https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/page/9/?d=7enhttps://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 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/michael-confortos-advanced-metrics-and-how-he-can-help-the-cubs-without-saving-them-r2573/The Chicago Cubs added veteran outfielder Michael Conforto on a minor-league deal on Monday, and made it official Thursday, after Conforto passed a physical. On the surface, it’s the kind of move that barely nudges the offseason needle. Dig a little deeper, though, and you can see the outline of...2573Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:10:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/cubs-spring-training-news-roundup-with-austin-out-club-entertains-viable-bench-options-at-first-r2574/Stop me if you've heard this one before, but the Chicago Cubs are once again battling the injury bug. Earlier this week, news broke from the club's spring training home in Mesa, Arizona, that the squad's newly acquired backup first baseman, Tyler Austin, suffered an injury to his knee. The injur...2574Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:10:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/the-reintroduction-of-justin-steele-r2572/When Craig Counsell's squad lost Justin Steele to elbow surgery last April, the North Siders found ways to get by. The ascensions of veteran Matthew Boyd and then rookie Cade Horton to All-Star/Cy Young-caliber levels rescued the team's season. While Steele was forced to spend much of the season...2572Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:07:03 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/shota-imanagas-arm-angle-is-back-up-along-with-his-velocity-r2569/Shota Imanaga averaged 93 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball in his first outing of Cactus League play Tuesday. That was eye-opening for many, because Imanaga often struggled just to crack 90 MPH late last season. In most of his second-half starts, he averaged north of that number, but not...2569Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:08:01 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/tyler-austin-out-months-following-knee-surgery-shaking-up-cubs-bench-plans-r2570/First baseman and designated hitter Tyler Austin will be out for a prolonged period after a debridement procedure on his knee, the Cubs announced Wednesday. Austin, 34, had been the prospective bench player with the clearest role, outside whichever catcher one cares to count as the backup, and t...2570Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:41:22 +0000