The early trade buzz around the Cubs took a turn for the somewhat bizarre last week, when they were tenuously connected to an All-Star-caliber American League infielder. This week, there's a more plausible candidate with very similar credentials.

We're nearly to the end of November, and the Cubs haven't yet checked off any of the major items on their winter shopping list. It's not time to panic, but perhaps now is a good time to clarify their hierarchy of needs for 2024.

When Cade Horton was drafted seventh overall in 2022 by the Chicago Cubs, many fans questioned the Cubs' choice. A year later, arguing that this is anything short of a "best-case scenario" is hard. Just where do we go from here with the fireballing right-handed pitcher? And when might we see him taking the mound in Chicago?

Following a tumultuous 2023 season for the division, an important offseason looms for all five NL Central squads. However, before any groundbreaking moves are made, are the Cubs already the favorites to take home the division crown in 2024?

As the Cubs look ahead to their first season with Craig Counsell at the helm, one key question is whether (and to what extent) they can weaponize his brilliance with regard to bullpen management. One of his key assets for 2024 will be the slender, slider-slinging sage who struck out 98 batters in relief in 2023.

Some very interesting rumors popped up during the holiday week. As the Cubs seek to upgrade their starting rotation, they might have options beyond the elite free agents who have already been widely discussed. There's a trade possibility out there every bit as tantalizing.

The Cubs drafted Matt Shaw, the former Maryland Terrapin shortstop, in the first round of the 2023 draft, but he does not appear to be a future shortstop at the highest level. Will he be a second baseman? A third baseman? And where do we think he fits into the long-term plan?

The next time you watch the final out of the 2016 World Series, watch closely, to see who the first player to reach the dogpile around the mound is. Better yet, look at the famous still frame of the legendary infield in ecstatic entanglement, and peep the face that just creeps in on the right edge of the frame.

In a new series here at North Side Baseball, we’ll be taking a retrospective look at some of the players who helped the Cubs during some of the “leaner” years of their history. Next up, the Cubs number one prospect in 2010. 

The hulking Canadian outfielder has some of the most prodigious power in the system. The Cubs have aggressively moved him from level to level. How has his development gone so far? And when might we see the Big Maple in Chicago?

It's that time of year, folks. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let's look at the Cubs and discuss what we must be thankful for as fans. 

I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you all to get up right now, go to the window, open it, and stick your head out and yell, "Justin Steele should have won the Cy Young Award!"

Kevin Alcantara, "the Jaguar," is one of the most exciting prospects in the system. With long, lanky levers, quick hands, and extreme power, where does the baddest cat in the Cubs system fit into their plans?

There are reasons to pause a moment before pouncing on the idea of signing Shohei Ohtani as a free agent this winter. If you're worried about the prospect on the basis of his salary and the Cubs' budget, though, stop it.

It's Thanksgiving Week, and the big-name free agents are finally starting to find homes. Let's wrap up our ranking of the top 50 fits for the Cubs, specifically, in MLB free agency.

Jordan Wicks was promoted during the Cubs' stretch run during the 2023 season and showed some solid positives but a few areas of polish. Where should the crafty lefty start off his 2024 campaign, and just what kind of upside is there in his profile?

There’s no denying who the best free agent on the market is this year: Shohei Ohtani. If the Cubs were to land their white whale, how would that change the future trajectory of the team?

Today, we continue our countdown of the top 50 fits for the Chicago Cubs in MLB free agency this offseason. This isn't a ranking of pure talent or projected production; it's specific to the Cubs. Even so, we're getting into the range where most of the names are big ones.