Pointing the way: Cubs’ new acquisitions boosting Hoyer’s job security
Already people are asking if Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will continue working for the team after his contract runs out at the end of the season.
The answer seems obvious. If the Cubs make the playoffs, expect Hoyer to sign an extension. If the season ends in disappointment, ownership is more likely to turn the page.
Hoyer gave no suggestion he's ready to leave when he spoke to reporters Friday.
“I've been here for 14 years. I love this place, my family loves this place,” Hoyer said. “Even on the way to the ballpark today, it doesn't get better than the home opener at Wrigley. I don't think you can say that everywhere.”
Days like Saturday look great on Hoyer's resume. Two offseason acquisitions were the stars — starting pitcher Matthew Boyd tossed 6 scoreless innings, while catcher Carson Kelly stayed hot by blasting a 3-run homer.
The Cubs beat San Diego 7-1 for their fifth straight victory and are now 7-2 in games played in the United States. Of course, they started the season with two losses to the Dodgers in Japan.
Kelly splits time with Miguel Amaya, so he's played in just five of 11 games, but he's hitting .467 with 4 extra-base hits and 10 RBI.
“Always fun to get out there and contribute,” Kelly said. “When I was with the Cardinals, I almost had my first homer here. It hit right below the basket, almost in the same spot. Pretty cool to put one out today.”
Another interesting sidebar is both Kelly and Boyd have family history in Chicago. Kelly was born here and both his parents are natives, but he grew up in Beaverton, Ore., while his father, Mike, worked for Nike. After 10 major-league seasons with four teams, Kelly signed a two-year deal to join the Cubs in December.
“It was a good fit,” Kelly said of the decision. “It was always something I wanted to do and I'm grateful for the opportunity. It's great to have a good start, but we have a lot of games to go.”
Boyd grew up in the Seattle area, but his father and grandfather are Chicagoans who were serious Cubs fans. Boyd got a little emotional when talking about his late grandfather and winning for the first at Wrigley Field.
“My grandfather would love this,” Boyd said. “It's cool, it’s really cool. I know what it meant to him, know what it means to my dad just to put on this uniform.
“My grandfather grew up here, die-hard Cubs fan. He passed in 2019. Just loved the Cubbies. The World Series was probably one of his lifetime highlights. He loved the Cubbies so much, we talked always after my starts, I'd call him on the way home and he always let me know how the Cubs did.”
Boyd said his father, Kurt, did try to turn him into a Cubs fan, but that was a nice era for the hometown Mariners.
“I have pennants in my house, I had a Cubs hat that I wore quite frequently as a kid,” Boyd said. “I grew up a pretty die-hard Mariners fan, but the Cubs were always special. It was Cubs, Blackhawks and Bears.”
Boyd, 34, had Tommy John surgery in 2023, but came back and pitched well in the postseason for Cleveland last season. Hoyer took a chance that Boyd could continue that form and so far, he's thrown 11 scoreless innings as the Cubs' fourth starter.
“The belief was never not there,” Boyd said of coming back from surgery. “You just prepare and go, 'When the ball's in my hand, I know what I'm going to do and hopefully someone gives me a chance.'”
Dansby Swanson hit the Cubs' first Wrigley Field home run of the season, a solo shot to center field in the third inning. After offseason core surgery, he's off to a fast start with 3 home runs. Last season, it took Swanson 24 games to hit 3 homers.
“It's nice to be healthy, right?” he said. “It's nice to feel good and feel like you can go be yourself, go be free.”