Cub Tracks’ elephantiasis

#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. Upon one decision lies the offseason.

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.

There’s not really a coherent narrative emerging, as yet. Cody Bellinger’s status hangs over things simply because it is undecided. As far as I know, there’s no timetable for his decision, but it would seem to me that sooner would be better.

That very decision affects multiple areas. A lot of us would like Cody to move on despite huge desire for his return last year, in a sort of buyer’s remorse. It might benefit Bellinger, if he’s looking for length-of-contract rather than AAV. That’s the pachyderm in the place.

Owen Caissie (19 HR, 75 RBI, .278/.375/.847) might be ready for his cocoon and imago just as PCA was last year. I’d like to see it. Pretty sure a full season of Caissie would produce similar (or better) numbers compared to the 2024 Bellinger campaign (18 HR, 78 RBI, .266/.325/.751), and for a good deal less money. Of course there’s the chance Caissie falls flat on his face, and Bellinger’s numbers were not even career-average. He could succeed wildly.

And of course you know all of that, dear reader, but I thought I would put some counting numbers up.

And let’s not forget about all of the players up for arbitration — 14 of them. Mike Tauchman in particular is affected by The Bellinger Decision. I’d cut him loose and bring in Caissie for those defensive chances/at-bats — not that Tauchman is not a competent fourth outfielder, but he’s getting on in years.

These and other things are the developments we await.

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• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Chicago Cubs hiring legendary baseball man Jerry Weinstein. “… Weinstein is coming to the Cubs in an unspecified position:”
• Tim Dierkes (MLB Trade Rumors* {$}): Offseason Outlook: Chicago Cubs. “The Cubs’ splashy hiring of Craig Counsell last November had minimal impact this year, as the club posted the same 83-79 record it had under David Ross in 2023.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Jed Hoyer has concept of plan as Cubs look to create economy based on Win. “The longer their mediocrity on the field persists, the harder it will be to maintain that base…”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Porter Hodge just turned in what may be the greatest rookie season for a reliever in Cubs history. “… just how successful Hodge was during his rookie campaign is a mind-blowing.”
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): What Cubs learned about early season bullpen woes. “I think what we’ve proven over the course of the last couple of years is that we can figure it out,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said.
• Matt Ostrowski (North Side Baseball*): Cubs Most Improved Player – 2024. “Winner — Pete Crow-Armstrong – 123 G, .237/.286/.384, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 46 R.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki delivered his best offensive MLB season ever. Next year could be better. “… he doesn’t chase and he rarely swings and misses.”

Food for Thought:

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