CHICAGO – Jed Hoyer plans to talk to Kris Bryant about his future during spring training. Also on deck for Chicago Cubs baseball chief executive: similar discussions with Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo.
All three sluggers have contracts set to expire after this season, when they can become free agents. How long they will stay in Chicago are big questions, as the Cubs open spring training on Wednesday in Arizona.
“I would love to have that continuity with these guys in the future,” said Hoyer on Tuesday. “Financially, it is impossible for any team to continue with that group.”
Chicago’s luxury tax payroll would have been $ 216 million last year if the entire season had been played, well above the tax limit for the second consecutive year.
Bryant, Báez and Rizzo helped Chicago win the World Series in 2016, stopping a championship drought that dated back to 1908. The Cubs finished first at NL Central last season and made it to the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. But they only managed one race in two games on a wild-card sweep through Miami.
Chicago has not moved forward in the postseason since reaching the NL Championship Series in 2017. A makeover is underway. And it is unclear how long three more of their biggest stars will remain with the team.
Bryant’s name, in particular, appeared in commercial rumors. Hoyer said the Cubs have not been involved in negotiations with other clubs recently.
“We have been involved in a lot of rumors this year,” said Hoyer. “Some were completely inaccurate. And then I would say that some were just a little bit exaggerated – the seriousness of these discussions.
But he also acknowledged that more changes are coming, that the chances of keeping Bryant, Rizzo and Báez are minimal. Bryant has a salary of $ 19.5 million, Rizzo $ 16.5 million and Báez $ 11.65 million.
“We said all the time, very clearly, we would like to retain some of these players,” said Hoyer. ‘That would be good. But it is not realistic to keep all the players that were a significant part of 2016. This is just a reality. ‘
Chicago made some important moves in the off season.
Theo Epstein stepped down and Hoyer was promoted to president of baseball operations.
The Cubs negotiated with ace Yu Darvish along with $ 3 million for San Diego, saving $ 56 million from 2021-23, and said goodbye to Jon Lester, who signed a $ 5 million one-year contract with Washington at the free agency. They refused to offer a contract to slugger Kyle Schwarber, who signed a $ 10 million deal with the Nationals, and gave Joc Pederson a $ 7 million deal to replace him.
The Cubs are meeting with a familiar face after Jake Arrieta agreed last week to a $ 6 million deal that is pending a physical examination. The 2015 NL Cy Young award winner would essentially take Lester’s place after Hoyer received some additional financial flexibility in recent weeks.
“It was really more a matter of time than anything else,” said Hoyer. ‘Jon Lester has been kind of a constant in my career. I love having him. He’s an A-plus teammate and obviously an A-plus competitor. ‘
Hoyer indicated that the Cubs were close to adding a reliever, saying they “likely” will announce a deal soon. He also said that Rowan Wick will be delayed at the start of the camp because of a muscle injury in the rib area, and Kyle Ryan will be delayed because of the COVID-19 protocols.
When it comes closer, the Cubs seem to be defined. This job belongs to Craig Kimbrel for now.
Coach David Ross said he expects him to start the season in his family role, after launching better in the final stretch of last year. The seven-time All-Star struggled in early 2020 and lost his job. But in eight games in September, Kimbrel did not allow a run and eliminated 13 without a walk in 7 1/3 innings. Jeremy Jeffress, who had an ERA of 1.54 and eight saves out of 10 chances, is a free agent.
“He went through a few bumps,” said Ross. – He went back to being himself. Talking to him, he feels great in this off season. The work, the videos he uploaded, he already looks very polished. … As long as Craig is who we know he can be, he will be closer to us.
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