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I am Cubsessed with the Chicago Cubs

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Preview
The Cubs don't have many player contract commitments past 2026 — but it's not 2021 deja vu Despite the number of key Cubs players who will be in walk years in 2026, the team’s situation isn’t comparable to 2021 — when the Cubs couldn’t come to terms with any of their core players facing free agency at the end of the year and then sold off at the trade deadline. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made clear at MLB’s general managers meetings in Las Vegas this week that the team will be “active” this offseason. And even if the Cubs' plans to build off this year’s playoff appearance go awry, they aren’t in danger of undergoing the kind of full-scale rebuild that they initiated four and a half years ago. “We had higher goals [in 2025],” Hoyer said Wednesday of the Cubs’ National League Division Series exit. “... You try to figure out, what are the best ways to fill our holes, what are the best ways to add depth in the most intelligent way possible?” That process will take the whole picture, both this year and beyond, into consideration. Right fielder Seiya Suzuki, left fielder Ian Happ, second baseman Nico Hoerner and right-hander Jameson Taillon’s contracts are up after the 2026 season, barring extensions. Left-hander Mattthew Boyd and catcher Carson Kelly could also be facing free agency if their 2027 mutual options aren’t picked up. Some of that alignment was by design. The Cubs kept the end of the 2022-26 collective bargaining agreement in mind while structuring recent multi-year deals. “Anytime you get towards the end of a CBA, it becomes a source of conversation,” Hoyer said this week. “I don't know yet how much it's going to impact [the offseason markets]. I don't think anyone here does. It could have an impact, it could have no impact. It’ll be something people think about because you have to.” Uncertainty was the theme of baseball operations officials’ comments this week about the expiring CBA. Debate over a potential salary cap, which the players have long fought against, will likely be the main point of contention in what’s expected to be a tense bargaining period. The industry is bracing for another work stoppage after the CBA expires next winter. It’s so far unclear whether anxiety over an uncertain future landscape will affect the kinds of deals teams are willing to offer or players are willing to accept. Either way, the Cubs are looking to lay a foundation that won’t completely crumble regardless of how the tumult plays out. It's a tough needle to try to thread, and there isn't a guarantee that they'll do it successfully. But this also isn't 2021; the differences boil down to timing, player development and financial picture. The Cubs are in a much different point in their competitive window than they were going into 2021. They just successfully ended a four-year playoff drought, whereas the 2021 campaign was about trying to get what they could out of the 2016 World Series core. In contrast to 2021, the Cubs also have a strong group of contributors who haven’t even reached arbitration yet. Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who on Thursday officially joined Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, finished ninth in NL MVP voting and was named to the All-MLB second team. Michael Busch and Matt Shaw, holding down the corner infield spots, quickly established themselves as everyday-caliber players. Right-hander Cade Horton carried the rotation in the second half. Right-hander Daniel Palencia served as the closer for much of last season. If catcher Miguel Amaya can stay healthy, he’s shown a readiness to be the primary backstop. “We feel better about our draft process, we feel better about our pro acquisition process,” general manager Carter Hawkins said this week. “We continue to feel better and good about our development process. And so the idea is, you're building that up to where you're continually getting new guys coming up and impacting the major leagues.” Not to mention, veteran shortstop Dansby Swanson is under contract through 2029. The Cubs are also expected to engage several players in extension conversations. And position-player prospects Moisés Ballesteros, Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara have all gotten their first tastes of the big-leagues and are ready to build off that experience. Back in 2021, the pandemic had shifted the industry’s financial landscape. And when the Cubs traded Yu Darvish to the Padres before the season, it foreshadowed moves to come. Hoyer has declined to comment on the Cubs’ budget this offseason, not even revealing whether it would expand from last year’s. But if chairman Tom Ricketts' regular insistence that the previous year’s revenue determines the baseball budget holds true, the Cubs’ 2025 playoff revenue could give them more financial flexibility. “I don't look at it as a cause for concern,” Hoyer said of the team’s clean books after 2026. “I try to look at as an opportunity, that we have available dollars in the future that we haven't committed yet, and we just need to continue to commit those dollars wisely as we do commit them.”
14.11.2025 22:33 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs plan to have 'active offseason'; GM Meetings provide insight into what that means LAS VEGAS – Leading up to the GM Meeting this week, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and chairman Tom Ricketts met multiple times to nail down the team’s offseason budget. “We're not at a final number yet,” Hoyer said Tuesday, “but I've got a good sense of where we'll be.” Hoyer, of course, didn’t share that range, wanting to maintain the competitive advantage of secrecy while negotiating with other teams and player agents. He declined to reveal whether it would be more substantial than last season, when the large-market Cubs went into domestic opening day with the No. 12 payroll in MLB, according to the Associated Press. “We’re going to have an active offseason,” Hoyer said. “Take that for what it's worth.” What exactly does that mean? The Cubs are certainly going to prioritize pitching this offseason. And they’re expected to again lean on short-term and minor-league deals — both before and during the season — as well as smaller trades to flesh out the majority of their bullpen. That cost-effective approach carries risk, but the Cubs also claimed major victories with their acquisitions of relievers like Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz last year. On the starting pitching side, left-hander Shota Imanaga’s decision on the qualifying offer will affect the depth of the team’s needs. “One of my favorite things to talk about in the office with guys is, a win, is a win, is a win,” general manager Carter Hawkins said, referring to solving for WAR (wins above replacement). “So, an offensive win is the same as a defensive win, is the same as a pitching win. But if you look at our current lineup right, our current depth chart, where are we most likely to be able to improve, where are we most likely to be able to clear a replacement level? It's going to be on the pitching side. That's where the most opportunity is.” So, where does that leave the offense? Right fielder Kyle Tucker tops this free agent class after one season with the Cubs. He posted an eye-popping .931 OPS and .395 OBP through the end of June, before slumping for much of July and August, and being sidelined by a calf injury for most of September. Hoyer reiterated this week that the Cubs offense was at its best when Tucker was at his best “When you have a great player that's getting on base in that clip and driving and runs, I think it makes a huge difference,” Hoyer said. “So that's something that we've noted.” The Cubs made clear to Tucker that they would love to bring him back, if they could find a deal that worked for both parties. And they plan to remain in contact with his agent, Casey Close of Excel Sports Management. The early industry expectation, however, is that the Cubs will likely be priced out of Tucker’s market. The Cubs would then be left to find a way to replace Tucker’s production. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a major hitting acquisition. They may instead rely on internal improvement, from their young hitters especially, and offset the offensive loss with pitching gains. “We're going to look at everything,” Hoyer said. “... Certainly we can look to get better offensively. But I feel like from an offensive standpoint, we could kind of play a game tomorrow if we needed to, we have players at every position. … And so, will we look to move things around, will we look to add? Of course. But the level of urgency is not nearly as high as on the pitching side.” The Cubs’ trade for Tucker last offseason was the most aggressive of Hoyer’s tenure as president. But the team, after missing the playoffs in what was supposed to be a competitive 2024 season, also saw a unique opportunity. “We felt like we needed a boost to get our team to the type of competitive level that we were last year,” Hawkins said. “It was obviously a lot of really good talent that went the other way in that deal. But it helped accomplish, along with a lot of other really good things, a really solid season for the Cubs. And from that perspective, it was a success.” The Cubs believe they have enough young position-player depth to both play some prospects at the major-league level and feel comfortable parting with some in trades. But they’ll also be wary of gouging their developing talent too deeply in potential trades, as was evident at the trade deadline. Said Hawkins: “Hopefully we're at a place where we don't feel like we need that boost as we continue to build the type of organization that we want to have."
