Saturday Cubs News: CBA Negotiations, More Contreras and Correa Rumors, Would Baez Return, and Other News

 

Braves shut out the Astros last night, including no-hitting them into the 7th inning, which gives them the 2-1 series lead, so that's good news to me. Let's start out by a few MLB news tidbits.

• The Padres hired Bob Melvin, who was the current Athletics manager, to be their new manager. Although a pretty abrupt move out of nowhere, Melvin is a manager with lots of experience who has managed a team that has been making the playoffs the last few years, and maybe will help guide the Padres in that direction.
• The PETA wants to rename "bullpen" to "arm barn" saying that the former is offensive to cows. I won't say too much on this so I don't lose my temper, but THE COWS DON'T EVEN WATCH MLB! One of the most ridiculous things I've heard in baseball for a while now...
• Albert Pujols, one of the more ancient specimens in baseball right now, is going to be playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, and said that he wasn't ready to retire yet. In a way, good for him that he's still able to hit the ball well and catch the ball at first fine, but...the guy is getting older and that means his value is going to keep going down.
• The Mets, after interviewing a bunch of guys for GM, have been rumored to possibly put of the search until next year. I'm not too sure if they can afford to wait that long, being in the position they are in now- being a hyped-up team to missing the playoffs by a lot, but we'll see.

One of the bigger piece of news, that indeed might affect the Cubs and all of MLB drastically, is the CBA Negotiations. Now, this is pretty complicated, so don't expect to understand it completely, but here is a simple description of the CBA from CBS:

 "The CBA is the negotiated agreement between players and clubs (i.e., the team owners) that governs the working relationship between the two parties. It covers things as mundane as players' meal allowances and travel protocols and as vital as minimum salaries, the structure of free agency, revenue-sharing specifics, and roster sizes."

MLB is a business, and they have contracts with places like the CBA, and this one happens to expire December 1st, 2021. No agreement on a negotiation has been reached, although talks have been happening since March, and reliable sources have said it is highly unlikely an agreement will be made before December 1st.

So, then what happens if no negotiation is made? Then a work stoppage is inevitable, meaning it will be the first one to happen to MLB since 1994. Because the CBA controls so much of "structure of free agency, revenue-sharing specifics, and roster sizes", then everything will halt in regards to signing free agents, trades, and even games played. This will quite possibly affect Spring Training, delaying it and possibly even delaying the start of the regular season.

This also will affect teams' decisions regarding signing free agents, most will hold off on major signings until an agreement is made, and also no trades will probably be made because of the possible changes in the new agreement.

So, it is not a definite fact that there will be a work stoppage and everything, but it is highly likely. So, definitely an issue to be concerned about.

Contreras Rumors

Contreras rumors are nothing new, since he is heading into his final year with the Cubs, and I have voiced my opinion that he should not be traded, but rather extended, but it still is a possibility.

Shopping Contreras and trading Contreras is two different things. Shopping him would mean reaching out to teams that are interested in him and seeing what they are willing to offer for him, which I think is a wise thing to do, but doing so leads to rumors that he is going to be traded.

If the Cubs find what they think is a great bargain, perhaps quality prospects or some MLB players that they like, then perhaps they will trade him and sign a free agent catcher like Zunino. But most likely, they will only shop him...test the market, not trade him.

The newest Contreras rumors shows the Yankees have possible interest in Contreras, especially with Gary Sanchez being a free agent. I can see it from their perspective being a good idea, but it will depend on what they have to offer in return and if the Cubs think it is worth it.

Carlos Correa Rumors

I've discussed this a little bit before, but once again, Correa is showing indications he would like to play for the Cubs, if they would make him an acceptable offer. Correa reportedly said:

"Whatever team wants to win I want to be part of it. I want to be part of an organization that wants to go in the right direction and rebuild in the right way and win championships.”

That sure sounds an awful like the Cubs and the direction they are headed in. The problem is the cost. Sure, any team would like a solid defender and hitter in Correa to be added to their team, but the cost is going to be an issue. 

The Cubs have money to spend, there is no doubt about that, but do they want to spend it on a shortstop for a long-term deal, or focus more on pitching and spend it on more expensive pitchers?

Correa's ideal deal would be upward of $300M for a long-term deal, which is pretty expensive. Honestly, the Cubs truly are a wild-card with Correa and other FA shortstops, which means I really have no idea what the Cubs are going to do.

Javier Baez Rumors

Lately, MLB insider Jon Heyman has indicated that the Cubs very well might get Baez back over this offseason. Of course Baez has a bad strikeout rate, and a surprisingly bad defensive year, but he was loved by the fan-base, and had very productive results with the Mets in the latter half of the year.

I don't believe he'd be as expensive as some of the shortstop market, although it'll still cost them a tidy sum. The Cubs were reportedly working on an extension with Baez before the pandemic, so obviously a long-term deal with Baez was considered and not rejected.

Baez will fill the spot at shortstop (since Hoerner is injury-prone and leave him to fill other open spots), and provide his "El Mago" style of entertainment to Cubs fans, as well as hopefully bringing as good as results as he did with the Mets.

Well, that will conclude our news for today, and don't forget the place place to come for Cubs news is Cubbies Gazette! So follow Cubbies Gazette here and comment any questions and thoughts!