Chicago Cubs: Breaking down Jed Hoyer’s end-of-season press conference

Chicago Cubs: CBA, contract extensions and an inconsistent offensive group

Player negotiations were touched on. Of course Hoyer didn’t name anyone. “I’m not gonna announce who we’re talking to.” He did speak at some length about how the team traditionally didn’t indulge in fall extension talks, but did allow that changes could be made.

Taylor McGregor asked about the CBA. “It’s our job to get ahead of that…the rules are gonna change…with how we do business.”

Which I take to mean that the conditions involved have been discussed some, and that there are some solutions to issues ‘in the pipeline’ so to speak, some tacit agreement (or agreements)  in place for the Collective Bargaining Agreements talks, due to commence officially in December.

“I think Frank (Schwindel) is gonna be a big part of our team next year,” he allowed, without committing to a position. None of the other players were identified by name, but Hoyer seemed generally happy with their spirit if not their talent level or production.

“We gave some guys opportunities that they weren’t gonna have… it was nice to see the hunger in those guys,” he said in part. This could be seen as a little shade thrown in the direction of some departed players. Or a little more shade, as both Willson Contreras and Javier Báez have blocked some sun previously. Observers have noted that the Cubs’ clubhouse wasn’t as together as they had been in previous years. This would seem to represent that impression.

“The ability to hit the ball in the seats is real important…we did get one dimensional at times. We have to be a well-rounded offense,” Hoyer said, when talking about what kind of things he’d like to see change offensively.