Clint Frazier Details Concussions with Yankees, Says He Was Fighting for His Life
Dec 17, 2021
New York Yankees Clint Frazier hits a two-run double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Clint Frazier never quite lived up to expectations during his five seasons with the New York Yankees, and he recently opened up about some of the struggles he faced that stemmed from concussion symptoms that impacted his mental health.
Frazier appeared on the Short Porch podcast (h/t Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News) and said he was "fighting for my life" at times with the Yankees.
He first started experiencing concussion symptoms after hitting the wall in spring 2018, a major reason he played just 15 games that year.
"I was severely symptomatic with some of these past issues that I was having," he said. "I was like, 'We gotta pick the pace up. I need help. I need serious f--kin' help.'"
Frazier played 69 games in 2019, 39 games in 2020 and 66 games in 2021.
"I showed up to spring training and started to feel better, and then it kind of, like, came back, because I had an instance where I bumped the wall again," he said while revealing the Yankees weren't always fully aware of the severity of his symptoms because he didn't tell them. "I went into the whole season feeling that exact way."
The 27-year-old last appeared in a game on June 30 when he exited with what were deemed to be vertigo-like symptoms. He underwent a number of tests and eventually ended his season when he exited a minor league game in August.
Frazier will look to bounce back with the Chicago Cubs after he agreed to a one-year contract with the National League Central club in November prior to the league's lockout.
He slashed just .186/.317/.317 with five home runs and 15 RBI in limited action last season and will suit up for a National League team for the first time in his career. Chicago also agreed to deals with Marcus Stroman and Yan Gomes while claiming Wade Miley off waivers as it turns its attention toward improving on a 71-91 season in 2021.
Carlos Correa Rumors: Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Braves Interested in SS
Dec 2, 2021
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 02: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game Six of the World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa has received interest from the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency.
Mark Berman of Fox 26 noted Correa previously received a five-year, $160 million offer from the Houston Astros.
Major League Baseball is preparing for a lockout to begin Thursday at midnight ET, meaning Correa would have to get a deal done by 11:59 p.m. ET. No contracts will be able to be agreed upon once the lockout begins, which would leave Correa and the other remaining free agents at a standstill with no obvious end date.
Fellow shortstops Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million) and Javier Baez (six years, $140 million) agreed to megadeals late last month as agents and teams scrambled to get deals done. While MLB free agency has regularly been a waiting game in years past, legitimate concern over CBA negotiations has led to urgency around the league.
Correa is coming off the best season of his career, which saw him hit .279/.366/.485 with 26 home runs and 92 runs batted in while playing Gold Glove defense at shortstop. He finished fifth in the AL MVP voting and made his second All-Star team.
Matthew Roberson of the New York Daily News previously reported Correa was looking for a deal that approaches the $341 million pact signed by Francisco Lindor with the New York Mets during last season.
It doesn't appear likely that any team will match that price, which may explain why Correa is still on the market while other high-profile shortstops have already signed.
Cubs' Updated 2022 Starting Rotation, Payroll After Marcus Stroman Contract
Dec 2, 2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Marcus Stroman #0 of the New York Mets in action against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 28, 2021 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Marlins 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Marcus Stroman is on the move for the second time in his career.
The veteran right-hander confirmed he will join the Chicago Cubs for the 2022 campaign:
Chicago has always been one of my favorite cities. Culture and passion everywhere. Beyond excited to pitch in front one of the best fan bases in all of sports. Thank you to everyone in the city for the warm welcome. I can feel it. Let’s get to work! @Cubs
The Cubs announced the pitcher signed a three-year pact, and Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the deal is worth $71 million, though it includes an opt out after two years:
Marcus Stroman signed a three-year, $71 million contract with the Chicago Cubs that includes an opt out after the second season, sources tell ESPN. He’ll make $25 million in 2022, $25 million in 2023 and $21 million in 2024. It includes $2M escalators for 160 IP in ‘22 and ‘23.
According to Spotrac, the Cubs have approximately $93 million on the books for 2022 after the Stroman deal. The team currently has four players—Stroman, Jason Heyward ($22 million), Kyle Hendricks ($14 million) and Wade Miley ($10 million)—set to make more than $10 million.
Stroman had been with the New York Mets since being traded to the franchise from the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2019 campaign. However, 2021 was his first full year with the team after sitting out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The 30-year-old went 10-13 in 2021 with a 3.02 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 158 strikeouts in 179 innings across 33 starts.
Stroman has proved to be a solid No. 2 starter throughout his eight-year career, owning a 3.63 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 179 career games. He was one of the best pitchers available on the open market next to Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer.