13.11.2025 00:43 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs president Jed Hoyer discusses Shota Imanaga option decisions and future LAS VEGAS – By next Tuesday, the Cubs will know whether left-hander Shota Imanaga is accepting the qualifying offer ($22.025 million) to re-sign with the team for 2026. If he accepts, the Cubs have clarity on their starting pitching needs for this offseason. If he declines, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Tuesday that the Cubs were open to further negotiation. “We obviously value Shota a ton,” Hoyer said Tuesday, when asked about declining Imanaga’s three-year club option worth shy of $58 million. “He was amazing for us as a pitcher, as a teammate, and I don't want to close that door completely, by any stretch. But ultimately, we didn't think that the club option was the right value. He didn't think that the player option was the right value. And that happens.” Hoyer addressed the media Tuesday at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas for the first time since his end-of-season press conference last month. He spoke about the moves the Cubs had already made – declining Imanaga’s club option, trading veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge, re-signing Colin Rea. And he expounded on Cubs’ biggest offseason priority: pitching. “That’s obvious (when you) look at our depth chart,” “We're in pretty good position on the position player inside. On the pitching side, we're thinner. And so I think that's going to be our focus. And I expect to explore trades. I expect to explore free agency, both at the top of the market, but then also looking at minor-league free agency.” As an example, Hoyer pointed to last year, when the Cubs both signed left-hander Matthew to a two-year contract worth $29 million, and added right-handed reliever Brad Keller to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. Both were integral to the Cubs’ success. Imanaga’s decision on the qualifying offer, however, will come down before the trade and free-agent markets pick up this offseason. Hoyer said he wasn’t worried about the rejected club and player options causing friction in future discussions. “Our decision doesn't reflect at all our feelings about Shota,” he said. “I don't think his decision reflects how he feels about the team. Both sides are trying to make the best decision for them, and we'll continue to have dialog.” Taken as a whole, Imanga’s performance in the first two years of his contract was, in Hoyer’s words, “exceptional.” This past season, a left hamstring strain presented an unfamiliar challenge for Imanaga, who said it was his first time dealing with a lower-body muscle injury. His velocity was down when he came back from the injured list, which was understandable considering it was an injury to his drive leg. Imanaga’s four-seam fastball quickly regained velocity, but it didn’t quite fully rebound to the 91.7 mph that the pitch averaged in 2024, according to Statcast, sitting around 91 mph in August and September. Though Imanaga isn’t a flame-thrower by any means, maintaining velocity helps him create separation between his four-seam fastball and sinker. Even during the season the Cubs were developing an offseason plan for Imanaga to regain some of the lower-body strength and flexibility that wasn’t realistic to build back while pitching every five or six days. Imanaga is still expected to target those areas this offseason, regardless of whether he returns to the Cubs or not, and he’s expected to bounce back to pre-injury form. But the dip in velocity and increase in home runs off his fastball late in the season (eight in September), could raise discussions about long-term sustainability. On the flip side, Imanaga still had stretches of dominance as he posted a 3.73 ERA last season and has a clear path forward to address the concerts that cropped up down the stretch. He should garner plenty of interest from teams, as his representatives gauge his market. Notes * Hoyer said that parting ways with Kittredge back was “a close call.” The team went into the offseason with Kittredge and young pitchers Daniel Palencia and Porter Hodge still on the roster, already looking at almost fully rebuilding their bullpen. But then they traded Kittredge – who had a $9 million club option, or $1 million buyout, left on his contract – back to the Orioles. "You save the buyout by trading him back there, and then we could redeploy that money elsewhere,” Hoyer said. “But it was timing as much as anything because I do think Andrew was great for us. Really impressive.” * Re-signing Rea, who has starting and relieving experience, to a one-year deal with a 2027 club option addressed needs in both areas. “He was terrific, and I thought it got better as the season went on,” Hoyer said. “... He's the really valuable ‘out-getter’ for [manager Craig Counsell.]”
12.11.2025 00:57 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Former Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks announces retirement, reports say Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks is retiring from baseball, according to multiple reports.
12.11.2025 00:54 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs' Cade Horton finishes second in NL Rookie of the Year voting, is poised to play pivotal role in 2026 LAS VEGAS – Rookie Cade Horton’s eyes welled as he spoke in front of his locker after the Cubs’ Game 5 loss in the National League Division Series. He held his composure. “It sucks,” he said, his hopes of returning from injury in the NL Championship Series destroyed with the Cubs’ playoff exit. “I really, really wanted to help this team in the postseason, and not being able to do that was really tough for me. I thought we would get it done today, and I could pick up where I left off. “And so just not being able to do that leaves a sour taste in my mouth going into the off season. But, you just use that going into the offseason for next year.” With that, Horton’s impressive rookie campaign officially ended without a playoff appearance. He owned a 2.67 ERA across 23 appearances in his debut season. On Monday, as the first day of the GM Meetings in Las Vegas wound down, the BBWAA revealed that Horton finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. Horton received nine first-place votes, out of 30. If the Cubs are going to surpass their 2025 finish, they'll need Horton to help carry the rotation, like he did in the second half this past season. Horton’s torrid second half gave him a strong case to win the award. He posted the best ERA (1.03) among pitchers with 60-plus innings thrown after the All-Star break and could be considered the Cubs’ second-half MVP. But his limited playing time gave Baldwin the edge. For most of the last two months of the season, the Cubs placed a limit of about 75 pitches on Horton for each start. That, paired with a May call-up and a fractured rib that shortened his last start to three innings and sidelined him for the postseason, meant Horton’s innings total only reached 118. Horton was on board with the plan, saying after he threw five hitless innings against the Braves on Sept. 3: “I’d much rather be healthy for the postseason than go out there for the sixth or seventh in early September.” He didn’t get to do either, thanks to a persistent cough in late September, which the Cubs said they believed caused the fracture. Still, Horton's efficiency down the stretch helped steady the rotation as Jameson Taillon worked through a pair of minor lower-body injuries, Shota Imanaga battled consistency issues, and Matthew Boyd cooled off after an All-Star first half. It was a major factor as the Cubs claimed the top NL wild-card spot and home-field advantage for the first round. “Next year, it's going to be a completely different story,” Horton said of the team's NLDS exit. “All of us kind of just got our feet wet. And so, next year, it's time.”
11.11.2025 01:15 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs great Kyle Hendricks set to retire from playing after 12 major-league seasons LAS VEGAS – Cubs great Kyle Hendricks is set to retire from playing, a source confirmed on Monday. He played 11 of his 12 major-league seasons for the Cubs, before spending last year with the Angels. His long and decorated career included a 2016 World Series Championship and the 2016 ERA title. USA Today reported in September that Hendricks had informed friends of his intention to retire, but Hendricks told LA Times writer Bill Shaikin soon after that he was undecided. Hendricks, nicknamed “The Professor,” was a consistent force in the Cubs rotation, thriving off finesse and an even temper in big moments, while the industry was trending toward velocity. His performance in Game 6 of the 2016 NL Championship Series, when he blanked the Dodgers for 7 ⅓ innings, will stand as a defining moment in an impressive career. He continued to evolve in more recent years, extending his career past a lengthy shoulder injury. He even agreed to pitch out of the bullpen for part of the 2024 season, his last with the Cubs. Hendricks ended his Cubs tenure with a masterful showing against the Reds – holding Cincinnati to two hits through 7 ⅓ scoreless innings – and a standing ovation from the Wrigley Field faithful. “I hate all that attention, but in the end, I know I have to soak in these moments,” Hendricks said after that game. “And that’s what the Wrigley fans are there for. They’re so special. They’re the best in the world. To play here in Wrigley Field, I’m just such a lucky guy.” Hendricks signed with the Angels last season and was a fixture in their rotation, posting a 4.76 ERA, which included one start against his former team in late August. ‘‘He’s on my Mount Rushmore of Cubs pitchers,’’ Cubs pitching Hottovy said then, listing Hendricks’ career accomplishments. ‘‘To me . . . as a human being and the time we spent together and the ups, the downs, the good and the bad, those are the things that you remember more than anything. Just grateful for my opportunity to get to be around him.’’
