Cubs president on retaining Baez, Bryant and Rizzo: “It’s not realistic to keep all players”

Chicago. Jed Hoyer plans to talk to Kris Bryant about his future during spring training. Also on the agenda for the Chicago Cubs’ top baseball manager: similar discussions with Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo.

All three sluggers have contracts that expire after this season, when they can become free agents. How long they will stay in Chicago are big questions when the Cubs open their spring training in Arizona on Wednesday.

“I would like to have that continuity with these guys in the future,” Hoyer said Tuesday. “Financially it is not possible for any team to continue with that group.”

Chicago’s luxury payroll tax would have been $ 216 million last year had it been played all season, well above the tax threshold for the second year running.

Bryant, Báez and Rizzo helped Chicago win the World Series in 2016, stopping a championship drought dating back to 1908. The Cubs finished first in the NL Central last season and made it to the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. But they had only one run in two games in a wildcard sweep against Miami.

Chicago has not progressed in the postseason since reaching the National League Championship Series in 2017. A makeover is underway. And it’s unclear how long three of the biggest stars will stay with the team.

Bryant’s name, in particular, has surfaced in trade rumors. Hoyer said the Cubs haven’t had any talks with other clubs recently.

“We were involved in a lot of rumors this year. Some were completely inaccurate. And then I would say some were just exaggerating – the seriousness of those discussions, ”Hoyer stated.

But he also recognized that more changes are on the way, that the chances of keeping Bryant, Rizzo and Baez are slim. Bryant has a salary of $ 19.5 million, Rizzo $ 16.5 million, and Baez $ 11.65 million.

We have been saying very clearly all along that we want to keep some of these players, ”Hoyer emphasized. “That would be great. But it’s not realistic to keep all the players who were a big part of 2016. That’s just reality.”

Chicago made some big moves in the off season.

Theo Epstein resigned and Hoyer was promoted to president of baseball operations.

The Caubas traded ace Yu Darvish along with $ 3 million to San Diego, saving $ 56 million from 2021-23, and parted ways with Jon Lester, who signed a one-year $ 5 million deal with Washington at freehand. They declined to offer a contract to slugger Kyle Schwarber, who signed a $ 10 million deal with the Nationals, and gave Joc Pederson a $ 7 million deal to replace him.

The Cubs are meeting a familiar face after Jake Arrieta agreed to a $ 6 million deal last week pending a physical deal. The 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner would essentially take the place of Lester after Hoyer gained some extra financial flexibility in recent weeks.

“It was more a matter of time than anything else,” Hoyer said. “Jon Lester has been a constant in my career. I love to have it. He is an A-plus teammate and clearly an A-plus competitor. “

Hoyer indicated that the Cubs had almost added a reliever and said they “probably” will announce a deal soon. He also said Rowan Wick will be delayed to the start of the camp due to a muscle injury to the rib area, and Kyle Ryan will be delayed due to COVID-19 protocols.

When it gets closer, the Cubs seem ready. That job belongs to Craig Kimbrel for now.

Manager David Ross said he is looking forward to starting the season in his family role after performing better last year. The seven-time All-Star struggled in early 2020 and lost his job. But in eight appearances in September, Kimbrel didn’t give up a run and struckout 13 without a walk in 7 1/3 innings. Jeremy Jeffress, who had a 1.54 ERA and eight saves in 10 chances, is a free agent.

“He hit a few bumps,” Ross said. He worked to be himself again. When I talk to him he feels great out of season. The work, the videos you submitted, it already looks very polished. … As long as Craig is who we know he can be, he will be our poet. ‘