Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton looked distraught Friday afternoon in Cleveland when he walked off the field in the second inning of his start against the Guardians, suffering from what was described as “forearm discomfort.” Moments earlier, he had indicated to the dugout that things didn’t feel right, physically.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Is it already time to sound the starting pitching alarm?

“I just wanted to be smart about it,” Horton said. “I’ve been in this spot before and I’ve taken the other route where I keep going, and it ends up being worse. So, I just tried to make a mature decision and end it there.”

The 24-year-old was expected to do big things this year after a breakthrough rookie season in 2025 that saw him perform as, arguably, the best pitcher in all of baseball after the All-Star break.

Manager Craig Counsell told media after the game that Horton to will get imaging to see the extent of the injury and will also be placed on the 15-day IL as he’s being assessed.

Who could take Horton’s spot?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Base thievery may be low-key secret to 2026 success

Now, however, the talk must turn to the future. Specifically, how to fill the young arm’s spot in a Cubs rotation that needs the kind of impact starter Horton was expected to be.

Veteran Colin Rea was brought in to replace Horton on Friday and it’s thought that he’ll likely be the full-time replacement until the team knows what’s in their injured pitcher’s immediate future. Last season, Rea was solid as the team’s full-time rotation fill-in, posting a 10-7 record with a 4.33 ERA in 27 starts.

Chicago also has Ben Brown and Javier Assad as possible rotation fill-ins.

Then, of course, ace Justin Steele is slated to return some time before mid-season.

But if Horton is lost for any extended period of time, the Cubs may have no choice but to reach out and try to pick up somebody outside of the organization.

Some people already have an idea of who that outside pickup should be—Lucas Giolito.

Lucas Giolito to the rescue?

In the Friday night edition of MLB Tonight, the host brought up that exact possibility:

“I keep reminding myself that Lucas Giolito is still sitting out there without a team,” he said, following the segment talking about Horton’s injury.

“He might be a Cub,” replied analyst Harold Reynolds.

Jacob Zanolla of Bleacher Nation also brought up the Giolito possibility:

“The Cubs could look to someone outside of the organization, and there does happen to be one (relatively) legitimate arm still available: Lucas Giolito.

Giolito, 31, made 25 starts for the Red Sox last season, pitching to a 3.41 ERA over 145.0 IP. But while that seems encouraging, a quick peek under the hood reveals the more troubling peripherals that are probably conspiring to keep him a free agent this long: 5.01 xERA, 4.17 FIP. But in terms of emergency fill-in options, you could do a whole lot worse than Giolito.”

Last season with the Red Sox, the 31-year-old Giolito had a good year, stats-wise. But, as Zanolla mentions, maybe the raw numbers don’t tell the full story of what’s under the 9-year veteran’s hood. There has to be a reason, after all, why he’s still unsigned when starting pitching is such an MLB-wide priority.

It remains to be seen whether he’d even be much of an upgrade over the pitchers the Cubs already have lined up as fill-ins.

But he’s somebody definitely worth looking into for a Cubs rotation already showcasing some weakness just days into the season.

The post Chicago Cubs, post-Cade Horton injury, tied to still-available veteran starter appeared first on ChiCitySports.

To no surprise, the Chicago Cubs made a roster move with Cade Horton heading to the IL. It’s not the Jaxon Wiggins promotion some hoped for, but rather calling up lefthanded pitcher Riley Martin. Martin, 28, has been on the Cubs 40-man roster and got some playing time in Spring Training. The native of Salem, Illinois, and 2021 sixth-round pick out of Quincy University, has an interesting story and will now be getting ready to pitch in the Majors for the first time in his career.

The Cubs are calling up LHP Riley Martin, as @SchuckSports first reported.

He was set to go to pharmacy school six years ago, then the pandemic happened and he went from D2 to the Cubs.

Chronicled his story last spring:https://t.co/3g6W5UmBhi

— Andy Martínez (@amartinez_11) April 4, 2026

Martin joining the Cubs

Martin once had his eye on a career in pharmacy before the COVID-19 pandemic, but now he will join the Chicago Cubs to add pitching depth to the team. Since being drafted out of D2 ball, Martin has accumulated 282.2 innings in the Cubs system, pitching to a 3.76 ERA, 1.4 WHIP, 13.1 K/9, and 5.7 BB/9. He’s spent the last two seasons in Iowa and is coming off a very good 2025 season with a 2.69 ERA and 1.2 WHIP in 47 appearances.

