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Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo told reporters today extension talks with the team have stalled and a new deal now looks unlikely (Twitter link via Athletic’s Patrick Mooney). The slugger added that after speaking to his family and representatives, he strongly believed in the previously set deadline for opening day and told his agents to stop talking to him about a contract (Twitter link via ESPN’s Jesse Rogers). Rizzo is “at peace” with the lack of a new contract and plans to focus on the 2021 season.
Rizzo is one of three prominent members of the 2016 Cubs World Series roster that is currently slated to hit the open market after the season. Others, Javier Baez and Kris bryant, were also considered as potential candidates for the extension. However, Rizzo was perhaps considered the most likely of the trio to sign, given his longer tenure at the club, his age and his expected price compared to these young teammates.
However, aligning with a new contract was probably difficult for a myriad of reasons. Rizzo has already signed what turned out to be a very beneficial deal for the Cubs once in his career. The contract, a seven-year, $ 41 million extension signed in May 2013, ultimately ended in a nine-year term and paid Rizzo $ 75 million after a pair of club options were picked up and after triggering escalators based on a fourth place trio. ends in MVP voting. Having already taken what now appears to be a cut once, he may not have been so keen on taking it a second time.
It’s also difficult to project Rizzo moving forward after winning one of his career worst performances at plate in last year’s 60-game sprint. Rizzo has appeared in 58 games for the Cubs and tallied 243 trips to plate, but he only hit .222 / .342 / .414 along the way. His pullout and walk rates remained high, but that result is obviously pale compared to the warm slash of .276 / .379 / .499 he recorded from 2013-19. The Cubs probably have at least one. some trepidation following last year’s downturn – especially as Rizzo turns 32 in August.
The lack of a deal this spring does not guarantee that Rizzo will play elsewhere after the 2021 season. It remains possible that the Cubs will return to the table with a late offer more in line with the price asked by the 31-year-old at this point. as it is possible that he could play season 21, reach agency for free and ultimately choose to re-sign with the Cubs. Owner Tom Ricketts has been fairly averse to long-term spending over the past three seasons, but at least on the surface, Rizzo appears to be a possible exception due to his nine-year tenure as Cub, his role as chef team and the role he played in the franchise championship race.
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