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North Side Baseball

  • MLB Notes

    Read quick notes on the Chicago Cubs big league club, including injuries, lineup changes and roster moves.

    80 rumors in this category

      Brandon Glick

      When it rains, it pours. Less than two days after Cade Horton was placed on the injured list with a forearm strain, Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd has joined him there with a bicep strain.

      Boyd hasn't had the best start to the 2026 season, though he's looked downright filthy at times while flashing a 45.9% strikeout rate. In his stead, swingman Javier Assad will return from Triple-A Iowa to take his place back in the rotation. Colin Rea will replace Horton.

      Including Justin Steele, who is still recovering from elbow surgery, and Jordan Wicks, who has been dealing with elbow inflammation since the start of camp, the Cubs are now down four starting pitchers. The next man up would be Ben Brown, perhaps followed by top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins.

      Alexis Farinacci

      Major League Baseball on Wednesday announced and informed teams of the updated slot values and bonus pools for the 2026 MLB Draft taking place in Philadelphia, July 11-13.

      All pick values saw a 2.5 percent increase from 2025, which comes from the overall growth in MLB’s revenue year to year. Coming into the 2026 draft, per Jim Callis of MLB.com, the Chicago Cubs have an $9,644,100 bonus pool. That ranks 20th among all 30 teams this year. The Cubs have the 23rd pick in the first round of the draft. Slotted at No. 23 in round one, they have a slot value of $3,947,600. Because they were a playoff team in 2025, they were ineligible to move up in the lottery since their team was not impacted by other teams. Moving down to No. 25 from No. 17 in 2025, their slot value is $803,200 less than in 2025 for that round one pick.

      In 2025, the Cubs selected outfielder Ethan Conrad with their 17th overall pick. Conrad was drafted out of Wake Forest and still had a high upside despite dealing with a shoulder injury.

      Moving on to the second round, the Cubs’ No. 62 pick has a slot value of $1,487,200. They will then select at No. 75 with a free-agent compensation pick. That pick is worth $1,120,900 and is in exchange for Kyle Tucker, whom the Dodgers signed in January to a four-year, $240 million deal. 

      The Cubs will select at No. 98 in round three, which has a slot value of $800,000. In round four, they will select at No. 126, with a slot value of $609,200.

      Round five, their slot value for pick No. 159 drops to $441,300, with round six (pick No. 188) at $344,400. As the draft continues, pick No. 217 in round seven has a value of $272,000, and round eight decreases to $224,100 for pick No. 247, followed by round nine (Pick No. 277) at $204,100, and pick No. 307 (tenth and final round) at $193,300 as they round out their draft.
      Because the Cubs have a lower pick, it is likely they will spend more than teams with higher picks and higher slot values.

      Heading into the draft, the Cubs are predicted to have an offensive-heavy draft, targeting college-level athletes. Prospects they’re said to be targeting include middle infielder Eric Becker out of Virginia, Zion Rose out of Louisville, and second baseman Chris Rembert from Auburn.

      Becker is a player with fast bat speed and great instincts at the plate. Rose is a physical, plus-hitter with a lot of power. A Chicago native, Rose would be right at home in Chicago.

      Rembert out of Auburn is another target of Chicago’s. He’s a pure hitter with great ability.

      The Chicago White Sox have the No.1 pick and will be on the clock on July 11 when the MLB draft begins. They have a slot value of $11,350,600.

      Brock Beauchamp

      How To Install On iPhone or iPad
      How To Install On Android Device

      Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.

      What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to North Side Baseball.

      From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.

      Additionally, a newer, completely updated North Side Baseball is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.

      With that said, here’s how you turn North Side Baseball into an app on your mobile device.

      How To “Install” North Side Baseball on iPhone or iPad Using Safari

      First, go to the home page of North Side Baseball at https://northsidebaseball.com/.

      1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu.

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      3. Tap “View More”.
      4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”.
      5. Tap “Add”.

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      That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the North Side Baseball app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://northsidebaseball.com/notifications/options/.

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      How To “Install” North Side Baseball on an Android Device Using Chrome

      First, go to the home page of North Side Baseball at https://northsidebaseball.com/.

