Hand up, I jumped all over the narrative that the Cubs weren’t a free agent destination anymore. That came from a feeling of pure frustration and anger after the team didn’t sign Carlos Correa and according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, veteran catcher Christian Vázquez picked the Minnesota Twins over the Cubs despite offering him a similar contract.
Rogers made it a point to say free agents didn’t view the Cubs as a destination anymore.
Now, I’m not going to completely overreact to the press conferences of Jameson Taillon and Cody Bellinger, but I definitely take back some thoughts about no one wanting to sign with the Cubs. You know, especially since Dansby Swanson is said to have picked out the Cubs in free agency as well, despite getting interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Twins.
Of course, money is a factor in free agency and the Cubs opened up the checkbook, signing Swanson to a $177 million contract, guaranteeing Bellinger $17.5 million after a few down years and locking up Taillon for $68 million in the next four years. And obviously these guys are going to want to say positive things about their new team, but still, it’s good to see that the Cubs continue to carry a special aura about them.
Here’s a little more from Bellinger talking to the media on Tuesday about how special it is to play at Wrigley Field.
Bellinger said he spoke with Joc Pederson, his former teammate on the Dodgers and former Cubs outfielder in 2021. Again, more positives about the Cubs.
Taillon had his press conference on Monday and the starting pitcher also discussed his conversations with former Cubs, including Anthony Rizzo.
Now, we all know how things ended between Rizzo and the Cubs. His relationship with the front office may never be the same, but despite the bad ending, Rizzo told Taillon nothing but great things about the team.
Via Patrick Mooney.
Jameson Taillon said ex-Yankees teammate Anthony Rizzo gave him a heads-up that the Cubs were interested: “I guess he had heard from some of his Cubs sources. He said I would love it there, and if I ever had any questions to kind of run it by him. He had great things to say.”
So yeah, maybe this was kind of overblown.
With that being said, we are probably still a year away from other free agents taking less money to sign with the Cubs, like they were the last time the team was building up a contender after their breakout 2015 season.
And hey, I’m more than willing to admit when I’m wrong because let me tell you, I’d be freaking out just a bit if the Cubs had indeed signed Carlos Correa and then all of a sudden they postponed his press conference because something went wrong during his physical. That is happening right now with the San Francisco Giants.
Hmmm, maybe Jed should get on the phone with Scott Boras and offer Correa the same contract he got with the Twins last year if for whatever reason this deal with the Giants falls through. Correa would look great at third base for the Cubs.
I’m joking, I’m joking…but what if!
