Latest news with #JedHoyer
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs trade rumors: MacKenzie Gore, Merrill Kelly among 7 best options for Chicago at 2025 deadline
One year ago, the Cubs openly said they were approaching the trade deadline with an eye toward 2025. Well, 2025 is here, and the time to strike is now. Chicago is looking to build a sustainable winner, but with Kyle Tucker set to hit free agency in the winter and the NL potentially more wide open than expected, Cubs fans are anticipating some aggressiveness ahead of the trade deadline. Pitching will be front of mind for Jed Hoyer. The Cubs' offense is in excellent shape, particularly with rookie Matt Shaw on a torrid pace since the All-Star break. With Justin Steele out for the season plus a need for veterans in the bullpen, it's likely the pitching staff will see at least an addition or two before the July 31 deadline. Here's a look at the Cubs' top trade targets, from MacKenzie Gore to Griffin Jax. Cubs trade deadline targets MacKenzie Gore, SP, Nationals It would still be a bit of a surprise to see the Nationals trade Gore, who is under contract through 2027, but Washington appears to at least be listening to offers — and the Cubs are reportedly showing serious interest. Chicago has the prospects to match up with the Nationals, with Owen Caissie likely headlining any package. Gore has been prone to blowups during his time with the Nationals, but when he's on, he's on. An All-Star for the first time this season, Gore has a 3.27 FIP and averages 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Acquiring Gore would be a signal that the Cubs are all in on contending both this season and long-term. Merrill Kelly, SP, Diamondbacks Kelly is a rental who doesn't offer nearly the same excitement as Gore would, but the results are tough to argue. The 36-year-old has a 3.22 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 22 starts this season and has kept his ERA in the low 3s in each of his past three full seasons. Kelly also has postseason experience after posting a 2.25 ERA over four starts during Arizona's run to the World Series in 2023. If the Cubs are looking for a stable arm to serve out the rest of the season, Kelly could be the best option. Mitch Keller, SP, Pirates Whether the Pirates could be enticed to make a Keller trade within the division, let alone any Keller deal at all, is unknown, but the Cubs' interest in Gore signals that Hoyer is willing to make strong offers for controllable starters. Keller doesn't miss many bats, but he has impressive control and carries a 3.53 ERA and 3.42 FIP this season. One red flag for the Cubs might be that Keller has finished seasons much more slowly than he's started them, which might not bode well for October. Sandy Alcantara, SP, Marlins The Cubs have been tied to Alcantara throughout the season, even as the former Cy Young Award winner has struggled mightily. After a promising seven-inning outing against the Padres got him back on track, could Alcantara be an option for a Cubs team likely to add a starter? If the Cubs can fix him, Alcantara can be a fairly cheap rotation option for 2026 and even 2027 due to a team option on his deal. The Marlins won't feel any pressure to trade him, but the Cubs have a strong enough prospect pool to pique Miami's interest. Raisel Iglesias, CL, Braves The Cubs are looking for late-inning relievers, but they don't necessarily need someone who can step into the closer's role immediately with Daniel Palencia getting the job done to this point. That could make Raisel Iglesias an interesting reclamation project. With 235 saves under his belt, Iglesias has enough experience in high-pressure situations to be trusted in postseason games, but he has an ERA of 5.09 on the season. In 10 seasons as a full-time reliever, however, Iglesias has posted an ERA north of 3.00 only one other time. The Braves are safely out of contention and could be willing to deal Iglesias at a mild discount after his struggles. Jhoan Duran, CL, Twins The Twins are not likely to trade both Duran and Griffin Jax, but the Cubs might just have enough in the tank to get Minnesota listening on Duran. The 27-year-old has bounced back from a rocky 2024 to post a 1.86 ERA and 2.38 FIP through 48 appearances this season, and the flamethrower is one of the top available relief arms, due partly to his contract running all the way through 2027. It would take a steep offer for the Twins to part with Duran, but the Cubs went all-in on a closer in 2016 and could very well do the same in 2025. Griffin Jax, RP, Twins Coming slightly cheaper than Duran — but still expensive — would be Griffin Jax, who posted a sparkling 2.03 ERA last season but has run into some tough luck in 2025 with an ERA of 4.00. The underlying numbers make Jax a top relief arm on the market, as he is averaging 14 strikeouts per nine innings and carries a 2.07 FIP that is nearly half of his ERA. Jax has very limited experience as a closer, but the Cubs could pair him with Palencia at the back of the bullpen and enter October with a formidable tandem.
