Latest news and updates about the Cubs
There are a few more signing rumors out there, but we’ll wait for confirmation. The Dylan Carlson deal is done. More pitching and infield help (Gabe Klobosits, Karson Simas) may be on the way. We, um, await developments. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 7 days ago | 1 read
It’s Wednesday night here at BCB After Dark: the most happening hangout for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you decided to stop by. Come in out of the cold. We can check your coat for you. We’ve got a fire going and the show will start soon. […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 8 days ago | 1 read
Just a day after I wrote about the Brewers notably inviting two catchers to spring training, they’ve tacked on another catcher to that group. Veteran catcher Reese McGuire, who spent last season with the Cubs, has agreed to a minor league deal with Milwaukee with an invite to major league spring training, per Curt Hogg. […]
From Brew Crew Ball | 8 days ago | 1 read
The nature of the offseason in the last five, ten years is such that so much of it bleeds into January that the advent of Spring Training feels a little less like this desperately-long-anticipated, far-off event, and more like the next phase of the offseason. Here we are, on the doorstep of February, and the Chicago Cubs are still popping up in fairly significant free agent rumors ( Zac Gallen today, for example ). That is not to say we don’t eagerly greet the arrival of Spring Training a...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 8 days ago | 0 reads
Cubs President Jed Hoyer is not someone we hear from as much as we’d like. Sure, he’s around at CubsCon and will occasionally do shorter media interviews on the radio or at the Winter Meetings or a new player press conference, etc. But rarely does he sit down for an hour like he just did with David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer on The Cubs REKAP Podcast . So I was very excited to see Kap reel him in again. You can find the full video at the bottom of this post, but I’m going to drop a few ...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 8 days ago | 1 read
David Bote was once thought of as a versatile enough player to keep around on a long-term deal given him by Theo Epstein, a five-year deal that didn’t end until a buyout last year. And, you know, it might have worked until Bote suffered a serious shoulder injury in May 2021 that kept him out […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 8 days ago | 0 reads
Newly-signed outfielder Dylan Carlson ‘s deal with the Cubs is of the minor league variety, but it comes with a very healthy big league rate if he makes the team – $2 million, per Jon Heyman , plus another $1 million in possible incentives. It’s not a big deal – literally or figuratively – but that structure tells us a few things, and it got me thinking about the Cubs’ bench competition (specifically the 4th outfielder gig). So I’m just gonna flow through some thoughts. At a minimum,...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 8 days ago | 0 reads
You guys. I have been waiting for this moment for over a year. I almost can’t believe it’s finally here. Deep breath, and here it goes: I WROTE A CHILDREN’S BOOK FOR CUBS FANS! My first book ever. It’s called “My First Trip to the Bleachers: Big Feelings at the Cubs Game.” And it’s finally available for pre-sale. You can get your copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org . I really hope you like it. And I really hope you pre-order a copy! Pre-Order Right Here! My Firs...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 8 days ago | 2 reads
Fifth in the series. Today we look at the Cubs’ new third baseman. Alex Bregman should need no introduction. The Cubs wanted to sign him last year but were unable to close the deal. They made up for it this year, signing the free agent to a massive five-year, $175 million contract. Bregman has won two World […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 8 days ago | 1 read
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths. “Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire. Kiki Cuyler* makes the Hall, and other stories. Today in baseball history: Cubs Birthdays: Bob […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 8 days ago | 0 reads
Fun video today from Eric Sim, a former Giants minor leaguer who has since made a name for himself in the baseball-connected content world. For example, Sim put together a video on what it’s like to train with new Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman for a day. Surprise! Bregman works really hard on his training every day! Primarily, it’s just entertaining to watch, but it does also give you a little behind-the-scenes look at what someone like Alex Bregman is doing to stay in top baseball...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 9 days ago | 1 read
The Cubs signed Tucker Barnhart to a two-year, $6.5 million contract before the 2023 season to be the backup catcher to Yan Gomes. This was another miscalculation by Jed Hoyer, as Barnhart was released before the ‘23 season ended after batting just .202/.285/.257 and throwing out only 18.9 percent of runners trying to steal. And […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 9 days ago | 1 read
Although Keith Law’s pre-season top-100 prospect list had a totally different look as far as Chicago Cubs prospects go, we’re back to the version we’ve now see a couple times before already ( MLB Pipeline and Baseball America ). This time, it’s ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel who ranks just two Cubs prospects in the top-100, and they’re the two you’d most expect: 51. Moises Ballesteros, C 83. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP And that’s it. You already know the story by now with Ballesteros, who’d ...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 9 days ago | 0 reads