10.11.2025 22:06 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs storylines to follow during MLB's GM meetings next week The top of this offseason’s free agent lists are littered with former Cubs. Notable names range from Kyle Schwarber, a beloved member of the 2016 World Series team who was an NL MVP finalist for the Phillies this year, to Dylan Cease, a former Cubs prospect and sixth-round draft pick who spent the first five years of his major-league career with the White Sox and last two with the Padres. They include a more recent departure, Cody Bellinger, whose two years with the Cubs spring-boarded him into a strong 2025 season as a Yankee. And members of this year’s Cubs team – right fielder Kyle Tucker, left-handed starting pitcher Shota Imanaga — round out the marquee group. Related * Cubs extend qualifying offers to Shota Imanaga, Kyle Tucker Whether those former Cubs end up back in blue pinstriped or not, they’re sure to come up in discussions at MLB’s annual GM meetings next week, as baseball executives and agents descend on Las Vegas. Here are other Cubs storylines to follow: Rookie of the Year The BBWAA Awards rollout is next week, beginning with Rookie of the Year on Monday. Cubs right-hander Cade Horton is a finalist for the award, along with Braves catcher Drake Baldwin and Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin. Horton (11-4, 2.67 ERA) steadied the Cubs’ pitching staff in the second half, with a dominant 1.03 ERA that led all pitchers with 60-plus innings pitched after the All-Star break and helped the Cubs secure the top NL wild-card spot. The Cubs limited Horton’s pitch count down the stretch while keeping in mind the postseason, which Horton missed anyways because of a fractured rib. But his restricted playing time (118 innings) last season could work against him in a national vote. Manager of the Year, Cy Young and MVP are set to be announced Tuesday through Thursday. Hoyer on Imanaga GM meetings will provide the setting for Hoyer to comment for the first time on the Cubs’ decision to decline the three-year club option that would have extended Imanaga’s four-year, $53 million deal to five years and a total of $80 million. That move triggered Shota Imanaga’s 2026 player option for about $15 million, which he declined, sending him into free agency. The Cubs extended the qualifying offer to Imanaga on Thursday, and he has until Nov. 18 to accept or reject it. Imanaga’s free agent status is part of a larger conversation about the Cubs’ need for pitching. That will surely be a popular topic next week, as the Cubs look to strengthen their rotation and almost completely rebuild their bullpen. Offseason budget Hoyer refrains from sharing specifics about his offseason budget every year, wanting to maintain the mystery as he negotiates with various teams and player agents. But in his end of season news conference in mid-October, he had even fewer answers than usual. When asked if playoff revenue would expand the offseason budget, Hoyer said he hadn’t yet had those conversations with Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts. “We'll sit down over the next two or three weeks and go through that,” Hoyer said. “But I'm confident that we're going to have enough money to field a good team. That's the simplest thing I'll say. But as far as details, I don't know yet.” Hoyer will likely remain relatively aloof on the topic, but he could provide some clarity this week. The Cubs hosted five playoff games this year: all three of their wild-card games against the Padres, and two of the five games of the NL Division Series against the Brewers. “Our crowds in the playoffs, they were unbelievably impressive,” Hoyer said. “I don't ever remember players commenting on the crowds and the experience right after games the way they did repeatedly. I’d come down here [to the clubhouse] after games, and the players would be talking about the energy or talking about the experience, and that was really cool.” Effects of expiring CBA The current Collective Bargaining Agreement runs through the 2026 season, and the industry is bracing for another showdown between the owners and players when the time comes to negotiate a new contract. Last time around, a 99-day lockout shortened spring training and pushed back Opening Day by a week. With a year still left on that 2022-26 agreement, the sides have already begun arguing over the owners’ push for a salary cap. “Obviously that's been some part of our decision-making,” Hoyer said last month of the expiring CBA. “We've talked about that a lot, if you look at our contract structures. As we get closer to the end of the CBA is that that conversation probably gets louder and louder, as far as how that goes. But the truth of the matter is, we don't know what the future holds in that regard.” The contracts of left fielder Ian Happ, right fielder Seiya Suzuki, second baseman Nico Hoerner and starting pitcher Jameson Taillon all expire after the 2026 season. Hoyer said he hopes to have extension talks with “a number of” players this offseason.
07.11.2025 20:32 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs extend qualifying offers to Shota Imanaga and Kyle Tucker The Cubs have left the door open for a possible reunion with left-hander Shota Imanaga, despite declining his three-year option and risking his departure in free agency. Before Thursday’s deadline, the Cubs extended qualifying offers (22.025 million) to Imanaga and right fielder Kyle Tucker, the team announced. The players have until Nov. 18 to either accept and rejoin the Cubs for 2026, or decline and remain a free agent. If they sign with another team, the Cubs are eligible for draft compensation. Tucker is expected to test free agency. Imanaga’s calculation isn't as straightforward. But even if Imanaga rejects the qualifying offer, the Cubs are expected to remain in contact with his camp. If both sides are amenable, they could discuss a new, restructured deal with a smaller commitment from the team, either in years or total financial commitment, compared to the three-year option worth around $58 million that the Cubs declined. At the same time, however, Imanaga’s agents would be fielding calls from other interested parties. And, depending on how his market unfolds, another offer could be more enticing. The qualifying offer would represent a raise from both the 2026 player option of about $15 million that Imanaga declined, and the 2026 earnings in the three-year club option that the Cubs declined. It, however, is only a one-year deal. The intricate structure of Imanaga’s previous contract paved the way for a longer-term commitment if either option was picked up this offseason. Pitching will be at the top of the Cubs’ list this offseason, whether or not Imanaga accepts the qualifying offer. On Thursday, the Cubs also agreed to terms with right-hander Colin Rea on a one-year deal with a club option for 2027. His return helps solidify some of the Cubs’ pitching depth, but it will remain an offseason priority. For the rotation, the Cubs have to replace Imanaga’s production, either by bringing him back or making an outside acquisition, and ideally add a frontline starter. The Cubs are at least expecting key injured starters back early next season. Rookie Cade Horton (fractured rib) was poised to join the National League Championship Series if the Cubs had advanced, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer confirmed after the team was bounced by the Brewers in the NL Division Series. Horton is expected to have a normal offseason. Cubs left-hander Justin Steele could return from elbow surgery in the first couple months of the 2026 season if his rehab continues to go smoothly. But, with him still early in a throwing program, the team needs to have contingency plans in place. The bullpen is in more dire shape. After trading veteran right-hander Andew Kittredge back to the Orioles, the Cubs are returning just two relievers who pitched at least 15 major-league innings last year, right-handers Daniel Palencia and Porter Hodge. Neither was with the major-league squad for the entirety of the season, but both had stints as the team’s closer. Note: Veteran first baseman Justin Turner has become a free agent, the MLB Players association announced Thursday. His $10 million mutual option for 2026 was declined.
