Fun With John Baker’s Big Game and Other Bullets

The Pete Alonso free agency closes up back where it started, and where most thought it would end: he's going back to the New York Mets. And, boy, he did NOT get paaaaaid: In total, Pete Alonso's deal will guarantee him $54 million over two years, sources tell ESPN.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 6, 2025 Hey, maybe Alonso - 30 and with some signs of decline - will put together...

Alternate title: The Cubs are promoting top broadcasting prospect Alex Cohen! Maybe it's not the breaking news those of us on social media are pining for tonight, but it makes me happy nonetheless! According to Jeff Agrest at The Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs will have a new, full-time play-by-play announcer backing up Boog Sciambi on Marquee Sports Netowork. And it's someone a lot of us really love: Alex Cohen! Most...

Take these only for what it's worth, as we're all able to do some speculating. But Jon Heyman is inarguably plugged in, and Matt Spiegel does hear things. So there might be some meat underneath. A little. Don't go too far with it. But I'm obsessing, so I'm sharing. First, Jon Heyman would peg the Cubs as the favorites on Alex Bregman right now if he had to choose: Jon...

Although most of the team is already at camp, the Chicago Cubs are the first organization to require pitchers and catchers to report (this Sunday, February 9). Eleven short days after that, the Cubs will play their first Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. And one day after that, they will play their first Spring Training game at Sloan Park, which will also be broadcast on Marquee Sports...

When the 2025 PECOTA projections were released on Monday, we were relatively overwhelmed by the forecasted rosiness of the Cubs playoff odds and projected record. According to PECOTA, the Cubs won't just be the best team in the NL Central, they'll be the best team in the NL Central by over 10 wins. They're even projected to finish with the third-best record in MLB overall. Even after a glowing set...

Great news today, spotted by Rich Biesterfeld out in Arizona, where Nico Hoerner is playing catch. We’ve got Nico Hoerner playing catch today at Cubs Camp! pic.twitter.com/VIccpz38U6— Rich Biesterfeld (@biest22) February 5, 2025 We had no idea on a precise timeline for Hoerner, but seeing him on the field, doing work, and making throws with some intent on February 5 seems like a very good sign. Hoerner, 27, dealt with a...

I don't know that any of us NEEDED additional context for just how bad the 2025 Chicago White Sox project to be, but I'm very, very glad FanGraphs' Dan Szymborski decided to give it to us anyway. Basically, Szymborski wondered what would happen to the AL Central projected standings, via ZiPS, if he took Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Tarik Skubal away from their current teams and then gave them...

I probably could've put this one under the "Obsessive Alex Bregman Watch" banner, because there are clear implications for that story, too. But, since the impacts to the NL Central and the Cardinals would be more immediate (and guaranteed) in the event of a Nolan Arenado trade, I focus on that part first: The Red Sox and Cardinals have had recent communication about Nolan Arenado, source says. If the trade...

The Fantastic Four teaser trailer was fine, I guess, but sufficiently surface that I have no take as to whether this is going to be a rebound for Marvel or not. I am hopeful, but there's a reason the previous iterations have been so bad: I just think F4 is a really tough one to adapt and get right. Pull it off, and I could see it being an incredible...

The Cubs and Dodgers have made the Ryan Brasier trade official, with the Cubs getting Brasier and some cash (he was set to make $4.5 million this year, not clear yet how much the Cubs are paying), and the Dodgers getting a Player to Be Named Later or cash. To make room on the 40-man roster for the new reliever, the Cubs designated Rob Zastryzny for assignment. The 32-year-old lefty...

The NFL's global reach is extending out to the land down under. ESPN league insider Adam Schefter reports the Los Angeles Rams will be the designated home team when they play in Australia in 2026: As the designated home team in Australia in 2026, the Rams will play their game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). https://t.co/2WApFU2woI— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 5, 2025 When I first saw the news from...

The nightmare that was the 2024 Chicago Bears season is over. Before the transactional period starts and the roster changes begin, we will recap the seasons of most of the 53-man roster. Next up: We're looking at the 2024 season of Terell Smith. Terell Smith's 2024 Snapshot Ryan Poles' tenure as Chicago Bears general manager has been one full of extremes. The trade that resulted in DJ Moore, Caleb Williams,...

There are many reasons to tune in to watch Super Bowl LIX, but Trey Smith is at the top of my list. The Kansas City Chiefs starting right guard is a player to keep tabs on in Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. I have had my eyes on Smith as a possible target for a Chicago Bears team seeking to upgrade the offensive line this offseason for quite some...

The nightmare that was the 2024 Chicago Bears season is over. Before the transactional period starts and the roster changes begin, we will recap the seasons of most of the 53-man roster. Next up: We're looking at the 2024 season of Josh Blackwell. Josh Blackwell's 2024 Snapshot Josh Blackwell's 2024 season will best be remembered for his punt return touchdown in Week 18's victory over the Green Bay Packers at...

Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren deserves a fist bump for his efforts in the team's landing of new head coach Ben Johnson. In an interview with the CHGO squad at the Super Bowl LIX site, ESPN's Courtney Cronin sheds some light on how important Bears President Kevin Warren was to the team's successful pursuit of hiring Ben Johnson as its new head coach: How much impact do you think Kevin...

The nightmare that was the 2024 Chicago Bears season is over. Before the transactional period starts and the roster changes begin, we will recap the seasons of most of the 53-man roster. Next up: We're looking at the 2024 season of offensive lineman Ryan Bates. Ryan Bates' 2024 Snapshot We recently discussed the 2024 season of Coleman Shelton, who, whether you believe he was serviceable (passable?) or not, was a...

The 2025 NFL regular season won't kick off until September. Preseason games will not take place until August. And it won't be until July when training camps begin opening their doors around the league. But offseason workout programs begin in April. Perhaps when those start taking place, we'll see Jaquan Brisker's return to organized football activities. 2025 NFL IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER Brisker, who will be entering his fourth year...

Day 31 of the Chicago Bears offseason. Happy Hump Day! Saquon Barkley says he was "pretty damn close to signing with the Bears last offseason, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. If you'll recall, the Bears were viewed as one of the "priority suitors" in a Saquon sweepstakes and it was even a thing during the offseason version of "Hard Knocks" with the Giants. Heck, we'd been discussing...

It was on this date 18 years ago when Devin Hester made NFL history. Hester's Super Bowl XLI-opening kick-return touchdown is the stuff of legends at this point. And after making it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we can say — with confidence — that it is the signature moment of the iconic long-time Chicago Bears standout's Hall of Fame career. But did you know that it has a funny...

Super Bowl Week is HERE! And while the Chicago Bears aren't playing for the Lombardi Trophy, it's not as if this game will be without some Chicago connections. Among them is Vic Fangio, who is the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator. Bears fans are likely familiar with Fangio from his time in Chicago, in which he was the team's defensive coordinator from 2015-18. As part of a Q&A session with the...

The Los Angeles Lakers have made another big move ahead of the NBA trade deadline. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Lakers have acquired 23-year-old center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets. The towering big man heads to the West Coast in exchange for a sizable package of Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap, and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick. Williams is in the thick of a career...

Can't these teams wait to break news until the morning?! ESPN's Shams Charania is at it again tonight. Just as we were all heading to bed, the insider reported that the New Orleans Pelicans are shipping Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown Jr, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick. https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1887360828002718034 Raptors Pick Up Brandon Ingram From Pelicans The Pelicans had been trying...

The nice thing about my job is that I can be brutally honest about the fact that I barely watched this game. To be clear, I was firmly planted in front of my television and ready to watch Anthony Edwards single-handedly dismantle the Bulls (and, boy, did he). But then Matas Buzelis was named a starter ... and Jimmy Butler was traded to the Warriors ... and Lonzo Ball reached...

The Chicago Bulls have reportedly reached an extension with Lonzo Ball on the eve of the NBA trade deadline. Amid ongoing trade rumors surrounding the veteran point guard, Chicago Sports Network's K.C. Johnson was the first to share that Ball was finalizing the deal. The extension will reportedly be worth $20.0 million over the next two years. Johnson also reported live during the Bulls' battle with the Timberwolves on Wednesday...

The Golden State Warriors have landed Jimmy Butler. After months of reports about the organization wanting to upgrade Stephen Curry's supporting cast, the franchise has made a move for one of the hottest names on the market. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Warriors will send Andrew Wiggins, a first-round pick, and more to the Miami Heat. Here are the reported trade details via ESPN: Warriors get ... Jimmy...

Rookie Matas Buzelis has finally found himself on head coach Billy Donovan's good side. After scoring a career-high 24 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, Buzelis has earned the first start of his young career. The former No. 11 overall pick will take the place of Lonzo Ball (who does not play in back-to-back sets) alongside Josh Giddey, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and...

It's Matas' team now. https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2025/02/05/gs-nikola-vucevic-wire/ Game Info Chicago Bulls (22-29) at Minnesota Timberwolves (27-23) – 7:00 p.m. CT on Chicago Sports Network (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Lineups Chicago Bulls Coby White Ayo Dosunmu Josh Giddey Patrick Williams Nikola Vucevic Minnesota Timberwolves Mike Conley Anthony Edwards Jaden McDaniels Naz Reid Rudy Gobert Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Odds Chicago comes into today’s game as an 11.5-point underdog against Minnesota at DraftKings...

