#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. The Cubs have a new No. 8 starter and other items of interest for the discerning reader.
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.
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The Jim Bowden-endorsed and ZIPS-projected Cubs, that is.
Colin Rea is another example of depth spending, intelligent design division. I would prefer if he didn’t have regular starts at present but we’ll have to see. His deal is not onerous and ‘shouldn’t’ tie Jed’s hands. He’s maybe the seventh? Eighth? starter on the team, factoring in Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Matthew Boyd, maybe Ben Brown, mayyyybe Cade Horton and Cody Poteet and Caleb Killian and whoever else signs on or emerges before the end of Spring Training.
Rea will earn $4.25M with the Cubs in 2025. His deal includes a $6M club option (or $750K buyout) for 2026.
He is guaranteed $5M.
— Jordan Bastian (@bastianmlb.bsky.social) 2025-01-11T01:37:36.940Z
Bluesky link for Apple News users: Here.
“But here’s the thing: the Cubs didn’t have to spend $5 million on an 8th starter who cannot be optioned.” — Brett Taylor. Things that make you go hmm. Roki Sasaki he ain’t.
The Cubs and Kyle Tucker are/were $2.5 million apart. Therefore I predict that it’ll be a while before they agree.
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- Brian Kelder (North Side Baseball*): The depressing national narrative around the Chicago Cubs. “The Cubs front office’s perception league-wide is flagging. The farm system, long held up as a beacon of hope for fans, is losing steam.”
- Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Porter Hodge can raise bullpen’s ceiling even as Cubs continue addressing position. “Hodge is building off an impressive rookie season.”
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs believe in Miguel Amaya-Carson Kelly tandem as they look to get more production from catchers. “Kelly’s defensive work is a key piece to his value.” Maddie Lee has more.
- Karli Bell (Marquee Sports Network*): Ian Happ details his busy offseason and charts goals for 2025. “Being on the field and being consistent is the biggest thing,” Happ said.
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): How much does Chicago Cubs’ failure to reach agreement with Kyle Tucker Matter? “Here’s a hint: the answer starts with a ‘z’ and ends with an ‘ero’.”
Food for Thought:
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