There are two ends to a business negotiation. Maddux is providing a service, albeit an expensive one, and the Cubs agreed to pay him to provide the service. If the Cubs don't want to pay the money then they should cut or trade him. To sit him on the bench or pull him is un-fair labor practice. A practice I might add that led to the fixing of games a long time ago. I'd argue that the Cubs made their offer to Maddux with the expectation that he'd pitch with an ERA under 4.00 the last couple of years. He hasn't provided that service, so why shouldn't they keep him on the bench and prevent him from receiving the salary of a #2 starter next year? Because no free agent will sign with the Cubs again? He's not pitching that bad this year, there aren't pitchers who can replace him and do better. The Cubs shouldn't have offered the option but they did.