In a 24-hour span on deadline day in 2021, Hoyer traded Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo for prospects, probably top Contreras and other individuals to assume it would occur once again this time, Hoyer surmised. Contreras narrowly missed a homer on a drive off the left-center wall with two in the sixth. Left fielder Adam Duvall played the ball perfectly and held him to a single. Minter (2-1) walked pinch-hitter Jonathan Villar major off the eighth. He advanced on Andrelton Simmons’ sacrifice, stole third without a throw on Minter’s 2-1 pitch in the dirt to Morel and scored on Morel’s 277-foot fly to center with a steady wind blowing in at Wrigley Field. The story of the evening, though, has to be Hayden Wesneski’s large league debut.

As Jed Hoyer appears to build a roster that will lean heavily on defense and pitching, it seems as even though intangibles will play a significant function. Players like Taillon and Dansby Swanson are not just there since of their stats, a thing the pitcher alluded to throughout his conversation with the media. Significantly like it was clear with the Cubs and catcher Willson Contreras that the group was not going to bring Contreras as soon as he hit free agency this offseason, that seems to be what has happened with the Braves and Swanson. With the Braves hunting significantly less and less most likely with each passing day, it seemed pretty much as if it was a foregone conclusion that Swanson would sign with the Cubs.

The left-hander would be a “flier” but in the short-term he could prove to be the answer. Chicago has a handful of options in the minor leagues, such as Matt Mervis, but it remains to be noticed when he will be Big League-ready. On the other hand, the San Diego Padres are on the hook for his entire salary soon after trading him to the Boston Red Sox at last year’s trade deadline. That implies that Hosmer could be signed for the league minimum and slot ideal into the Cubs’ plans with incredibly small monetary investment. At the end of the Winter Meetings, as the Cubs still had a number of areas of clear need to have up and down the roster, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer provided an assessment of the team’s predicament.

He managed 1 catcher-framed saved run in 2022, albeit in two,200+ pitches. To make matters worse, that number improved from the -six he recorded in 2021. He did have four in 2019 but recorded -six just before that in 2018.

Hughes will be honored July 22 as element of the Hall of Fame induction weekend. He was 1 of ten finalists for the award along with Boston’s Joe Castiglione, the Mets’ Gary Cohen and former significant leaguers Dave Campbell, Steve Stone, Duane Kuiper and Ernie Johnson Sr. Longtime Montreal Expos announcer Jacques Doucet, Cleveland’s Tom Hamilton and former Toronto Blue Jays voice Jerry Howarth also were finalists.

Is Swanson going to carry a group to the Planet Series? PCA is a safer bet simply because his elite defense will play at the highest level no matter what occurs with his bat, but Alcántara could be everything Eloy Jiménez was supposed to be and then some. Properly, the Cubs have opened up the checkbook this offseason, but Jed Hoyer wasn’t in a position to get the greatest…

Currently this offseason, rumors have connected him with the Detroit Tigers, potentially setting up a reunion with Javier Báez. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Tigers are going to be active in the catching market, and president of baseball operations Scott Harris worked in the Cubs organization from 2012 to 2018. Contreras, 30, will attract a lot of focus as a totally free agent.

NEW YORK — Scott Effross’ name has been on the Yankees’ radar for a number of months, with analysts and scouts watching intently as the sidearming right-hander carved up National League lineups in a Cubs uniform. The Bombers wanted him, and on Monday, they landed their target. The appropriate-handed pitcher tossed the ninth inning of the Chicago Cubs’ 15-two victory at Philadelphia, allowing one run and a single hit with 1 walk and one strikeout. The essential now will, of course, be really landing that superstar shortstop. If Chicago fails to do so, passing on an automatic leading 100 prospect for a guy significantly additional down the list is a gamble that could severely tarnish your reputation moving forward. On the flip side of that coin, if the Cubs do land their guy in absolutely free agency and Horton turns into a beast, the Cubs front office just might be the most genius in baseball.

Bot 3, two out – The Phillies have loaded the bases, D. Chicago has been unduly hurt by a record in 1-run games. The Cubs are a team to watch — at least from a betting standpoint — early in the 2nd half. The Pirates opened the second half by dropping two of 3 games to the Miami Marlins. In games bracketing the All-Star break, the Bucs are two-six more than their final eight contests. Pittsburgh bats have produced all of a .570 OPS throughout that stretch.

He by no means received consistent playing time on a loaded roster in L.A. But now he has some runway to get into a rhythm with the Cubs — which is specifically what his new manager has observed of late. McKinstry started September on an -for-15 skid but busted out of that in a significant way Sunday evening with a four-hit day . McKinstry is a self-made prospect who was selected in the 33rd round out of Central Michigan in 2016. He has never ever been on top prospect lists but place up some impressive minor league numbers as he came up by way of the Dodgers program. Codi Heuer (No. 12) and Adbert Alzolay (No. 73) are on the 60-day injured list and not participating in camp, so I note them here but not in the list beneath.

I’d really like to see the group bring back the angry bear look from the 1980s in some style, even if it’s just replacing the alternate logo on the left sleeve. I get that road grays are a portion of baseball history and have a special location in fans’ hearts, but, come on – we can do superior here. Only three players remain from the championship, and the only Cubs All-Star amongst them — Willson Contreras — is all but assured of being traded at this year’s deadline.

The Cubs have not had the very first choose given that 1982 when they drafted shortstop Shawon Dunston. Even so, they have had their fair share of picks in the prime 6, which will be known as lottery picks from this year on. They have been able to draft some incredibly very good players with these lottery picks as nicely.

“But these days, we all have a smartwatch or a cellphone and you can gather so a lot data just from common everyday technology that everybody has. In truth, it’s exactly — down to the final decimal — what Elmer Smith hit in 1894 to lead the Pirates previous the Chicago Cubs for seventh spot in the National League. According to numerous describes it reports Tuesday night the Cubs are closing in on cost-free-agent pitcher Jameson Taillon. These are our original predictions — with original explanations — coming out of the Common Managers Meetings, and we’re standing behind them. This was no surprise for the Cubs, who are also seeking forward to Suzuki building on his rookie season and being a important part of the 2023 offense.

He’s a quite good defensive shortstop, and he may well hit enough to warrant a part in the team’s starting lineup. Perhaps he plays second base or in the outfield, enabling the Cubs to enhance the offense with an offensive upgrade at shortstop. Cubs fans entered this winter with stars in their eyes.