I don’t want to hype this, but I don’t want to undercut what he’s saying either. As Chicago Cubs players gather in Chicago a day before the Cubs Convention for a Cubs Chairty event, Anthony Rizzo spoke about the team, where they’re at, extensions, and business.
Now, Rizzo’s team was disappointed that the Cubs weren’t interested in pursuing an extension this offseason. The Cubs and Rizzo have talked in the past, but it appeared that the two sides were far off on what an extension should look like. It seems like the talks this past winter, or lack thereof, have caused Rizzo to realistically look at the probability of retiring as a Cub.
Anthony Rizzo “ It would be naive of me to think I might not play the rest of my career as a Cub” Off season conversations on an extension did not come to fruition for Rizzo.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) January 16, 2020
Rizzo does respect the process, as well as keeping these sort of things in-house. Only negativity can come from airing these things out in a public forum.
Take Kris Bryant for example. When David Kaplan erroneously told the world that Bryant turned down a $200 million extension, Kaplan later admitted to guessing what a deal would look like, Cubs fans began to turn on the MVP. Tagging Bryant with a reputation of only being in it for the money, rehashing the fact that he’s represented by Scott Boras, and finding every chink in the armor they could.
If Rizzo was to air all of his thoughts, publicly, it just wouldn’t turn out well for him. Fans, while they mean good, typically don’t understand nor could wrap their minds around contract squabbles of professional athletes. The dollars they make in half a season is more than most of us earn in a lifetime. So, Rizzo understands that he doesn’t want to spread specifics, cause it doesn’t help privately, professionally, or publicly.
He did go on to mention the business end is cut throat. That dollars are causing the Cubs to consider trading the MVP.
Anthony Rizzo said he’ll keep his reaction to not getting an extension this off season ‘in-house.’ Called the business end of baseball as ‘cut throat’ as ever. An example: “We’re talking about trading the MVP of the league a couple years ago.”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 16, 2020
It doesn’t appear that Rizzo is happy with the way the business is being played out. Hey, Tony, neither are we.
It would be interesting to find out if he’s directing that anger towards the front office, and Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, or if he’s directing it towards the owners?
Personally, I am pointing the finger and anger towards the Ricketts family. I would also include Crane Kenney in that bunch. While, yes, the front office has handed out bad checks that are causing budgetary restraints, the ownership group and Kenney have made bad business decisions which have handcuffed the club more than $20 million a year to Jason Heyward.
From poor decisions which have doubled the costs of ballpark renovations, to the issues with the ADA and accessible seating, to misjudging the network boom (and the failure to get all carriers onboard). There are more than a billion dollars in money that the Cubs either spent or are missing out on that have nothing to do with the way the front office has spent. While, ultimately the network and renovations will be good for the fan experience, they’ll cause what was supposed to be a dynasty to become a one-hit-wonder.
I’m sure Rizzo will come off unscathed. He is possibly the most popular Cub, while Javier Baez is quickly closing the gap. Had this been Bryant saying these things, there’d be pitchforks waiting for him at Cubs Con and all 81 Wrigley home dates, well… if he’s still here.
