MESA, Ariz. – Christian Yelich’s $188.5-million contract extension with the Brewers reportedly became official on Thursday – about the same time the White Sox got a $70 million extension done with infielder Yoan Moncada.
Is Cubs’ shortstop Javy Baez next?
Baez on Thursday said ongoing talks between his representatives and the Cubs are “progressing” but didn’t know how close they might be – which, on the other hand, might suggest relatively slow “progress.”
Sports media pundits jumped on reports of the below-market Yelich deal this week to wonder aloud how it might impact Kris Bryant’s willingness to sign an extension with the Cubs before becoming a free agent after next season – or being traded in the interim.
But if it were to impact any markets related to Cubs extensions it would more likely influence those actually engaging in extension talks – especially during what’s now become a yearlong, historic trend of extension agreements league wide.
Maybe.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with mine,” Baez said. “I’m happy for him. Hopefully, we get mine done. We’re working on it.”
Yelich, who beat out Baez for the 2018 National League MVP, was under club control through 2022 before the extension because of a long-term contract he signed with Miami before a trade to the Brewers. Baez can become a free agent after 2021.
Any comparison is less about service time and market value than the potential example for a similar-level, MVP-caliber talent.
But Baez was quick to dismiss such influence, even as he continues to say he wants to play his entire career with the Cubs.
A year ago, the Cubs got an extension done with pitcher Kyle Hendricks. Whether they can get another done with Baez this time around – or eventually the likes of Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras – will say the most about where this team goes next. And how fast.
When asked how the Yelich deal might impact the club’s efforts to extend its own players, team president Theo Epstein demurred.
“I’m not making any predictions or really talking about it,” he said. “We’ve tried really hard to sign a lot of our guys. With few exceptions we haven’t been able to get it done. It’s not worth talking about. If we can get it done, we will. If we can’t, then we’ll move forward. But players don’t have an obligation to sign.
“All we can do is make offers, make our intentions known and then see if we can get something done.”
Asked if the Cubs were still engaged in talks that might lead to at least one extension – as he had said in January – Epstein said: “Yes and no.”
If it’s more no than yes, it could be long year or two for a team whose core is aging into expensive, final arbitration years over the next two years.
In fact, the other way to look at the flurry of extensions over the past 12 months for the likes of Yelich, Mike Trout, Nolan Arenado and Alex Bregman is that none of them will be free agents when the Cubs All-Star core starts reaching free agency.
Bryant, who said he was “super happy” for Yelich, said he expects Baez to get his big multi-year deal, too – along other Cubs.
“It’s going to happen for a lot of people in this room, eventually,” Bryant said. “Nobody can see the future. You don’t know if it’ll be here or wherever. I certainly think all of us would like it to be here.
“But Theo said it before: You can’t keep every single person here. That’s the harsh reality of the game. And it stinks, but we’ve just got to make the most of what we’ve got while we have it.”
