It’s amazing how drastically a baseball career can progress.
Rizzo said 5 years ago he was in hospital w/ cancer: “Crazy how everything has come full circle.”
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) May 13, 2013
Now Anthony Rizzo has beaten cancer, achieved cult hero status in a short time in Cubs pinstripes, and now is a Cub-for-a-long-time.
Hoyer cites “cost certainty” Rizzo turned down offer in spring training, likes security now. “I think I’m playing Little League again.”
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) May 13, 2013
Hoyer says cost certainty with Rizzo will help make it easier to sign future “core” players. Would not name those players. #Cubs
— Bruce Miles (@BruceMiles2112) May 13, 2013
The deal will basically set Rizzo up for life and will minimize risk to the Cubs. It will allow the Cubs to sign free agents and potentially set up extensions for other controlled players, and we can speculate that might mean Jeff Samardzija or Travis Wood, or a buy-low candidate in Matt Garza.
Hoyer says Rizzo deal was done last Wednesday, but Rizzo needed to take physical. #Cubs
— Bruce Miles (@BruceMiles2112) May 13, 2013
Snuck it by all the media again!
We have reactions from Dave Cameron of FanGraphs, as well as Obstructed View. The folks at MLBTR have also compiled a number of reactions, all positive. I think most everyone says this is a good deal, and I like what OV said in terms of Rizzo having a floor of about Carlos Pena, which won’t actually suck. I think he can be more of a right-handed Derrek Lee, and despite what most Cubs fans think, Derrek Lee was pretty good at baseball too.
So…what do you think?
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