      1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu.

      android1.jpg

      3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
      4. Tap “Install”.

      android2.jpg

      That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the North Side Baseball app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://northsidebaseball.com/notifications/options/.

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      Paul Niemiec

      The Chicago Cubs have signed former Astros outfielder Chas McCormick to a minor-league contract with an invite to Spring Training, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic.

      McCormick was outrighted off the Astros roster following the 2025 season where he missed nearly 2 months with a left oblique strain. He appeared in 64 games at the Major League level and slashed .210/.279/.290 with a -1.0 WAR. For the second straight season, McCormick appeared in fewer than 100 games while posting a negative WAR. 

      McCormick is nothing more than an outfield depth flier for the Cubs. The soon-to-be 31 year old looked like a late-blooming star in 2023 when he hit .273 with 22 home runs, 19 stolen bases, and an .842 OPS; all while playing above average defense across the outfield. As it stands, McCormick will be competing for a backup outfielder role with top prospect Kevin Alcantara and newly acquired Justin Dean, who are both on the 40 man roster. 

      Matthew Lenz

      Following the acquisition of superstar third baseman Alex Bregman, rumors have been swirling about the Chicago Cubs and two of their utility infielders regarding their roles with the team. While it seems unlikely that Nico Horner ends up being traded, Matt Shaw seems like a more likely candidate. Or, maybe they'll just turn him into a super utility…

      John Antonoff shared a video via his X account of Chicago Cubs infielder Matt Shaw taking reps in the outfield. However, how deep we can look at that remains to be unclear.

      On one hand, they could be getting shot reps so that he can play either corner outfield spot when Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki needs a rest. While both players are strong, offensively, they are both average, two slightly below average, defenders at their respective positions. Shaw's experience in the outfield is extremely limited, while he doesn't have any professional experience, he did appear and left and right field a total of 40 times as an amateur. Depending on how quickly he can pick up outfield defense, he may not be much of a downgrade when half or Suzuki need a day off.

      On the other hand, the Cubs could be using this time as an opportunity for teams to see that Shaw in the outfield is within the realm of possibility. 

      Do you think the Cubs end up hanging onto Shaw? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      The Chicago Cubs see themselves as contenders in 2026. After the offseason they've had, that is a completely justifiable viewpoint to have. In fact, a recent report suggests that they are willing to do what it takes to topple the modern-day "evil empire known" as the Los Angeles Dodgers.

      Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports that Chicago Cubs general manager Cody Hawkins has said paying the luxury tax in 2026 is "less of a consideration." He added that the team will remain active in the free-agent and trade markets if something presents itself.

      Although not off the table, realistically, this likely indicates the Cubs' willingness to add payroll via trade. Cody Bellinger and Framber Valdez represent the two biggest names left on the free agent market, and the Chicago Cubs have not been tied to either player. However, the Alex Bregman signing created an opportunity to shop Matt Shaw and/or Nico Hoerner to two teams in need of versatile infield help.

      It would be in those trade talks, which have reportedly already been presented, where the Cubs would be willing to add a high-impact player to their roster regardless of what it would mean for their payroll and luxury tax situation.

      If the Cubs were to pay the luxury tax, which player(s) currently available would be worth it? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

       

      The Chicago Cubs are hoping to hit on at least one diamond in the rough and have added another candidate to the growing list of players on a minor league contract. 

      Independent reporter Francys Romero is reporting that the Chicago Cubs and righty reliever Yacksel Rios have agreed to a minor league deal. Though not reported, these deals typically include an invitation to big league camp as well.

      Rios, 32, hasn't pitched in Major League Baseball since 2023 with the Oakland Athletics. For the last two seasons, he has spent time in the New York Mets organization (mostly at Triple-A - Syracuse); however, he was limited to 4 appearances in 2025 after suffering an injury in 2024. Over his career, he has made 92 relief appearances, posting a 6.32 ERA (5.61 FIP) across 98 1/3 innings. He has a lowly 8.3% strikeout minus walk rate thanks to an elevated walk rate, which has always been a hindrance to his success.

      Do you think Rios can show enough to break camp with a big league club, or is he destined for Triple-A Iowa? Let us know in the comments!

       

      Matthew Lenz

      It's been a very good off-season for the Chicago Cubs, and now they are rewarding three members of their front office.