Here is what the Cubs' rotation could look like in 2022:
Kyle Hendricks
Marcus Stroman
Wade Miley
Adbert Alzolay
Alec Mills/Justin Steele
The Mets had plans to bring Stroman back for 2022 and beyond, but his price tag was just too high. The team has other areas on the roster it also needs to address, and they couldn't have done that if they re-signed Stroman to a lucrative deal.
"I'm open to anything," he said. "... At this point in my career, I can't wait to finally be on a team where I know I'm going to be there for longer than a year."
The Cubs had been linked to Stroman throughout the winter, so it should come as no surprise he opted to sign with Chicago.
Marcus Stroman, Cubs Agree to 3-Year Contract Worth Reported $71M in MLB Free Agency
Dec 1, 2021
New York Mets' Marcus Stroman (0) pitches during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheaderagainst the Miami Marlins Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Marcus Stroman agreed to a three-year contract with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, which Jeff Passan of ESPN reported is worth $71 million.
Marcus Stroman signed a three-year, $71 million contract with the Chicago Cubs that includes an opt out after the second season, sources tell ESPN. He’ll make $25 million in 2022, $25 million in 2023 and $21 million in 2024. It includes $2M escalators for 160 IP in ‘22 and ‘23.
Chicago has always been one of my favorite cities. Culture and passion everywhere. Beyond excited to pitch in front one of the best fan bases in all of sports. Thank you to everyone in the city for the warm welcome. I can feel it. Let’s get to work! @Cubs
The agreement comes not long after Matt Spiegel of WSCR-AM 670 The Score reported the two sides were deep in talks.
"Have heard now from 2 different sources that the Cubs and Marcus Stroman are hot and heavy in discussion right now," Spiegel tweeted Wednesday. "Would absolutely love that signing."
Stroman, who turns 31 years old in May, started 33 games for the New York Mets last season. He went 10-13 with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and 158 strikeouts in 179.0 innings.
The news comes amid the looming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLBPA at 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday. As noted by ESPN's Jesse Rogers, owners are expected to lock out the players without a new deal in place.
As far as what that would mean for free agency, Rogers explained:
Everything halts—except that teams still could talk to one another. Conceivably, trades could be consummated during the lockout but not announced until after it ends. The major league portion of the winter meetings, scheduled for next week, would be canceled. There would be little point to holding the meetings, as agents couldn't meet with teams. In fact, team personnel wouldn't even be allowed to speak to the media about players on 40-man rosters during the lockout. The minor league side of the meetings would continue. Offseason drug testing would stop as well. It would pick up as soon as a new CBA is ratified.
Therefore, it could be beneficial for free agents to ink deals with teams before being left out in the cold for an undetermined amount of time.
As far as the Cubs and Stroman go, adding the right-hander is a huge boost to a pitching staff that posted a 4.87 ERA during the 2021 season, which was third-worst in the National League.
Stroman figures to be the ace of the Cubs' staff as the rebuilding team looks to move past a 71-91 campaign that ended with Chicago fourth in the NL Central.
The 30-year-old has pitched in the bigs since 2014 save for the 2020 season, which he opted out of amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2014-2019 until he was traded to the Mets prior to the 2019 trade deadline.
Stroman is 61-60 lifetime with a 3.63 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. He made the American League All-Star team in 2019.
Report: Former Yankees OF Clint Frazier, Cubs Agree to 1-Year Contract
Nov 30, 2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees in action against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on June 24, 2021 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Royals 8-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Former New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, per multiple sources.
The Cubs and Clint Frazier have agreed to a one-year Major League deal, per source. @JesseRogersESPN was on it.
The 27-year-old had a tough 2021 season, hitting just .186 with five homers, 15 RBI, 20 runs and a .633 OPS in 66 games while missing a major chunk of the season because of concussion symptoms.
Frazier, who was Cleveland's No. 5 overall pick in the 2013 draft, has never lived up to expectations. In five seasons he's hit .239 with 29 homers and 97 RBI in 228 games. He's never played in 70 or more games in a season.
When the Yankees traded for him in 2017 as a part of a deal that sent Andrew Miller to Cleveland, general manager Brian Cashman was convinced he had hit the jackpot.
"Frazier has an electric bat," he told reporters at the time. "His bat speed is already legendary. He's got all the tools. He can run, he can hit, he can hit with power. He can play all three outfield positions. A very exciting, high-energy guy that shows up for the national anthem in a dirty uniform."
But concussion issues hampered him in the 2018 and '19 seasons.
"I didn't speak as much on how much the concussion stuff was bothering me out there," he told reporters in September 2020. "I was having issues with my depth perception. I felt symptoms at times but wanted to play and struggled with it."
