My guess is that any TV/Cable deal beyond the "WGN games" that are currently on the table, would result in a somewhat disappointing dollar figure. If Fox local was to buy the rights through 2019 with an agreement for Fox Cable to take over after 2019, that money would probably be dwarfed by the agreements that other teams have negotiated for the full package starting in the near future. That would be a sign of desperation on the Cubs part, albeit, potentially well placed desperation. Compare it to an arbitration eligible player signing through his free agency years for a team friendly discount, and the more aggressive player who is willing to go year-to-year and wait until actual free agency to sign a mega deal. My preference is for the Cubs to just agree to a local agreement with a boost in revenue and then prepare their 2020 options. The sports bubble may burst, but it is not going to disappear. Televised games will still draw a lot of money in 2021. This is the USA we are talking about, you can count on the government doing whatever it can to maintain the status quo for established cable companies, such that in 2018 or 2019 somebody will still be willing to pay lots of money for the rights to air Cubs games.