The peppermint chocolate chip milkshake at Chick-fil-A remains one of the best food items this world has to offer. I think I even appreciate that it is a limited time thing, increasing my excitement each year when it returns. I guess I’m a sucker for the McRib phenomenon/sales tactic (even though I hate the McRib).
A trio of updates on the trio of relief arms the Cubs non-tendered last week from Ryan Herrera at CHGO. Each of Brandon Hughes (knee) and Ethan Roberts (post-TJS recovery) are expected to have normal offseasons in advance of Spring Training, and Codi Heuer (elbow fracture after TJS recovery) could start a throwing progression this month (which would make an early-season return plausible).
That sets all three up to be good minor league signing targets for the Cubs, but no word yet on whether the Cubs have been able to lock down a deal for any. I could see Hughes and Roberts at least exploring the possibility of getting another MLB team to add them to their 40-man roster (i.e., a big league deal) before deciding on their best minor league deal option (which will come down to money, sure, but also the place they feel they have the best path to getting back to the big leagues). Heuer, meanwhile, will have to settle for a minor league deal after two surgeries and two missed years. I really, really hope the Cubs can keep at least one or two of these guys, since we know the healthy versions of themselves CAN help in the bullpen.
Still waiting on more confirmation of the signing, but potentially-probably-new Cubs lefty Edwin Escobar got a profile in the Japan Times back in August that I enjoyed reading. It sounds like he’s a very positive guy, well-liked by his teammates, and all the better for having such a variety of experiences in baseball all over the world. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubs were just as interested in the man as they were in the arm, given their need for some veteran leadership in the bullpen group (and, obviously, some quality innings).
I also appreciated a statistical factoid in the piece, that Escobar is just outside the top-10 ALL-TIME in holds in the NPB, and has the second most ever for a foreign pitcher. He has been an effective and prolific late-inning reliever for a long time (and he’s not THAT long in the tooth at 31), and he wants to pitch as often as possible.
I really do like the (reported) signing, I just thought this was funny:
Mike Lupica writes about the ten most hyped free agents in baseball history, given the Shohei Ohtani swirl, but has Ohtani’s free agency as only third. I suppose there’s a fair argument there for Alex Rodriguez’s free agency at age 25, and then Barry Bonds at age 28, but I still think I’d have Ohtani up top. There’s just so much EXTRA attached to Ohtani. Number seven on the list, by the way … Greg Maddux in 1992. Sob.
Spencer Turnbull will be a free agent after 2024 if he gets in a full year with a new team (he was recently non-tendered) because the Tigers maybe-kinda-almost screwed him:
A reminder there that phantom injuries are not great, but at least the player still gets service time when he’s on the IL. If he is instead optioned while dealing with a real – even minor – injury issue, he can get screwed out of service time.
All that said, with Turnbull needing a major bounce back in 2024 in order to actually accumulate another year of big league service time, it’s possible this decision doesn’t wind up mattering much. Still the right thing to do, obviously, and it’d be interesting to see if the Cubs gave Turnbull a look as a reclamation project. He was a notable prospect who then emerged as a solid starter for the Tigers in 2019-21 before the elbow popped (right after his 2021 no-hitter … ) and he had to have Tommy John surgery. He dealt with a neck issue in his return this year, as well as, apparently, the foot injury. So he might have to take a minor league deal and try to win himself a big league job.
The Cardinals are bringing back Lance Lynn as noted yesterday, and they’re also bringing back Daniel Descalso as their new bench coach. With some kind of role on tap for Yadi Molina, it is clear that the Cardinals are trying to recreate their 2014-ish roster. Just need to re-acquire Matt Carpenter from the Padres, get Matt Holliday to return to the coaching staff, and convince Adam Wainwright to un-retire. I would love all of that. I wonder what Pete Kozma is up to these days.
An average big league player, over a full season, is generally regarded as about a 2.0 WAR player. It is wild, therefore, to see the Nationals projected to have JUST ONE (barely) average player in 2024:
Significant report on the Milwaukee Brewers' plan for the offseason, as they are apparently getting ready to take a big risk with a potentially really big payoff. And they don't even have to go outside of the organization to do...
