With baseball’s off-season kicking into gear and free agency beginning late Monday (11:01pm CST), eight players that helped the Cubs win The World Series have officially become free agents.
The MLBPA announced late Saturday that Dexter Fowler filed and is now a free agent. Fowler declined his part of the mutual option for next season. The Cubs will pay Fowler the $5 million buyout on his contract. The Cubs will end up paying $13 million to Fowler for this past season.
Fowler was expected to decline his part of the mutual option for the 2017 season as soon as the terms of the contract were announced last February.
Dexter Fowler re-signed with the Cubs during Spring Training on a one-year deal that included a mutual option for the 2017 season. Fowler earned $8 million for the 2016 season, the mutual option was worth $9 million and the contract included a $5 million buyout on the option.
Fowler is believed to be looking for a multi-year contract with an AAV of around $14 million. The Cardinals, Giants and Mets are among the teams reportedly interested in Fowler.
The Cubs have until Monday to make a qualifying offer to Fowler, if there is not language in his contract to prevent the Cubs from doing so.
The Cubs have not announced yet the team has picked up the option on Jason Hammel’s contract for next season.
The Cubs eight free agents are Dexter Fowler, Aroldis Chapman, Travis Wood, Trevor Cahill, Chris Coghlan, Joe Smith, Munenori Kawasaki and David Ross.
Saturday Night Live
David Ross, Anthony Rizzo and Dexter Fowler appeared on this week’s Saturday Night Live. Ross, Rizzo and Fowler were in a skit and sang ‘Go Cubs Go’ at the end of the Weekend Update with Bill Murray. Reports of Will Farrell being part of the Cubs appearance on SNL were inaccurate.
@KrisBryant_23 GIF form of @ARizzo44 pic.twitter.com/20XzO7JAOE
— Andrew Carter (@Andrew__Carter) November 6, 2016
Live from NY…….@nbcsnl pic.twitter.com/16Ix3c99Fg
— David Ross (@D_Ross3) November 6, 2016
This was clearly the highlight of their week. #SNL pic.twitter.com/AELyOHk1qL
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) November 6, 2016
Hey, Chicago, what do you say? #SNL pic.twitter.com/zBxeLT71Wm
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) November 6, 2016
A trio of Chicago @Cubs and some guy who used to work here, many lifetimes ago, gathered for their number one passion: their music. #SNL pic.twitter.com/JOZxd4aAe2
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) November 6, 2016
Big thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch, @solangeknowles, The @Cubs, Bill Murray and @danacarvey! Goodnight! #SNL pic.twitter.com/zvYg7qzRW0
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) November 6, 2016
Arizona Fall League – Fall Stars Game
The annual Fall Stars Game took place Saturday night in Surprise in one of the biggest lopsided AFL All Star Games in recent memory. The West squad thumped the East team 12-4 in what was a hard game to watch.
Eloy Jimenez made two plate appearances after coming off the bench. Jimenez went 0-for-2 in what was his third All-Star Game of the year.
James Farris faced two batters and threw a grand total of eight pitches. Farris recorded one out.
Former Cubs’ top prospect Gleyber Torres batted third and started at second for the East team. Torres was reunited with Eloy Jimenez.
After a while of not playing around my brother we get to play together in the fall star game ???????????????? @Lamantha21 pic.twitter.com/KcMbfr8Gdd
— Gleyber Torres (@TorresGleyber) November 5, 2016
Torres was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and finished the game at shortstop.
Each team used 11 pitchers, just too much for a game of any kind. What is usually a good game to watch with all of the prospects was anything but this year.
News, Notes and Rumors
• The Tribune reported the Cubs likely will have some patchwork to do, chiefly to shore up pitching.
• According to David Haugh, the Cubs are on the verge of a dynasty, likely to avoid familiar pitfalls.
• Paul Sullivan reported on the Cubs and their fans partying from Wrigley Field to Grant Park.
• The New York Times had an updated version of the famous Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post in case the Cubs did not win The Series … the image was posted anyway and thankfully The Times was not able to use it as intended. Click here for The World Series Page That Wasn’t
• The New York Times – Cubs, Nerds and ‘True Baseball’
• Jayson Stark explained how the Cubs drought ended with the greatest game ever.
• Javier Baez and Ben Zobrist spent Saturday afternoon at Walt Disney World. Click here for Javy’s photo. And Zobrist was told the parade was one of the top three all-time.
• Comcast SportsNet explained how the Cubs are a World Series winner that’s built to last.
• Northwestern saluted the Cubs at halftime with ‘Go Cubs Go.’
#B1GCats saluting the #Cubs at halftime with "Go Cubs Go." #Northwestern #B1G #B1GTalk #CubsTalk pic.twitter.com/QK9DcUxQ9Y
— Big Ten Talk (@CSNBigTen) November 5, 2016
• According to Dennis Lin, the Padres have some interest in re-signing OF Jon Jay, LHP Clayton Richard, RHP Edwin Jackson and INF Adam Rosales.
And last, but not least, it was so crowded around Wrigley on Saturday that it looked like a game day.
This Day in Cubstory
2015 – Cubs granted free agency to Daniel Bard, Emilio Bonifacio, Drake Britton, Ryan Buchter, Luke Carlin, Adron Chambers, Felipe Paulino, Chris Valaika and Blake Parker
2015 – Cubs selected Ryan Cook off waivers from the Red Sox
2013 – Cubs signed free agent Aaron Cunningham
2010 – Cubs granted free agency to Mitch Atkins, Jason Dubois, Jeff Gray, Mark Johnson, Bryan LaHair, Scott McClain and Russ Canzler
1998 – Kerry Wood was named National League Rookie of the Year. Wood held batters to a .196 average and recorded 233 strikeouts in 166 2/3 innings. Wood’s 20K game is considered one of the most dominant starts in Major League history.
2006 – Cubs signed free agent Nate Bland