      Jordan Bastian of MLB.com shared an official communication from the Chicago Cubs, announcing Garrett Chiado being promoted to assistant general manager, Ben Martin being promoted to assistant director of Major League development, and Brad Moylan being promoted to coordinator of Major League Video and Technology.

      Chiado previously held two titles, Director of Pro Strategy and Director of Pro Analytics. Per the release, he will "we're closely with executive leadership on broader organizational strategy and acquisition initiatives."

      Martin, previously the assistant Director of player develop, will "lead evidenced base planning and analysis for Major League position players, while ensuring alignment with the Player Development department", per the release.

      Moylan, who was the International Scouting Data and Technology assistant, will "oversee the club's instant replay process, providing video and technology support, and assisting with advanced logistics."

      What do you think of these promotions? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      The Chicago Cubs have not stood Pat since acquiring Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins and signing superstar third baseman Alex Bregman. While they haven't made significant moves, they have made a trio of moves that will improve the team's depth.

      First, they signed reliever Corbin Martin to a minor league deal, which we covered here. Then Ari Alexander of 7News Boston reported that they were doing the same with reliever Tyler Beede. That was capped off by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reporting that they claimed outfielder Justin Dean off of waivers from the San Francisco Giants. Neither of the latter two players made an impact at the MLB level in 2025.

      Beede is the bigger dart throw. Though he spent part of the season in the Minnesota Twins organization's Triple-A affiliate, Saint Paul, he also spent time in the Independent and Mexican baseball leagues. With the Twins, he made seven appearances (1 start) with an 8.00 ERA, slightly better than his 13 games pitched in 2024 for the Cleveland Guardians.

      Dean technically made it to the big leagues last year, playing in 18 games, though he was primarily used as a base-running specialist and defensive replacement, with just two plate appearances. In Triple-A Oklahoma City, he hit .289 with a .809 OPS, six home runs, 27 stolen bases, and a 110 wRC+ over 347 plate appearances. If he can hit well enough, he's a great 26th man off the bench in late-inning, high-leverage situations.

      Which of the three signings do you think has the best chance at making an impact in 2026? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      The Chicago Cubs continue to add pitching depth after recently acquiring one of the best arms in the market. Their most recent moves come in the form of a non-guaranteed, low-risk bullpen arm.

      Jordan Bastian of MLB.com is reporting that the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with pitcher Jeff Brigham. He also received a non-roster invite to big-league camp.

      Brigham, 33, has spent parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball with the Miami Marlins, New York Mets, and, most recently, the Arizona Diamondbacks. He threw 3 1/3 innings across four appearances in 2025. Over his career, he has 94 appearances (4 starts) and more than 120 innings pitched. He has a career 4.85 ERA (5.21 FIP) and a below-average 13.1% K-BB rate due to a high walk rate.

      Obviously, this move doesn't move the needle. At best, he's an arm that will stay game-ready in Triple-A Iowa and be called upon in the event of a doubleheader or if the Cubs' bullpen is down bad with injuries. Like a lot of injuries.

      Matthew Lenz

      It sounds like the back-and-forth between the Chicago Cubs and starting pitcher Shota Imanaga will continue. After the team declined their option to extend Imanaga for a fifth year, he declined the player's option that was triggered afterward. While most thought that was the end of it, it was somewhat surprising to learn that the Cubs then tendered him a qualifying offer. 

      Now, Jon Heyman of the NY Post is reporting that Shota Imanaga is expected to decline that qualifying offer. However, all is not lost, according to 670 The Score's Bruce Levine. Despite the back-and-forth that has resulted in Imanaga becoming a free agent, he cites the president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, in saying that there is no disconnect between the two sides. He adds that "a two-year deal of some kind could be worked out."

      Limited to 25 starts in 2025, Imanaga posted a 3.73 ERA (4.86 FIP) and a 16.% K-BB rate due to a low strikeout rate. He walked opposing hitters at an impressive 4.6% clip. His fastball accrued a Run Value (RV) of -10 in 2025, after an RV of +4 in 2024. While opponents hit just .227 off the pitch, they slugged .567 and had a .356 wOBA against the offering, including an astonishing 24 home runs. This was coupled with less effective secondary offerings, particularly his split finger, whose RV was cut in half from 2024 to 2025. MLBTR predicts Imanaga to get $45 million over three years.

