(670 The Score) As the Cubs continue to search externally for bullpen help, general manager Jed Hoyer downplayed the narrative that using potential money saved from veteran infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist's contract on a quality reliever is any way connected.
Zobrist, 38, has been on a leave of absence from the Cubs since May 8 as he goes through divorce proceedings. He's due $12.5 million in 2019, the final year of his contract, but his prolonged absence has naturally led to early retirement becoming a topic of conversation.
"I don't think people should connect those issues," Hoyer said on the Mully & Haugh Show on Thursday morning.
The Cubs continue to be unsure about when a resolution on Zobrist's status will be reached. He remains on the restricted list, and the team has taken the approach of being there for Zobrist the person while not pushing the topic of Zobrist the baseball player.
Zobrist has struggled this season, hitting .241 with a .596 OPS and just one extra-base hit in 83 at-bats. His .253 slugging percentage is the lowest of any regular position player on the team.
Recently, manager Joe Maddon did acknowledge that he must think and operate as if Zobrist isn't returning to the Cubs.
"It's Ben's issue," Hoyer said. "He needs the time right now to be with his kids and his family. It's not really on our timetable. We're in communication with him. Obviously, we support him, but as far as a sense of timing, we don't have that at this point. And I do feel like it's a hard one. Because with a player on the injured list, you have a sense of what's going on. In this situation, we're just being respectful of Ben and we just want the best for him and his kids. Hopefully he can come back and help us. But I think we just have to give him his time and talk to him when he wants to talk and just be there for him."
Has Zobrist in any way indicated to the Cubs that he won't return?
"I wouldn't want to say that," Hoyer responded. "I think at this point, there's nothing definitive at all at this point."
On the field, it's the bullpen that most concerns Hoyer and the Cubs. The team's relief unit has posted a 3.95 ERA, which ranks seventh in MLB, but it has been stressed with a big workload recently.
"There's no question that's an area where we know we're going to have turnover," Hoyer said. "We know we're going to be active in trying to bolster the bullpen. I feel like we had a bad stretch early. Those guys really rebounded and had a great stretch for quite a while and then recently, with starters going short, with getting a little tired with (all the games in a row), we kind of regressed a little bit this last stretch. We need to get back to throwing well. But yeah, there's no question the whole summer, we – like many teams – are going to be looking to add bullpen pieces.
"There's going to be some different faces in order to get through this marathon. That's totally fair. I also do think people quickly forget just how well those guys those guys pitched for over a month during this season."
