https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/page/100/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/projecting-what-a-dylan-cease-trade-package-could-look-like-r1453/One very important thing to remember is that Dylan Cease is in the final year of his contract and will be just a one-year rental. He seems inclined to head to free agency, and likely to command a truly humongous contract when he does so. That should knock down the price of Cease a little, but th...1453Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:53:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/after-an-inexplicable-crater-of-a-season-is-brandon-drury-a-rebound-candidate-on-a-dirt-cheap-deal-r1451/Ok, technically, 86 big-league batters came to the plate at least once and ended up with a worse OPS than the one Brandon Drury posted in bis age-31 season. Drury hit .169/.242/.228 in 360 plate appearances, though. The closest player to having that much playing time with that bad a batting line...1451Thu, 30 Jan 2025 21:35:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/the-future-of-baseball-probably-doesnt-include-a-salary-cap-and-floor-r1449/This isn’t a space meant for belaboring what the Dodgers have been up to in recent offseasons. They may be the new “Evil Empire”, but they’ve merely taken that distinction from the New York Yankees, rather than inventing it. In a sport where the most valuable franchise is worth north of $7.5 bil...1449Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:20:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-fans-adore-ben-browns-upside-are-they-overlooking-his-downsides-r1448/If they keep him, the 2025 Chicago Cubs face a fascinating and fun dilemma with Ben Brown. He's demonstrated a certain capacity for dominating opposing hitters in the big leagues, and after walks were a problem for him in Triple A, he kept them under control in the big leagues. Yet, his relative...1448Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:10:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/chicago-cubs-not-done-yet-lets-hope-not-r1447/The Chicago Cubs have addressed multiple areas of need this winter. They acquired a catalyst for their lineup in Kyle Tucker. They acquired a true closer in Ryan Pressly. They shored up the middle and back of the rotation via the signings of Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea. They checked a lot of boxe...1447Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:49:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/why-cubs-loved-colin-rea-through-the-lens-of-new-baseball-prospectus-pitching-metrics-r1446/Though he's diligently worked his fastball up into a range that would have been impressive a decade ago, Colin Rea is not by any means a power pitcher. He sits around 93 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball, and even his 90th-percentile velocity is only 94.3. He doesn't have exceptional sh...1446Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:10:35 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/sources-cubs-have-discussed-trade-with-san-diego-padres-for-right-handed-starter-michael-king-r1444/According to two sources with knowledge of the teams' conversations, the Chicago Cubs are among the handful of teams who have inquired about the possibility of acquiring San Diego Padres starter Michael King. The two sides have touched base about multiple potential deals this winter, as the Padr...1444Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:44:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/can-pete-crow-armstrong-claim-the-leadoff-spot-for-the-2025-chicago-cubs-r1443/With the exception of the two-year stretch when Dexter Fowler held it down, it seems like the onset of each year brings new conversation about the Chicago Cubs’ leadoff spot. A true, consistent leadoff hitter just feels like one of those things that has regularly eluded the organization. Fo...1443Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:00:03 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/where-does-the-ryan-pressly-trade-leave-porter-hodge-in-the-2025-cubs-bullpen-r1442/After the recent acquisition of former Astros closer Ryan Pressly, it is widely assumed that he will become the closer for the Cubs. If that is the case, it will knock Porter Hodge out of that spot, where he collected nine saves in 12 opportunities and finished his rookie season with a stellar 1...1442Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:09:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/why-prospect-lists-are-understandably-getting-down-on-chicago-cubs-owen-caissie-and-how-he-can-change-it-r1441/If the Cubs are going to end up getting meaningful value out of the Yu Darvish trade, it will come in the form of Owen Caissie—be that as a middle-of-the-order bat for years to come, or as a trade chip in the near future. Caissie, 22, has gotten a full season of playing time at each of the top t...1441Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:16:38 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/after-ryan-pressly-trade-chicago-cubs-have-15-million-to-spend-and-two-more-moves-to-make-r1440/Thanks to the Astros eating a significant chunk of the money owed to Ryan Pressly for 2025, the Cubs' payroll after acquiring their new closer Sunday is just over $188 million. That's their projected 40-man roster payroll, in real dollars paid this year. Their competitive-balance tax number, whi...1440Mon, 27 Jan 2025 12:22:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/trade-chicago-cubs-acquire-relief-ace-ryan-pressly-in-deal-with-astros-r1438/The Houston Astros signed Josh Hader last offseason, displacing Ryan Pressly from his longtime role as their closer. Now, Pressly becomes the prospective closer for the Cubs, after the teams agreed to a deal Friday to send Pressly to the Cubs. Pressly agreed to waive his no-trade clause Sunday,...1438Sun, 26 Jan 2025 22:12:00 +0000