      Do you think the Cubs should look to bring him back or pursue a higher-end starter? Let us know your comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      Major League Baseball announced the National League Silver Slugger winners, and one Chicago Cubs player will need to make room in his trophy case.

      Outfielder Kyle Tucker won his first career Silver Slugger in his first (and maybe only) season with the Cubs. He joins his outfield counterparts in bringing home some hardware (Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong won Gold Gloves).

      Tucker slashed .266/.377/.464 (.841 OPS) with 22 home runs and 22 stolen bases. It was his third 20-20 season in four years. He was most effective with runners on base, posting a .908 OPS, including a .865 OPS with runners in scoring position and 28 extra base hits. On another note, the Cubs tendered a qualifying offer to Tucker, and he could return if he agrees to a one-year, $22.025 million pact.

      The Silver Slugger Award is an award that recognizes the best offensive player at each position in both leagues. It is voted on by managers and coaches around baseball.

      Will he be back with the club in 2026? Let us know what you think in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      The Chicago Cubs have been busy in the first four-plus days of the offseason, with moves painting a picture of what might come over the next four months. They declined Shota Imanaga's option, extended Colin Rea, and now have lost an infielder.

      Via an official announcement from the MLBPA, Justin Turner has become a free agent. It's unclear which side declined the option, though it was nearly a given that the Cubs would be the party to do so. They will pay him a $2 million buyout instead of a $10 million salary in 2026.

      The 41-year-old struggled mightily in 2025, posting a .602 OPS with three home runs and two stolen bases. That production, or lack thereof, resulted in a .268 wOBA and 71 wRC+ across 191 plate appearances. Given his age and the 2025 season, he will likely hope for a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training if he doesn't choose to retire.

      Between this move and Imanaga's, the Cubs are opening up the budget for this offseason. Do you anticipate them spending? If so, where? Let us know in the comments!

       

       

      Matthew Lenz

      Days after declining Shota Imanaga's option, opening a spot in the Chicago Cubs rotation, they have extended a different starter for one year with a team option in 2027.

      Steve Adams of MLBTR is reporting that the Chicago Cubs and Colin Rea have agreed to a one-year contract extension. Rea had a $6 million club option (with a $750K buyout) for 2026; however, this deal gives him a $500K raise next year, with a $6.5 million club option in 2027. A buyout, if that option is declined, was not reported.

      Rea, who spent the first month of the season as a swingman, was thrust into the rotation due to injuries. He handled the transition relatively well across 27 starts, posting a 4.29 FIP and 12.6% K-BB rate. The 35-year-old's under-the-hood metrics weren't great, but his deep arsenal helped mitigate his lack of "stuff". In particular, his off-speed offerings held opposing hitters to a sub-.260 batting and sub-.400 slugging percentage. Simply put, he did a serviceable job in the back end of the Cubs' rotation, eating innings.

      The loss of Imanaga hopefully forces the Cubs' hand in pursuing a higher-end starting option in free agency, especially after it was reported they wouldn't be pursuing top-end relievers.

      How do you feel about Rea as a back-end rotation/swing man arm for the 2026 season? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      The Chicago Cubs will have some work to do to rebuild their rotation for the 2026 season after the announcement of an option decision on one of their top starting pitchers.

      Jesse Rogers of MLB.com is reporting that  "the [Cubs] rejected their option to extend [Shota Imanaga's] contract out to a fifth year. That triggered his ability to exercise a $15 million player option for 2026. He declined that as well." He will now become a free agent after two seasons with the club, though they could make a $22 million qualifying offer in the lefty.

      Limited to 25 starts in 2025, Imanaga posted a 3.73 ERA (4.86 FIP) and a 16.% K-BB rate due to a low strikeout rate. He walked opposing hitters at an impressive 4.6% clip. These numbers were all down from an impressive rookie season that earned him an All-Star appearance, as well as Rookie of the Year and Cy Young votes.

