Ricketts Family Panel at CubsCon: Tom and Laura Talk Spending, Competitiveness, and the New Ryno Statue

The Ricketts Family panel returned to the Cubs Convention for the first time in five years, and while it wasn’t necessarily a bounty of massive reveals, there were a handful of items worth sharing …

  • The big news item from the panel is that the next statue for Wrigley Field is under construction, and it’s Ryne Sandberg. He joined Laura and Tom Ricketts on stage for a celebration, and that was a cool moment.
  • Tom Ricketts said it was never the club’s intention to build up, crest as they did in 2015-17, and then fall way back. He cited a confluence of factors that led to the rebuild of the last couple years (my word, not his), but he is excited to be turning the page. He started to to hype the farm system and the guys gelling in the second half of ‘22, which made free agent success more possible. The messaging is definitely all about how the Cubs should be better this year, though there’s a heavy focus on the farm system.
  • Laura Ricketts talked about how spending money to placate fans in free agency may not actually wind up getting you where you want to be when the final accounting, so to speak, takes place on the field. It’s a message we’ve heard before. Tom added that the spending this year should be close to the first luxury tax tier (if so, there’s still a bit more to come, just sayin’), and they will go over it in the years ahead – but they have to be thoughtful about when they do that because of the financial and baseball-related consequences. Again, not a new message, and your mileage may vary on how meaningful the penalties are, and how often you should be willing to accept them.
  • Tom Ricketts said, no, any interest in a Premier League team is not going to have any impact on Cubs operations (financially). Nothing will be taken away from the Cubs to finance anything else. (Not sure how else you could answer that question, though. Imagine him saying, Yeah, actually, we’re gonna have to cut payroll a bit to buy a soccer team … .)
  • No update on The Sammy Question. Ricketts still seems to be waiting for Sosa to speak more openly about the PED period – that’s my read, anyway – and until then, there just isn’t anything to update. My sense has always been that there are folks in the organization (or folks who are important to the organization) who have resisted Sosa’s return, and Tom has been tasked with trying to figure out that balance. I just want it resolved so that he can be around at events like this.
  • On the new sportsbook at Wrigley Field, Tom Ricketts leaned on the idea that it’ll generate revenue, and revenue will ultimately help baseball operations. Not really making any apologies for that, which, hey, that’s the business. Let’s just see it in the payroll in the years ahead.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Enhanced Box Score: Braves 2, Cubs 0 – May 13, 2024

    Well that ninth inning rally started off great, with Cody Bellinger and Christopher Morel reaching, the latter on 12-pitch walk (the longest PA of his career). And then POOF. In just two pitches, the Cubs made three outs and the...

    Craig Counsell Was Just Thrown Out from the Dugout … by the First Base Umpire

    Well you don't see that very often. Craig Counsell was just thrown out of the game from inside the Cubs dugout *by the FIRST BASE umpire* after a check-swing appeal. Here's what happened. In the bottom of the fourth inning,...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Braves (6:20 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Atlanta Braves are one of, if not the toughest opponent the Cubs will face this season. But Seiya Suzuki is back, Cody Bellinger is back, and Shota Imanaga is on the mound. This Cubs team is...

    Cubs Roster Move: Alzolay to the IL, Cuas Returns (UPDATE)

    It felt like this situation with Adbert Alzolay could not go on much longer, and it has now resolved itself with an Injured List move. Today, the Cubs placed Alzolay on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain. Jose...

    MLB Has a New Streaming Home For Its ‘Sunday Leadoff’ Games

    Fans can now watch MLB games via Roku. Do with that what you will. The "MLB Sunday Leadoff" games will begin this weekend. The first game, featuring the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, starts at 12:05 p.m. CT,...

    Let’s See How They Measure Up in Atlanta: Cubs vs Braves Series Preview

    Cubs vs Braves — Six of the Cubs next ten games come against the Atlanta Braves, and the first three are on the road starting tonight. And while the Cubs did recently get Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, and Justin Steele...

    MLB Pipeline Added Two MORE Cubs to Their Top-100

    Over the weekend, MLB Pipeline updated their top-100 MLB Prospect Rankings, with eight new players making the list after graduations and other considerations. And TWO of those players, Moises Ballesteros and Jefferson Rojas, are Chicago Cubs prospects. All together, that...

    For the Second Time in a Few Days, Birthday Boy Nico Hoerner Saved the Game

    A happy 27th birthday to Chicago Cubs second baseman, and fill-in shortstop, Nico Hoerner. He is currently hitting a career-best .275/.364/.399/122 wRC+, and walking more often (9.7%) than he's striking out (9.1%). He has been absolutely scorching over the past...

    MLBits: Padres Best the Dodgers, Skenes Debut Reactions, Guardians New Threads, More

    The Dodgers have a comfortable lead in the NL West, but the Padres are proving to themselves that they can make this a two-horse race. Plus, reactions from Paul Skenes' major league debut and more in today's MLB Notes. Padres...

    David Peralta Has Opted Out of His Minor League Deal with the Cubs

    The Chicago Cubs have had veteran outfielder David Peralta around as emergency depth going back to Spring Training, when he was working his way back from offseason arm surgery. But he might now be heading off to join another organization....

    Latest News

    Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Las Vegas Aces face the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET in the season opener for both teams. The matchup airs on ESPN2 and ESPN+.Watch the WNBA all season long on Fubo!How to Watch...

    Seattle Storm vs. Minnesota Lynx: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Minnesota Lynx take on the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The game, the first of the 2024 season for both teams, tips at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN3, BSNX, FOX13+, and Prime Video.Watch...

    Phillies vs. Mets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The Philadelphia Phillies will take the field against the New York Mets (19-21) on Tuesday. The game begins at 1:10 PM ET on SNY, with the Phillies listed as -140 favorites on the moneyline.Aaron Nola starts for Philadelphia while Jose...

    Phillies vs. Mets Probable Starting Pitchers – May 14

    The New York Mets (19-21) play on Tuesday in Queens against the Philadelphia Phillies (29-13). First pitch is at 1:10 PM ET.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Phillies will send Aaron Nola (4-2) to the mound, while Jose...

    Celtics vs. Cavaliers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Wednesday, May 15, 2024

    The Boston Celtics are massive 15.5-point favorites in a decisive Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden on Wednesday, tipping off at 7:00 PM ET on TNT. The Celtics have...

    Thunder vs. Mavericks Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Western Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Wednesday, May 15, 2024

    The Dallas Mavericks are 4.5-point underdogs in Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Wednesday, tipping off at 9:30 PM ET on TNT. The series is tied 2-2....

    Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Western Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves meet in Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets are favored by 4.5 points in the contest, which airs on TNT at 10:30 PM ET. The over/under in...

    Knicks vs. Pacers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The Indiana Pacers are slight 2.5-point underdogs in Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, tipping off at 8:00 PM ET on TNT. The series is...

    New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Washington Mystics go up against the New York Liberty at St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The game, the first of the 2024 season for both teams, tips at 7:00 PM ET on...

    Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Indiana Fever go up against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The game, the first of the 2024 season for both teams, tips at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+.Watch the WNBA...

    more cubs news