Elmhurst, IL-based entrepreneur Mike Loftus has served as president of MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions since 2002 and has achieved annual revenue exceeding $25 million. Outside of his responsibilities with MLE, Mike Loftus enjoys following his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Chicago Cubs.
While the Cubs picked up its 2020 team option on first baseman Anthony Rizzo, the team will be without four pitchers from its 2019 roster next season as it declined options on Tony Barnette, David Phelps, Kendall Graveman, and Brandon Morrow. Barnette, who was signed last February to a one-year, $750,000 contract with a 2020 team option at $3 million, suffered an array of arm injuries during the season and made only two appearances for the Cubs in 2019. Phelps, meanwhile, was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays during the season and appeared in 24 games for the Cubs. He posted a win-loss record of 2-1 to go along with a 3.18 earned run average (ERA).
Like Barnette, Graveman had his $3 million option declined by the Cubs. The former Oakland Athletics starting pitcher was unable to pitch for the Cubs all season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in July 2018. He did, however, pitch six innings in the minor leagues. Morrow, who was signed to a two-year, $21 million contract following the 2017 season, made 35 relief appearances for Chicago in 2018 and registered an impressive 1.47 ERA, but was sidelined all 2019 as he recovered from elbow surgery.
While the Cubs picked up its 2020 team option on first baseman Anthony Rizzo, the team will be without four pitchers from its 2019 roster next season as it declined options on Tony Barnette, David Phelps, Kendall Graveman, and Brandon Morrow. Barnette, who was signed last February to a one-year, $750,000 contract with a 2020 team option at $3 million, suffered an array of arm injuries during the season and made only two appearances for the Cubs in 2019. Phelps, meanwhile, was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays during the season and appeared in 24 games for the Cubs. He posted a win-loss record of 2-1 to go along with a 3.18 earned run average (ERA).
Like Barnette, Graveman had his $3 million option declined by the Cubs. The former Oakland Athletics starting pitcher was unable to pitch for the Cubs all season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in July 2018. He did, however, pitch six innings in the minor leagues. Morrow, who was signed to a two-year, $21 million contract following the 2017 season, made 35 relief appearances for Chicago in 2018 and registered an impressive 1.47 ERA, but was sidelined all 2019 as he recovered from elbow surgery.