Willson Contreras report proves Cubs always intended to trade him

The Chicago Cubs haven’t offered Willson Contreras a realistic contract extension since 2018, per a recent report. That won’t cut it.

Contreras wasn’t always the centerpiece of a winning team in Chicago, but he’s been a successful franchise backstop since the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. He’s made three All-Star teams. What more did Jed Hoyer need to see?

Yet, predictably, Contreras will be one of the last pieces of Chicago’s World Series team traded away this deadline. It’s been a year since Hoyer dealt Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and more. Now, it’s Contreras turn.

Per Jesse Rogers of ESPN, said trade was a long time coming:

"“Contreras said he’d be willing to look at a long-term offer if the Cubs approached him with one, but that hasn’t happened. The sides haven’t had meaningful contract extension talks since 2018, according to a source familiar with the situation…’It’s not up to me,’ Contreras said. “If they come with something, I’m pretty sure I’m going to look at it.'”"

Cubs aren’t doing right by their stars

After winning a World Series in 2016, the Cubs competitive window was wide open. But it was forced shut by a front office which refused to spend the necessary capital on its star players.

The players have acknowledged this, while the front office continue to live in a fairytale. Nonetheless, it’s time to move on.

Bryant has some advice for the likes of Contreras and Ian Happ, which he told our Noah Yingling in Colorado earlier this week:

"“All things really do come to an end eventually and, in the moment, it might kind of sting a bit,” Bryant told FanSided. “You might feel unwanted or whatever but it’s not really about that. It’s about where the team is and their current situation. I’m just really glad I went through that. I enjoyed my time (in Chicago), I enjoyed my time in San Francisco, and I’m really enjoying my time here and I’m meeting a lot of people along the way. Good ballplayers, new experiences, and, when I look back on my career, when it’s all said and done, I can really appreciate the new chapters in my career and new experiences and truly appreciate it.”"

The Cubs era is gone far too soon, and Contreras is the final piece of a puzzle which, at one point, appeared complete.