Cubs
Rizzo: ‘Nobody knows what’s going to happen’
Anthony Rizzo didn’t share the same concern as many members of the Chicago Cubs about finances affecting the future after his team’s
“I’m not worried about that stuff,” Rizzo said Friday at Wrigley Field. “Everything will take care of itself the way it’s supposed to. I’ll just leave it at that.”
Actually, that will be left in the hands of team ownership and President Theo Epstein as they cope with financial ramifications of COVID-19 that have resulted in the cut of nearly 100 staffers in their baseball and business operations departments, the uncertainty of whether fans will be admitted to Wrigley Field next year and a need to address a farm system void of major-league-ready players.
Rizzo stands to make $16.5 million if the Cubs
All five players had subpar years, and an offense that has declined since the middle of the 2018 season will need to be addressed.
The Cubs managed only one run and nine hits — four from Ian Happ — in the two games against the Marlins, and Rizzo, Baez and Bryant were a combined 1-for-24. Since winning the 2016 World Series title, the trio is 19-for-142 (.134) with 52 strikeouts and six walks in 13 postseason games.
Rizzo thought it was too soon to speculate but does believe ownership is committed to winning.
“Who knows where this game is going to go, where this country is going to go, where life is going to go?” Rizzo said. “Baseball next year is so far way. I know for fact Mr. (Tom) Ricketts wants to put a winning team on the field. Our fans deserve it, the city deserves it.
“We have a lot of guys in this clubhouse who have helped us win and have continued to help us win. So I know Theo and everyone, top to bottom, will be putting the best product on the field and do what’s best for this organization.”
But nothing can be certain after the player development department was cut one year after several additions.
Baez’s representatives and the team were making progress
“I hope I never leave this city in my whole career, but anything can happen,” said Baez, who made the prorated portion of $10 million this season. “Hopefully I stay here my whole career. I love the fans, the dedication that they’ve got for this team and the other teams in Chicago.
“So we’ll see what happens, and hopefully I stay here.”
Bryant, 28, battled through his third consecutive season of injuries and made $18.6 million in 2020. A report two years ago incorrectly stated he
Bryant described Friday’s loss as a “weird feeling” but was in the mood to do more reflecting than forecasting his future with the Cubs.
“I feel like this year, it’s been a nice growth for me, just in that nobody knows their future,” Bryant said. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen.
“I don’t know my future, so I just feel grateful for what I have in this moment and being able to talk to you guys in this awesome room that wasn’t here when I first got here (in 2015) in this awesome clubhouse.”
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