Cubs' Epstein optimistic about contract extension
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Both Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and team president Theo Epstein sounded optimistic Monday that a contract extension can get done soon for Epstein.
The team's leaders - Ricketts, Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer - were on hand for Monday's season opener at Angel Stadium. Epstein is in the final season of the five-year deal he signed in the fall of 2011.
The Cubs reached the National League championship series last year after a massive rebuilding project that focused mainly on procuring young talent.
"Nothing to report tonight, but we've had a couple conversations," Ricketts said. "I'd imagine we'll get it wrapped up at some point here in the near future. No deadline. We don't feel super time pressure, but at some point here. We'll see."
Both Ricketts and Epstein have played the talks low-key. Epstein sounded a similar tone to that of Ricketts.
"We talked a little bit toward the end of spring training, and I thought they were good, productive conversations," Epstein said. "Neither one of us has had the time to focus on it. It's hard to make it a focus with so much else going on."
Experienced ballclub:
The Cubs entered this season with no rookie on the opening-day roster. They went into the previous three seasons with two rookies on each opening-day roster: Kyuji Fujikawa and Hector Rondon in 2013, Mike Olt and Brian Schlitter in 2014 and Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur last year.
On Opening Day last year, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell all were in the minor leagues. Each made significant contributions to the 97-win season in 2015.
"I'm looking at this like it's my debut," said Bryant, who came up from Class AAA Iowa last April 17. "I just feel like a baseball player. I don't feel there's an age or a certain number on it. I feel like each and every one of us is a good baseball player.
Designated doings:
Entering Monday night's interleague opener, the Cubs had used a designated hitter in 146 games at American League parks since 1997, with the DHs combining to bat .276 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI. The first Cubs DH was Dave Clark against the White Sox in 1997.
Jorge Soler was the Cubs' DH Monday night.