The gloves are still on. But the Cubs are ‘going for it’, and there aren’t so many kids playing. Maybe Kevin Alcantara breaks camp with the big kids. Otherwise, it’s pretty much a veteran squad. Jaxon
Wiggins might change that some, but he isn’t expected any time soon.
He’ll be handled with the proverbial sartorial accessory until then. Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcántara likely make the cut — if they do, then they and Cade Horton can be the younger generation and have their say.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Wiggins following Horton’s lead with rise on Top 100 Prospects list. “I grew up playing against Jaxon,” Horton said at Cubs Convention earlier this month.
- Marquee Sports Network*: Cubs left-hander Justin Steele ahead of schedule in elbow injury return. Contains video.
- Under Armour*: First Basemen: Key roles & responsibilities. “The average height of a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) is slightly over 6-foot-2 while their average weight is 222 pounds.“
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Top prospect Ballesteros ready for bigger role this season. “Ballesteros has a clearer path to regular at-bats as part of Counsell’s designated hitter options.“
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): How the Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw is handling a role change — and Nico Hoerner deals with trade speculation. “Of course, you’re kind of looking at it like, ‘Oh, man, where am I going to play?” Shaw said last week at the Cubs Convention.
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): The Long Game: How Cubs got long-term value in the Kyle Tucker trade. “The Tucker deal came at a high cost, but its dividends didn’t end when he moved on.”
Food For Thought:
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series. We will not wittingly publish A. I. – driven articles or clickbait, and insist on unimpeachable sources.