It’s worth noting he has only made three starts in his Minor League career. Though he made a start last Tuesday, pitching 3.0 innings and giving up one run. He has been getting more stretched out, so he can be used in a “swing” role alongside Colin Rea. Given his being on the 40-man roster and Wiggins’ professional experience still being fairly light, it’s clear why they went with Martin for now.

Martin is a fastball, curve, slider, and occasional change-up pitcher. The fastball and curve are his primary pitches, with his heater sitting in the low-mid 90s (93-94 MPH). His strikeout numbers throughout his MiLB career are very good (410 strikeouts in 282.2 IP), and he’s limited the homers (0.8 HR/9). A weakness that stands out is the walks (178 in 282.2 IP).

The post Cubs callup lefty pitcher Riley Martin from Iowa appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs entered the 2026 season with significant depth in the area of starting pitching. While analysts weren’t blown away with the high-end potential of the rotation as a whole, most everyone agreed that the team’s strength was in its depth.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Base thievery may be low-key secret to 2026 success

Chicago started the regular season with five established starters (Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon) on the Opening Day roster, along with two rotation-capable swingmen (Colin Rea and Ben Brown). Reliable swingman Javier Assad was assigned to start the season in Triple-A Iowa, but would only be a phone call away from Wrigley. Jordan Wicks was also a name tossed about as a possible rotation fill-in. Meanwhile, ace Justin Steele is slated to make his return in May-June.

All told, that makes ten potential starters in the mix for a season where big things are expected.

Now, there’s talk that, maybe, the Cubs won’t have the rotation horses after all.

Horton’s injury spotlights Cubs rotation weak points

More News: Is Chicago Cubs manager tipping new Dodgers-style late-season pitching strategy?

Cade Horton’s forearm injury on Friday and subsequent placement on the 15-day IL is the biggest cause for alarm right now, of course. The 24-year-old right-hander was expected to be an ace-level presence on the mound after a second-half of 2025 that saw him emerge as an elite starter.

But Horton has been injury prone throughout his young career. Last year, he was shut down with a fractured rib late in the regular season and would miss the playoffs entirely. In 2024, he was shut down around mid-season with a shoulder injury. He already has a Tommy John surgery in his past.

At best, Horton had to be seen as a question mark when it came to full season duty.

New Cub Edward Cabrera also has a history of injury, with two stints on the IL just last year.

Matthew Boyd, regarded as injury-prone as well, pitched a full season last year, but it was his first 100+ inning campaign since 2019.

Shota Imanaga got smacked around a bit over the second half of last season and also got smacked around in his first start of this season.

Jameson Taillon got crushed during Cactus League play and looked touchable in his first official start of 2026.

Big problems ahead?

If one of the Cubs’ top starters falters and/or is forced to the IL for a long stretch of time, things will get rough. If a couple starters fall out, there’ll be huge problems. Because, yes, the Cubs have depth, but they’ll need more than seat-fillers. Rea, Brown, and Assad are solid, but there’s a reason they weren’t regarded as rotation fixtures.

For now, as Horton is assessed, the 35-year-old Rea will likely fill the young arm’s spot. The veteran was solid last season as the designated rotation-filler, with a 10-7 record in 27 starts and a 4.33 ERA (11-7, 3.95 ERA overall).

Chicago could do a lot worse when it comes to temporary replacements. But Rea doesn’t bring what Horton brings and “good enough for now” is not what an aspiring championship team needs near the top of their rotation.

For now, it’s reasonable to be alarmed about the team’s starting pitching, especially considering that the season is just beginning and a lot more could happen.

The post Chicago Cubs: Is it already time to sound the starting pitching alarm? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton exited his start on Friday with apparent forearm discomfort and will head to the injured list.

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA data suggests a monstrous 2026 may be on the way

Manager Craig Counsell said Horton will stay with the team one more day and travel back to Chicago for imaging. According to Counsell, Horton said he felt discomfort start in his right wrist, which moved up into his forearm. It was ultimately Horton’s decision to stop pitching, as to not do any further harm. 

Craig Counsell said Cade Horton felt discomfort in his wrist that moved to his forearm, and he will travel to Chicago to get it checked out.

