Tom Ricketts Speaks: Bellinger and Boras, TV and Financials, Playoffs, Counsell, All-Star Game, More

Feb 19, 2024

Today, Chicago Cubs Owner and Chairman Tom Ricketts met with the media out in Arizona, where the Cubs are having their first full-squad practice day of the spring.

As it’s been in every other area since early January, the conversation quickly turns to Cody Bellinger. He’s kind of important. Everyone out there knows the Cubs are interested in bringing him back, but also that they aren’t looking to give out a massive long-term deal in this situation. So of course the owner is going to be asked about the status of things:

#Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts on Cody Bellinger:
“I’m like everyone else, we are just waiting. Waiting for whenever he and his agent are going to engage.”
He says there have been some discussions but it hasn’t yet become negotiations yet. #Cubs @WGNNews @GNSportsTV pic.twitter.com/voQfaZHnUZ— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) February 19, 2024

Maybe that reads like another non-update. But I gotta say, I think it’s kinda notable that Ricketts, who generally does not get involved in player personnel decisions (except to authorize significant expenditures), is even talking about an individual player at all, much less saying the Cubs are waiting on him and Boras to engage.

Here’s more of Ricketts’ comments:

“There has been some discussions, but just it hasn’t become a negotiation yet, and until they’re ready to really negotiate, then there’s not much we can do.”

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts on the Cody Bellinger situation ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7gVSNLdfiS— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) February 19, 2024

MY READ of the tone seems to be that the Cubs see themselves as ready and willing to talk when Boras is ready for a serious negotiation (implication there being that whatever price level was previously floated was just not even discussable). I could be wrong, and I’m not looking to put words in anyone’s mouth (and I’m also not making a determination on whether Boras and Co. actually ARE being serious or not, though I think holding the line over $200 million at this point is not realistic). You can watch and judge for yourself, but that’s just the feeling I get. The Cubs have made it known the rough area of their comfort on a deal, and – whether it gets to serious negotiations or not – they aren’t going to move all that far.

Even Marquee was tweeting out the full video of Ricketts’ comments on Bellinger, for what that’s worth.

Oh, and for the record, Ricketts is not inviting Boras to contact him directly about Cody Bellinger’s free agency:

Tom Ricketts said he doesn't talk to Scott Boras. "One of his signature moves is to go talk to the owner. But I think when you do that, you undermine the credibility of your general manager. And so inserting yourself into that negotiation, I don't think that helps."— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) February 19, 2024

Ricketts said he felt Jed Hoyer had a good offseason, and “I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t be favored for our division this year.” (Montemurro)

On the RSN mess and the financial picture:

As to whether Cubs payroll/budget adjusts in championship window Ricketts says it's determined by taking out expenses.

"Goal is to be one of the teams that is always trying to win the division…I try to look at the budget much more consistently than let's just go for one year."— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) February 19, 2024

Any season that ends short of the playoffs is a disappointment, period:

“Is anything but making the postseason this year a disappointment?”

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts: ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FudnwZn0hI
— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) February 19, 2024

On the Craig Counsell recruitment and hire:

Ricketts on Hoyer's recruitment of Counsell: "Obviously I thought David Ross was a very, very good manager for us. I thought he had a good year for us last year. We expected to go forward with him when the season ended…" #Cubs 1/3— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) February 19, 2024

"…and you’re always looking to get better at every position including manager. And so when Jed approached me I was very much in favor of him pursuing those discussions and we are very happy it turned out the way it did." #Cubs 3/3— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) February 19, 2024

Hopes for the All-Star Game, which could come in a few years if Rob Manfred awards it:

Tom Ricketts on a possible All-Star Game at Wrigley Field: “There's a few things we have to work out with the city. And we've gotten snagged, but I think we're getting closer. And we'll hopefully know more pretty soon. But it's not as simple as it looks."— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) February 19, 2024

written by

Brett Taylor

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.

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