By Jordan Long
The Chicago Cubs started the 2021 season on a sour note, losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 on opening day. They will look for their first win of the season tomorrow afternoon against the Pirates. Chicago is trying to reach a contract extension with 1st baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Rizzo has been the Cubs’ starting 1st baseman since 2013. In those games, Rizzo has proven that he can catch the ball for putouts, be part of double plays, and won’t drop the ball for errors. Rizzo committed 51 errors in 1,257 games at the position. For his play, Rizzo won a Gold Glove 4 times. His defense helps keep the Cubs in games.
Rizzo can also smack the ball for base hits, score runners, and find the gap for extra base hits. In his career, Rizzo is a .271 hitter with 229 home runs and 754 RBI’s. He also totaled 18 triples and 269 doubles. Rizzo isn’t a free swinger and won’t go after pitches out of the strike zone. When he is on base, he is a threat to steal, swiping 60 bases to this point.
Rizzo is important to this Cubs team. They are working on a new deal to keep him in Chicago for years to come. Rizzo is playing on the last season of his current contract paying him $16.5 million. He is scheduled to be a free agent at the conclusion of the year and the Cubs are trying to avoid that.
According to the ChicagoTribune.com, Cubs General Manager Jed Hoyer said, “I don’t think I have to explain my affection for Anthony Rizzo. Obviously I want him playing first base for the Cubs for a long time, in 2022 and beyond. And I’ve made that really clear to him throughout the process. I respect his desire to put a deadline on it. That’s his decision and one that I respect completely, but our door is open. We have no reason not to talk in-season, so I’ll honor that. But I am optimistic that we will end up reaching an agreement.”
Rizzo would like to stay in Chicago if the money is right. The Cubs offered him a deal for him to stay. It was reportedly 5-years, totaling $70 million or $14 million a year below what he is earning now. Rizzo would like a contract similar to St. Louis Cardinals’ 1st baseman Paul Goldschmidt who is earning $22 million for the next 3 years.
Hoyer and Rizzo need to find the middle ground. The Cubs don’t want to pay him $22 million a year. A fair value for Rizzo could be between $16 and $18 million for him to stay. The Cubs should continue talking to Rizzo. They still have time to reach an agreement. If not, Rizzo could be in another uniform in 2022.
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