We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field.
Ryan Helsley? Edwin Diaz? These are two of the names floating out there in the aether as the Cubs cast their net for next year’s relief corps with an eye
toward qualifying for the postseason and garnering some of that sweet postseason lucre.
This is supposing that the Dodgers aren’t going to just sign everyone and rent them to other teams. I wouldn’t put it past them.
“If you look at some of the teams that have had a ton of success over the last 10 years,” Carter Hawkins said, “it’s because they’ve built up through the draft. They’ve built up through development. They’ve built up through trades of their premier players to get even more talent. They don’t have to do those deals ever.”
This and other questions shall not be answered in this missive, but they may be addressed for ponderance. In the meantime I’ll be outside smoking a turkey. Damnably hard to keep lit but if you craved Mellow Yellow, then you need to try Rolled Gold.
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- Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): MLB 2025-26 offseason survey: Execs predict free agency, trades. “I see it at $350 million over 10 years,” one exec said. “My prediction is the Yankees.”
- Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru (MLB.com*): 3 goals for the rest of the Cubs’ offseason. “… there is much work still to be done…”
- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs rotation has intriguing base, but plenty of questions persist. “On the surface, this staff looks strong.”
- Bernie Pleskoff (Forbes* {$}): Chicago Cubs could land starting pitcher Dylan Cease. “This old scout believes Cease will return to the team that drafted him-the Chicago Cubs.“
- Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times*): New Cubs reliever Phil Maton’s contract becomes official; terms revealed. “The contract guarantees Maton $14.5 million, sources confirmed.”
- Brock Beauchamp (North Side Baseball*): Cubs reportedly interested in reliever Ryan Helsley. What about starter Ryan Helsley, also rumored?
- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs’ bullpen, strength in 2025, has holes to fill this offseason. “… no area of the team has as many question marks entering the offseason as that group.“ Meghan Montemurro has more* {$).
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Happ, other Cubs vets propel record-breaking year of charity work. “The standard of being a Cub was that you played in this amazing stadium with these amazing fans, and then you gave back to the community. You showed an appreciation for what the city gives us on a daily basis.”
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Nearly one year later, Cubs’ deal for Kyle Tucker viewed as a ‘success’ by club. “In trading for Kyle Tucker, the Cubs gave up 14 potential years of club control over the players it dealt.”
Food for thought:
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