https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/page/77/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/free-agent-harrison-bader-is-a-strong-target-for-cubs-outfield-bench-role-r1429/Now a few years into the peripatetic phase of his career, Harrison Bader had a fine but forgettable 2024 campaign with the New York Mets. In 437 plate appearances, he batted .236/.284/.373, with 12 home runs and 17 stolen bases. That's as underwhelming as it sounds, even if you give him more cre...1429Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:06:51 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/roki-sasaki-picking-the-dodgers-is-the-latest-reminder-cubs-need-to-show-free-agents-they-care-about-winning-r1428/In case you missed it, Roki Sasaki is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This news came out just a few days after it was reported that the Cubs were not on the final list of contenders for the Japanese ace. As a Cubs fan, or even just as a baseball fan, this stings. And it should. The rich get r...1428Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:46:30 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/4-players-who-could-outperform-projections-for-the-chicago-cubs-in-2025-r1426/First of all, Hoyer wasn't wrong when he said that. It just wasn't well said. It was poorly said, actually. If he had used the word "breakout," then everything's fine and dandy. All contending teams have guys who break out and perform at a higher level than expected. So let's identify the breako...1426Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:12:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/hall-of-fame-day-my-imaginary-ballot-and-the-reasons-for-my-choices-r1427/I hew to a few key principles when considering who I think deserves to enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It doesn't really matter, of course, because I don't have a vote, but I go through some version of the exercise each year, because I can't evaluate the choices made by the tenured mem...1427Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:25:00 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/whoever-suits-up-for-the-2025-chicago-cubs-the-coaches-have-to-make-them-better-r1425/It's not apples-to-apples, of course. Neither a manager nor a hitting coach nor a pitching coach can have as great a direct and easily traceable impact on a team's efficacy in baseball as can a head coach or coordinator in football. When the Cubs hired Craig Counsell 14 months ago, though, their...1425Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:24:43 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-add-more-potential-bullpen-depth-sign-righty-trevor-richards-to-minor-league-deal-r1424/This move won't make anyone less hungry for a true relief ace, but as the Cubs try hard to avoid the depth shortfalls that exposed and cost them in the first half of 2024, they took another small step toward safety Monday by signing right-handed reliever Trevor Richards. Aram Leighton of Just Ba...1424Mon, 20 Jan 2025 22:33:03 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/ranking-10-ways-chicago-cubs-can-spend-their-available-money-after-not-landing-tanner-scott-r1423/It's always important to remember that spending money is not an end unto itself, unless you're trying to get rid of many so people stop asking you hard questions. (Hello, Marlins and A's.) The Cubs won't throw money around just to say they did so, but they're far below the budget number Tom Rick...1423Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:43:35 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/the-road-map-to-improvement-at-bat-for-chicago-cubs-pete-crow-armstrong-r1408/Pete Crow-Armstrong is aggressive. He's incredibly aggressive chasing fly balls. The dirt on many infields is churned due to his spikes. What serves him so well in other areas of the game, however, can shoot him in the foot when he's at the plate. Extremely aggressive at the plate, Crow-Arm...1408Mon, 20 Jan 2025 12:25:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-week-in-review-cubs-convention-shifts-tone-brings-flurry-of-front-office-sound-bites-r1418/Look, if you're seeking a juggernaut baseball team that scoops up every marquee name under the sun while doling out more money than Lloyd Christmas in "Dumb and Dumber", become a Dodgers fan. That's not the type of team Tom Ricketts and Jed Hoyer run, and for better or worse, they're sticking to...1418Mon, 20 Jan 2025 01:09:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/ranking-chicago-cubs-bullpen-ace-options-after-missing-out-on-tanner-scott-r1422/All winter, I've exhorted readers not to get anxious or angry too soon. The Cubs have already added Kyle Tucker, Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, Caleb Thielbar, Eli Morgan and Carson Kelly, and they fully intend to spend more money and add more talent this winter. However, the team has to come in for s...1422Sun, 19 Jan 2025 23:52:23 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/lets-road-trip-cubs-2025-trip-2-warm-and-winning-r1404/The Cubs don't get to return to Wrigley Field until April 4th. In the meantime, they must finish spring training, take on an upstart Diamondbacks squad in a grueling four-game opening series, and be one of the first to face off against whatever the Athletics are now in their new-to-them minor le...1404Sun, 19 Jan 2025 17:11:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/the-cubs-should-start-the-season-with-a-six-man-rotation-its-all-the-rage-r1415/There are several reasons why a six-man rotation would benefit Chicago, with the main one being that it will be extremely important to keep arms fresh for the back half of the season. Here is what a six-man rotation could look like for the Cubs. 1. Justin Steele 2. Shota Imanaga 3. Jame...1415Sun, 19 Jan 2025 14:10:01 +0000