06.11.2025 22:20 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs agree to terms with Colin Rea on one-year deal with 2027 club option Rather than just picking up right-hander Colin Rea's club option for 2026, the Cubs worked out a new deal with the veteran right-hander that could extend into 2027. The parties agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a club option for 2027, the team announced on Thursday, maintaining at least some of the Cubs' pitching depth in an offseason where both rotation and bullpen arms will be a priority. The deal is worth $6.5 million guaranteed, or $13 million if the Cubs exercise the option next year, sources confirmed. The Cubs signed Rea last offseason in what was expected to be a swingman role. But he made just three relief appearances before left-hander Justin Steele’s season-ending elbow injury forced Rea into the rotation full time. Rea's new deal comes days after the news that left-hander Shota Imanaga was hitting free agency, after both the team and then Imanaga declined their respective options this week. The Cubs also didn’t land a frontline starter at the trade deadline, judging the price to be too high. That need remains, and was only highlighted in the postseason. “It is really difficult to do that midseason now, and I think it's becoming even more difficult with a new playoff format, to do that,” Hoyer said in his end-of-season news conference last month. “Teams are closer together, there’s many more teams in the race that have a chance, and then even some teams that weren't in the race made decisions to not to not trade. “As we think about what's changed in the game, I do think that that's become more difficult, and I do think it puts more emphasis on all other areas of the cycle.”
06.11.2025 17:59 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs' 2026 spring training schedule includes rare games against the Yankees and Team Italy The Cubs’ 2026 spring training schedule includes an exhibition game against Team Italy and wraps with two days of playing host to the Yankees. Major League Baseball revealed spring training schedules on Wednesday, with the World Baseball Classic returning and adding another wrinkle to the leadup to the MLB season. Players participating in the WBC will have an earlier ramp-up than usual. And 28 exhibition games, including the Cubs’ matchup with the Italian national team on March 3, will take place across the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues on March 3 and 4. WBC games will open on March 4 in Tokyo, and the North American venues (San Juan, Houston and Miami) will begin hosting games on March 6. MLB released spring training schedules this afternoon. Here’s the Cactus League slate: pic.twitter.com/PS30eD7JU9— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) November 5, 2025 The Cubs open Cactus League play on Feb. 20 at Sloan Park with a crosstown matchup against the White Sox – who they’ll also play at Sloan on March 1 and at Camelback Ranch on March 13. The Cubs are set to finish spring training with two home games on March 23 and 24 against the Yankees, who are scheduled to swing by Mesa on their way to San Francisco, where they open the regular season. The Cubs open the 2026 season at Wrigley Field against the Nationals on March 26.
05.11.2025 19:28 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs trade veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge back to the Orioles The Cubs have traded veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge back to the Orioles, barely over three months after they acquired him from Baltimore at the trade deadline. In the latest deal, the Cubs received cash considerations, the team announced Tuesday. Kittredge, on a one-year deal worth $9 million in 2025, has a $9 million club option for next season. Kittredge was one of four players the Cubs acquired at the trade deadline this year. The Cubs sent minor-league infielder Wilfri De La Cruz to the Orioles in the trade. Kittredge posted a 3.32 ERA with the Cubs down the stretch. He tallied five saves as a major part of the Cubs’ closer-by-committee setup after right-hander Daniel Palencia landed on the injured list. In the playoffs, Kittredge appeared in every game of the wild-card series against the Padres, twice in relief and once as the Game 2 opener. He pitched twice in the five-game NL Division Series against the Brewers. In all, he allowed three runs in five innings.
04.11.2025 20:27 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga becomes free agent after club and player options declined Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga is a free agent after the team declined its option to extend his contract to five years and $80 million, and he then declined a $15 million option for 2026, a source confirmed. Imanaga, 32, signed a four-year deal with the Cubs in 2024, transitioning to Major League Baseball after a successful career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. His contract had an intricate structure, giving the Cubs the option after both his second and third year to extend his deal to five years. Declining the option, however, would give Imanaga the opportunity to opt out. The Cubs declined their option to extend Shota Imanaga's contract to a total of 5 years and $80 million, and then Imanaga declined his $15 million option for 2026, @suntimes_sports confirmed. @JesseRogersESPN was on it first.— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) November 4, 2025 That’s what happened this week. The Cubs still have the ability to extend a one-year qualifying offer ($22.025 million) to Imanaga in the coming days. As soon as the Cubs decided not to make Imanaga part of their long-term plans, the left-hander’s next move was obvious. He’d built a strong platform for free agency over his first two years in MLB. Imanaga was an All-Star in his rookie season. With a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts, he finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting and forth for NL Rookie of the Year. This season, a hamstring injury interrupted his sophomore campaign and is believed to have contributed to some mechanical inconsistency down the stretch and into the playoffs. But Imanaga, the team’s Opening Day starter in the Tokyo Series, still had flashes of dominance post-injury and compiled a 3.73 ERA over the course of the season. The Cubs laid out an offseason plan for him to attack some of the lower-body issues they identified in his delivery late in the year, and he was ready to apply them. “When we signed Shota, if he’d shown us his production over the last two years, we would have taken that in a heartbeat,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said in his end-of-season news conference last month. “Not only has he produced for us, but he’s a great teammate, a terrific asset to the organization. Obviously, we have decisions to make, and we’ll have discussions, and over the next two or three weeks, we’ll do that. But I’ve got nothing but positive things to say about Shota.” The Cubs already were in need of starting pitching depth this offseason. Unless the Cubs extend a qualifying offer and Imanaga accepts, losing him in free agency would exacerbate that demand.
04.11.2025 15:12 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs' Cade Horton named National League Rookie of the Year finalist Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton was rewarded for a stellar 2025 season after he was named a finalist for National League Rookie of the Year.
04.11.2025 01:47 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong wins first Gold Glove, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ add to trophy cases Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong now has the hardware to back up his defensive ability. He won the first Gold Glove Award of his career Sunday, as Rawlings revealed the full slate of winners on ESPN’s selection show. He was one of three Cubs who were awarded 2025 Gold Gloves, joining second baseman Nico Hoerner, who collected the second such award of his career, and left fielder Ian Happ, who secured his fourth. The Cubs had the most Gold Glove finalists in the National League, with six. In addition to Crow-Armstrong, Happ and Hoerner, pitcher Matthew Boyd, catcher Carson Kelly, and third baseman Matt Shaw were in the top three in their respective position groups. Crow-Armstrong recorded the highest defensive WAR of any National League outfielder this season, according to FanGraphs. Crow-Armstrong also led NL outfielders in Statcast’s Fielding Run Value (21) and all outfielders in outs above average (24), according to Statcast. Showing off his range, Crow-Armstrong had the highest five-star catch percentage in the majors. Even as Crow-Armstrong approached the All-Star Game this July, after his first career selection, he kept steering the focus to the defensive side of the game. ‘‘Feeling like I have a chance to go win a Gold Glove every year, I want to do that,’’ he told the Sun-Times then. ‘‘So I just love the idea that defense is equally important as offense in a lot of ways.’’ Crow-Armstrong's offense, which showcased an unexpected power surge as he put himself in the early MVP conversation, dipped in the second half of the season. But his outfield play didn’t waver. “What he does defensively, night in, night out, is unbelievable,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said in his end-of-season news conference. “I think he's the best defensive player in baseball.” A combination of fan votes and analytics (the SABR defensive index) will determine the Platinum Glove winner in each league, which will be unveiled Friday at the Rawlings Gold Glove Ceremony in New York.
