NEWSLETTER
Obviously the big topic of conversation for Cubs President Jed Hoyer when he met with the media today was the Anthony Rizzo situation. What is the status of extension talks? If Rizzo intends to cut things off tomorrow, then what? Is Hoyer concerned?
We talked a bit earlier, but just to reiterate, Hoyer said he was “very confident” that a deal would get done with Rizzo eventually. When I watched the video, there was no equivocating. There was clear confidence. I will add this context, though, via NBC:
Hoyer said he’s expressed to Rizzo the path the Cubs see to reaching a deal. He also emphasized the danger in negotiating publicly, where “one data point” from talks becomes public, noting there are “dozens” of conversations during negotiations.
Hoyer also said he respects Rizzo’s desire to put a deadline on negotiations, “but our door is open.”
“We have no reason not to talk in season,” he added, noting there’s months left before this upcoming offseason. “And so I’ll honor that, but I am optimistic that we will end up reaching an agreement.”
That does seem to leave wide open the door that if the Cubs do honor Rizzo’s no-talks-during-the-season stance, and if no deal comes through tonight or tomorrow, the sides … would, what, re-engage after the season? It does happen – an extension after the season, before free agency – but it sure isn’t common. I would be MUCH less confident in that situation than I am right now, and I’ll tell you, I’m a lot less confident than Hoyer says he is.
Mostly I hope that there’s some headway made before tomorrow, and then maybe it’s a situation where talks are “cut off,” but not really, because it’s so close. That’s my hope. Well, outside of a dream scenario where the Cubs are taking the field tomorrow and the public address announcer reveals that Rizzo has just signed an extension and the crowd and teammates go wild.
Some of the other Hoyer bits …
In an unfortunate way, Hoyer seemed to even further underscore how close things could be with Rizzo by the way he talked about the Cubs’ other two big-name positional free-agents-to-be. While he spoke so confidently about Rizzo and wanting him to be with the Cubs for a long, long time, here’s all he said about Kris Bryant and Javy Báez:
Hoyer says he talked with Bryant's camp this spring on possible extension:
"Been in contact with both [Baez, Bryant] agents and had dialogue during the course of the spring. Beyond that, I won't comment."
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) March 31, 2021
That sounds expected on Bryant, but seems a pretty big bummer on Báez. As we’ve discussed, the circumstances of 2020, the performance, the pandemic, the upcoming shortstop class, and the expiring CBA all conspire to make finding the right deal with Báez rather difficult, but I was still hoping it would happen.
Meanwhile, it’s “no secret” that if the Cubs aren’t looking strong in the first three months of the season, there could be moves out the door:
How important are the first three months for potentially setting the direction of the franchise at the Trade Deadline?
"That's reality," says Hoyer. "It's no secret that the first three months are very important."
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 31, 2021
On the vaccination front, the process has already started for the Cubs, and Hoyer is hoping they get to the 85% level:
Jed Hoyer said he will be encouraging Cubs players to get vaccinated, though he acknowledged they can't mandate it and it will be a personal choice. He added that some players have already been vaccinated, more likely will in the next week.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) March 31, 2021
Hoyer says he will be recommending that players get the COVID-19 vaccine. Can't mandate it, but will be strongly encouraging it. Says the 85% threshold for Tier 1 group is important.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 31, 2021
If the Cubs get to 85% vaccination among the Tier 1 group, their pandemic restrictions would be softened, including the ability to hang out more with each other and bring their families with them on road trips. To say nothing of the substantially reduced health risks, outbreak risks, quarantining risks, and scheduling risks.
Concluding on the vibe:
Jed Hoyer:
"I feel like the vibe coming north is fantastic. Obviously, starting tomorrow, vibes don't matter. Starting tomorrow, it's about wins and losses."
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 31, 2021
