https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/page/16/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-expectation-setting-what-can-fans-reasonably-expect-from-pete-crow-armstrong-in-2026-r2617/One of the more important developments for the 2025 Chicago Cubs was the evolution of Pete Crow-Armstrong from elite defender to all-around impact player. After finishing well into the below-average end of the wRC+ threshold in 2024 (86), Crow-Armstrong launched his offensive contribution up to...2617Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:05:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/5-questions-still-unanswered-about-cubs-position-players-this-spring-r2625/This has been a very tricky spring for forecasting the Chicago Cubs' Opening Day roster—and even (since that exercise is a bit of rosterbation, really, and not an especially vital question) the broader utility plan for the team's positional corps. With two key players away from the team to parti...2625Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:01:16 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/why-you-dont-need-to-sweat-cade-hortons-ugly-spring-numbers-r2618/One surefire way to earn the scorn of a big-league player or manager is to take spring training results seriously. They don't matter, and although fans' instincts are often to hunt for the rare times and places when they do matter, players and teams roll their eyes at such efforts. Front offices...2618Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:09:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/abs-will-force-seiya-suzuki-into-a-new-set-of-adjustments-r2609/Seiya Suzuki takes a lot of pitches. His swing rate hovers around 40% each year, which is markedly below the league average. That earns him a good number of walks, but it also means lots of called strikes. That's the price he pays for his selectivity. He gains more than he loses with his takes,...2609Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:25:03 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/marquees-shortcomings-have-put-a-damper-on-cubs-spring-training-r2591/As of this writing, the Chicago Cubs have played 13 spring training games so far, including one exhibition against Team Italy in their tune up for the World Baseball Classic. We knew from the beginning of the year that Marquee Sports Network, whose main function is to show Cubs games and content...2591Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:08:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-spring-training-news-roundup-wbc-stars-shine-happs-free-agency-thoughts-from-ballesteros-r2595/While the progress continues for the Chicago Cubs at their Arizona home, the much-anticipated World Baseball Classic is off and running in Tokyo, Japan. Last season, a different-look Cubs squad commenced their regular season in the same venue opposite the vaunted Los Angeles Dodgers. The Tokyo D...2595Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:23:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/jaxon-wigginss-developmental-checklist-is-on-full-display-r2588/In his two innings of work Wednesday against the Brewers in Maryvale, Jaxon Wiggins looked like a big-leaguer with front-of-the-rotation upside. He allowed just one baserunner (a walk) and struck out two. His fastball sat at 98 miles per hour and nearly touched 100. His hard slider (or cutter, d...2588Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:32:03 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/matt-shaws-audition-in-center-field-could-shape-cubs-bench-decision-r2585/With both Tyler Austin and Jonathon Long dealing with injuries, non-roster invitee Chas McCormick has gained an inside track on an Opening Day role with the Cubs. McCormick, 30, is a seasoned veteran with ample experience in center field, and he bats right-handed, so he can (at least theoretical...2585Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:06:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/will-javier-assad-go-from-team-m%C3%A9xico-to-the-iowa-cubs-r2584/This July, Javier Assad will turn 29 years old. A player that old, with as much big-league playing and service time as Assad has, rarely has to face the prospect of being optioned to the minor leagues. Yet, despite having pitched well whenever he's been healthy enough to do so, that's exactly wh...2584Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:05:31 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-spring-training-temperature-check-volume-two-r2580/We are back for another Chicago Cubs spring training check-in to see who is hot and who is not. The Cubs are 4-7 in Cactus League play and take on Team Italy next in an exciting round of exhibition games where MLB teams will take on World Baseball Classic participants. Over the last week, we’ve...2580Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:08:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/moises-ballesteros-swing-path-x-factor-2026-nl-central/In his second game of the Cactus League season, Moisés Ballesteros collected two hits on hard-hit balls to left field. Admittedly, the first—a two-run first-inning double hit on a line toward flummoxed left fielder Will Benson—should have been caught, but even if it had been, one would have been...2581Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:52:06 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/dont-assume-edward-cabreras-fastball-usage-in-his-cubs-debut-was-just-about-getting-work-in-r2579/When the Cubs traded for Edward Cabrera in January, many assumed the team would continue the work Cabrera began in Miami last year, under former Cubs assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos: ratcheting down the usage of his four-seam fastball. For most of his career, despite being thrown nearly 1...2579Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:10:01 +0000