(670 The Score) Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is “very confident” that first baseman Anthony Rizzo and the team will reach a contract extension at some point to keep him in Chicago for the years to come.
Rizzo is in the final season of his contract. His future with the organization is up in the air after he acknowledged Monday that an extension is highly unlikely by Opening Day on Thursday, which Rizzo set as a deadline for a deal, wanting to turn his full attention to baseball once meaningful games begin.
Despite those developments and talks being stalled, Hoyer struck an optimistic tone Wednesday.
"I would just say when it comes to Anthony, I don't think I have to express my affection for him,” Hoyer said. “We signed him to a long-term deal (in 2013) when he was struggling. There is not any bigger Anthony Rizzo fan out there. I want him playing first base for the Cubs for a long time. I told him directly I want him here for a long time. I made that clear. I also articulated the Cubs’ position to him. I think he knows where we stand. I certainly hope we are able to work something out. I am very confident (we will).”
Hoyer made clear that his door is wide open during the season for Rizzo and any Cubs to discuss contract extensions. Rizzo will become a free agent in November if the sides don’t agree on an extension.
Rizzo, 31, has been the heart and soul of the Cubs, whom he joined in 2012. He’s a three-time All-Star and helped lead them to a World Series championship in 2016. He has averaged 29 homers and 96 RBIs per 162 games and has a career .857 OPS while being a model of durability.
“There is a reason we don't negotiate in the public and keep the conversations in the house,” Hoyer said. “We have been really successful with that method in the past and have had a lot of talks that never got out.
There is a real danger when you hear just one data point that comes out. There are many data points that come out and dozens and dozens of conversations. I know more about the negotiations than what is out there. I am confident he wants to be back here playing in Chicago. I believe something will work out. Timing is everything, so what really matters is that we reach an agreement.”
Rizzo isn’t the only core member of the Cubs on a path to free agency at season’s end. Shortstop Javier Baez and third baseman Kris Bryant are as well. It’s a dynamic that manager David Ross will have to contend with through the season, as he’ll have to help his players block out distractions.
“This is something we will have to live with as a team with so many guys in free agent years,” Hoyer said. “I think this is something this team is able to handle. Anthony is obviously a free agent after this year, but we have a lot of other guys who are as well. There are challenges that come with that. I believe wholeheartedly the team will overcome that. As a group, we must handle that those individuals and as a team.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.