Those issues returned in 2021. After his struggles this past season, the Yankees designated him for assignment and ultimately released him last week after he was unclaimed on waivers.
I wrote last offseason that I thought the #Cubs should take a flier on Clint Frazier. He was coming off a strong 2020 season with a .905 OPS. Didn’t have the same success in ‘21 (.633 OPS).
Also took some steps back on the defensive end after major improvements in ‘20.
The Cubs will be hoping Frazier can be revitalized in Chicago and live up to his potential, similar to how Joc Pederson played well for the Atlanta Braves in its World Series run after the Cubs traded him midseason. That came after a poor 2020 season for Pederson with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While Frazier has never reached the heights of Pederson—who hit 36 dingers in 2019 and had four seasons with 25 or more home runs—he has the talent to put up similar numbers. He'll reportedly be given that chance with the Cubs.
Marcus Stroman Rumors: Red Sox, Cubs, Giants, Mariners, Mets, Angels in on SP
Nov 25, 2021
New York Mets' Marcus Stroman (0) pitches during the first inning in the first game of a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Free-agent starting pitcher Marcus Stroman reportedly has a long list of suitors this offseason.
MLB Network's Jon Morosi confirmed a report from Tim Dierkes, saying the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels are among the teams interested in pursuing Stroman. Morosi added that the Seattle Mariners should be included in that list.
Stroman established himself as a dependable starter for the New York Mets this past season. He led the team with 10 wins, his first double-digit win season since 2017. The 30-year-old finished the year with a 3.02 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 179 innings pitched for one of the best statistical seasons of his seven-year career.
The Mets have already lost starter Noah Syndergaard and reliever Aaron Loup in free agency. If Stroman were to sign with another team, it would be a big blow to a New York team that lacks rotation depth behind ace Jacob deGrom.
Stroman would be a strong addition to any team's rotation. The Angels, who landed both Syndergaard and Loup, are clearly looking to improve their pitching this offseason. The Giants have also been aggressive in the arms race, re-signing starter Anthony DeSclafani to a three-year deal Monday and finalizing a deal to bring back Alex Wood.
The teams in need of a top starting pitcher have many top options to choose from. In addition to Stroman, this year's free-agent class includes high-profile starters Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Kevin Gausman.
MLB Rumors: Steven Matz Drawing Interest from Cubs, Giants, More; Mets Offer Contract
Nov 23, 2021
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 01: Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Steven Matz (22) pitches the ball during the Baltimore Orioles versus the Toronto Blue Jays game on October 01, 2021, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Free-agent starting pitcher Steven Matz could have a new home shortly.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Monday that a deal for Matz "could come soon," as he has drawn interest from the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays. Heyman had reported over the weekend that the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals were also interested in the 30-year-old lefty.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported later Monday that the Mets are one of eight teams to offer Matz a contract:
The Mets have made an offer to bring free agent pitcher Steven Matz back home to Queens, according to a source. Talks picked up significantly after Billy Eppler finalized his deal as GM last week, but lots of competition remains. Matz has already received eight different offers.
Matz pitched for the Blue Jays in 2021, going 14-7 in 29 starts with a 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 144 strikeouts. A New York native, he spent the first six seasons of his career with the Mets. Last season was a bounce-back campaign for Matz as he went 0-5 in six starts in 2020 with a 9.68 ERA.
In 141 games with 136 starts, Matz has a career record of 45-48 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 696 strikeouts.
Out of all the teams reportedly pursuing Matz, the Giants have been one of the more active clubs at the start of free agency, with their eyes set on improving their pitching. ESPN's Jeff Passan stated Monday that San Francisco is being "incredibly aggressive" in trying to shore up its rotation.
They've already re-signed starter Anthony DeSclafani to a three-year deal on Monday and are reportedly finalizing a deal to bring back Alex Wood. Kevin Gausman is a free agent, so pursuing Matz could be an insurance move for the Giants.
The Angels have also been focused on adding arms this offseason. Los Angeles signed starter Noah Syndergaard to a one-year deal last week and added reliever Aaron Loup on a two-year contract on Monday.
The addition of Matz would bolster any team's starting rotation, especially if he can duplicate his success from the 2021 season. He could also be the most reliable starter who wouldn't command major money. In addition to Gausman, this year's free-agent class includes high-profile starters Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Marcus Stroman.
MLB Rumors: Latest on Xander Bogaerts, Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras Trade Buzz
Oct 29, 2021
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox throws out a runner during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Even though the eyes of Major League Baseball fans are trained squarely on the World Series, the end of the Fall Classic will bring about many questions for all 30 teams.
This is certainly going to be a busy offseason, especially given the uncertainty around the labor negotiations and the likelihood of a work stoppage when the current CBA expires on Dec. 2.
That is going to have a significant impact on when business will get done. Free agency officially starts five days after the World Series ends, but history has shown that teams don't usually make deals for marquee players until the winter meetings at the earliest.
All of that is worth keeping in mind for the future. For now, though, there is plenty of buzz going on about some of the biggest players who could be on the move this offseason.
Xander Bogaerts Preparing to Hit Free Agency After 2022
After trading Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the start of the 2020 season, the long-term future of the Boston Red Sox was tied directly to Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers turning into All-Stars.
That mission was accomplished in 2021, as both players were named to the Midsummer Classic and played key roles in the Red Sox reaching the American League Championship Series.
Devers and Bogaerts remain under contract to the Red Sox next season, but things get murky beyond that.
Per ESPN's Joon Lee, Bogaerts is planning on using the opt out in his contract after next season to become a free agent.
The Red Sox signed Bogaerts to a six-year, $120 million contract before the 2019 season. The deal includes a $20 million player option for 2023, per Spotrac.
Timing is a crucial part of free agency. Bogaerts would almost certainly attract a lot of attention if he could opt out this offseason, but he would also be competing with the likes of Corey Seager and Carlos Correa as the top shortstop.
The top potential free-agent shortstops after next season include Tim Anderson and Trea Turner, but there's a steep drop to in talent after those two players. Dansby Swanson, who only has one full season with an OPS over .800 in his career (2020), would likely be No. 3.
Bogaerts will be 30 years old after next season, but he's remained a quality defensive shortstop even as he's gotten older. The three-time All-Star ranked eighth among all qualified shortstops in FanGraphs defensive value (8.3) and ninth in out of zone plays (106) in 2021.
Hitting is one thing that Bogaerts has never struggled to do. He has a .290/.353/.459 career slash line and has slugged at least .493 in each of the last four seasons.
As long as Bogaerts has another strong season in 2022, there's no reason for him not to see what the market has to offer him.
Anthony Rizzo Hopeful for Yankees Reunion
A disappointing 2021 season has left the New York Yankees with a lot of things to evaluate as they look to improve next year.
First base is one area that could have an opening, depending on what the Yankees want to do with Anthony Rizzo.
If Rizzo has his way, he will be wearing pinstripes next season. Bob Klapisch of the Newark Star-Ledger cited a family member as saying that Rizzo is "quite eager" to return to New York in 2022.
According to a family member, Anthony Rizzo is quite eager to return to #Yankees in 2022. That’s an important first step, assuming NYY want him back. Have to assume they do.
The Yankees will have nine free agents this offseason. Rizzo, Corey Kluber and Brett Gardner are the most prominent in that group. It seems unlikely that Gardner, whose .689 OPS in 2021 was his worst since he was a rookie (.582 in 2008), will be back.
Kluber could go either way. The two-time American League Cy Young winner was effective when he pitched (3.83 ERA), but injuries limited him to 80 innings over 16 starts. He's only pitched 116.2 innings over the past three seasons combined and will turn 36 on April 10.
Rizzo was a solid hitter in 2021 between his time with the Yankees and Chicago Cubs. The three-time All-Star had a .248/.344/.440 slash line in 141 games.
The first-base market looks strong at the top, with Freddie Freeman and Brandon Belt leading the way.
Belt is a volatile player because of his injury history. He has missed at least 25 games in six of the past eight seasons, including 65 in 2021. Given that he will turn 34 on April 20, betting on him staying healthy going forward seems like a high risk.
Freeman is one of the most durable players in MLB. The reigning NL MVP has only missed four games in the past four seasons combined.
The Yankees could also bet on Luke Voit staying healthy. He's been a productive offensive player when he's been able to play. The 30-year-old has a .267/.357/.510 slash line in five MLB seasons, but that only covers 351 games because of injuries.
Rizzo can't be counted to produce at the same level he did at his peak with the Cubs, but he just might end up being the safest option for the Yankees at first base because he rarely gets hurt.
Cubs Reportedly Shopping Willson Contreras
The Cubs are mired in the early stages of a rebuild that started last season by trading most of the remaining core from their 2016 World Series roster, including Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant.
One of the few holdovers from that squad is Willson Contreras, though his future with the club is very much uncertain.
Per The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer "will almost certainly shop" Contreras this offseason if the two sides can't agree to a long-term extension.
Contreras is a difficult player to evaluate for a new contract because his career has been mired by inconsistency. He ranked 39th among all catchers last season in framing, per Baseball Savant.