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Chicago Cubs Reward Top Exec Jed Hoyer With Contract Extension
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer received a contract extension after the Cubs' fast ... More start. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski, File) Almost nine years after eating roasted goat in left field seats at Wrigley Field the day after the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, Cubs' president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was given more time for another bite. In the midst of the Cubs' best season since, Hoyer's job security after an underachieving four seasons is no longer an issue. The Cubs put that to bed Monday, when the sides agreed to a multi-year contract extension to replace the current five-year deal that Hoyer signed after taking over as the Cubs' president of baseball operations after Theo Epstein left following the 2020 season. The two orchestrated the moves that led the Cubs to the 2016 championship. The Cubs were tied with Milwaukee for the best record in the National League entering games of Monday, and with that management stepped in to quell any remaining uncertainty. 'Jed and his baseball operations staff have built a healthy player development organization and put an exciting, playoff-contending team on the field,' Cubs president Tom Ricketts said in a press release. 'We are looking forward to the rest of the season and to working with Jed for years to come.' The length of the extension was not announced, but it leaves no question that the other major league teams in the hunt for top executives — Washington fired World Series-winning general manager Mike Rizzo three weeks weeks ago — must look elsewhere. Hoyer signed manager Craig Counsell to a five-year, $40 million contract before last season, and pressure on Hoyer mounted when his first season ended 83-79, the same as just-fired manager David Ross. This year's turnaround has been convincing, and the new deal will give Hoyer more freedom to deal before Thursday's trade deadline, where the Cubs are targeting pitching, starters and relievers. Washington's MacKenzie Gore and Arizona's pair of Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen are possible additions. Hoyer's Bold Move For Tucker a Winner Hoyer engineered a series of decisive moves in the offseason in an attempt get the Cubs out of the doldrums, and the industry-shaker was the trade for Kyle Tucker. Will Kyle Tucker be back? The Cubs are expected to make that a priority this winter. (AP ... More Photo/Ashley Landis) Hoyer acquired potential free agent Tucker from the Houston Astros for outfield prospect Cam Smith, productive third baseman Isaac Paredes and pitcher Hayden Weneski. It was a gamble, ongoing. The Cubs are guaranteed only one year of Tucker, whose contract expires after this season, and lost six years of Smith, one of their best minor league prospects. Smith is the Astros' right fielder and lead off hitter. Tucker has proven to be worth it. He is slashing .274/.384/.488 with 18 homers, 59 homers and 23 stolen bases. With break-out center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and DH Seiya Suzuki, the Cubs have one of the most potent middle-of-the order groups in the majors. The Cubs were third in the majors with 155 homers and a .769 OPS, and their run differential of plus-116 led the majors. FanGraphs gave them a 96.7 percent chance to make the postseason. Crow-Armstrong is among Hoyer's trade haul, which also included first baseman Michael Busch and shortstop Dansby Swanson. They stepped into the Japanese market by adding Suzuki and left-hander Shota Imanaga. Hoyer's next task will be to ensure that Tucker remains in Wrigley Field for the foreseeable future, the final part of the equation. (Tucker is represented by Excel Sports Management, which has Swanson among its clients.) Hoyer's Margin Calls Have Paid Off The Tucker deal made the biggest noise, but the Cubs would not be where they are without the roster pieces Hoyer added from the free agent market. Left-hander Matthew Boyd whose career has been plagued by arm injuries, has been the 11-win ace of he staff after signing a two-year, $29 million free agent contract over the winter. Right-hander Colin Rea has eight wins on a bargain one-year, $5 million deal. Boyd and Rea have been especially valuable on a staff that lost projected No. 2 starter Justin Steele to Tommy John surgery three weeks into the season and are expected to be without Jameson Taillon for a month because of a right calf injury. Catcher Carson Kelly, who signed a two-year, $11.5 million free agent deal, has 13 homers in one of the best seasons of a 10-year career. He has taken up the slack left by the of starter Miguel Amaya, who has been out since May 25.
