https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/page/120/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/daniel-palencia-figured-something-out-late-in-2024-and-could-emerge-as-a-relief-ace-in-2025-r1264/The fire hydrant-shaped flamethrower was unpardonably inconsistent early last season, perhaps because he wasn't fully healthy. Late in the summer, though, something clicked. It doesn't require a bunch of squinting and fancy explanation to identify Daniel Palencia as a potentially elite relie...1264Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:10:44 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/whenever-roki-sasaki-gets-posted-he-should-become-jed-hoyers-full-time-job-for-a-month-r1263/Let Jed cook... the Sasaki family dinner. If he's a good cook. Do we know whether he is? When it comes to running an MLB franchise, there are big moves, and there are small moves. The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes do not fall along the spectrum between one and the other. They are, instead, a degre...1263Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:06:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/after-another-signing-suggests-angels-are-serious-offseason-players-cody-bellinger-trade-seems-like-a-fit-r1261/After entering the winter claiming to be serious about winning in 2025, the Angels have backed that up with a series of moves pointing vaguely in that direction. Could the piece that brings it all together be the Cubs' high-priced slugger? Monday morning began with surprising news from Orang...1261Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:15:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-free-agent-target-tracker-blake-snell-r1257/The 2018 AL and 2023 NL Cy Young award winner is a hot commodity this winter. Is he the right pitcher to front the Chicago rotation? We’ve taken a look at most of the top pitchers in free agency already this offseason. Each of them present some combination of an elite track record, a very hi...1257Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:10:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/how-the-cubs-will-fix-matt-thaisss-pitch-framing-to-shore-up-2025-catching-corps-r1260/Chicago might not be done trying to upgrade behind the plate, but the player they've already acquired has unexplored upside—and they might prefer to create value through great coaching, rather than paying for raw talent. In a perfect world, you'd certainly ask for more offense than Matt Thai...1260Mon, 25 Nov 2024 12:12:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-week-in-review-big-moves-must-lead-to-more-than-modest-reults-r1259/We've arrived at the time of year when everyday citizens and, in fact, professional baseball teams show off their shiny new gifts. As faithful Cubs fans, we know Santa Hoyer isn't sliding down the chimney with any big-ticket presents. Still, perhaps this week's torrent of activity indicates the...1259Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:30:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/resetting-cubs-roster-projection-and-offseason-outlook-after-a-very-busy-week-r1258/Thanks to the two minor trades in between two separate roster deadlines, the Cubs have changed a lot in the last week. Let's take a look at where they stand, and what is likely to come next. On Friday evening, the Cubs non-tendered Nick Madrigal and Mike Tauchman, bringing the total number o...1258Sat, 23 Nov 2024 13:15:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/youre-the-cubs-gm-plotting-my-offseason-sign-rotation-catching-help-r1210/As a veteran of nearly 20 years of marriage, to-do lists have become a big part of my life. In 2004, the list was often written on a notepad, using ink to cross off finished tasks. It's now migrated to the phone, and one can just delete it when done (but don't try to delete it without finishing,...1210Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:20:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/take-a-deep-breath-shake-out-the-rumor-bugs-and-lets-talk-about-trading-cody-bellinger-r1256/You are safe here. You control your breath, your center, and your reaction to vague rumors that start sizzling through the internet like there's more meat beneath them than there really is. You can do this. Cody Bellinger is not about to be dumped in a financial maneuver. Put that loathsome...1256Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:43:11 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/what-role-best-suits-new-cubs-pitcher-eli-morgan-r1255/In adding a nice extra piece to his bullpen, Jed Hoyer took an important step forward. Now, the question is where to put that piece, amid the puzzle he's working on. On Wednesday, the Chicago Cubs made the first of what I imagine will be multiple moves in order to bolster their big-league bu...1255Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:15:28 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/to-understand-why-eli-morgan-and-matt-thaiss-are-vital-additions-to-cubs-look-to-the-venezuelan-winter-league-r1254/The Cubs made two more additions to the edges of their big-league roster Wednesday, as part of a week of enforced roster churn. The moves seem small, but when you widen the lens, their place in the grand scheme of team-building becomes much more clear. At first blush, it's easy to wonder why...1254Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:16:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-trade-for-complementary-catcher-matt-thaiss-cut-trey-wingenter-as-roster-shuffle-continues-r1253/In their second incremental but clearly positive move of the day, the Cubs added a left-handed bat to set a floor at catcher, and further clarified their fluid relief pitching depth chart. It was almost too obvious not to happen. When the Angels designated left-handed hitter and catcher Matt...1253Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:08:51 +0000