Wrigley Field in mix for a future All-Star Game

Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the Cubs are being considered for an upcoming All-Star Game, but stressed that several clubs are in the bidding process.

The 2018 game will be held in Washington, with the 2019 game in Cleveland. Manfred is looking at sites for 2020, 2021 and 2022 — and may announce them all at once.

The Cubs haven’t hosted one since 1990, when the All-Star Game was much smaller in scope and its limited space for players and media wasn’t as big of an issue.

“We have a group of clubs that are interested,” Manfred said. “We’ve moved into a much more competitive evaluation of those various bids, taking into accounts things like the city’s involvement, have they built a new stadium for the club, have they done particular things that are helpful to a club, the availability of key venues, convention centers and whatnot.

“The Cubs are certainly in the mix for that next (selection). I’ll probably do three (sites) at once, is my current thinking. They certainly are in the mix but there are way more than three clubs that are in that mix.”

The Cubs still need to upgrade their visiting clubhouse and press box to host a game, but both are part of the Wrigley Field renovation plans.

The visitors’ clubhouse is scheduled to be done in 2018 and finished in time for the 2019 season. The renovated press box is supposed to be completed after the visitors’ clubhouse in the final phase of the project.