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Ryne Sandberg was a humble superstar and gracious with every Cubs fan with whom he crossed paths. He played the game hard, he played it well, and he made Cubs fans proud every step of the way.
Sandberg died on Monday night after his second battle with metastatic prostate cancer in as many years. He was 65.
A legend of America’s pastime, Sandberg’s legacy is one that will echo through the hallowed halls of Cooperstown and throughout Wrigley Field, Ryno’s home, for eternity.
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Extended. Deserved?
Jed Hoyer is sticking around long-term. The Cubs announced a multi-year extension for the president of baseball operations on Monday afternoon.
STATEMENT FROM HOYER: "I'm so grateful for the Ricketts family's trust and support for 14 years. The Cubs are a special organization with an amazing fan base. I'm excited to keep building the momentum we have and to work with a terrific baseball operations staff to consistently deliver a championship-caliber team for this great city."
STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN TOM RICKETTS: "Jed and his baseball operations staff have built a healthy player development organization and put 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."
Since Hoyer took over as team president after the 2020 season, the Cubs have posted a 373-381 record (.495 win%). Under his watch, the club has not clinched a postseason berth, only finishing within a game of a wild card spot in 2023 after a September collapse.
So, are the results worthy of a multi-year extension? Maybe not the results, but it’s hard to argue with the process, especially this season on the North Side. Hoyer hasn’t always pushed the right buttons, but acquiring Kyle Tucker last December gave the Cubs their first superstar in years.
How about the length of the deal? The duration of Hoyer’s extension is currently unknown, but it would probably make sense for the Cubs to have aligned his deal with manager Craig Counsell’s, whose contract runs through the 2028 season.
The timing of the deal is also very interesting, coming just a few days from the trade deadline. Does this mean Hoyer has the freedom to let things fly from the farm to bolster the major league roster? Who knows, but we’ll have our answer in less than 60 hours.
In other Cubs news, Counsell said Monday that RHP Javier Assad (oblique) would make multiple rehab appearances with the Iowa Cubs before making his season debut with the big league club.
Additionally, RHP Jameson Taillon (calf) will throw a bullpen session today before reporting to Iowa for a rehab assignment.
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VALUE BOOST: Breathe a sigh of relief, Luis Robert Jr. is fine. One day after wearing a 101-mph fastball on his forearm, Robert Jr. hammered an opposite-field go-ahead home run in last night’s 6-2 White Sox victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last night, Ken Rosenthal reported that if the Sox don’t love the offers for Robert’s services ahead of Thursday’s 5 p.m. trade deadline, they’ll hold onto the centerfielder and pick up his $20 million option for 2026.
STAY HOT: Colson Montgomery hit another home run. That’s four in six games, and at least one RBI in all but three games since the All-Star break. There’s hot, and then there’s Colson Mongtomery at the plate.
Montgomery’s up to a 134 wRC+ after Monday’s win with a .273/.333/.515 slash line.
BEWARE OF THE BAIT: I thought this one was interesting… The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer said last week, “We’re probably more likely to see a Nikola Vucevic buyout mid-season than we are to see a trade,” citing the non-existent trade market for the big man’s services.
What does this mean? Right now, nothing. But I wanted to bring it up since I’d seen Fischer’s quote taken wildly out of context on social media. Fischer was simply responding to and speculating on a comment about Vucevic’s market, not reporting any impending news.
Vucevic, 34, enters the third and final season of a contract extension worth $20 million per season. Since being acquired by the Bulls at the 2021 trade deadline, the 6-foot-10 center has averaged 18.2 points and 10.7 rebounds on 34.5% from three over 330 games.
INJURY UPDATES:
Luther Burden III (hamstring) was a limited participant in Monday’s training camp practice. Burden hadn’t practiced with the team since rookie minicamp.
Doug Kramer sustained a leg injury and is day-to-day.
Second-round rookie Shemar Turner, who left last Wednesday’s practice early, is expected to miss at least a month with an ankle sprain, per the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs.
Last summer, I sent my prized 1956 Topps Roberto Clemente to a friend who was trying to complete his set. Got this Ryne Sandberg as a part of the deal. Very worth it. Will miss you, Ryno.
— #Jared Wyllys (#@jwyllys)
2:15 AM • Jul 29, 2025
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