently as 2019 KB posted a 4.5 WAR and an OPS over .900. It’s early but his OPS now is over .900.
So you are saying a fluky 2020 season means Bryant fell off a cliff?
The Kris Bryant isn’t good anymore argument is ridiculous! Even injured KB put up an OPS+ of 121. It’s almost embarrassing how moronic these statements have become.
Reality check for the “Bryant hasn’t been good since” 2019 4.5 WAR 9th best in the NL and that is considered a down season for him. OPS plus 2019 133 10th best in the NL.
In 7 games, KB has a .3 WAR but he’s fell off a cliff… terrible terrible player.
Many guys were great 15-17. It’s 2021.
Who cares about 15-17, its no longer about rewarding past performance. Jed has done a sneaky good job so far of assembling a deeper roster of no names (small sample size, yes) so the Cubs would be much better off letting both Rizzo and Bryant walk if their expectations are to be rewarded for their loyalty. Know that sucks for Cub fans and for Rizzo who willingly did a Scottie Pippen by taking much less than market but dems the breaks. Rizzo may be salty having to close out his career with the Marlins or some bottom feeder (Pirate, arrr?) but he’ll be back in 2036 for the 20 yr reunion
Really? How hard is it to find middle infielders that can’t hit?
Just resign Rizzo if not for his amazing skill for the fact he is one of the most beloved Cubbies ever and you will lose half of your fanbase if you don’t resign one of them so might as well sign the cheapest and the most popular. I don’t see Rizzo reguessing that much. He’s a first basemen he can keep crushing the ball and providing good defense. His speed is gone which is fine because he was not even known for that. He’ll hit 15-25 Hr’s and 80-85 rbis the next couple of years then he can retire as a cub and everybody will be happy. He’ll get on base just resign PLEASE. If not resign him during the season bring him back during free agency. JUST DO IT
Wrigley is a tourist hot bed; they don’t need cubs fans at games to pack the field. And when cubs are ready – they won’t shy away from spending 210 mil in payroll. Trade em all
This is the most Cubs comment I’ve ever read lol.
That’s because he’s probably a Sox fan trolling.
Haha, your daily dispatch from Des Moines or Omaha.
Writing on the wall in Chicago. Time to loose 95+ games for a good 3 years in a row. Be a lot easier to do with all 3 of them gone.
If the Cubs are out of it by All-Star break all 3 could go. Right now they are a 3rd place team with them !?
3rd place is your opinion. Many people including myself see no reason why they can’t win the division.
Exactly, we’re in first to start the year lol let’s stay there. Anyway still pretty confident we will sign Javy and then rizz eventually. Kb I still think walks but stranger things have happened. If he has a good healthy year I’d love him back.
Lol try first place team. Rotation and bullpen look very solid. Offense has all the talent, it just has to click. We’re in first after 4 games loll. Of course only a few games But I’d also much rather be 3-1 than 0-4 to start the year. We shall see but I like our chances. Deff not sold on the cards or the brewers. Reds maybe interesting, miss Nicky, dude is a stud.
However, Hoyer made clear that a fast start to the year for any of their players won’t necessarily change the calculus in the team’s offers.
So the question: is the first derivative equal to zero, is the second derivative equal to zero, neither or both?
Bye to KB. Baez should get 7 for 160 and Riz looking around 5 for 95. I think that could get things done. Get whatever best deal for KB at the trade deadline they can.
I miss goldy in arizona. Wish the dbacks coulda signed him to end his career in arizona. I dont blame him for taking the money, he deserved it. They had him on a team friendly deal, believe it was 5/32mil. One of the most underpaid players in the league on that deal.
That never changed his demeanor, always gave it 100%. There arent many in the league with his character. U guys think he has a shot at the hof? I can easily see him putting up another solid 5- 7 years of 4 war. If he plays till 40 might get to 3000 hits.
Baez unlikely to re-sign. I don’t think Cubs shell out what he wants. I like Javy, but way too erratic offensively to justify a long contract.Rizzo will probably get re-signed, but I wouldn’t go over 4/80 or 5/90 at the very most. I would rather spend money on Contreras who will be FA after 2022.
All three will get traded before the deadline and the Cubs stand to get a good haul of prospects to rebuild with.
Is kind of a shame to see that occur and I’m sure their fans will be disappointed, but will make for a very interesting trade deadline in Wrigleyville.
Lol can’t wait till you clowns that constantly harp on about a rebuild that is not coming watch us win the division abd resign 2 of 3. Even if we let more people walk after this year than many expect do you really think we are not going to replace players? We’re just not going to have a lineup or a rotation? Lmao we are not going to drop the payroll to 60 mil, we will recommit resources in free agency just as teams do every year but we will have a lot more freed up cash to spend with. Also sleep on the farm all you want, gonna be in for a surprise at the end of the year when the new rankings are finalized. There is way more depth there than a lot of folks think. Davis is going to be a star in the show as soon as next year as well. Anyway sorry for the mini rant just so sick of hearing this stupid troll/ Chicago cub self loathing media talking point over and over.
I can see the Cubs pulling off the division this year if things stay status que. Ross gets them to score runs with little O. The staff has been better under him even with injury added last year.
That said if they are in it he won’t trade burnt that just means a Q offer on all 3 and rebuild with the extra draft resources.
Resigning any is not looking good. 5/100 is the halfway point between Rizzo and Jed. I doubt Jed gives him fair market.