Reuters
11 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Cubs announce extension for baseball operations boss Jed Hoyer
July 29 - Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer entered 2025 without a contract beyond this season. But with the Cubs sharing the National League's best record with the Milwaukee Brewers entering Monday's play, Hoyer has been rewarded with a multiyear extension announced prior to the Cubs' series opener at Milwaukee. Hoyer was hired by Theo Epstein to serve as the team's general manager after the 2011 season. After the Cubs won the 2016 World Series and made five playoff appearances in a six-year stretch with the duo at the top of the organization, Hoyer was asked to assume Epstein's president of baseball operations responsibilities when Epstein left following the 2021 season. Hoyer signed a five-year contract at the time. Specifics on his extension were not released. "I'm so grateful for the Ricketts family's trust and support for 14 years," Hoyer said in a statement. "The Cubs are a special organization with an amazing fan base. I'm excited to keep building on the momentum we have and to work with a terrific baseball operations staff to consistently deliver a championship-caliber team for this great city." The Cubs failed to reach the playoffs and posted a 311-337 record (.480) in Hoyer's first four seasons at the helm. But with trade acquisitions such as All-Star outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker leading the way, the Cubs have fashioned a 62-43 record and sat atop the National League Central most of this season. The announcement of Hoyer's contract extension provides extra stability in the final days before Major League Baseball's trading deadline. If any rival general managers believed he might need to be more aggressive in order to keep his job -- and demand more in deals as a result -- then that bargaining angle has been quashed. --Field Level Media
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Chicago Cubs extend president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer ahead of trade deadline
With one of the best records in MLB, the Chicago Cubs wasted no time extending president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to a multi-year extension. The Cubs announced the decision Monday afternoon with the 2025 MLB trade deadline looming, scheduled for Thursday, July 31 at 6 p.m. ET. The Cubs are expected to be active, given they are currently tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central and are looking to gain an edge. Hoyer has been with the Cubs for 14 years now, moving to the president of baseball operations role after Theo Epstein's departure in 2020. Statements from Cubs personnel Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts was excited for the extension. "Jed and his baseball operations staff have built a healthy player development organization and put an exciting, playoff contending team on the field," he said. Said Hoyer: "The Cubs are a special organization with an amazing fan base. I'm excited to keep building on the momentum we have and to work with a terrific baseball operations staff to consistently deliver a championship-caliber team for this great city." Hoyer's history of aggressive dealing In just a few years as the team's president of baseball operations, Hoyer has made aggressive deals time and time again. In 2021, Hoyer's first full year in the role, he was arguably the most aggressive dealer at the trade deadline, moving franchise cornerstones like Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras within a short span. Those deals wound up working out well for the most part, getting back some key pieces that have fueled their 2025 run, including breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong as part of the Baez deal. Before the 2025 season, Hoyer was equally aggressive, replacing outfielder Cody Bellinger with an upgrade in Kyle Tucker and adding Matthew Boyd to the rotation. Each of them wound up representing the National League in this year's All-Star Game. With that in mind, the Cubs could be a team to watch as the deadline approaches. With five prospects currently listed on MLB's Top 100, the Cubs have the farm system necessary to grab one or two game-changing players for the remainder of the season. The Cubs have expressed interest in several pitchers on the trade block, including the Nationals' MacKenzie Gore, the Pirates' Mitch Keller and even the Guardians' Emmanuel Clase − though Clase is currently on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of a sports betting investigation by MLB.
Al Arabiya
13 hours ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Cubs agree to contract extension with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer
The Chicago Cubs locked in president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer for the long term, agreeing to a multiyear contract extension on Monday. The 51-year-old Hoyer's five-year contract was set to expire at the end of the season – his 14th with the Cubs. He was hired as general manager in 2011 and replaced Theo Epstein as president of baseball operations in 2020. The announcement came hours before Chicago opened an important three-game series at NL Central rival Milwaukee. Led by All-Stars Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker, the Cubs were tied with the Brewers with a league-best 62-43 record. In a statement, Hoyer said he's so grateful for the trust and support of the Ricketts family owners and called the Cubs a special organization with an amazing fan base. 'I'm excited to keep building on the momentum we have and to work with a terrific baseball operations staff to consistently deliver a championship-caliber team for this great city,' he said. Chairman Tom Ricketts praised Hoyer and his staff for building a healthy player development organization and putting an exciting playoff contending team on the field. 'We are looking forward to the rest of the season and to working with Jed for years to come,' he added. Chicago is in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The Cubs had losing records in 2021 and 2022 before winning 83 games each of the next two seasons. They made a big jump this year thanks to an offseason trade with Houston for Tucker – who has an expiring contract – and the emergence of Crow-Armstrong as one of the game's top players. Hoyer worked in Boston's front office from 2002 to 2009 before serving as San Diego's general manager from 2010 to 2011. He reunited in Chicago with Epstein, his old friend and boss with the Red Sox, and the two took the Cubs to historic heights. Led by young sluggers Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo and veteran ace Jon Lester, Chicago made the playoffs five times in a six-year span from 2015 to 2020. The 2016 team captured the Cubs' first World Series championship since 1908, beating Cleveland in seven games. Chicago reached the NLCS the following year but has not advanced in the postseason since that run. Hoyer dismantled the championship nucleus prior to the 2021 trade deadline, sending Bryant to San Francisco, Rizzo to the New York Yankees, and Javier Báez to the New York Mets. The Cubs acquired Crow-Armstrong from the Mets in the Báez deal.