03.11.2025 02:23 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs catching prospect Owen Ayers getting his groove back in Arizona Fall League SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — What appeared to be the end of a disappointing season has transformed into a revival for Owen Ayers. After breaking his right hand with five weeks left in Class-A Myrtle Beach’s season and relegated to rehabbing in the lonely, oppressive heat of Mesa, Arizona, Ayers is enjoying a rebirth in the Arizona Fall League. Ayers, a 19th-round pick of the Cubs in the 2024 amateur draft, seized attention with his strong arm and high rate of throwing out base stealers. And he has shown no effects of hand soreness at the plate, as evidenced by his 1.264 OPS in 12 games with the Mesa Solar Sox. “I have confidence in myself, but playing with a lot of guys who have been in the bigs or Double- or Triple-A has showed me even more that I can play at this level,” Ayers said. “It’s been a good challenge, but so has the success.” Moises Ballesteros, a 2024 AFL alumnus, batted .298 with an .868 OPS in 57 at-bats covering three stints with the Cubs in 2025. But Ballesteros didn’t catch until the final game of the regular season and could be relegated to designated-hitter duty as a major leaguer. Meanwhile, the 6-2, 185-pound Ayers has yet to play above Class A, but his defensive prowess could help his advancement — provided his offense continues to improve. At Myrtle Beach, Ayers was successful in nailing would-be base stealers on 30% of their attempts (42 of 140). He threw out two runners in an AFL game on Oct. 21, with his throws clocked at 81.2 and 81.4 mph, respectively, and reaching second base in under 1.87 seconds, according to Hawk-Eye. Ayers learned to catch as a youth, but never moved there full-time until transferring from State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota to Marshall University. “It’s a challenge sometimes learning these new pitchers that you’ve never caught before, so just learning them in the game has been a little bit of a struggle,” Ayers said. “But it’s also a good little challenge, because there’s going to be times that that happens in the future.” Ayers was assigned to the AFL to make up for the time he lost at the end of his 2025 season, as well as to challenge him against tougher competition while having access to the Cubs’ training facilities in Mesa, according to Jason Kanzler, the team’s director of player development. “We believe he still has a lot more room to grow,” Kanzler said. “He is a great athlete, and we think that raises his defensive ceiling substantially.” The experience of running games and learning new pitchers on short to no advance notice also will benefit Ayers. “The AFL is a crash course in developing rapport with pitchers he doesn’t have long relationships with — something he will need to be able to do in the major leagues,” Kanzler wrote in an email. Ayers’ support system at Mesa includes coach Nick Lovullo, the Cubs’ Class-A South Bend manager to whom Ayers could be assigned to start the 2026 season. Ayers is currently more satisfied with his defense than his offense in the AFL, even as he’s in the midst of a 6-for-7 performance with four walks and a stolen base that has raised his batting average to .425. He is determined to continue switch-hitting even though he has fared better from the left side. He yanked a double last Sunday against 6-6 left-hander Nick Bennett, the Nationals’ No. 10 prospect according to MLB.com. “That’s a big focus for me this offseason and even right now in my training,” said Ayers, who batted .178 with a .533 OPS in 45 at-bats against left-handers, compared to a .253 mark with an .816 OPS in 186 at-bats against right-handers. “Because I know there’s a lot of potential there. It’s hard enough to master one side, so just by getting reps and more work at that side, I think it’s just something that’s going to take time and grow,. But eventually it’s going to get there.” Kanzler emphasized the Cubs will continue to be patient with Ayers’ right-handed hitting development. To this point, patience has paid off for Ayers, who didn’t have any scholarship offers out of Sarasota High School. He enrolled at State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota and continued to play mostly the outfield but relished the exposure that eventually enabled him to transfer to Marshall after his sophomore year. In the world of NIL, Ayers believes the junior-college route serves a great benefit to those who aren’t assured of playing time as freshmen at the Division I level. “I noticed that the junior-college level was no joke, and there was plenty of guys who got drafted out of junior colleges, and it’s a great experience to get your feet wet in college baseball,” Ayers said. “And I think more people should take that route, because it helps you develop mentally and physically.” Marshall coaches noticed Ayers’ strong arm and allowed him to catch exclusively. Ayers broke the school record he set for doubles by hitting 25 in 2025. After a slow start, Ayers was starting to hit with more consistency until injuring his hand. That left him relegated to waiting for the stitches to be removed before embarking on a rehab program at the Cubs’ complex that is usually reserved for injured players in the late summer months. But Desi Wilson the Cubs’ rehab hitting coordinator, helped Ayers rebound in time for the AFL. “He’s awesome,” Ayers said. “He helps simplify things. Sometimes it’s very easy to get caught in a lot of numbers and things that go on with baseball. It’s not a super long Fall League season. “It was a matter of focusing on my strengths. He helped me clear my mind, focus on every single rep and trust what I do well. A big part of it is detail process and not looking for results too early and let things happen the way they’re supposed to.”0
31.10.2025 15:03 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Once Again: The Pope Likes That Other Chicago Team, Not the Cubs Although he posed with a Cubs jersey on Monday, a gift from a religious leader also from Chicago, Pope Leo is a longtime fan of the Chicago White Sox. Some people can’t seem to keep it straight.
28.10.2025 08:06 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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On White Sox' 20th anniversary of World Series glory, they're as deep in Cubs' shadows as ever On the one hand, Ozzie Guillen was ticked off at his Cubs counterpart, manager Dusty Baker, for telling ESPN the Magazine he wasn’t rooting for the White Sox in the playoffs. “That’s OK,” Guillen said in the Sun-Times before Game 3 of the 2005 World Series in Houston, his Sox two wins from 88-year-drought-ending glory. “We’ll see who owns Chicago now.” But maybe Guillen already knew better, because earlier that October, when asked how a Sox championship might alter the balance of baseball prominence in a city where Cubs fandom clearly loomed larger, he’d opined, no doubt embellishing for effect, “You’ve got to win seven World Series in a row.” Then-general manager Ken Williams put the number at only two. Win a pair of trophies, and watch the populace — and the media — turn their attention to the South Side. Guillen didn’t buy it. “Seven,” he repeated. We’ll never know. Alas, we know this: Twenty years after the Sox completed a sweep of the Astros on Oct. 26, 2005, they exist in the shadows of the Cubs as much as ever. Certainly more so than they did during that run to the championship, when The Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell wrote — in a sweeping dismissal of the Sox’ entire history — “For 105 seasons, they’ve been baseball’s most overlooked, ignored and almost utterly invisible team.” There have been moments since then — maybe one or two — when it appeared our baseball scene might be shifting just a little. As recently as January of 2020, one over-his-skis writer actually devoted an entire column to the notion of “Soxtown,” the gist being the Sox were on the rise with an exciting, likable roster while the Cubs were cashing checks and their fans, spoiled after a World Series title of their own, were perhaps beginning to sour. A journalism highlight, this wasn’t. (You’re welcome, readers.) There was Sox playoff baseball in both 2020 and 2021, but since then the team has lost 324 games — one more than the pitiful Rockies — for the worst three-year record in the big leagues. There’s a pretty good chance you had some idea of this already. Over recent months, I’ve had chances to ask several 2005 team members about both ends of the Sox spectrum, the blissful memories and the abject miseries. “I still got it here, what we did,” said Freddy Garcia, the winning pitcher in the Game 4 clincher, pointing to his heart. He never saw it getting this bad. “Hell no,” he said. Jose Contreras, another starting pitcher who shined that October, believed those Sox would win “a couple” more World Series. “It was a great team, you know?” he said. “A great organization.” But watching the Sox bottom out with a record 121 losses in 2024 was “crazy” and “painful,” Contreras said. Twenty years ago, Paul Konerko had a second straight 40-homer season and Jermaine Dye, A.J. Pierzynski, Scott Podsednik and others came on board to round out what became a 99-win regular-season team whose 11-1 blitz through the postseason was the stuff of legend. Or should have been. ESPN alone has forgotten about the 2005 Sox often enough that one is left to wonder if people even noticed. “Say what you will about Chicago, it’s kind of a Cubs majority around here,” said catcher Pierzynski. “People were kind of like, ‘Hey, that’s a cute little story that the White Sox won. We’re just going to brush this under the rug.’ ” Said right fielder Dye, “Obviously, with two teams in one big city, we’re kind of the forgotten child over here. It’s tough to hear, but I know what we’ve done. The people of Chicago know that.” As the Dodgers and Blue Jays duke it out in this year’s Fall Classic, it’s a wonder where the time goes and how vastly different things are in terms of both the quality of the Sox and the manner in which October games unfold. Just the blink of an eye ago — OK, 20 years — four Sox starting pitchers threw back-to-back-to-back-to-back complete games in the American League Championship Series and each went at least seven innings deep in the World Series. No offense to Guillen, but his job was easy. If you’ve never spent hours on end down the bottomless rabbit hole of newspaper archives, consider yourself normal. Some of us enjoy nerding out this way once in a while, although it can make one feel mighty old to read a 20-year-old Sox story referencing an anniversary from 20 years before that. An especially fun Sun-Times piece featured fans who watched the Bears beat the Ravens at Soldier Field — with a halftime ceremony honoring the 1985 Super Bowl squad — before heading straight to the ballpark to see the Sox win Game 2 of the World Series in walk-off fashion. By God, what a doubleheader it must’ve been for those folks. The Soldier Field stands contained many fans clad in Sox gear that day, an unusual site, indeed. A sign read, “Go Bears! Play Ozzie ball!” In the champions’ clubhouse in Houston a few nights later, Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said, “This is for all the fans in Chicago — South Side, North Side, West Side.” But the Sox never captured a whole city, did they? Reinsdorf also said, “I hope it’s not a dream when I wake up in the morning.” All this time later, it sort of seems like it was.
