Weekend Catch-Up: The Cold Stove Thaws a Bit More, Cubs Looking Good, Much More

Things picked up a bit around baseball on Friday and continued through the weekend, as players are getting going for Spring Training. Here’s what you may have missed …

Friday, February 16

• The Cubs are planning for eight relievers, Contreras will catch Darvish, and other notes from Friday.
• The Commissioner spoke about the changes coming to the game, the lack of problems in the market, and much more.
• Brandon Morrow is set to be the Cubs’ closer, a job he hasn’t held in a decade.
• The first set of over/under projections came out and they have the Cubs blowing away the NL Central.
• Kyle Schwarber sure is looking fit and agile.
• A little roster move for the Cubs, with Shae Simmons getting a 40-man spot and Drew Smyly moving over to the 60-day DL.
• Looking at the starting rotations in the Cubs’ Joe Maddon era – will this one be the best of the best?
• The Cubs announced their promotional schedule for the year on Friday, so you can get a hat-shaped umbrella to troll the Indians …
• Bits from around baseball, including a down Pirates clubhouse, Francisco Lindor’s surprising new hair, and more.
• Pictures and items from Spring Training, including Kyle Schwarber’s outfield focus.

Saturday, February 17

• Among Saturday’s Bullets, how you apportion playing time if Jason Heyward’s bat doesn’t come back this.
• Luke took a look at a number of the Cubs’ prospects from the Dominican Summer League.
• A whole bunch of signings went down on late Friday and early Saturday, all of them creative/minor/cheap.
• Flashing back to the time Kris Bryant went over the Green Monster in his first Fenway at bat, with his family in attendance.
• The Rays and Angels got together on trade, which precipitated a strange DFA, which preceded a trade with the Twins.
• And the day closed down with a late-night big signing: Eric Hosmer signed with the Padres.

Sunday, February 18

• Looking at the good and bad in that Hosmer contract, among other Bullets.
• Ben Zobrist seems to concede the World Series hangover, and the hunger that has returned.
• The Cubs added outfield prospect Charcer Burks to their non-roster invitee list.
• Ah, that familiar sound of the ball blasting off Kris Bryant’s bat, and other Spring bits.