An upcoming roster move is likely. https://t.co/oVdej2xNVf pic.twitter.com/oZ9lGdSsWe

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 3, 2026

The Cubs will make a roster move in the coming days with Horton going on the injured list. The Cubs have until April 8 before Horton’s spot comes up again. Horton was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and had four strikeouts in 7.1 innings.

Despite Cade Horton’s injury, the Chicago Cubs have options

Since the Cubs need another quality starter to fill in for Horton, they need to look no further than Javier Assad. Despite having a great spring, a 1.35 ERA in three games, Assad was optioned to Triple-A due to not having a spot.

Since joining the Iowa Cubs, Assad has struggled, allowing seven earned runs in seven innings (two starts). Even though Assad hasn’t done well, he’d be a quality inning-eater if and until Horton returns.

Right-hander Ben Brown is another option to fill in for the short term. Brown has done well out of the bullpen, having a 2.70 ERA and eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings.

However, in 114.2 innings as a starter, Brown has struggled, posting a 5.26 ERA. Since Brown’s stuff is more suited for the bullpen, the Cubs bringing up Assad and keeping Brown where he is seems like the best plan.

The post Chicago Cubs manager provides an update on Cade Horton appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have one of the better starting rotations in baseball, but the depth may be tested rather quickly.

Cade Horton, a promising young starter, was starting Friday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, but was pulled early with an injury. Let’s take a closer look at what we know at this point and what it could mean going forward.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton leaves the game with right forearm discomfort

Horton was today’s starter for the Cubs as they begin their road series with the Guardians. He looked sharp in the first inning, but the second inning saw some issues. Horton would throw a 93.8 mph fastball to Bo Naylor and immediately look into the dugout. The trainer and manager Craig Counsell would come out, and Horton would exit the game.

Marquee Sports’ Taylor McGregor would say on the broadcast that he had “tears in his eyes” as he was heading to the clubhouse. The team would officially call the injury right forearm discomfort. Unfortunately, the mind immediately jumps to Tommy John with forearm injuries, but it’s important to note that nothing has been announced at this point.

Horton is coming off a promising 2025 season as a rookie, finishing second in the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year voting. If he is going to miss extended time due to the injury, expect Javier Assad to get called up. He has been pitching in Triple-A and is on the same schedule as Horton has been in terms of starts.

It will be interesting to see what the latest updates for Horton will be. We will likely not find out until after the game concludes when we hear from Counsell.

The post Cade Horton exits start with right forearm discomfort vs. Cleveland Guardians appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs made a lot of moves this past offseason and are now about a week into a 2026 campaign where big things are expected.

More News: Is Chicago Cubs manager tipping new Dodgers-style late-season pitching strategy?

The biggest move, of course, was the signing of three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman to a 5-year, $175 million contract.

They finally pulled the trigger on a trade with the Miami Marlins for emerging powerhouse pitcher Edward Cabrera, who they had been eyeing already for the better part of two seasons.

They also restocked a depleted bullpen with the signing of four free agent relievers (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey).

They even secured the future of the franchise with big-money six-year extensions for centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and second baseman Nico Hoerner.

Despite a tepid start to the 2026 campaign, most would agree that this Cubs team looks deep and all-around good. The starting rotation is deep, the bullpen is versatile, the defense is elite, the offensive firepower is also there.

Speed kills—opposition

More News: Chicago Cubs trade deemed both smartest and dumbest move of offseason

One overlooked strength, though, could be the key to next-level success this season—speed. Specifically, speed as it pertains to having an aggressive mindset on the bases and the ability to pile up stolen bases.

Third base coach Quintin Berry is one of the key leaders in that area, tasked, along with first base coach Jose Javier, with getting the Cubs moving on base.

Last season, Chicago was tied for third in all of baseball with 161 stolen bases in 196 attempts, marking a near elite-level success rate just above the 82% mark. This season, the team is 7-for-7 in stolen base tries.

Berry came over from manager Craig Counsell’s old team, the Milwaukee Brewers, for the 2025 season in a thus far successful attempt at replicating the Brewers’ aggressive mindset on the bases. A former Cub, himself, Berry spent his MLB playing days as a baserunning specialist.

The Cubs’ baserunning specialist

The Chicago Sun-Times recently talked with him about his role in getting the Cubs moving.

