Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 31, 2025
We haven’t heard much about Nick Madrigal this offseason, after he was non-tendered by the Cubs in the fall. After injuries and underperformance found him without a spot on the Cubs, it was fair to wonder whether Madrigal, formerly a name prospect and 4th overall draft pick, would be able to find a big league deal. The answer, it turns out, is yes with a caveat. Anthony DiComo reports that…
Chicago Cubs
Michael Cerami
•Jan 31, 2025
ALEX BREGMAN — Does anyone else feel like there’s so much waiting going on this offseason? We’re waiting to see if the Cubs will pivot to David Robertson after trading for Ryan Pressly. We’re waiting to see if Dylan Cease or Michael King are actual Cubs targets. Earlier this offseason, we were forced to wait pretty long for the Pressly and Kyle Tucker trades to go through, even after they…
Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 31, 2025
As tentatively expected, outgoing Chicago Cubs infielder Luis Vazquez had just enough value to merit a trade, even if not so much value as to get a meaningful piece in return. Instead, as just announced by the Baltimore Orioles, the Cubs have sent Vazquez, whom they DFA’d earlier this week, to the O’s for cash. Basically, it means the Orioles wanted to claim him on waivers, but they figured he…
Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 31, 2025
I think of these two guys in a similar category as far as Cubs rumors go. Although the players and situations are quite different – Dylan Cease is a starting pitcher who’d be acquired via trade for a single year, while Alex Bregman is a position player who’d be signed on multi-year free agent contract – they lump together for me in terms of their potential impact on the Cubs…
Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 31, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have signed righty Brad Keller to a minor league deal, per the team’s transaction log (and originally reported by Jacob Zanolla). The 29-year-old spent the 2024 season split between the Red Sox and White Sox, and split between MLB and Triple-A, finding success only at Triple-A with the Red Sox (where he pitched both in relief and in some starts). How you best remember Keller, however, as…
Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 31, 2025
This is a fun one. Per Patrick Mooney at The Athletic, the Chicago Cubs are finalizing an agreement to bring back lefty Brandon Hughes on a minor league deal. Hughes, now 29, was a rocket ship of a relief prospect after the pandemic (and a full-time conversion to pitching), dominating his way through the minors and reaching the big leagues in 2022. He pitched his way to a 3.12 ERA…
Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 31, 2025
The big kids’ school is doing a fundraiser tonight where you take home a meal from a local Italian restaurant, and I cannot possibly explain to you how excited I am. It comes with a cannoli kit! A CANNOLI KIT!!! Ian Happ getting some very well-deserved love as one of the best left fielders in baseball: The BEST left fielders in the Big Leagues, according to The Shredder! @MLBNow |…
Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 31, 2025
Infielder Jorge Polanco is off the board, as he’s re-signing with the Mariners on a one-year, $7.75 million deal. The switch-hitting utilityman was theoretically on the Cubs’ radar as a bench option, but I suspect they aren’t looking to go to quite that price level for a bench guy. With the Mariners, Polanco is expected to be the starting third baseman. Interesting thing: the Astros were reportedly the other main…
Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 31, 2025
To make room for the Kirby Yates signing, the Los Angeles Dodgers have designated Ryan Brasier for assignment. The news made my eyebrows raise when I saw it because Brasier is actually a good reliever. One who was already signed to a big league deal. And one in whom the Cubs had interest a year ago. Brasier, 37, was a late bloomer, taking into his mid-30s to really find footing…
Chicago Cubs
Brett Taylor
•Jan 30, 2025
Another Tread Athletics Pro Day signing for the Chicago Cubs, with righty A.J. Puckett joining Cole Reynolds and Jordan Goldmann. The news comes via Tread on IG: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Turner Givens (@turnergivens) Puckett, 29, pitched in the minor leagues with the Royals (second round draft pick), White Sox, Braves, and Mariners from 2016 through 2023, not quite able to get past the jump…
