Cubs’ Hoyer says ‘no tension’ with Contreras, says little else originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Cubs president Jed Hoyer says he likes Willson Contreras.
“Willson and I get along great,” said the man who has chosen not to engage in extension talks and is expected to trade the best-hitting catcher in the game. “I talk to him almost every day. There’s no tension there.”
If you think he likes Contreras now, you should have seen how much he loved Anthony Rizzo last year. And Kris Bryant. And Javy Báez.
Before dumping all of them in the span of 20 hours ahead of the summer trade deadline.
Contreras knows what’s coming. He said as much again this week in a chat with NBC Sports Chicago. And he said he’s “at peace” with whatever comes next, wherever he lands — at the trade deadline or in free agency beyond that over the winter.
Hoyer said nothing when addressing the media Thursday to suggest anything has changed from the team’s position and the foregone conclusion that Contreras is merely putting himself in position with his strong start to be one of the top bats available before the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
They haven’t even been able to avoid arbitration in the two-time All-Star’s final year of eligibility, with Hoyer deciding he’d rather take him to next month’s arbitration hearing than avoid that sometimes contentious process.
“To me, the biggest thing is our relationship is good,” Hoyer said.
Mostly what that means is that Hoyer will have another close, personal friend playing for somebody else on Aug. 3.
In fact, after raving about Contreras’ early production now that the Cubs can keep him fresher because of a quality job-share catcher in Yan Gomes and a DH position in the National League, Hoyer was asked directly if that might change the calculus, if not the decision, when it comes to trying to sign Contreras to a contract extension instead.
“I think we wanted to see that,” Hoyer said, adding much the Cubs wore down Contreras…