      The biggest difference in his two seasons was the effectiveness of his fastball. A pitch that accrued a Run Value (RV) of +4 in 2024, accumulated an RV of -10 last season. While opponents hit just .227 off the pitch, they slugged .567 and had a .356 wOBA against the offering, including an astonishing 24 home runs. This was coupled with less effective secondary offerings, particularly his split finger, whose RV was cut in half from 2024 to 2025.

      Despite his struggles, this announcement strengthens the otherwise weak upcoming free-agent starting pitcher class a bit. Do you think the Cubs should try to bring Imanaga back? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      While the Chicago Cubs as a team didn't bring home any postseason hardware, one of their players may need to make room on their mantles for an individual award.

      The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWA) announced its award finalists on Monday, including Case Horton as a Rookie of the Year finalist.

      Horton, who debuted on May 10th against the New York Mets at Citi Field, threw 118 innings across 23 appearances (22 starts). His 2.67 ERA was truly elite, though a still solid 3.58 FIP suggests maybe some regression in the future. He posted a lowly 13.4% with a respectable 6.9% walk rate but a low 20.4% strikeout rate. While his fastball had a Run Value of 7 in 2025, his secondary offerings were some of the most effective in baseball. Opponents batted .176, .115, and .196 against his sweeper, change up, and curve ball, respectively. Moreover, only four extra base hits were hit off of his change-up and curve - none of which were long balls.

      Do you think he will win the award? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      The New York Mets have poached a Minor League Hitting Coach from the Chicago Cubs organization to fill the same role in their organization.

      Mike Puma of the NY Post is reporting that the Mets have hired Rachel Folden, who was the Iowa Cubs Hitting Coach in 2025, as their Double-A Binghamton Hitting Coach.

      Folden, a four-time All-American softball player at Marshall University and a five-year professional catcher in National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), was with the Cubs organization for six seasons. She was the first female coach in the organization's history when hired in 2019. Folden coached three different levels in her tenure with the Cubs, as well as serving as the organization's Minor League Hitting Coordinator in 2023.

      In an article by Jordan Bastian of MLB.com before the 2025 season, multiple top prospects had glowing remarks about Folden. Owen Caissie was quoted as saying, "She knows her stuff...and there’s no nonsense with her. She just calls it the way it is..." Moises Ballesteros had similarly positive remarks, saying, "She’s really good. I liked to hear she’ll be together with me at Triple-A. She’ll be working with me every single day. That made me happy."

      Now, she'll be looking to help one of baseball's best farm systems develop its top prospects. The New York Mets are expected to have multiple top-20 organizational hitting prospects at Double-A Binghamton in 2026. She is the first female coach in the history of the Mets organization.

      How do you think this will impact the Cubs' minor league hitting development at Iowa? Let us know in the comments!

       

      Brock Beauchamp

      It's hard to predict how this offseason will unfold, as there is an increasing chance of (yet another) MLB lockout following the 2026 season. Will teams spend big this offseason, hoping to create surety in the face of an unknown collective bargaining agreement? Or will they be hesitant in hopes of a favorable outcome for ownership groups?

      No matter how it shakes out, teams will need to compete in the 2026 season, and they'll need to sign free agents this winter. DiamondCentric has compiled a complete list of free agents, sortable and searchable by pretty much any metric you need. Looking for a first baseman? A catcher? We have you covered. We offer two pages for your reference: one for position players, the other for pitchers.

      Free Agent Hitters In the 2025-2026 MLB Offseason

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      dc-initials.png Complete List Of 2025-2026 MLB Free Agent Hitters

      DiamondCentric.net
      Here is a complete list of free agent hitters in the 2025-2026 MLB offseason.

      Free Agent Pitchers In the 2025-2026 MLB Offseason

      pitchers.jpg

      dc-initials.png Complete List Of 2025-2026 MLB Free Agent Pitchers

      DiamondCentric.net
      Here is a complete list of free agent pitchers in the 2025-2026 MLB offseason.
      Andrew Wright

      The National League Gold Glove finalists have been announced and unsurprisingly, the Chicago Cubs lead the pack with six finalists. On the surprising side, Dansby Swanson is not one of those six.

      • Nico Hoerner, 2B
      • Matt Shaw, 3B
      • Ian Happ, LF
      • Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
      • Carson Kelly, C
      • Matthew Boyd, SP

      Hoerner will be looking for his second Gold Glove Award in the last three seasons. He led second basemen in nearly every single defensive category, and he is the resounding favorite to win the hardware.