“I’m more of a peace of mind [guy] — peace for [Crow-Armstrong],’’ Berry said. “Just like, what is he thinking, what’s he doing with his body. How to keep him relaxed and be confident.

“A lot of times, guys want to be quick. They’re trying so hard. I think the harder you try, the more tense you get, the more locked up, and then you see things that aren’t there, and then you get real passive, or you get real jumpy.

“So I’m just trying to make guys feel confident, confident and comfortable.’’

While home runs and strikeouts get most of the fan and media love, stealing bases and being able to get an extra bag here and there is such an overlooked asset in baseball. It adds a level of extra pressure to an opponent and forces them to operate outside their original plan. And the Cubs have been built with an eye on speed. Up and down the lineup, with the exception of maybe two spots, there’s some serious running ability present.

Could this ability to steal bases prove to be the deciding factor in how this season finishes? As always, time will tell.

The post Chicago Cubs: Base thievery may be low-key secret to 2026 success appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs, early this season, appear to be very cognizant of what their postseason should look like and how best to optimize a run at a championship. Last year, the focus seemed to be on just making the postseason.

More News: Chicago Cubs trade deemed both smartest and dumbest move of offseason

In 2025, pitching injuries hobbled their playoff run. By the time they reached the NLDS, they were down to, maybe, two reliable starters and two or three trusted relievers. It was a sobering reality that played out at the tail end of an otherwise tremendous season.

In 2026, however, the pitching focus has seemingly shifted to depth and to pacing themselves for a more pitching-powerful postseason.

That, maybe especially, means keeping an eye on the workload of the team’s younger starters and using their long relief to greater benefit early in the season.

That mindset seemed evident in the first starts of Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera.

An early focus on workload

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA data suggests a monstrous 2026 may be on the way

Both young arms were cooking into the sixth inning with a minimal pitch count. Manager Craig Counsell opted to take both out of their respective games.

Horton and Cabrera do have a history of injury and durability issues, so it’s no surprise that Counsell would want to be cautious with both. Horton, for example, was shut down late in the season and missed the playoffs entirely with a rib injury, after a sizzling post-All-Star break run. But Counsell’s own words to the media after the Horton game reveal, perhaps, more of a long-term team goal than a simple focus on the health of one young arm.

“If you look at history,” Counsell said, “the first three weeks of the season for pitchers are pretty delicate.”

Counsell has also talked about the benefit of having starter-capable pitchers such as Ben Brown and Colin Rea on the team.

“Having a pair of experienced starters filling in the long-reliever role is a luxury for a team,” Counsell said.

“Early in the season, we thought it could be valuable. With unforeseen weather and being cautious with the starters, I think it’s worked out and will continue to be an asset the next couple of weeks.”

It’s been speculated that the Cubs may be trying to adopt a 2025 Dodgers strategy to managing their starting corps, one where the team is ultra conservative with their starters in order to bring a strong and rested rotation into the playoffs.

Adopting the 2025 Dodgers strategy?

Last season, the Dodgers’ rotation was strained throughout much of the regular season due to injury, with only Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivering more than 112.2 innings as a starter.

They were then careful and judicious with the return of injured/recovering starters Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and even Shohei Ohtani. Ultimately, they were able to reintroduce all three to the rotation just in time for a strong pennant push and then the postseason.

The strategy paid off as Yamamoto and the fresh, strong threesome of Glasnow, Blake, and Ohtani accounted for more than 68% of the innings pitched in the postseason en route to another World Series win for the Dodgers.

The Cubs don’t have the studs the Dodgers did, but they do have big-time depth. The team currently has seven possible starters on the big league roster and Javier Assad in Iowa, with recovering ace Justin Steele set to make his return before mid-season.

If the workload is handled just right, it’s almost a guarantee that Chicago will be able to put together a very nice four-man rotation for what they hope to be a deep postseason run.

Last season, they really didn’t have that luxury of depth—and they ultimately paid the price. This season, they’re angling for a much different end to the season.

The post Is Chicago Cubs manager tipping new Dodgers-style late-season pitching strategy? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Prior to the start of the 2026 MLB regular season, the Chicago Cubs made one thing clear to their fans and the rest of Major League Baseball: they expect to win the division. The Milwaukee Brewers, who knocked the Cubs out of the postseason last year, have won the National League Central Division in each of the past three years. This year, the Cubs expect to end up on top.

