https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/page/40/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/four-under-the-radar-relievers-cubs-should-pursue-to-rebuild-bullpen-r2307/One of the strengths of the 2025 Chicago Cubs lied in their bullpen, despite it being entirely redone on the fly. Finishing with a top-five ERA after May 1, the unit provided a foundation for the Cubs and gave them a good chance to close out any early lead they could secure. However, by way of h...2307Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:53:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/six-free-agent-third-basemen-options-if-cubs-are-seeking-upgrade-over-matt-shaw-r2306/The Chicago Cubs have quite the shopping list this offseason if they want to remain contenders in 2026. They’re set to lose key contributors in the rotation (Shota Imanaga), bullpen (Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Andrew Kittredge), and the middle of the lineup (Kyle Tucker). The looming CBA ne...2306Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:48:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/the-cubs-should-pursue-these-three-replacement-options-for-shota-imanaga-r2302/The dust has settled from the most enthralling World Series in ages, which has subsequently led to the outset of an offseason that, in many ways, figures to be just as intriguing as the play on the field. A great deal of speculation has been placed on how Jed Hoyer and his braintrust will build...2302Thu, 06 Nov 2025 23:14:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/breaking-cubs-extend-qualifying-offers-to-kyle-tucker-shota-imanaga-r2304/The Chicago Cubs extended the qualifying offer to outfielder Kyle Tucker and to left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga, ahead of Thursday's deadline to make such decisions. Along with the earlier news that they extended right-hander Colin Rea and that Justin Turner's mutual option for 2026 was declin...2304Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:55:57 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/news-cubs-extend-colin-rea-will-retain-key-depth-arm-for-2026-r2303/The Cubs and Colin Rea agreed to a one-year deal for 2026 with a club option for 2027 Thursday, a source confirmed to North Side Baseball. Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors was first to break the news. Rea, 35, will make at least $6.5 million in total, and can make up to $13 million if the Cubs ex...2303Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:03:17 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-love-of-flexibility-is-equal-parts-understandable-and-maddening-r2301/This week, Shota Imanaga and the Chicago Cubs both declined their respective offer sheets on his contract option(s). What was unthinkable going into the season became a reality on November 4. Imanaga, at this time, is a free agent. The Cubs likely are telegraphing their plan for this offsea...2301Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:15:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/in-trading-andrew-kittredge-cubs-save-money-to-spend-on-youth-and-stuff-in-bullpen-r2300/The Cubs traded Andrew Kittredge to the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, saving the $1 million they were otherwise poised to invest via buyout on the $9-million option they held for his services in 2026. In return, they received only cash. They chose, in effect, something just under $2 million in extr...2300Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:37:03 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/declining-shota-imanagas-option-will-allow-the-cubs-to-be-better-in-2026-r2299/When the Chicago Cubs signed Shota Imanaga two offseasons ago, the contract they agreed upon was anything but a simple five-year pact. Instead, it was a convoluted mix of team and player options, as both sides would have agency on deciding how long the contract would truly be. Finally, on Nov. 4...2299Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:51:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/shota-imanagas-fate-was-sealed-in-the-cubs-final-game-of-the-season-r2298/Shota Imanaga has proven, invariably, that he is a MLB-caliber starting pitcher over the last two years. Since signing a complicated contract with the Chicago Cubs, the Japanese southpaw has authored a 3.28 ERA in 318.0 innings. He's also got a 4.24 FIP, 3.75 xERA, 1.01 WHIP, 23.1% strikeout rat...2298Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:35:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/edwin-diaz-robert-suarez-cubs-closer-options-free-agency/It's never been Jed Hoyer's style to pay top dollar for relievers—even great, relatively reliable ones. When Theo Epstein was still with the Cubs, they did sign Craig Kimbrel to a three-year deal in 2019, but those were special circumstances, and Hoyer isn't Epstein. Last winter, however, Hoyer...2297Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:27:07 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/the-1985-cubs-have-more-lessons-to-offer-chicago-today-r2294/In a previous article (read it here!) we discussed the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff from 1984 to 1985, and what lessons the modern Cubs could take away from those 40-year-old mistakes. This piece will focus on the bats. Larry Bowa was a fill-in shortstop in 1984 and into 1985. The Cubs were...2294Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:52:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/clocks-ticking-cubs-impending-free-agents-have-decisions-to-make-as-offseason-dawns-r2296/  The offseason begins the moment the World Series ends, and even though the 2025 World Series ended in spectacular, exhausting fashion, teams have to start making choices immediately. The Chicago Cubs, for instance, have until Thursday to decide whether to exercise their club options on Co...2296Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:36:01 +0000