(670 The Score) It was an emotional Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
All-Star catcher Willson Contreras played what was likely his last home game in a Cubs uniform, as he's expected to be dealt before the trade deadline next Tuesday and Chicago doesn't return to Wrigley Field until Aug. 5. With that as the backdrop, Cubs fans gave Contreras a big ovation ahead of each of his at-bats, including his final one in the seventh inning, and then again when Contreras concluded a postgame television interview following his team's 4-2 win against the Pirates.
Contreras was appreciative of the Cubs fans' love Tuesday.
"It was amazing," he said. "I didn't expect that in my first at-bat, because it was a long game. But when I started hearing it in the first at-bat, it was amazing. I tried to enjoy it as much as I could and take it all in. I love how the fans embrace myself and how much they love me. That makes me feel good. It makes me feel like if I have to walk away from this team, I'm going to walk away with my head held up high. Because I know I did everything I could to make this team better from day one when I got called up in 2016. I got a good relationship here. This is hard, and this is the only thing I know. I've bene here (with this organization) since I was 16. Man, it was hard. It was a lot of emotions. I'm really thankful with God and the Chicago Cubs for giving me the opportunity to play baseball. And I'm really thankful for the fans and how much they love me and all the support they showed me today and throughout my career."
Contreras is set to become a free agent at season's end, and it's a near-certainty he'll be traded with contract extension talks failing to progress.
The Padres and Mets are among the teams that have already shown interest in him.
"At the end of the day, this is a business," Contreras said when asked if he had any hope of remaining with the Cubs.
Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is also a trade candidate, though his future is less certain as he's under team control through 2023. Even so, Happ made sure to soak in the moment Tuesday, and he shared a postgame embrace with his good friend Contreras.
Listen live to 670 The Score via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker
