Chicago Cubs: Championship window, Anthony Rizzo and more

Will the Chicago Cubs hold on to Anthony Rizzo for the rest of his career? And is that ‘championship’ window for the Cubs closing already? These stories and more in today’s Morning Marquee.

These days in professional sports, players don’t spend their entire career with one team. Could the Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo be the next–and maybe the last–to do so? With an extension he signed earlier in his career, he has a team option in 2020 and 2021 which the Cubs would likely pick up. But could he sign another one that could keep him in Chicago for the rest of his career?

It was just a few years ago after the Cubs won the World Series how people were talking about their ‘championship window’ being wide open. Now, many are slamming it shut on them just a few years after winning the title. The Cubs still have a young core that will be in place for the next several years. But the pitching is solid but old. And arbitration will become expensive for the team in the coming years. Is it closing just as fast as it opened?

When Cubs’ mental skills coach Ken Ravizza passed away on July 2 of last year, most outside of the Cubs and internally in baseball didn’t hear much about it. But his place and effect on the team was an important one, as shown by the struggles they showed in the second half. Some might look at a ‘mental skills’ coach and laugh. But the Cubs will be focused on it this season. After how the season finished, it’ll be a primary focus of this years team.

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These and other stories you might have missed:

‘Maddon’s evolution and the Cubs window’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Cubs still a juggernaut in the Central’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Brach’s restructured contract a bad look for MLB?’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Almora off to a hot start this spring’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Lester hasn’t been getting outside strikes since Ross retired’ – Cubs Insider

Be sure to check back later today for more Cubs news and analysis! And follow us on our Twitter @CubbiesCrib, like our Facebook page for more Cubs conversation! And be sure to check out our Climbing the Ivy Podcast each week as we cover even more Cubs baseball!