Chicago Cubs detail negotiations with traded players
By David Hill
The Chicago Cubs had hoped that this season would be different. Not only were they hoping that the 2021 season would be a competitive one, but the expectation was that the fire sale would not happen. Instead, they had looked to lock in their core, not only extending their window, but keeping their homegrown talent intact.
It was not from a lack of effort. According to Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer, those players were not interested in any negotiations.
It was interesting to hear Jed Hoyer on ESPN 1000 this morning express frustration re lack of contract extensions to the players he just traded. It's a reminder that not everything was perfect between the front office and players. Huge disconnect on value.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 2, 2021
Chicago Cubs unable to find common ground with departed stars
In some cases, this was not a surprise. One had a sense that the relationship between the Cubs front office and Kris Bryant was strained from the moment they kept him in the minors until the second they had an extra year of team control.
More Cubs. This is Jed Hoyer's team now. light
But it is surprising that the front office felt that other players were not willing to negotiate based on an initial offer they felt was fair. Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo had been vocal about their desire to stay in Chicago, although that was not the case based on Hoyer’s comments. Rizzo, for his part, had said that he did not want negotiations to go into the season, which could have been a factor.
It is possible that the two sides had drastically different ideas as to what the market would bear out. The Cubs felt their offers were more than fair, but that remains to be seen. Rizzo’s hot start to his time with the Yankees could lead to a better than expected payday. Baez, however, is a player whose market is not as cut and dry. His defense is valuable, but his struggles to make contact limit his offensive upside.
In the end, we will see which side was correct. The Cubs could end up having dodged a financial bullet with those talks breaking down, a possible overpay avoided. Those players could have better offers than even they had imagined. The market will determine which side was correct.
Next. The sudden end of a dynasty. dark
The Chicago Cubs attempted to lock in their core before their fire sale. One does have to wonder how far apart the team and players were in their demands.