      Happ has won the award each of the previous three seasons and that is unlikely to change again this season. Happ would become the first Cubs left fielder to ever win four straight Gold Glove Awards at the position.

      The remainder of the group will all be looking for their first ever Gold Glove. We all know the defensive brilliance shown from Shaw and Crow-Armstrong this season. Kelly was excellent behind the plate this season and Boyd leading MLB in pickoffs certainly put him in position to win the award for the first time in his career.

      As things stand, Hoerner, Happ, Crow-Armstrong, and potentially Boyd appear to be favorites at their respective positions. Patrick Bailey (catcher) and Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B) will make it virtually impossible for Kelly and Shaw to win, however.

      The winners at each position will be announced Sunday, Nov. 2 on ESPN.

      Brandon Glick

      The Padres are in town, and the Cubs are looking to get their first playoff win at Wrigley Field since 2017.

      The team has officially released its playoff roster, and there's not a ton of surprises, save for the presence of rookies Kevin Alcantara and Moises Ballesteros.

      Catchers (2): Carson Kelly, Reese McGuire

      First base (1): Michael Busch

      Second base (1): Nico Hoerner

      Shortstop (1): Dansby Swanson

      Third base (1): Matt Shaw

      Designated hitter (1): Moisés Ballesteros

      Outfielders (5): Kevin Alcántara, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Kyle Tucker

      Utility (2): Willi Castro, Justin Turner

      Starters (3): Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon

      Relievers (9): Aaron Civale, Brad Keller, Andrew Kittredge, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Colin Rea, Taylor Rogers, Michael Soroka, Caleb Thielbar

      Ballesteros should get some playing time against right-handers, though don't expect Alcantara to do much other than potentially sub in as a defensive replacement late in games.

      What do you think of the Cubs' playoff roster? Are you surprised by any decisions made by Craig Counsell and the front office?

      Brandon Glick

      The one thing the Cubs successfully did at the trade deadline was address their porous bench, adding utility man Willi Castro just before the final buzzer sounded. Now, Castro hasn't been great in Chicago (.433 OPS), but his defensive versatility has been huge for a lineup that was overplaying its regulars.

      Now, the team is adding more depth to the bench, as they appear close to signing Carlos Santana, just days after the Guardians released him:

      I did a full write-up of Santana a few weeks ago prior to the trade deadline (in regard to his fit with the Red Sox, but the analysis still applies), so to paraphrase myself: he's a 39-year-old former catcher playing in his 16th MLB season. Offensively, Santana isn't quite the voracious slugger he once was, but he's still capable of producing when it counts. Through 116 games (455 plate appearances this season), the veteran is slashing .225/.316/.333, good for an 86 wRC+. His ISO (.109) is down at career-low levels, but his walk (11.4%) and strikeout rates (18.9%) remain positively elite.

      Santana has become a great defender at first base in recent years, and he's on pace for perhaps his best season with the glove yet. His seven Outs Above Average are in line with the 14 he gave Minnesota in 2024, and his 11 DRS tie his best mark (set in 2023).

      Cubs fans will remember him best from the 2016 World Series, when he tormented Cubs pitching to the tune of a .771 OPS. Hopefully, he can provide the kind of veteran leadership this club needs to make a deep run in the playoffs.

      Matthew Lenz

      Amid all the trade deadline buzz, it's being widely reported that the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field will host the 2027 MLB All-Star Game. The official announcement is expected the day following the trade deadline, August 1st.

      Wrigley Field last hosted the event in 1990. Prior to 1990, Wrigley Field hosted the All-Star Game in 1947 and 1962 (note that there were two All-Star Games played in 1962, with the other held in Washington, D.C.).

      In the 1947 MLB All-Star Game, the American League defeated the National League 2-1 in a pitcher's duel. Johnny Mize hit a home run for the National League, but the American League scored the tying and winning runs in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.

      In the second All-Star Game played in 1962. The American League broke a five-game losing streak, defeating the National League 9-4. Leon Wagner was named MVP. The game was marked by four National League errors and three American League home runs.

