Cub Tracks’ at midnight, all the agents?

#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. Change is just around the corner, but I’m looking under the streetlight cuz that’s where the light is.

WELCOME to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor. No artificial intelligences were deployed, employed, entranced, or embalmed in the commission of this missive (apparently I might be training some though). Cub Tracks eagerly awaits the advent of robotic umpires and has already amended the three laws. The going is weird. Cub Tracks turned pro a long time ago.

Cub Tracks. Where the great ones run away.

I’m all on tenterhooks, I don’t know about you. I’m agog, and hoping I don’t have to fashion too many more of these opening statements out of whole cloth. Life begins when Free Agents declare, you know. Thomas Boswell had it wrong.

The Bums beat the Bombers, 4-1. So business is about to commence.

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• Dave Clark (Cincinnati Enquirer* {$}): Who is Will Venable? New White Sox manager is son of former Reds outfielder Max. “Will, who turned 42 years old Tuesday, was an MLB outfielder as well, from 2008 to 2016.”
• Randy Holt (North Side Baseball*): Are Cubs buyers or sellers this offseason? Could it be some of each? “The hot-stove binaries might not apply to this team, this winter.”
• Michael Reynolds (MLB.com*): Ballesteros hopes consistent power in Fall League leads to winter ball, spring camp. “I’m just continuing my work from the season, trying to be consistent every day, trying to do my routine every day,” Ballesteros said via interpreter Gustavo Nava.
• Ryan O’Rourke (Cubbies Crib*): This underrated Chicago Cubs prospect is shining bright in the AFL. “… young Chicago Cubs slugger Jonathon Long deserves praise for his efforts…”
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Top 10 Cubs building blocks: No. 8 Isaac Paredes. “Why would he merit consideration over other players on the roster? Where does he fit if so?” #7 Michael Busch.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Threading needle between glove-first approach, bat-first prospects won’t be easy. “… it lowers the ceiling while also raising the floor.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Juan Soto was almost a Padre for life and will probably never be a Cub. “… there’s a new bit of reporting that reveals how close he was to a deal with the Padres…”
• Scott Anderson (Shaw Local News Network*): Photos: Retired Chicago Cubs organist Gary Pressy performs for La Salle Lincoln students. “… Pressy plays “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” to students.”

Food for Thought:

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