RIZZO ENDS TALKS ON DEAL
Anthony Rizzo is cutting off talks with the Chicago Cubs on a new contract and is prepared to play the season as free agency looms after the World Series.
The first baseman, who in 2016 helped the Cubs win their first title in 108 years, agreed in March 2013 to a $41 million, seven-year contract that included two team option years. He has a $16.5 million salary this season and set a deadline of opening day for a new agreement.
“Obviously there's been talks and whatnot, but it doesn't look like really at this time anything is going to be finalized and look forward to just opening up Thursday and starting this journey with this team,” Rizzo said Monday.
His preference is to stay with the Cubs. He won't listen to an offer unless it is at a level close to what he thinks the proposal should be.
Third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Javier Baez also are entering the final season of their contracts. Bryant has a $19.5 million salary and Baez $11.65 million.
Rizzo, who turns 32 in August, hit .222 with 11 homers and 24 RBIs during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The three-time AllStar has a .271 career average with 229 homers and 753 RBIs in 10 major league seasons.
Cutting Odor
Rougned Odor, the Texas Rangers' starting second baseman the past seven seasons, has been told he won't be on the openingday roster after switching to third base this spring training.
President of baseball operations Jon Daniels said the Rangers don't have an everyday role for Odor. The 27-year-old infielder has two more seasons and $24.6 million left on his six-year contract, and a $3 million buyout for a $13.5 million team option in 2023.
“I think really what it came down to was we've made a decision, obviously a pretty clear direction looking towards the future. And playing him every day was not in our plans this year,” Daniels said.
Restrictions to loosen
Card games, car pools and eating at restaurants may be back in the major leagues later this season. Trips to church and sponsor events may return, too.
Mask use would be dropped from dugouts and bullpens, and electronic tracing devices would be eliminated when 85 percent of major league players and primary field staff are vaccinated. Communal clubhouse video would return before and after games. Pool tables would be restored, along with team saunas.
A three-page memorandum from Major League Baseball and the players' association sent to players and staff on Monday and obtained by The Associated Press also stated “all players and staff are strongly encouraged to receive one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines when eligible.”
Kuhl gets nod
Chad Kuhl's long road back from Tommy John surgery is over.
More than two years removed from wondering where his career was heading after doctors reconfigured his mangled right elbow, Kuhl will be Pittsburgh's openingday starter in Chicago on Thursday when the Pirates face the Cubs.
The 28-year-old is the longesttenured starter on a staff that is largely inexperienced and largely anonymous. The void left by the offseason departures of Jameson Taillon, Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams and Chris Archer is palpable. Kuhl knows he will play a major role in trying to fill it.
“We talk about the guys that have left and there's a lot of leadership, a lot of innings to take up, a lot of youth on this team,” he said. “So it adds to the leadership role that me and (Steven) Brault and those guys are trying to take over. It's just trying to lead by example, do the right things.”
Notable
The St. Louis Cardinals plan to start the season Thursday in Cincinnati with pitchers Kwang Hyun Kim, Dakota Hudson and Miles Mikolas on the injured list along with outfielder Harrison Bader.
Hudson always planned to begin the season on the injured list as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Kim is dealing with a back injury, Mikolas with a sore shoulder and Bader has a strained right foreman that could keep him out a month, the Cardinals said Sunday.
• Milwaukee Brewers reliever Justin Topa has a flexor strain in his right elbow and will miss at least half the season, another setback for the right-hander who's had two Tommy John reconstructive surgeries.