For all the talk of possible contract extensions involving Cubs this offseason, first baseman Anthony Rizzo's name has been mentioned less than other core players.
Well, that's because the Cubs haven't approached Rizzo with an extension, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers.
"The Cubs have informed us that they will not be offering Anthony an extension at this time," Marc Pollack, Rizzo's agent, told Rogers.
Rizzo was seen as a logical candidate to get a new deal this winter. He's the face of the franchise and one of the team's most valuable players on the field and in the clubhouse. Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer didn't comment on specifics, but he said Tuesday the organization is having contract talks with the team's core players.
"We always take the position of not commenting on extensions, but are we having those discussions? Yes," Hoyer said at the Winter Meetings. "People focus so much on trades and free agent signings at these meetings, but all the agents are under the same roof, also, and that allows us to have those kinds of discussions. I'm not gonna specify who or what, but yeah certainly those conversations are ongoing."
If Rizzo isn't on deck, then shortstop Javier Báez is presumably the most likely Cub to get extended this offseason. Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras have been involved in incessant trade rumors, and according to Rogers, the Cubs also haven't approached Kyle Schwarber with a new contract to this point.
Rizzo is signed through 2020, and the Cubs have a team option on him for 2021 worth $16.5 million. But the Cubs will likely go into this season not knowing if Rizzo will be around after 2021, complicating the long-term picture of the franchise.
MLB
Pollack added, however, that Rizzo is open to the idea of being a Cub for life.
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