Baez is looking at a pay day and Jed will have to pay market now that Lindor has set it.
Bryant is running the 3B market right now. There is no reason for him to do the Cubs a favor.
Jed is better off locking up Happ and Contreras. Pull Joc and Jake’s option years and look at Seger for SS. He ages into 3B while the Cubs are deep at SS going forward.
3B and 1B they can go 2nd tier or move Seger early and Nico into SS
Right now it looks like this is the end of the road but that opens up payroll.
I think the Cubs end up bringing back Rizzo. I think the Qualifying Offer will burn him big time and he ends up back with the Cubs, 5 years with a six year option, 80 million guaranteed with potential to make 100.
Baez walks. Bryant ends up staying at 7/175. Cubs shy away from the high end short stops and bring in Semein on a short term deal to bridge the gap between Baez and either Howard or Hernandez.
What kind of prospects are they going to get for a half season for a declining aging Rizzo, an inconsistent and soft Bryant, and a flashy but indifferent Baez? This after picking up some lotto tickets for a cost controlled below market Cy Young runner up? Asking for a friend.
Didn’t Rizzo say that having cancer in the past was a big reason he took the guaranteed money? That’s sad it had to factor into it, but it was his decision and that was also a risk for the Cubs because it was a sizable commitment.
The Cubs made him a good offer, and he won’t get a better one from another team. If he wants to bet on himself and take a shorter deal, I’m sure the Cubs would raise the AAV a bit. But absent that, he might need to face reality. Hopefully his friends and family can talk some sense into him.
I agree I love Rizzo man but if he doesn’t have a big bounce Back year that offer is more than fair. Move it up to 80 mil cuz of who he is and what he means to the organization but that’s if he wants to sign now. He can’t put up terrible numbers and get that money in the offseason. No one will offer that.
This team was so poorly ran after the 2016 title it really is hard to fathom. The Cubs fans with that lineup should have at least 2 more titles. Amazing how once you win Mgmt and Ownership were like “ Yep we are good for another 100”. Probably the best core team of any the last 20 seasons and to only win one. The Ricketts need to be forced to sell.
Really a bad take.
I’m not saying the Cubs have been ran perfectly but they have been competitive every year. And lets not forget, it took the Brewers an amazing, technology aided, run to dethrone the Cubs and if it were not for the sign stealing (excuse me, every player especially Yelich getting hot at the same time) the Cubs would have won the division four out of the last five years.
Lol, oh wow you’re still pushing that?
Y’all were the best team in BB for one season. That’s all. LAD had much better talent. What happened with the 2016 Cubs is that their rotation managed to almost never miss a start. Their starting 5 got 152-162 starts. That’s a guarantee of success.
But the average age of the rotation was 31.6. That’s about a year away from implosion. You were even close to a dynasty. You were more like the 2018 Red Sox. A lot of talent, but not they type of depth or age where you could predict a 5-year run.
Once they gave away Darvish, I can’t see any reason to keep anyone on this team, cut bait and reload. Hendricks, Contreras, Baez should all bring a solid return, Bryant and Rizzo still have some value, although not much with their current contract situation. After that it goes downhill in a hurry but many will still bring a decent return.
This group had a great run in 16 but just doesn’t work any longer, sell while there’s still some value left.
I didn’t like Ricketts giving Hoyer an extension after Theo left. The Cubs are not in bad shape but they needed new eyes to come in and evaluate talent, shuffle and tweak the roster.
How do the Cubs, with glaring needs, bring in Pederson to replace Schwarber? The Cubs needed contact, not another lefty bat that didn’t hit lefties well and strikes out a ton.
IMO, Hoyer and Theo both refused to admit their system was passed by. In 2016 it was great, launch angle hitters, high strikes are fine as long as we got on base and slugged. Pitching staff that didn’t give up walks and pitched to contact. All good things then, but the game advanced rapidly with all the advanced analytics. Stop giving up free bases and pitch up in the zone, that nullifies the Cubs offense when every single hitter is the same. Game planning made easy.
That is what has done the baby bears in, failure to adapt and being stubborn in their willingness to change. Hoyer had a golden opportunity to turn the roster around with very minor tweaks but he goes out and signs players exactly the same. They needed two guys like Zobrist, bat on ball, professional at bats, instead they stayed the course.
This organization is already going broke since they’ve gone “woke” and now they want to piss off fan favorites? Lmfao, I guess it’s another year of boycotting these champagne communists for me.
They all need to go.
Baez to the Mets so he can play with Lindor and maybe Lindor can beat some sense into him about hitting. Mets have several 1B playing out of position, get one of them back (Baez is an excellent defensive 3B for example). Somebody gives up a prospect, but I’m not sure who.
Rizzo to the Marlins to go home and be a veteran presence and he gets an appropriate extension. Young pitching back. Alternatively, to the Yankees if Voit continues to be injured.
Kimbrel to the A’s if Rosenthal is going to be out for any significant length of time. Cubs may have to throw in a AA prospect or eat some of the money.
Hold Bryant until July 31. If he is hitting, someone will pay up to rent a 3B/RF. If he is stinking up the joint then just hold him and get the draft pick when he rejects the QO.
Stop drinking when you post.
Trade KB and Javy … resign Rizzo … sign Story and Correa in offseason … play one at 3B
If he has a year like Goldsmith then pay him so far not good but normal avg 25 hr100 RBI 1 sB 265 bA but pay him if season end his glove is great. So there’s the beef