The management of Chicago Cubs complied with the plan that was established midway through the MLB: they were active sellers in the foreign exchange market MLB and began a restructuring.
Names like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Craig Kimbrel are no longer on the Cubs’ roster, which nonetheless kept their receiver. Willson Contreras.
The Venezuelan is happy to remain in the organization that signed him as a professional at 17 years of age. He is the oldest player in the team and wants to add more campaigns with the uniform of the Puppies. So much so that he offered to listen to offers for an extension.
“I would love to stay here. I love Chicago. I love my city. I love the team,” Contreras told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. “This is the only team I’ve ever played for. If they want to rebuild around me, I’m open to talks.”
The 29-year-old Contreras, a two-time All Star, has been safe behind the plate and is hitting .236 / .345 / .441 with 17 home runs, 37 RBIs and four stolen bases in 93 games. He will be eligible for free agency in 2023.
For some time his name has been involved in rumors of change, but nothing has materialized.
He’s focused on becoming the team leader, even in the midst of rebuilding. He already showed this when he criticized the apathy of some of his teammates in the midst of Chicago’s losing streak.
It is too early to know what the next step in the Cubs ‘plans is, but with Contreras’ proposal, we only have to wait until the offseason to find out what they have in store.
If they don’t see the receiver as part of their long-term plans, he will be traded, knowing that multiple teams can play it out. And maybe wait a little longer, and it will be your main game changer in 2022.
But with his quality and his dedication to the team, they might consider building a new group around him.