The Chicago Cubs have once again built up an impressive stable of reclamation arms to work with this spring, but they are never satisfied on that front. If there’s a guy they like out there and he wants to come work at the Cubs’ Pitch Lab, well, doggone it, the Cubs will find room at the inn. The latest signing is big righty Gabe Klobosits, who has pitched the last couple years in independent ball (mostly dominating): Sources: RHP Gabe Klobosits and the #Cubs have agreed to a minor l...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 9 days ago | 0 reads
Fourth in the series. Today we look at the Cubs’ recently-acquired backup DH/First Baseman. Tyler Austin is a 34-year-old journeyman, drafted by the Yankees in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft. His lifetime 0.9 bWAR is inflated by his reasonable 2018-2019 seasons. After 2019, he journeyed to NPB, where he did well for six […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 9 days ago | 1 read
When MLB Network unveiled its top-100 players “right now” list, there was really only one thing that stood out to me, and any other Cubs-adjacent person with a functioning brain. We looked and looked and looked and could not find a bizarrely missing name: Nico Hoerner was inexplicably not on there. Four Cubs in MLB Network’s Top 💯 Right Now 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1mHhGBVKnK — Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) January 27, 2026 Instinctively, we know that Nico Hoerner is one of t...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 9 days ago | 2 reads
I know not everywhere got dumped on by 21 inches of snow like we did, and then immediately followed by sub-zero temperatures, but I am going stir-crazy. The kids are all home, we can’t really go anywhere, and I think we could all use some fresh air. Worse, the brutal cold isn’t turned for, at a minimum, another 10 days apparently. I’m grateful our furnace is working, but I would also be grateful for enough of a break in the roads/temps that everyone can safely go back to school … The Fr...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 9 days ago | 2 reads
There are bound to be some events of note at some point. Perhaps not today. But we remain vigilant. Pitchers and catchers are due to report in two weeks. We do have a nice The Compound Podcast if you have time, and several shorter stories, both on video and via text. Randy Holt has a […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 9 days ago | 1 read
Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We so glad you braved the weather to visit us. Please come in out of the cold. It’s plenty warm in here. We can check your coat. There’s no cover charge. Bring your own beverage. […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 10 days ago | 2 reads
I know that the big league moves draw most of the attention – and, for good reason, since they are designed to generate most of the big league impact – but I have been very pleased by the Chicago Cubs’ front office continuing to supplement deeper within the organization throughout December and January. Plenty of reclamation pitching signings , as always, and a number of more development-inclined pitcher signings, too. There was also the Scott Kingery signing late last year as Triple-A dep...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 10 days ago | 0 reads
Miles Mastrobuoni was the 26th man on the roster for most of his time with the Cubs in 2023 and 2024, a substitute fielder, pinch-hitter and pinch-runner. The Cubs were 14-10 after defeating the Padres April 27, but then went on a long losing skid, losing 10 of 15 entering the final game of a […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 10 days ago | 0 reads
This weekend, Michael discussed the new MLB Pipeline top-100 prospects list, which largely matched the Baseball America list that had dropped a couple days earlier . Namely, the Chicago Cubs have two prospects in the top-100, Moises Ballesteros and Jaxon Wiggins. Lots of recent graduates, some trades, some stalling out, and a lack of huge breakouts from deeper in the draft or in International Free Agency over the last five years have left the Cubs’ system relatively thin on impact-caliber tale...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 10 days ago | 0 reads
Third in the series. Today we look at the Cubs’ young DH/C/1B. In previous episodes, we looked at the Cubs’ two catchers, Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly, indulged in a little speculation, and had video of some of their exploits. As we move on to the rest of the roster, it seems reasonable to look […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 10 days ago | 2 reads
Last week, even as the Cubs were signing outfielder Chas McCormick to a minor league deal, Dylan Carlson was spotted working out in Arizona with the team . Fair to wonder, then, whether the Cubs were also going to try to bring in Carlson on a minor league deal as additional depth/upside/bench competition. Greg Zumach hears that, yes, Carlson is coming: There was some ambiguity about whether the Cubs would sign Dylan Carlson with Chas McCormick and Justin Dean in the organization, but...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 10 days ago | 0 reads
Another Chicago Cubs player is going to be participating in the most star-loaded World Baseball Classic yet. Outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who had to miss the WBC last time around because of an ill-timed oblique injury, will be suiting up in March for Team Japan ( also, very cooly, known as Samurai Japan ), consistently one of the best teams in the international tournament. Suzuki’s comment to the official team site , via translation: “I regret not being able to play last time, so I’m going to...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 10 days ago | 0 reads