The winter meetings are underway in San Diego for the MLB. The owners and GM’s are together working on trades and much much more. This is going to be about the Chicago Cubs toward the end but let’s start with this.

 

Gerritt Cole- Singed a 9 year 324 Million dollar mega-deal with New York Yankees

 

Stephon Strausburg- Agreed to a 7 year 245 million dollar deal to stay with the Nationals, with Strausburg staying that more than likely means that All-Star third basemen Anthony Rendon is more than likely leaving with Free Agency, my destination for him is the LA Dodgers. 

 

Chicago Cubs-

 

There are multiple rumors going around the clubhouse and the winter meetings involving some high profile and high impact players, in both leadership and player value. First, Cole Hammels has left the team in Free Agency for the Atlanta Braves in an 18 million dollar deal. Next up, Kris Bryant has been rumored to be on the move pending his arbitration case with the league involving the Cubs keeping him down in Triple-A Iowa for 12 games to get the extra year out of him on the back end which he is now fighting.  And released today, it was noted from Cub first baseman Anthony Rizzo and his agent have talked to the organization about a new contract. That offer was rejected by the front office. 

 

Does that mean that the Cubs are really that poor, trying to pay Kris Bryant, or are worse planning on trading Rizzo? My thought process is that Rizzo is on a very team-friendly deal that he signed when he came to the Cubs from San Diego in 2013 and the front office does not want to renegotiate that deal(imagine that). Whatever the case may be, then this is a sign that big changes are coming to the Cub roster whether fans like it or not, but it is a sign of winning culture that Theo and Jed are destined to build. 

 

When more news on the Cubs breaks(other than signing dwindling bullpen arms) I’ll be here to update all of the PXN listeners.