Yu Darvish and Jason Heyward, to no one’s surprise, are staying with the Cubs, having declined to exercise their opt-outs. Anthony Rizzo won his third Gold Glove. Heyward was a finalist and lost to Cody Bellinger. Cole Hamels was not given a qualifying offer, and several others have been non-tendered. The coaching staff is turning over like line cooks on Black Friday.
All this against a backdrop of labor unrest, skyrocketing prices, and falling viewership. And still no robot umps, even though we’re officially on Blade Runner time.