On a busy news dad for the North Siders, by the time the Cubs‘ actual game against the Brewers–the start of a huge division series between the rivals–was finished, the result did not seem to matter much. The Cubs had lost a legend, second baseman Ryne Sandberg, after having earlier secured their front office’s future by handing a new extension to president Jed Hoyer.
The timing of the Cubs’ announcement on Hoyer was somewhat strange, coming just three days ahead of the MLB trade deadline, at which Chicago is expected to be busy. The Cubs are seeking at least one starting pitcher while also on the lookout for help at third base and, like every team in the history of trade deadlines, seeking bullpen depth, too.
Giving some job security to Hoyer could well be taken as a vote of confidence for a guy who has put last year’s disappointment firmly in the rearview mirror and has this year’s team within a game of the best record in baseball. That’s a nice thing to have heading into a critical trade deadline.
Cubs Give Jed Hoyer Job Security
The team announced on Monday afternoon that Hoyer, who came to the Cubs under Theo Epstein in 2011, had signed a multi-year extension, though terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hoyer signed a five-year deal with the club in 2016, and signed another five-year deal when he was promoted in 2020. A safe assumption is that the new deal is for five years.
“Jed and his baseball operations staff have built a healthy player development organization and put an exciting, playoff contending team on the field,” Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts said in a release. “We are looking forward to the rest of the season and to working with Jed for years to come.”
Kyle Tucker Gamble has Paid Dividends
Hoyer has made some bold moves in the past year to get the team to its current perch, including the acquisition of Kyle Tucker and the subsequent moving along of popular outfielder Cody Bellinger. Tucker has been outstanding this season, at .274 with an .872 OPS, a big driver of the team’s success.
Hoyer is happy to be locked up with an organization he has helped direct for nearly a decade-and-a-half.
“I’m so grateful for the Ricketts family’s trust and support,” Hoyer said in a release. “The Cubs are a special organization with an amazing fan base. I’m excited to keep building on the momentum we have and to work with a terrific baseball operations staff to consistently deliver a championship-caliber team for this great city.”
Cubs Drop Opener vs. Brewers
While the Cubs have been the best team in the National League for a portion of the season, they have been dinged by injuries and inconsistency recently. They entered their series against the Brewers tied atop the NL Central at 62-43.
First place in the division is at stake in the series against the Brewers. But the Cubs, after staking starter Matt Boyd to a 3-0 lead, could not hold it, as Boyd allowed five runs in 5.0 innings on the mound. The bullpen let up three more runs while the Brewers pitching crew racked up 14 strikeouts on the night.
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