24.10.2025 13:04 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner named Silver Slugger finalists A trio of Chicago Cubs players were named Silver Slugger finalists on Wednesday.
23.10.2025 00:43 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Are the Bears a playoff team? Are the Bulls a winning team? And who's next year's Cubs right fielder? The Bears have won three straight games, improving their record to 3-2, and have the 1-5 Saints coming to Soldier Field for a noon kickoff on Sunday. In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on the social platform X, we had the audacity to bring up the P-word. No, not Petitbon, Piccolo, Plank or even Payton. “P,” as in “playoffs.” Are they on this Bears team’s horizon? “I would like to think so, but let’s see if they can beat a 1-5 team decisively this week,” @RonaldVoigt4 commented. “It’s slim and none, and slim just walked out of the room,” @JBIRD1268 wrote. We also asked how many games the Bulls, who open their season Wednesday, will win. “I have not seen enough changes for more than 39,” @ronw_sportsnut weighed in. Last, we asked whom you’d like to see in right field for the Cubs next season. Run it back with Kyle Tucker? Give Seiya Suzuki another crack at the full-time job? Throw young Owen Caissie out there? “Suzuki in right, Moses Ballesteros as DH,” was @PoliticsFan10’s take. On to the polls: Poll No. 1: Now that the Bears have won three in a row, do you see the playoffs on their horizon this season? It’s time for this week’s “Polling Place.” Let us hear from you! Selected comments will appear in Sunday's paper. Poll No. 1: Now that the Bears have won three in a row, do you see the playoffs on their horizon this season?— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) October 16, 2025 Upshot: Is it too soon to start planning that Super Bowl parade? Poll No. 2: The Bulls open their season on Wednesday. Out of 82 games, how many will they win? Poll No. 2: The Bulls open their season on Wednesday. Out of 82 games, how many will they win?— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) October 16, 2025 Upshot: What a smart-alec, that @SDEagle1999, who suggested there “should have been a ‘39 to 42 wins and a loss to the Heat in the play-in tourney’ option.” Come to think of it, that’s a pretty good point. Poll No. 3: Whom are you hoping to see in right field for the Cubs on Opening Day 2026? Poll No. 3: Whom are you hoping to see in right field for the Cubs on Opening Day 2026?— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) October 16, 2025 Upshot: Remember, folks, it’s the Cubs’ money, not yours. Your only responsibility here is to want them to spend it. Just saying.
17.10.2025 23:59 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs' Kevin Alcántara undergoes sports hernia surgery Cubs outfielder Kevin Alcántara underwent surgery Thursday to repair a sports hernia, the team announced. Alcántara, 22, has appeared in 13 major-league games over the last two seasons and gone 5-for-21 in that time. He's ranked No. 5 among Cubs prospects by MLB Pipeline. Kevin Alcántara underwent successful surgery to repair a sports hernia, a source confirmed. He posted this to his Instagram story https://t.co/iAoQlwLiXt: pic.twitter.com/3ZILyPNltY— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) October 16, 2025 As right fielder Kyle Tucker heads into free agency, Alcántara could figure into the Cubs' plans for replacing his production next season — barring a reunion — along with fellow top prospect hitters Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros. The Cubs did not immediately announce a timeline for Alcántara's recovery. But last October shortstop Dansby Swanson also underwent sports hernia surgery and was back in action by the beginning of spring training. Caissie, too, had core muscle surgery last offseason. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer did not reveal a comprehensive list of upcoming surgeries in his end-of-season news conference Wednesday, saying he had a medical meeting later that day. But he said he didn't expect any operations as "high profile" as Swanson's hernia surgery or second baseman Nico Hoerner's flexor tendon surgery last offseason.
16.10.2025 16:51 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Pope Leo XIV has excellent retort to trolling Cubs fan Even after watching his White Sox suffer three consecutive 100-loss seasons, Pope Leo XIV can still take satisfaction in ridiculing Cubs fans. During an appearance at the Vatican, someone in the crowd yelled, "Go Cubs!" Without missing a beat, Pope Leo XIV retorted, "Han perdido. They lost!" The pope was referring to the Cubs' loss in the National League Division Series to the Brewers. The Cubs finished the regular season 92-70. Despite the downtrodden state of Sox, the first American-born pope has been open about his fandom. In June, he wore a Sox hat given to him by a Massachusetts couple. Pope Leo XIV attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, watching from Section 40, Row 19, Seat 2. He had a signed jersey delivered to former White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, one of the most well-liked and decorated players in team history. In a year in which he rose to national prominence, the pope ensured that his Sox affinity was recognized.
16.10.2025 00:35 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Breaking down the Cubs’ impending decision on Shota Imanaga’s unique contract As soon as left-hander Shota Imanaga signed his four-year, $53 million contract with the Cubs before the 2024 season, it was clear his first two years in Major League Baseball were going to be pivotal. The unique structure gave the Cubs the option after the second or third year to extend the pact to a total of five years and $80 million guaranteed. But if they didn’t, Imanaga could opt out either year and, unless he agreed to a one-year qualifying offer, test free agency. This offseason, the Cubs are faced with that decision for the first time. “When we signed Shota, if he’d shown us his production over the last two years, we would have taken that in a heartbeat,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said in his end-of-season news conference Wednesday. “Not only has he produced for us, but he’s a great teammate, a terrific asset to the organization. Obviously, we have decisions to make, and we have discussions to make, and over the next two or three weeks, we'll do that. But I've got nothing but positive things to say about Shota.” Hoyer stopped short of calling it a no-brainer. But Imanaga has been a rotation staple and fan favorite the last two years. He set the bar high in his first season, finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting and fifth in Cy Young. A hamstring injury interrupted his 2025 season and contributed to an inconsistent second half and postseason. But he still posted a 3.73 ERA, and the Cubs have an offseason plan for him to address some of the movement-pattern issues they identified post-injury. The Cubs, who deemed the price for front-line starting pitching at the trade deadline to be too high, know as well as any team how in-demand free agent pitchers will be over the offseason. If the Cubs don’t pick up Imanaga’s three-year club option for 2026-28, Imanaga is expected to decline his $15 million player option. Weighing in on Tucker Right fielder Kyle Tucker is set to enter free agency after an up-and-down platform year with the Cubs. “When we were at our best, Kyle was at his best, and vice versa,” Hoyer said. “There's no question he had a huge impact on his team.” Hoyer emphasized the totality of the season — rather than Tucker’s red-hot start, and second-half slump and calf injury. Tucker finished the year with a .841 OPS and 4.5 WAR, according to FanGraphs. “Kyle has a big decision, Hoyer said. “He's earned the right to not only be a free agent, but to be a coveted free agent. And so I would expect that they'll play their cards close to the vest, but I know he had a good experience [in Chicago].” Gold Glove finalists The Cubs led the National League with six Gold Glove finalists, as announced by Rawlings on Wednesday. Left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd, catcher Carson Kelly, second baseman Nico Hoerner, third baseman Matt Shaw, left fielder Ian Happ and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are all in the Top 3 in their respective position groups. The winners are set to be unveiled on Nov. 2.
