Bryant Full Go on His Shoulder, Bench Coach Options, and Other Bullets

The Rule 5 Draft is today, and, given the Cubs’ bloated payroll, they may look to pluck a high-upside reliever in the draft to at least bring to Spring Training. Things get going at 11 am CT.

  • A few Cubs-specific updates from Scott Boras, who has a couple notable Cubs clients:
  • And from Jed Hoyer on Bryant’s shoulder:
  • Patrick Mooney reports that the Cubs checked in with Mark DeRosa about the bench coach job, but it isn’t likely he’ll leave TV. Neither is it likely that David Ross will get back into the game full-time so soon. Jesse Rogers notes that long-time managerial candidate Raul Ibanez, who is currently a special assistant in the Dodgers’ front office, could be considered:
  • That won’t be the only change for the Cubs (er, well, it already was FAR from the only change):
  • Speaking of some of that change, new pitching coach Tommy Hottovy says this was not necessarily the role he was gunning for when he got into this side of the game after his playing days, but with four years having worked with this staff and these players and the two previous pitching coaches, he’s ready to go (Sun-Times).
  • Cubs ticket packs are out on Friday:
  • https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1072915123164061697

  • I did know, and it makes me dream things:
  • Happy birthday, Fergie:
  • Luis is gonna get paid:
  • Today is the final 12 days of deals at Amazon, and it’s sports stuff. Perfect. Get on that.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and @Brett_A_Taylor.

    more cubs news

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 8, Cubs 6 – September 21, 2023

    Not content with "frustrating" and "disappointing," the Cubs tonight went for "cruel." By which I mean it was cruel to tease us with SO MANY moments that could have turned the game, to tease us by giving up tack-on runs...

    Cubs vs Pirates: Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    Cubs Lineup — Is it a must-win game? I don't know. I guess not necessarily. But the Cubs should really win a series against an eliminated Pirates squad in late September if they have any designs on playing meaningful October...

    Keeping Hope Alive, But We Might Not See Adbert Alzolay Again This Season (UPDATE)

    If he's throwing at least, I'll keep some hope alive that Chicago Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay could make it back before the end of the team's season, regular or otherwise. But the latest from Bruce Levine sounds less than optimistic...

    It’s Good that the Cubs Have Miles Mastrobuoni, Actually

    Before last night's game, after the lineup came out, I found myself defending Miles Mastrobuoni, who was starting at third base. Set aside the injuries to Nick Madrigal and Jeimer Candelario, and it just felt like an appropriate match-up for...

    Marlins Ace Sandy Alcántara is Not Quite Yet Out for the Year, Making Rehab Start Tonight

    While the Chicago Cubs deal with their own questions about roles and availability on the pitching staff over these final ten regular season games, their Wild Card opponent Miami Marlins have a HUGE question still open: can Sandy Alcántara return...

    Is Marcus Stroman Definitely Done Starting for the Year? Still Up in the Air

    When Marcus Stroman was all set to return from his hip injury last month, and then wound up staying on the Injured List with a surprising and unexplainable rib cage cartilage fracture, absolutely nobody could tell you whether his season...

    The Detroit Tigers Are Hiring Former Cubs Exec Jeff Greenberg as GM, Making Two Cubs Connections at the Top of the Org

    The Detroit Tigers are building themselves out quite the former-Cubs-family-tree in the front office. With former Cubs executive Scott Harris having been imported last year (from the Giants) to lead baseball operations, he now gets to select his General Manager,...

    Not Wanting to Talk About That Loss, Steele, Leiter, Bullpen, and Other Cubs Bullets

    I found myself wandering around the house a lot more than usual this morning, touching on various tasks that didn't actually need addressing in that moment. It was only after I finally sat down to start writing that I realized...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 13, Cubs 7 – September 20, 2023

    It unraveled so fast. The Cubs were up a run and Justin Steele was cruising through three. Then the Pirates came out in the 4th and went single, single, single, single, single, single, and Steele was out of the game....

    Cubs Making It a Ballgame! Morel Homers, and Happ Hits a Grand Slam!

    The Cubs just put up five runs in the 5th in a hurry thanks to a couple home runs, one solo and one grand. First, there was the Christopher Morel shot, which, let's be honest, SHOULD count for more than...

    Latest News

    49ers 30, Giants 12: San Francisco Keeps on Humming

    The San Francisco 49ers were — arguably — a quarterback away from winning the NFC last season. If Brock Purdy had not gone down with a torn UCL in the NFC title game, they may have won a Super Bowl...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 8, Cubs 6 – September 21, 2023

    Not content with "frustrating" and "disappointing," the Cubs tonight went for "cruel." By which I mean it was cruel to tease us with SO MANY moments that could have turned the game, to tease us by giving up tack-on runs...

    Cam Akers Fantasy Week 3: Projections vs. Chargers, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers will be up against the team with last season's 28th-ranked rushing defense, the Los Angeles Chargers (145.8 yards conceded per game), in Week 3 -- beginning at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.Should Akers be...

    Brandon Aiyuk Will Not Play in Tonight’s 49ers vs. Giants Game

    The San Francisco 49ers will be without wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk tonight when they host the New York Giants in the Week 3 lid-lifter. https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1704957557305921939?s=20 Aiyuk has been dealing with a shoulder injury this week. 49ers GM John Lynch said this...

    Luke Getsy and Justin Fields Hug it Out After Bears OC Clears the Air

    Instead of diving into the laundry list of new shows I've been ignoring, I've been thinking about running it back and watching Entourage. There is something about tough times that nudges you back into comfort shows and movies. I offer...

    Keeping Hope Alive, But We Might Not See Adbert Alzolay Again This Season (UPDATE)

    If he's throwing at least, I'll keep some hope alive that Chicago Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay could make it back before the end of the team's season, regular or otherwise. But the latest from Bruce Levine sounds less than optimistic...

    Trevon Diggs Suffers Torn ACL in Practice; Will Miss the Rest of the Season

    This afternoon, it was a tough break for the Dallas Cowboys as they learned that Pro-Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs suffered a torn ACL in practice today. According to multiple reports, an MRI has already confirmed that diagnosis. Diggs will miss...

    Cubs vs Pirates: Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    Cubs Lineup — Is it a must-win game? I don't know. I guess not necessarily. But the Cubs should really win a series against an eliminated Pirates squad in late September if they have any designs on playing meaningful October...

    Bryce Young Out Sunday vs Seahawks, Which Means … It’s Andy Dalton Time!

    Earlier today, the Panthers announced that Bryce Young (ankle) won't be playing this Sunday in Seattle against the Seahawks. So get ready for a return of The Andy Dalton Experience! https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1704939836056973794?s=20 In all honesty, it probably won't make a huge...

    Chicago Bears Injury Report: Darnell Mooney, Eddie Jackson, and Lucas Patrick Updates

    Playing the Kansas City Chiefs is an all-encompassing affair. With that in mind, beating the defending Super Bowl champions requires an all-hands-on-deck kind of effort. That might be difficult after seeing Thursday's injury report. https://twitter.com/BearsPR/status/1704937792831209881 There are a bunch of...

    more cubs news