MLB Rumors — Earlier this morning, we learned that the Chicago Cubs are active in trade talks for Shane Bieber and Tyler Glasnow. And in that article, I mentioned that as many as four aces were reportedly available this offseason....
Well, shut it down. The Yoshinobu Yamamoto competition is over. No other team has a shot now. The New York Yankees held out the number 18 jersey for him over the 2023 season, and I've gotta assume that he will...
Two more pitchers are going to be coming over from the Asian leagues this offseason, and you should have each on your radar. RHP Naoyuki Uwasawa First, Japanese pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa is being posted out of the NPB, and he'll...
With Jason Heyward's contract finally falling off the books this winter, I think this offseason FELT like the one that would see the biggest drop in future financial commitments for the Chicago Cubs. But another bigger drop is on the...
For most players who are voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the decision of which team's cap to wear on their official plaque is pretty obvious. Either they spent the vast majority of their years with that team,...
This is going to be a short post relative to our usual deep dives, but given the gravity of the news (and it's potential relationship to the Chicago Cubs), I didn't want to just bury this Juan Soto update in...
Even in a winter defined by its volume of quality free agent starters, the trade market is not to be ignored. This offseason, there are as many as four aces available via trade by my count. And on at least...
If you could guarantee the Cubs sign Shohei Ohtani by eating a massive number of pancakes - large, fluffy, NO butter or syrup - how many pancakes could you eat? One sitting. If you puke or dump, it's over, but...
Eventually, Shohei Ohtani is going to pick his next team, and I still can't fully brace myself for the moment (no matter what team it is). I'm just accepting that it's going to knock me off my feet, for reasons...
Viktor Hovland, the defending champ, is the favorite (+400) at the 2023 Hero World Challenge ($3.5M purse), from November 30 - December 3 at Albany in Nassau, Bahamas.Ludvig Aberg shot -29 at Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside Course), picking up...
The Boston University Terriers (2-4) are 6.5-point underdogs as they try to break a four-game road losing streak when they square off against the Albany (NY) Great Danes (3-3) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at SEFCU Arena. The matchup airs...
The Morgan State Bears (2-6) are heavy underdogs (by 12 points) to break a six-game road losing streak when they visit the High Point Panthers (4-3) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET. The matchup's over/under is set...
The Lipscomb Bisons (5-3) hit the court against the Chattanooga Mocs (5-1) as 3.5-point favorites on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN+. The over/under is 152.5 in the matchup.Lipscomb vs. Chattanooga OddsLipscomb odds to win: -153Chattanooga...
The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (4-2, 0-0 WAC) are at home in WAC action against the Tarleton State Texans (4-2, 0-0 WAC) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET. The 'Jacks are favored by 9 points in the...
The Cornell Big Red (5-1) are heavy favorites (-10) as they look to continue a three-game home winning streak when they take on the Monmouth Hawks (4-3) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Newman Arena. The matchup airs at 7:00...
The Prairie View A&M Panthers (4-2) are big, 13-point underdogs as they look to continue a three-game winning streak when they visit the Tulane Green Wave (4-1) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Devlin Fieldhouse. The contest airs at 7:00...
WAC foes meet when the Seattle U Redhawks (4-2, 0-0 WAC) visit the Utah Valley Wolverines (4-2, 0-0 WAC) at UCCU Center, tipping off at 8:00 PM ET on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The Wolverines are 2.5-point underdogs in the...
The Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2) take on the North Florida Ospreys (4-3) as heavy, 23.5-point favorites on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 9:00 PM ET on Big Ten Network. The over/under is 164 in the matchup.Iowa vs. North Florida OddsIowa odds...
The Army Black Knights (0-6) are favored (-3) to stop a six-game losing streak when they host the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (1-4) at 4:00 PM ET on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Christl Arena. The contest airs on...
