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PHOENIX – Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and manager David Ross talk enough that Hoyer’s calls aren’t necessarily trade related.
At this time of year, however, it is always possible to start with “I have a few things to tell you.” ”
Thursday morning Ross picked up one of those stomach-breaking phone calls. Hours before the deal was finalized, Hoyer reached out to tell Ross that Joc Pederson could travel to Atlanta.
“As a manager, I don’t know if there are any easy ones,” Ross said on Friday. “This is my first time going through this, and Joc – I mean, it stinks, man.” You dedicate all your heart and soul to these guys and them competing, and they competing for you. And you rely on these guys and their hard work, attitude and professionalism. “
If there was any doubt that the Cubs would be sellers by the July 30 trade deadline, the club dealing with a veteran outfielder for a first base prospect deleted the last one. And now the team has to go for it with two weeks of uncertainty ahead and more than two months to play.
“Such a great teammate and friend in four months,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said of Pederson, who the Cubs signed last offseason. “His vibe and everything he brought to the team each day was just fun, upbeat and energetic. He was a good person to have around. Good moral.
Rizzo said he learned about Pederson’s trade like everyone else – on the internet and via text. Cubs outfielder Ian Happ woke up when the Cubs landed in Arizona on Thursday to a text from his brother: “Too bad for Joc.”
Happ said: “I was looking around the plane, saying, ‘What have we done? “”
When asked how they deal with the looming trade deadline, players and coaches continue to fall back on the familiar “one day at a time” trope.
It seems easier said than done.
“It still is, isn’t it?” Happ said. “’One day at a time’ whether you’re talking about something like that or hitting, or you’re eight games back. ”
Even after a 5-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Friday, the Cubs (45-46) were eight games behind the Brewers (54-39), center leaders in the National League. Before the game, Ross did his best to make the most of the Cubs’ situation.
“I think there’s a real positive that can be taken from the core group here and what they’ve created and expectations,” said Ross. “The Javys (Javy Báez), The Willsons (Willson Contreras) , J-Heys (Jason Heyward), Rizz, KB (Kris Bryant) Kyle Hendricks. These guys have created championship expectations here. I think that’s positive, it’s something that they may wear as a badge of honor and pride.
The Cubs aren’t heading for the kind of 2012-style rebuild that predated much of this group. Hoyer said it very clearly. But the starting rotational brace that a month ago seemed like the missing piece will not show. And some of the Cubs’ stars might be their most valuable trading chips.
“When your team friends are traded,” said Rizzo, who has seen massive sales before, “you know they’re going to a place where they’re more wanted and valued and they’re going to fight for maybe something Continued But it’s hard.
This offseason, Pederson’s signing signaled increased flexibility in the Cubs’ budget. It was almost fitting that his trade was the first domino to fall before the deadline.
“It’s an opportunity for a guy like Ian Happ to ramp up, or Rafi Ortega or Jake Marisnick,” Ross said. “Another outfielder to even have a chance to be better than Joc was for us. I really believe it.
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