      Finally, in the 1990 MLB All-Star Game, the American League shut out the National League 2-0. Julio Franco hit a two-run double in the seventh inning, providing all the scoring, and was named the game's MVP. The National League only managed two hits, the fewest in All-Star Game history.

      Brock Beauchamp

      The Cubs added depth by signing 32-year-old right-handed pitcher Spencer Turnbull. He will be assigned to the minor leagues to ramp back up after being released by Toronto in late June.

      In 2024 with Philadelphia, Turnbull threw 54 1/3 innings of 2.65 ERA/3.85 FIP baseball, with a career-best 26.1% strikeout rate. Last season, Turnbull leaned on his new sweeper (about one-third usage), which held hitters to .145 AVG/.226 SLG and a 30.8% whiff rate. In very limited 2025 use (only 28 sweepers thrown), the results were poor.

      Things have unraveled for Turnbull in 2025, with his brief stop in Toronto showing negative run value on almost all of his pitches. Turnbull, once a starter with decent velocity (93.8 mph fastball in 2021 with the Tigers), has seen his velo drop consistently and sat at just 90.9 mph with the Blue Jays early this year.

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      Bryan Jaeger

      The Cubs selected Kade Snell at #151 in the 2025 MLB Draft. Snell is a left fielder at the University of Alabama. The slot value for this pick is $465,400. 

      Here's what MiLB.com says about Snell:

      "Recruited by Auburn as a left-handed pitcher, Snell redshirted while dealing with injuries in 2021 before transferring to Wallace-Dothan (Ala.) CC and starring as a two-way player. The national junior college player of the year in 2023, he played both ways at Alabama in 2024 before becoming a full-time left fielder this spring. He's one of the more attractive discount hitters available as a Southeastern Conference performer with intriguing data and also no college eligibility remaining.

      Snell offers one of the better combinations of swing decisions, contact, and exit velocities in the college ranks. He has a quality left-handed stroke, rarely misses a fastball while handling all types of pitches, and drives the ball to all fields. While he's a hit-over-power guy, he has enough strength to provide 15 homers per year and perhaps more if he learns to lift balls in the air more regularly.

      While Snell will flash close to average speed at his best, he's more of a below-average runner with limited range in left field. He has an average arm and topped out at 93 mph with his fastball as a redshirt junior. Scouts love his competitiveness and leadership, and his all-star summer with wood bats in the Cape Cod League in 2023 is another point in his favor."

      Last season, Snell hit .363/.464/.575 with 10 home runs, 49 runs, and 52 knocked in. He has good plate vision, drawing 38 walks while only 18 strikeouts over 261 plate appearances. The lefty is a contact hitter primarily, but has the lift and exit velocity to produce runs. 

      What do you think of the pick? Add your thoughts in the comments.

      Bryan Jaeger

      The Cubs selected Kaleb Wing at #121 in the 2025 MLB Draft. Wing is an RHP at Scotts Valley High School (CA). The slot value for this pick is $623.300. The high schooler was ranked 127th on Northside Baseball's MLB Mock Draft Board.

      Here's our write-up of Wing by our draft expert, Jamie Cameron:

      "Wing is a prep-righty out of Northern California currently committed to Loyola-Marymount. He's been a two-way player for most of his amateur career and therefore hasn't focused solely on pitching for long, a fact that could play in his corner with a drafting org.

      It's a 6'2", 180-pound frame that a team will hope they can hang some more good weight on, but he's a slender-framed player. Nonetheless, his stuff took a major step forward this spring. His fastball, which previously sat in the upper 80s to low 90s, suddenly popped 95 mph. Additionally, there's a big curveball with good spin and depth, and a changeup that's more developmental. The delivery is solid, too. There's a lot to like here, with work to be done on the arsenal and developing a consistently usable third pitch. Even so, Wing has shot up boards this spring into day one consideration."

      As a senior at Scotts Valley High School, he only pitched in 10 games, but had a 1.23 ERA. At the plate, he had 108 plate appearances, hitting .307 with four home runs, 22 runs, and 24 knocked in. His dad, Ryan, was a two-way player as well, but he never went higher than Triple-A in the A's organization. Being a two-way player, Kaleb could provide a lot of production if he elects to skip college and begin his professional career. 

      What do you think of the pick? Add your thoughts in the comments.

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