Ricketts on Mully and Hanley Yesterday

[David]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/audio/mully-and-hanley-show/

 

You can listen to it at the link above...hour 4 of yesterday's show.

 

Otherwise, CCO has a nice transcript:

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2015/12/tom-ricketts-talks-cubs-on-670-the-score.php

 

On the importance of having the cost certainty of the young players and the future earnings the Cubs are projecting in order for the team to sign John Lackey, Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward

“Obviously that’s a big factor. We treat Theo [Epstein] and Jed [Hoyer] like we’re real partners and we show them all the numbers and we’re completely transparent on what kind of financial flexibility we can have going into the future. And then just really trust them to kind of put the dollars into the years that make the most sense and obviously right now we have a very good young team with a lot of guys who are in a good position from a cost standpoint and we have a window here we think that we can really be competitive. It made a lot of sense to put some money on the table and round out the lineup and come into 2016 with a team that should be very, very good.”

 

On Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward leaving money on the table to play with the Cubs because they feel there is a chance to win with this team

“In our six years, I guess, in general the guys you talk to who are free agents are looking for the best contract. What we have seen over the last couple of years, and nobody doesn’t want to come to Chicago. I mean from a quality of life standpoint it’s the best place to play, particularly if you are a married player that has kids, you can live a few blocks from the stadium, you play more day games. So people like that in general. But then when you throw in the momentum that the organization has on the field you get, you can maybe convince a Jon Lester, who wants to be a winner, and he comes over. Then you throw Joe Maddon on top of it. And Joe was rated by, Sports Illustrated did a poll of the players, and some ridiculous number of players named him as the manager they would most want to play for. We have a lot of tailwinds when it comes to recruiting these guys. And obviously there is always that, ‘Let’s be the first team since 1908.’ Thing is everybody buys into that, too. It all plays to our advantage and we’re just really happy with the way it worked out so far this year.”

 

On how involved he is with the recruiting of players or does he leave it up to the baseball operations department

“We are in contact pretty frequently when it gets close. We’re for the most part, during the Winter Meetings, there are a lot of days where the guys are working on six or seven things that probably won’t happen. I don’t get the hourly update on anything. As we get closer to larger transactions, I am on the phone with Theo a lot, just offering him support in any way I can. With respect to bringing in new free agents, in the past obviously I was involved when Jon Lester came to Chicago last year and I got on the road and went and saw a couple of other guys who we were recruiting at one point. This year, not so much, I think the story tells itself. The players are coming here to win with a team that’s good and young and a great manager on a real quest.”

 

On the impact the new facilities at Wrigley has had on free agents deciding to play for the Cubs

“It does help. It really goes through the entire organization on the facility side going all the way back to a few years ago when we rebuilt the Dominican [Cubs player facility in the Dominican Republic] and obviously we have the best Spring Training facility. This year we are going to put out the best clubhouse. Players know each other. Players’ wives know each other and when you talk about having a good family room that helps, too. But I think it just adds to that quality of life argument that we have whenever we go out and talk to a free agent.”

 

On sitting down at the organizational meetings, did the 97 wins and the success last year change anything? Is there now a sense of urgency because of a possible two- or three-year window within the window?

“Maybe in some respects, but the fact it that we are trying to win every year at this point. It’s a team that’s trying to win our division every season. Obviously we look at the nice setup we have of a lot of good young players who are playing very well early in their careers, which gives us financial flexibility to bring in some veterans. You look at you have a couple of more years of Jake Arrieta. If he continues to pitch at an elite level that’s a big factor in whether or not these next couple of years will be years that we can that championship. There are a lot of factors but we’re always looking to win. I mean to the extent that we are in a little better position for 2016 and that’s definitely a factor but once again it’s always looking to make the team better, always looking to challenge for the division.”

 

On Theo Epstein’s contract and future with the organization

“We’ve talked a couple of times over the summer. We haven’t sat down for like the final time. I think we’re basically on the same page. I think that will go fine.”

 

More at the link

[JennieGarthAlgar]

 

On sitting down at the organizational meetings, did the 97 wins and the success last year change anything? Is there now a sense of urgency because of a possible two- or three-year window within the window?

“Maybe in some respects, but the fact it that we are trying to win every year at this point. It’s a team that’s trying to win our division every season. Obviously we look at the nice setup we have of a lot of good young players who are playing very well early in their careers, which gives us financial flexibility to bring in some veterans. You look at you have a couple of more years of Jake Arrieta. If he continues to pitch at an elite level that’s a big factor in whether or not these next couple of years will be years that we can that championship. There are a lot of factors but we’re always looking to win. I mean to the extent that we are in a little better position for 2016 and that’s definitely a factor but once again it’s always looking to make the team better, always looking to challenge for the division.”

 

 

 

:bye:

[tfarks]

Ricketts is just inarticulately rephrasing Theo's comments on taking advantage of the incredible value Jake brings before he hits FA.

[Guest]

 

On sitting down at the organizational meetings, did the 97 wins and the success last year change anything? Is there now a sense of urgency because of a possible two- or three-year window within the window?

“Maybe in some respects, but the fact it that we are trying to win every year at this point. It’s a team that’s trying to win our division every season. Obviously we look at the nice setup we have of a lot of good young players who are playing very well early in their careers, which gives us financial flexibility to bring in some veterans. You look at you have a couple of more years of Jake Arrieta. If he continues to pitch at an elite level that’s a big factor in whether or not these next couple of years will be years that we can that championship. There are a lot of factors but we’re always looking to win. I mean to the extent that we are in a little better position for 2016 and that’s definitely a factor but once again it’s always looking to make the team better, always looking to challenge for the division.”

 

 

 

:bye:

 

My opinion that letting him walk after 2 more years might be the best course of action aside, he's just talking about the insane surplus value we have with him for a couple years, like tfarks said.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

Oh I know, that doesn't mean I have to like thinking about it.