It looked like Contreras made significant strides in that area during the 2020 season, when he ranked 10th overall.
The Venezuela native threw out a career-low 21 percent of basestealers in 2021, per Baseball Reference. It was his first time finishing worse than the league average in that category.
Contreras' bat does put him among the better backstops in MLB. The two-time All-Star ranked fourth out of 15 catchers with at least 400 plate appearances in homers (21), fifth in slugging percentage (.438), sixth in on-base percentage (.340) and fifth in weighted on-base average (.337), per FanGraphs.
The 29-year-old made $6.65 million in 2021 and has one more year of arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent.
Given the state of the Cubs roster coming off a 71-91 season, there's little incentive for the front office to keep Contreras. He plays a demanding position where few players can age gracefully.
Buster Posey resurrected his career with the San Francisco Giants in part because of how he was managed. The 2012 NL MVP routinely only played two of three games in most series during the regular season.
Contreras' up-and-down MLB career to this point does make him a risky gamble for any team. His upside is high enough to make him worth betting on, especially for a potential contender looking to upgrade its lineup.
Carter Hawkins Officially Hired as Cubs GM After 14 Seasons with Cleveland
Oct 15, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 31: A view of the Chicago Cubs logo in the second inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cubs defeated the Twins 3-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs have named Carter Hawkins their 16th general manager in franchise history, the club announced Friday.
Hawkins spent 14 seasons with Cleveland in various roles, including the past five as the club's assistant general manager.
The 37-year-old takes over for Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who was recently promoted after Theo Epstein stepped down as team president.
"I am thrilled to bring Carter into our organization," Hoyer said in a statement. "He has earned a fantastic reputation as a leader through hard work, open-mindedness, humility and intelligence.
"I look forward to partnering with him to build the next great Cubs team."
Before serving as Cleveland's assistant general manager, Hawkins was the club's director of player development and was also a professional scout. He began his career as a scouting intern for Cleveland in 2008 after playing catcher for Vanderbilt, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Human and Organizational Development, the Cubs said in a press release.
Hawkins' player development background was intriguing for the Cubs as they continue to develop talent after moving on from several core players within the last year, including Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber.
After parting ways with those veterans, the Cubs now have a younger and less expensive roster. However, it's unclear if Chicago plans to use any of that extra payroll space to make some big signings this winter.
Hoyer has stated in the past he intends to "spend money intelligently" this offseason but reiterated the Cubs will be ready to be "really active in free agency."
Plugging holes in the Chicago lineup won't be easy for Hawkins. The team could use help in almost every area, and adding a few seasoned veterans with a high price tag probably won't be enough to push the Cubs back into playoff contention in 2022.
Chicago finished fourth in the NL Central this season with a 71-91 record, and it's unlikely the club overtakes the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds in the division any time soon.
Cleveland's Carter Hawkins Reportedly Targeted by Cubs as New GM
Oct 13, 2021
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 06: Chicago Cubs hat and glove in the dugout during the Major League Baseball inter-league game against the Kansas City Royals on August 6, 2018 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hawkins has served as an assistant general manager for Cleveland since November 2016, taking on the role after Derek Falvey was named the Minnesota Twins' president of baseball operations.
Following the 2020 season, the Cubs promoted Jed Hoyer from general manager to president of baseball operations after Theo Epstein left the organization.
In addressing the move, Epstein referenced "a number of decisions this winter that carry long-term consequences," which some saw as a forthcoming rebuild in the Windy City. The Cubs proceeded to non-tender Kyle Schwarber and trade away Yu Darvish, Craig Kimbrel, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez.
Chicago finished fourth in the National League Central at 71-91, its worst record since 2013.
Hiring Hawkins would align with the franchise's current vision since Cleveland largely had to lean on home-grown talent to fuel its run of three straight division titles from 2016 to '18. Per Cot's Baseball Contracts, the team's year-end payroll hasn't been higher than 15th since 2002.
The Cubs should theoretically be big spenders every year. They play in a major market, and Forbes projected them as the fourth-most valuable MLB franchise at $3.4 billion in March.
But Chicago's business over the past year indicates ownership's desire to trim costs. Its Opening Day payroll ($147.8 million) was 12th-highest in the league, down from fifth in 2020.
In a few years, the free spending may continue if the Cubs are closer to a World Series. It may even come before that, with Hoyer saying in September the Cubs "plan to be really active in free agency" and "plan to spend money intelligently."
For now, Hawkins' primary task might be replenishing a farm system that Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter ranked 16th following the MLB draft.