We're less than 24 hours until the NBA Trade Deadline, and the two biggest fish on the market are still out there! Will Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler get dealt? Will they be swapped for one another? Can the Warriors manage to bring one of them to The Bay? We still have a whole lot of questions to be answered before 2:00 PM CT tomorrow, so let's unpack the latest...

He loves me ... loves me not ... he loves me ... he loves me not. The Golden State Warriors continue to play with the Chicago Bulls' hearts as the NBA's trade deadline nears. Their reported interest in Nikola Vucevic dates back weeks, and he has been coined as one of their top targets numerous times. However, with the team sitting 11th in the Western Conference and the reality of...

All early indications were that the Zach LaVine trade was just the beginning for the Chicago Bulls. After years of copying and pasting a mediocre product, change was long overdue. The Bulls didn't possess the franchise centerpiece or additional assets to justify pursuing win-now upgrades. Tearing things down to the roots became their only option, and moving their long-time leading scorer suggested that they finally understood that. This is why...

We're now into February, and Blackhawks prospects continue to put up solid numbers across college hockey. There are some really good ranked matchups this weekend, with Denver and Providence both playing important conference matchups. And, Monday night, Boston University will face Boston College in a hyped Beanpot championship game. Here's this weekend's schedule for the Blackhawks' prospects in action. And, again, make sure you vote every day for one of...

The good news when a game starts at almost 9 PM local is the first period flew by and neither team scored. With a little under eight minutes left in the first period, this ridiculous sequence by Arvid Söderblom and Connor Murphy kept the game tied at zeroes. Oh my Arvid Soderblom, what a saveMurphy helps out too with a stop of his own pic.twitter.com/Wu11sUNd07— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) February 6, 2025...

Before Wednesday's game, the Blackhawks announced a few roster moves. The team formally activated veteran forward Craig Smith from IR. To make room on the roster, they needed to assign at least one player to Rockford. The Blackhawks sent both Artyom Levshunov and Colton Dach to the IceHogs. We knew Levshunov was headed back to Rockford without playing a game when he joined the Blackhawks earlier this week; the intent...

Yes, the Blackhawks are back on national television. And yes, it's against a really good team with legit championship aspirations. And yes, they're sitting a couple young guys in the press box again. But... this one's at home? And... yeah. That's all I've got. Get ready for a late night if you're attending because this is the second game of the night on TNT. Broadcast Info Puck Drop: 8:45ish PM CT...

On Wednesday morning The Athletic released the results of their informal, anonymous NHL player poll. They asked the usual range of questions, from coaches players would/would not want to play for, which cities would be on a no-trade list and whether or not Gary Bettman should retire from his role as commissioner of the NHL. And there were a few interesting results. Here the ones that got my attention: Ordinarily...

The Blackhawks are back in action tonight with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in town. Based on practice the last couple days, it appears Craig Smith will return to the lineup and the Blackhawks will hope to rekindle the magic he had with Lukas Reichel and Pat Maroon on a line together. Which means Colton Dach will be the odd man out. Again, based on practice the last couple...

At The Athletic, Scott Wheeler has been providing his mid-season pipeline rankings of the 32 NHL franchises. What I like most about the prospect evaluation that takes place at The Athletic is the very different views and evaluations of prospects we get from Wheeler and Corey Pronman; they aren't writing in unison and often don't agree on a prospect's potential/ceiling. That is certainly the case with a number of Blackhawks...

First off today, happy birthday to Savoir-Faire, Denis Savard. Savvy turns 64 today. His 1,096 for the Blackhawks still rank fourth in the history of the organ-I-zation, trailing only Stan Mikita (1,467), Patrick Kane (1,225) and Bobby Hull (1,153). I will note that his long-time winger, Steve Larmer, still ranks fifth (923). That duo, with Al Secord on the other wing, was dynamite in the 1980s and a big reason...

On Monday morning, the Chicago Blackhawks unfortunately had to place defenseman Louis Crevier on IR (concussion protocol). He was boarded in the middle of the first period Saturday in Florida and left the game. He did not return. The Blackhawks were already carrying eight defensemen, so this opens up a spot for one of Ethan Del Mastro or Nolan Allan (even better: both!) to get into the lineup. However, the...

Since the Blackhawks were off on Sunday, let's start our Monday with a some prospects. A quick note for those looking for IceHogs action with the Blackhawks off for a couple days: the AHL All-Star Game is tonight. Kevin Korchinski and Cole Guttman will represent the Blackhawks and IceHogs at the event. You can watch the event(s) on NHL Network tonight at 8 PM CT. https://twitter.com/goicehogs/status/1886212901607755889?s=51&t=ESwYjOKcGL_TWWx-NV4tsw Another reminder: co-captain Ryan...