Last year, the Cubs traded impending free agents Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo at the trade deadline.
It was widely assumed they would do the same with impending free agent Willson Contreras.
But now apparently that is NOT happening:
There’s only one thing this can mean, in my opinion: that the team is working on some sort of contract extension for Contreras. If they don’t, the only other option would be to extend him a qualifying offer after this season and, if he doesn’t take it, get draft pick compensation.
It’s possible Jed Hoyer held on too much in trying to trade Contreras, and once all the prospects traded today were traded, teams didn’t have enough to offer. Look at this, for example:
Seven Top 100 Prospects traded so far this term:
James Wood, CJ Abrams, Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Logan O’Hoppe, Spencer Steer, Robert Hassell.
— Josh Norris (@jnorris427) August 2, 2022
Hoyer was probably holding on to guys like this and that was too much of a ask.
Personally, I’m happy. Also Sara Sánchez. Willson Contreras can absolutely be a part of the Next Great Cubs team. Ian Happ too. Expand them both, Jed.
Imagine the standing ovation he will receive at Wrigley Field on Friday.
As always, we await the evolution. Today’s game preview will be posted at 5:30pm CT.