It’s only been a week since the Cubs received their 2016 World Series Championship rings and to be honest with you, I can’t stop looking at them. The detail on each ring, in my opinion, separates it from other championship rings that I’ve seen in the past but when you also factor in the century long wait just to get the ring itself, it’s a big part of why I think these rings are little tokens of excellence.

$70,000 little tokens of excellence that is.

The players were the first to get their rings and were already sharing what they would do with them before they even received the diamond encrusted beauties. But what about the thousands of other people affiliated with the Cubs that also received a ring? The Cubs gave out 1,908 rings and pins to everyone from high-level executives to the scoreboard operator to the National Anthem singer and the bulk of these people are not living multi-million dollar lifestyles like the players on the field.

So if some of those employees are struggling financially, why not sell the ring? I mean, $70,000 is a lot of money to turn down because you love the Cubs. The option of selling their World Series ring was something Cubs management saw being an issue so they had a plan in place before Cubs employees received their rings.

The organization asked all non-players to sign a document agreeing to give the team the right to buy back the ring for $1.

The Chicago Sun-Times obtained a copy of the document that employees were asked to sign. Cubs GM Jed Hoyer was also asked to sign the document and didn’t mince words when he was asked what he thought about the document.

“I signed that thing willingly.”

Well no shit Jed, when you have a six-figure salary, you’re probably never going to struggle financially.

Here’s some insight on the memo.

“We regret the formal nature of this memo, and we do not intend for this information to overshadow our joy in being able to provide this ring to you,” the memo states. “However, we think it is important to communicate this information to you.”

Those planning to sell “or otherwise transfer your ring,” must give the Cubs written notice of “the proposed transaction and a complete accounting of the terms.”

There’s more: “If the Cubs elect not to purchase the ring, then you may transfer it according to the terms you provided to the Cubs; however, each subsequent owner shall also be bound by these terms in the event of a subsequent proposed sale or other transfer.”

The memo makes an exception for rings that are given as gifts — say to a child, spouse or grandchild.

So to break that down, if you’re struggling for money and are looking to sell your ring, you have to notify the Cubs in writing that you want to sell. They then have the option to give you $1 for the ring or if they choose not to buy it back (which would never happen) you are free to sell the ring as you wish.

As a Cubs fan, it’s easy for me to sit here and act like I’d never consider selling the ring because I love the Cubs however, appraisers say they could fetch anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000 on the open market.

Unfortunately, if you signed the document to get your ring, those dollar values are obsolete. Instead of getting $50,000 for the ring, you’ll be getting a crisp one dollar bill from the Chicago Cubs.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte was suspended 80 games for violating MLB’s drug policy. The two-time gold glove winner and 2016 All-Star tested positive for nandrolone, an injected steroid. Not only is Marte suspended for 80 games without pay, but he will not be eligible to play in the postseason if the Pirates make the playoffs.

The news of Marte’s suspension was announced on Tuesday afternoon and Yahoo! Sports baseball blog Big League Stew was able to get Anthony Rizzo’s immediate reaction. Rizzo made his Chicago Cubs debut in 2012, the same year that Marte made his MLB debut with the Pirates. Both players have faced each other for the past five seasons in the central division and Rizzo didn’t hold back when he was told about the suspension.

We were talking to #Cubs star Anthony Rizzo when the Starling Marte news broke. This is what he had to say about it. pic.twitter.com/106kLGjXfy

— Big League Stew (@bigleaguestew) April 18, 2017

Marte isn’t the first big name to be suspended in recent years because of PEDs. In 2016, Dee Gordon was also suspended 80 games, a season after leading the NL hitting. In January of 2016, the Miami Marlins gave Gordon a five-year, $50 million extension.

Marte received a six-year, $31 million deal prior to the start of the 2014 season.

MLB has made it tougher for players to get away with PED use, but obviously there are still ways to beat the system. It seems like Rizzo wouldn’t mind even more testing, as he brought up the fact that he hasn’t been tested once since the start of spring training. That was back in February.

By the way, Marte issued a statement and it is hilarious.

