Back in November we saw the first reports of the Cubs and All-Star shortstop Javier Báez negotiating on a long-term contract extension. That was first reported by Gordon Wittenmyer and then Jon Heyman reported that a deal could be done at the Winter Meetings.
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer spoke with the media on Tuesday night during the second day of the Winter Meetings in San Diego and the topic of contract extensions was brought up. Although Hoyer didn't provide any specifics, he did say the team is working on at least one.
Via NBC Sports Chicago.
"We always take the position of not commenting on extensions, but are we having those discussions? Yes," Jed Hoyer said Tuesday. "People focus so much on trades and free agent signings at these meetings, but all the agents are under the same roofs, also, and allows us to have those kinds of discussions. I'm not gonna specify who or what, but yeah certainly those conversations are ongoing."
Other than Báez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras are candidates for extensions. Last year the Cubs agreed to long-term deals with David Bote and Kyle Hendricks.
Of course, at the moment the focus with Bryant and Contreras seem to be how much the Cubs can get in return for them in a trade, but Scott Boras once again said Bryant is more than happy to sit down and work on an extension to stay with the Cubs.
The Cubs have previously approached Bryant about a possible contract extension, but no serious talks really emerged. After the 2018 season ended, ESPN 1000 radio host David Kaplan reported that Bryant turned down a contract extension worth "well north of $200 million." That turned out to be false.
Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune also reported that the offer never happened.
The Cubs, like most teams with plenty of young talent several years away from free agency, attempt to sign those players to extensions in the offseason.
But there is no truth to the report the Cubs offered Bryant an extension “well north of $200 million” that Bryant and agent Scott Boras rejected. In fact, there’s no current activity on extensions with Bryant or any of their young core players as they hit the reset button after the 2018 season. That usually takes place after the bulk of the roster for the upcoming season is completed.
So, Bryant is open to talk, but doesn't seem like that's something the Cubs are thinking about. As of now anyway.
Then, on Wednesday morning ESPN's Jesse Rogers tried to rile up Cubs fans, reporting that Rizzo isn't in contract extension talks either. But Rogers took it a step further, implying that because the Cubs aren't engaging in extension talks right now it means Rizzo will hit free agency after 2021.
Via ESPN.
"The Cubs have informed us that they will not be offering Anthony an extension at this time," Rizzo's agent, Marc Pollack, said from the winter meetings. "Anthony has let his desire to be a Cub for life known to the organization. Although we do not know what the future holds, a deal to make that happen will not be addressed now."
He then tweeted that he'd provide more context during a radio hit.
I didn't listen, but this is a total non-story.
Rogers also reported that Schwarber hasn't been approached this offseason with a contract extension.
Back to Rizzo. I don't think it's a big deal. Again, just because nothing is happening right now doesn't mean it can't be addressed at a later time. But it's Anthony Rizzo, so if you're annoyed, fine.
But again, it's just not that urgent.
Anyway, the Cubs still haven't done anything to impact their roster yet, so more time to argue over hypotheticals.
