This is not a drill. Citing sources, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times is reporting that the Cubs and Javy Báez have begun negotiations on a “potential long-term extension.” Though he buried the lede in a big way and there are obviously no specifics available at this point, this could function as a decent chunk of the Cubs’ offseason plans due to the money it would add to the payroll. Javy is projected to earn only $9.3 million in 2020 so any extension figures to boost that significantly.
Theo Epstein spoke during his end-of-season press conference about having more urgency when it came to extending those players who are nearing the ends of their respective rookie deals, and Javy is at the top of that group.