There’s no excuse when you get busted for PEDs. These guys are with their team for at least seven months in a year and have all the resources available to them to find out if they can or can’t take something. It doesn’t matter if it was injected or not.

Starling Marte hit with an 80-game suspension after testing positive for Nandrolone. That's an old-school steroid. No designer drug there.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 18, 2017

Correction on Marte drug: Nandrolone rarely taken orally, but Deca Durabolin — which can test + for Nandrolone — is often orally consumed.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 18, 2017

Lesson, don’t do drugs. Or you know, don’t get caught, or actually it’s not that big of a deal because even after the fact people really don’t seem to care all that much. So, MLB either needs to hit the players with tougher penalties or they will still continue to use PEDs.

Just before Opening Day this year, the second installment of the Bryzzo commercial series was released by the people at MLB.com. In that installment, the Bryzzo Souvenir company was expanding their business and hiring some new employees due to their growing success. Part of that ad showed Cubs Slugger Kyle Schwarber hanging up a plaque of himself with the title, “Employee Of The Month.”

In the latest installment of the Bryzzo ads, the co-founders of the souvenir company have come to question the authenticity of that title Schwarber gave himself.

Check it out.

.@kschwarb12 can bunt for hits and win Employee of the Month Awards from the #BRYZZO Souvenir Co. pic.twitter.com/NtC2K8RVRX

— MLB (@MLB) April 18, 2017

Well done, MLB.com.

The Pittsburgh Pirates starting centerfielder has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for the drug Nandrolone, deemed a Performance-Enhancing substance by the MLB, per Ken Rosenthal.

As a reminder, players receive an 80-game suspension for first violation of drug policy, 162 games for second and lifetime ban for third.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 18, 2017

Marte will start serving the suspension immediately and will also be ineligible for the postseason, if Pittsburgh qualifies later this season. This is clearly massive blow to the Pirates, who were just coming off a three-game sweep of their division rival Cubs, with Marte expected to be a vital part of the teams success.

Marte, released a statement earlier, explaining how he apparently had no clue he had taken the drug.

“I have been informed that I have tested positive in one of the tests that are regularly done in my job. In this very difficult moment I apologize to my family, the Pittsburgh Pirates, my teammates, my fans, and baseball in general. Neglect and lack of knowledge have led me to this mistake with the high price to pay of being away from the field that I enjoy and love so much. With much embarrassment and helplessness, I ask for forgiveness for unintentionally disrespecting so many people who have trusted in my work and have supported me so much. I promise to learn the lesson that this ordeal has left me. God bless you.”

With no Marte, the Pirates will most likely move veteran outfielder Andrew McCuthen back to center and look to possibly promote top outfielding prospect Austin Meadows. However, Meadows has struggled in Triple A to start, slashing .162/.220/.270 in 41 plate appearances.

You could almost see this one coming.

The base that was used during the 9th and 10th innings of Game 7 of the World Series just set a record for most amount of money paid for a game-used base.

$101,237.

For a freakin’ base.

FYI, the 1st Base used in the 9th + 10th innings of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series was just auctioned for $101,237 (no, not to me) pic.twitter.com/RiF4vRJZKi

— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 18, 2017

This was the base that was used by Anthony Rizzo to end the longest drought in professional sports history so naturally that base would auction for a much higher value then other bases that were used throughout the game. To put that number into perspective, another base that was used during Game 7 auctioned off for “only” $17,000 on MLB.com.

The winner of the $101,237 dollar bag was identified only as “jakejfl.”

I’m not an expert on auctions at all but I’d bet that anything affiliated with the Cubs series clinching win will undoubtedly pull some serious offers through any auction. Kris Bryant’s Game 7 spikes auctioned off for $35,000, early offers topped out at $3,150 for the red 2016 World Series on-deck circle the Cubs used in Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 in Cleveland, and God only knows how much the actual ball would be worth if owner Tom Ricketts decided to put it up for sale.

Which I highly doubt he’ll do.

As nice as it would be to own some of the history from Game 7 of the World Series, I think I’ll just stick to re-watching the game for free from my very affordable DVR player.