15.10.2025 22:33 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Pope Leo XIV trolls Chicago Cubs at Vatican The Chicago Cubs’ season ended in heartbreak last week as they were eliminated in the National League Division Series in five games to the Milwaukee Brewers. Pope Leo reminded them of it.
15.10.2025 22:07 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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A question for Cubs prez Jed Hoyer: What should team's identity be? The Dodgers exist on their own plane — a world apart — in the National League. If we didn’t all agree on that before starting pitchers Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto combined to throw 17 innings and allow one run in Games 1 and 2 of the NL Championship Series, surely we’re nodding our noggins in unison now. The team on the wrong end of the NLCS thus far — the Brewers — is one of a kind, too. No organization matches, let alone exceeds, the Brewers’ ability to do more with less. As identities go, it could be argued theirs is every bit as clear and strong as that of the mega-budget, mega-talent, mega-mojo defending champs. Beyond that, there are other NL clubs that have set their sights on the World Series, talked like it and, to varying degrees of success, spent like it. The Mets went for the jugular and failed spectacularly, but at least everyone knows who they are. And then there are the Cubs. Who are they? They want to be good without having to risk shoving all-in to be great. They want to consistently be in the playoff picture without hitching their wagon long-term to superstars. They’re perfectly OK, generally speaking, with wild-card berths even if that means playing second fiddle in the division to a small-market rival. If the Cubs have an identity, though, how to articulate it? How to crystallize it? Related * How Cubs president Jed Hoyer is charting the path forward after 2025 NLDS exit * What’s the antidote to Milwaukee’s ‘Magic Brew’? Not the Cubs’ middle-ground spending * Brewers end postseason losing streak at Craig Counsell’s expense; ‘I’m disappointed, sad,’ Cubs manager says I invited president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to take his best shot at it Wednesday at his end-of-season debrief with reporters at Wrigley Field. After all, if anyone should be able to do it, it’s the prez who’s essentially embarking on a second term in office after having inked a contract extension heading into the trade deadline in July. “The No. 1 area I think you’d probably focus on that sets us apart right now is our defense,” Hoyer began. “I think we’re an exceptional defensive team. I think that we played really good defense, we played really clean baseball and we threw a ton of strikes this year. I think that, defensively, my hope is, going forward, we continue to build teams that way.” Perhaps sensing that description didn’t have the same oomph to it as, say, “Just win, baby,” Hoyer revved himself back up. “Every year, I want to build something that’s consistent [so] you know when you pay for your season tickets at the beginning of the year, [or] when you’re going to a game, you know you’re going to see a really clean, good brand of baseball and you’re going to see a really competitive team. … “I want our identity to be a consistently really good team, to create teams the fans identify with the way they did this year. If we do that year in and year out, we’ll be in really good shape. And hopefully we can continue to move this press conference back a little bit every year. That would be the goal.” Moving his press conference back next season would mean having made it at least as far as the NLCS. So there you go, put the man on the record — it’s final four or flop in 2026. What else did Hoyer say? That the Cubs, knocked out in the division series by the Brewers, left some goals on the table. That his prevailing feeling about a 92-win wild-card season was, nevertheless, “pride.” Hoyer also continued to blame a “tight” trade market for his inability to acquire a top starting pitcher for the playoff push, which was, of course, exactly what the team needed. Alluding to Snell’s and Yamamoto’s ace-like outings this week in Milwaukee, Hoyer referred to a “one-team exception,” the implication being all other teams have required parades of relief pitchers to get through games. While it’s true many games have been like that, the Dodgers aren’t the only team that has had aces perform like aces in the playoffs. The Tigers’ Tarik Skubal averaged right around seven innings and 100 pitches in three starts. The Red Sox’ Garrett Crochet pitched deep into the eighth and threw 117 pitches in the wild-card round. The Brewers’ Freddy Peralta lasted 95 pitches in Game 1 against the Cubs. Maybe the roster put together by Hoyer just wasn’t good enough? As for the division, perhaps the Cubs should put more emphasis on winning it? They went 4-1 at Wrigley in the playoffs but were 0-3 on the road, failing to win even once in Milwaukee without home-field advantage. “Certainly, losing the division put us at a disadvantage in that regard,” Hoyer acknowledged. But he added, “Overly focusing on what just happened in eight [playoff] games can be really difficult.” Hoyer is not afraid to say the Cubs have entered a stage when they should be expected to rise annually to a playoff level. It might seem obvious, but consider the Cubs are still under .500 at 403-407 since Hoyer stepped into predecessor Theo Epstein’s shoes. The Cardinals are 20 games over .500 in that same span. The Brewers? A whopping 116 games over. Why was Hoyer extended before reaching the playoffs again? But he was, and then the Cubs got to October and all was well and good at Wrigley. So, good for him. Hoyer might take bigger swings in his role if he operated emotionally — from his gut — but that has never been his style. “You’re saying I’m not sentimental, huh?” he jabbed back Wednesday. But those playoff games at Wrigley were something else. It had been a while. Too long. “If you want to talk sentimental, I don’t think we had feelings like that in the building since, like, 2015 and ’16,” he said. “It makes you want to work that much harder this winter, makes you want to get in earlier, makes you want to make that much better decisions, because you want to keep experiencing that.” We’ll hold him to it.
15.10.2025 20:31 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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How Cubs president Jed Hoyer is charting the path forward after 2025 NLDS exit When even Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, a veteran of exit interviews, says it was “remarkable” how many players mentioned the closeness of the 2025 team in their end-of-season meetings, that’s something to note. After the team’s playoff exit in the National League Division Series, however, it may have no bearing on the road ahead. “If we brought back the exact same group of players next year, it wouldn’t be the same,” Hoyer said in his year’s end news conference Wednesday. “It can't be the same. I think that's one of the things that the players were talking about in sadness when it ended on Saturday, is you don't want it to end because you know that this feeling is going to be gone. “And now, starting whenever we get to spring training, it's about building that up again. That's just something I've learned in my career over and over. I'm really glad that this year was a special chemistry, but you can't bottle that up and bring it into next year. ” The Cubs won’t be bringing back the same group of players, either. The offseason will be their chance to transform a postseason story of a narrow miss after a run of resilience, into a stepping stone. But there’s a long checklist to get there: * Fill any potential coaching vacancies: The Cubs plan to invite back the whole staff, Hoyer said. But there's always the possibility of a coach leaving for another opportunity. * Replenish the pitching staff: The bullpen has to be almost completely re-made, and the rotation could use reinforcements * Replace Kyle Tucker’s offensive production: In theory, they could do so by bringing him back, but the more likely scenario seems to be a combination of young talent and/or outside acquisitions. * Advance extension talks: Hoyer said he expects to have extension talks with "a number" of players this offseason, although he declined to go into specifics. "Hopefully we can continue to move this press conference back a little bit every year," Hoyer said. "That would be the goal."
15.10.2025 18:52 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Pete Crow-Armstrong among 6 Cubs players named Gold Glove finalists The Chicago Cubs had a Major League Baseball-leading six finalists for Gold Glove awards as the team looks to collect some serious hardware.
