The newest Chicago Cub, Ben Zobrist, is currently being introduced (live stream on CSN here), and he sounds genuinely very, very happy to be with the Cubs. He is not hiding his smile, and it’s infectious.
Since we’re talking about the Cubs’ newest signing, and while the introductory press conference was going on, I thought it would be a good time to share this nugget from the Washington Post: according to a person familiar with the process, each of the Nationals and Giants offered Zobrist more money than he ultimately accepted from the Cubs.
No, it wasn’t a ton – reportedly $60 million over four years, rather than the $56 million he accepted – but guys rarely do it at all. And it’s very cool to know that he wanted that much to come to the Cubs.
[adinserter block=”1″]It sounded like the Cubs were always Zobrist’s preferred destination, but it wasn’t clear right out of the offseason chute whether there was going to be a fit. Instead, the Cubs explained that they were interested, and that there may come a time when it could work. So he continued his due diligence with other teams, creating backup plans, but then the call came on Monday that the Cubs were going to be able to put together a trade to make it work. From there, Zobrist said he didn’t have to think too much about the decision.
It’s interesting to hear that the Starlin Castro trade came together on Monday, as well, then, as the Zobrist signing. Yesterday must’ve been almost entirely about medical checks and paperwork.
One other note from the press conference: although Zobrist was looking for a defensive home, and although that is why the Cubs moved Starlin Castro to clear a spot for him, it’s not as if he’s saying he can and will only play at second base. Zobrist is still a guy who can be used elsewhere when necessary.