[ad_1]
Obviously, the big topic of conversation for Cubs President Jed Hoyer when he met the media today was Anthony Rizzo’s situation. What is the status of extension talks? If Rizzo intends to cut things off tomorrow, then what? Is Hoyer concerned?
We spoke a bit earlier, but just to reiterate, Hoyer said he was “very confident” that a deal would eventually be made with Rizzo. When I watched the video, there was no ambiguity. There was clear confidence. I’ll add this context, however, via NBC:
Hoyer said he explained to Rizzo the path the Cubs see in reaching a deal. He also stressed the danger of negotiating publicly, where a “data point” of the talks becomes public, noting that there are “dozens” of conversations during the negotiations.
Hoyer also said he respected Rizzo’s desire to set a deadline for negotiations, “but our door is open.”
“We have no reason not to speak during the season,” he added, noting that there are months until this next offseason. “And so I will honor that, but I am optimistic that we will eventually come to an agreement.”
That seems to leave the door wide open that if the Cubs stick to Rizzo’s no-talk stance this season, and if no deal is made tonight or tomorrow, the teams …? It does happen – an extension after the season, before free will – but it’s certainly not common. I would be A LOT less confident in this situation than I am right now, and I’m telling you, I’m a lot less confident than Hoyer says.
I especially hope that progress has been made before tomorrow, then maybe this is a situation where the talks are “interrupted”, but not really, because it is so close. This is my hope. Well, aside from a dream scenario where the Cubs take the field tomorrow and the public speech announcer reveals that Rizzo just signed an extension and the crowd and his teammates are going wild.
Some of the other Hoyer bits…
Unhappily, Hoyer seemed to emphasize even more how close things could be with Rizzo by the way he spoke about the Cubs’ other two great positional free agents. As he spoke so confidently of Rizzo and wished he was with the Cubs for a long, long time, here’s everything he said about Kris Bryant and Javy Báez:
Hoyer says he spoke with Bryant’s camp this spring about a possible extension:
“Been in contact with both [Baez, Bryant] agents and had a dialogue over the spring. Beyond that, I will not comment. “
– Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) March 31, 2021
It seems expected on Bryant, but seems a pretty big disappointment on Báez. As we discussed, the circumstances of 2020, the performance, the pandemic, the next shortstop class and the expiring ABC all conspire to make finding the right deal with Báez quite difficult, but I still hoped that that would happen.
Meanwhile, it’s “no secret” that if the Cubs don’t look strong in the first three months of the season, there could be moves:
How important are the first three months to eventually defining the direction of the franchise at the negotiation deadline?
“This is the reality,” Hoyer says. “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 Cubs, and Hoyer hopes they will reach the 85% level:
Jed Hoyer has said he will encourage Cubs players to get vaccinated, although he has acknowledged that they cannot mandate him and it will be a personal choice. He added that some players had already been vaccinated, most likely next week.
– Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) March 31, 2021
Hoyer says he will recommend that players get the COVID-19 vaccine. I cannot mandate him, but will strongly encourage him. Said that the 85% threshold for the level 1 group is important.
– Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 31, 2021
If Cubs achieved 85% vaccination in the level 1 group, their pandemic restrictions would be relaxed, including the ability to spend more time with each other and take their families with them on trips on the the road. To say nothing of dramatically reduced health risks, epidemic risks, quarantine risks, and planning risks.
Conclusion on the atmosphere:
Jed Hoyer:
“I feel like the vibe coming north is fantastic. Obviously from tomorrow the vibes don’t matter. From tomorrow it’s all about victories and defeats. “
– Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 31, 2021
[ad_2]
Source link