#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. Love me non-tender, love me sweet, please don’t let me go
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.
“It’s a small world, but I wouldn’t want to paint it.” — Steven Wright.
What, you expected Johnny Mathis?
“It takes two to make an accident.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
A lot of stuff below is reacting to The Athletic’s Chicago beats, who do a lot to drive the narrative, and Ken Rosenthal from time to time chimes in, as one of the perennial ‘insiders’. The people at other blogs like to do those, and sometimes there’s good information to be had.
They’re not so great at the predictive stuff, but then who is? I feel that my Magic 8-Ball is as valid as any other device, and have written often of my deep mistrust of predictive stat-work.
Counting numbers will give a person a “ballpark,” and that has some value, especially in the longer run, as from year to year. If a hitter clubs 25 home runs six seasons in a row, that certainly augurs well for additional 25-hone-run seasons.
Naturally, there are no guarantees. That’s the Catch-22 here. Injuries and regression take their toll. Things go sideways.
That said… I would prefer to keep Cody Bellinger. He’s been in the Hall of Very Good since he became a Cub, has defensive value, his offense has a higher floor now than before he signed… in short, he’s a known quantity on a team that’s supposed to contend for a playoff spot. Alexander Canario and Owen Caissie can wait. Let them tear Triple A up, THEN make room.
YMMV. That’s what makes it all go ‘round. Matt Thaiss signed for a cool million. Mike Tauchman and Nick Madrigal are going elsewhere, and some others have signed or have been tendered contracts.
“Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
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- There’s a Cubs feed on Bluesky. They need love.
- Anthony Franco (MLB Trade Rumors*): 2024 Non-Tender Candidates.
- Michael Canter (Cubs Insider*): Hoyer positioned nicely for roster upgrades, Paredes deserves full season assessment. “Most analysts agree the Cubs need a superstar, but that’s not Hoyer’s MO.”
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Let’s speak plainly about the types of starting pitchers who will probably be pursued by the Cubs. “… everyone is just sort of coming around to the shared understanding on where the Cubs will be looking.”
- Randy Holt (North Side Baseball*): What role best suits new Cubs pitcher Eli Morgan? “In adding a nice extra piece to his bullpen, Jed Hoyer took an important step forward. Now, the question is where to put that piece, amid the puzzle he’s working on.” Sahadev Sharma has words about this {$}.
- Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors*): Cubs Rumors: Rotation market, Bellinger, bullpen, catcher. “… it seems they’ll shop primarily in the second and third tiers of the rotation market.”
- Alexander Patt (Cubbies Crib*): Nick Madrigal non-tender closes the chapter on infamous 2021 Chicago Cubs trade. “The Cubs non-tendered infielder Madrigal Friday.”
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs “Want to Trade” Cody Bellinger, but I have serious concerns about the goal. The concept was brought up twice over the last 24 hours, both at The Athletic (Ken Rosenthal and Sahadev Sharma)…” Jared Wyllys has more Bellinger* {$}. North Side Baseball contributes*.
- Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): State of the Cubs: An intriguing situation in right field is developing. “Given that Suzuki took to the DH role just fine, this lineup provides the most optimal group offensively and defensively for the Cubs.”
Food for Thought:
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