5 free agents who absolutely will not sign with the Chicago Cubs

Holding your breath on an Anthony Rizzo-Chicago Cubs reunion? Don’t.

The back-and-forth between the Cubs and Anthony Rizzo over the last four months was really shocking. Of course, this spring, the longtime Chicago first baseman balked at a five-year offer from the team and shut down all future talks just like that.

(Now that deal’s looking pretty sweet given the paltry interest we’re seeing in four-time Gold Glover, at least in terms of a long-term deal, but that’s neither here nor there).

Then, after the Cubs traded him to the Yankees the day before the deadline, a tit-for-tat emerged via the media between Rizzo and the front office. Hoyer put the onus on Rizzo, Bryant and Baez for not singing extensions with the team – and those comments will undoubtedly haunt him if he has any remote hopes of bringing one of them back.

I always viewed Rizzo as our second ‘Mr. Cub’. But after everything that transpired this season, it’s hard to envision a scenario where he comes back to Chicago, especially on a long-term deal when there’s such little interest in one out there for an aging first baseman with a balky back.

All of these represent scenarios where I’d love nothing more than to be proven wrong. Seriously, I’d be happy to eat some crow. But I just don’t see Hoyer kicking off his regime by bringing in any of these free agents this winter.