15.10.2025 17:38 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Sandy Alomar Sr., former White Sox player and Cubs coach, dies at 81 Sandy Alomar Sr., an All-Star infielder during his playing days in the 1960s and '70s who went on to coach in the majors and manage in his native Puerto Rico, has died. He was 81. A spokesperson for the Cleveland Guardians said Monday that the team was informed by Alomar's family about his death. Sandy Alomar Jr., who along with Hall of Fame brother Roberto played for their father in winter ball and in the minors, is on the Guardians' staff. "Our thoughts are with the Alomar family today as the baseball community mourns his passing," the Guardians said on social media. Alomar broke into the big leagues in 1964 with the Milwaukee Braves, one of six teams he played for. He also spent time with the New York Mets, White Sox, California Angels, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers before calling it a career in 1978. Known more for his speed and fielding than his hitting, Alomar batted .245 with 13 home runs and 282 RBIs in 1,481 regular-season games. He was named an All-Star in 1970. He stole 227 bases, including a career-high 39 in 1971, when he led the American League with 689 at-bats and 739 plate appearances, and took part in one playoff series with the Yankees in '76. Alomar went into coaching in San Diego's system in the '80s and was the Padres third-base coach from 1986-90. He coached for the Cubs, Colorado Rockies and the Mets in the 2000s.
13.10.2025 23:13 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Cubs players want another shot at a deep playoff run; now it's the front office's job to get them back When Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed his team after Game 5 of the National League Division series, he assured them that despite the postseason exit, they had done a lot to honor the city written across their chests. “Obviously everyone's happy to put on the Chicago uniform,” reliever Brad Keller said Saturday night, standing in front of his locker in the visitors clubhouse at American Family Field. “It's tough. We had a really good group. We had a lot of veteran guys. I felt like we bounced back through some tough times, through some slumps, through some good times. “We were pretty even-keel all throughout the season. Even when the moments got big in the playoffs, I felt like we still rose to the occasion.” It was true. The Cubs had one three elimination games, first to beat the Padres in the wild-card round, and then to even the NLDS after falling behind 0-2 in the series to the Brewers. But that was where their 2025 story ended. Because the Cubs had scraped and clawed back from the edge, the fall felt all the more sudden. They had believed, regardless of the odds, that they would bounce back. And in the process, they’d made onlookers believe, too. Then it was over. “That's a harsh reality,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said Saturday. “Sports in general can do that. There's only one team at the end of the year that gets to celebrate. Everyone else feels the same kind of pain. So, I felt this before, and doesn't get more enjoyable. It honestly probably hurts even more the more you do it.” Swanson was surrounded by a mass of reporters and TV cameras. A huge media contingent had driven up to Milwaukee from Chicago to cover a possible series-clinching game. The next question tried to put a positive spin on the pain. Was there a way to build off it? “When emotions are going, there's not really a good answer for that right now,” Swanson said. While the players were channeling all their energy and focus into their performance on the field, however, the front office was juggling both the present and the future. Baseball operations departments that don’t start planning for the offseason during the playoffs risk falling behind. And president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has reiterated year after year that sustained success was the goal of the last rebuild. This trip to the postseason can’t be a one-off. “That’s the expectation of the organization, the expectation of the players, is to get back in the playoffs,” left fielder Ian Happ said. "It's really hard. It's really hard to get here. It's really hard to win playoff series against good teams. And so the fact that we expect to be here doesn't make it hurt any less when you're here and you don't get it done.” Now, the players turn it over to Hoyer and his department. Every year, the front office has to reimagine the bullpen and bench to some extent. While injuries hobbled an otherwise pretty steady rotation, it's the front office's job to anticipate adversity in a season. It was clear as early as last offseason that the Cubs didn’t have enough starting pitching depth to weather those kinds of blows going into the playoffs. The Cubs also have a decision to make on a unique mechanism in left-hander Shota Imanaga’s contract. Going into last season, he signed a four-year deal worth $53 million that includes an option for the Cubs to extend his contract to a total of five years and $80 million either this offseason or next. If they never pick up the option, he can opt out. From the position player group, right fielder Kyle Tucker is the big name set to enter free agency. The Cubs could go the cost-saving route of relying on a combination of Seiya Suzuki and young talent – including Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara – to fill right field and designated hitter. If they don’t bring in offensive reinforcements, however, they’ll be placing a lot of faith in internal improvement and development at the major-league level. The Cubs also have to keep in mind the number of core players whose contracts are up after the 2026 season, and lay out a plan to eventually retain or replace them. Suzuki, Happ, second baseman Nico Hoerner and right-hander Jameson Taillon are all lined up to hit free agency at the same time. While winning 92 games in the regular season and ending a four-year playoff drought were accomplishments this year, in the battle for the NL Central, the Cubs can't count on the Brewers to fade. Even after losing impact players in each of the last two offseasons, Milwaukee somehow has also continued to improve. “I think the standard’s changed around here,” said Taillon, who spoke plainly last year about wanting to do just that. “Something I'm super encouraged about, in that same breath, is the young talent we saw come up this year makes me believe that we can do it going forward. So, I think the Cubbies are here to stay. “And obviously, so are the Brewers.”
12.10.2025 20:50 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Brewers players troll Cubs in team photo after postseason win The Milwaukee Brewers have eliminated the Chicago Cubs, and they trolled their Central Division rivals in their team photo after the series ended.
12.10.2025 17:30 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Free agency is around the corner for Cubs' Kyle Tucker: 'I don’t know what the future’s going to hold' MILWAUKEE – Cubs designated hitter Kyle Tucker extended his bat to to a sinker on the outer corner of the plate, rolling a soft grounder to second base for the final out of the eighth inning of the Cubs’ 3-1 loss to the Brewers Saturday. That may have been his last at-bat as a Cub. The Cubs’ postseason ended Satruday night when they dropped Game 5 of the National League Division Series to the Brewers. And when the World Series wraps up at the end of the month, Tucker's free agency is set to officially open. “I don’t really know right now,” Tucker said when asked after the game about his expectations for free agency. “I was more so worried about the game tonight. It’s, get through this today and worry about that a little later.” Would he want to return to Chicago? “We’ll see what happens,” Tucker said. “I don’t know what the future’s going to hold. But, if not, it was an honor playing with all these guys and I wish everyone the best of luck, whether it’s playing next year or not for them. It’s a really fun group to be a part of.” Tucker’s season didn’t go quite as expected when the Cubs traded for him last offseason. They were willing to give up a lot – sending third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and 2024 first-round draft pick Cam Smith to the Astros – in order to elevate their offense with an impact bat. Tucker did just that for the first three months of the season, even though he played through a fracture in his right hand in June. He had a .931 OPS going into July, coming off a series in Houston,where his former team welcomed him back with a tribute video and "King Tuck" crowns in the stands. Then he sunk into a seven-week slump. And just when he was coming out of it, logging four home runs and a .400 batting average in the span of 11 games, he was sidelined by a calf injury. Tucker was still feeling the effects of the injury when he returned for the last series of the regular season. Then he went 7-for-27 in the playoffs. His solo home run in Game 4 of the NLDS was his only extra-base hit. In order to avoid putting further strain on Tucker’s calf, manager Craig Counsell had him serve as the designated hitter through the postseason instead of playing right field. “I was just doing my best, doing what I can to help this team,” Tucker said. “Just keep it moving forward. I’m always out there trying to do my best, try to go out there and put up good at-bats one after another.” An extension had seemed unlikely from the onset, when Tucker was expected to garner a hefty pay day in free agency. And after the way his season unfolded, with no agreement percolating in that time, it’s difficult to picture a scenario where a reunion makes sense for both parties. “It’s going to suck regardless,” Tucker said when asked if his uncertain future intensified his disappointment after the loss Saturday. “You play this game to win and to come together as a group and win. It was really fun playing with this group this year.”
12.10.2025 05:32 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

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