What is more, Chicago wants to compete for, and win, the World Series, which they have not won since 2016. As such, they went about the winter piecing together a roster that many feel is one of the best in the Majors. At least on paper.

However, that high-powered and carefully constructed roster started the year 3-3.

MLB analyst wonders if the Chicago Cubs can remain consistent

Obviously, six games are far from a clear picture of what will be a 162-game season. That being said, while divisions cannot be won in March or April, they can certainly be lost. If the Cubs find themselves a game or two behind the Brewers (or another NL Central team) heading into the final week of the year, many will point to this lackluster start.

Derek Antoine of Yahoo Sports fears that Chicago’s inconsistency to start the year may end up biting them:

“The Cubs have already shown the early warning signs that kill seasons—they can be productive, but not reliably punishing. They can survive cold nights at Wrigley. They can survive one shutout. What they can’t survive is a lineup that only scores when everything lines up perfectly.

“And what happens when they start facing real pitching depth every series? Because the competition hasn’t necessarily been stellar.

“So the question is simple, and I won’t be polite about it. Do the Cubs have enough lineup length to win games when they aren’t hitting nukes? Or are they about to spend April proving that the offense is all paper?”

These are all questions that many had about the Cubs roster going into the season. Undoubtedly, when they are clicking on all cylinders, they are nearly impossible to beat.

But, as Antoine asks, what is going to happen when things are not clicking? Chicago needs to figure out how to overcome these challenges if they are going to compete for the division, much less a World Series title.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Matthew Boyd responds in strong outing in Cubs win
• Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be Cubs’ plan A
• Craig Counsell announces exciting timeline for Seiya Suzuki return

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: MLB analyst claims team’s 3-3 start signals one major concern appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are 3-3 through the first six games of the 2026 MLB regular season. While there have been frustrating moments early, it is easy to see the potential this team has to be among the best in baseball. With a talented roster with multiple high-quality players, it will not be long before the Cubs start climbing back up the standings.

Despite the fact that the season is only a week old, some are starting to wonder what players from around baseball will end up representing their teams in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Undoubtedly, the Cubs have multiple players that could play in the Mid-Summer Classic, but Bleacher Report predicts only three of them will.

Bleacher Report predicts Alex Bregman and Daniel Palencia will join Pete Crow-Armstrong on the NL All-Star roster

In Bleacher Report‘s first All-Star roster projection since the start of the season, they predicted that Chicago will be sending three players to the game. They predict that Alex Bregman will be voted in as the NL starting third baseman. They also named Pete Crow-Armstrong an All-Star reserve, and Daniel Palenica as one of the pitchers.

Bregman was an All-Star for the third time in his career last year while playing for the Boston Red Sox. This year, through six games, he is hitting .208/.321/.458 with two home runs and three RBI. However, he was walked (four times) more than he has struck out (twice).

Crow-Armstrong made his first career All-Star team last year. So far this season, he is hitting .261/.320/.261 with three RBI.

Palecia has never been named to an All-Star team in his career. In two appearances this season, he has to record a run. He may have made a name for himself among those choosing All-Star pitchers, though, with all well he pitched in the World Baseball Classic.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Matthew Boyd responds in strong outing in Cubs win
• Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be Cubs’ plan A
• Craig Counsell announces exciting timeline for Seiya Suzuki return

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs get 3 players projected as NL All-Stars after first week of 2026 MLB season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs had been eyeballing right-handed power pitcher Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins for the better part of two years, starting from the end of the 2024 season. They finally pulled the trigger on the trade to bring him over this past offseason.

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA data suggests a monstrous 2026 may be on the way

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer paid a hefty price for the emerging 27-year-old starter. To bring Cabrera aboard, they had to send over their top prospect OF Owen Caissie, their no. 11 prospect INF Cristian Hernandez, and 19-year-old talent INF Edgardo De Leon.

Both the Cubs and the Marlins walked away from the deal happy. So far, each side has every reason to feel like they came out ahead.

Cabrera and Caissie shining so far

More News: Chicago Cubs: Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be the team’s Plan A

In Cabrera’s first start with his new team, he blew the Los Angeles Angels away with a masterful showing. On the day, he tossed 6 shutout innings, striking out 5 while giving up only one hit and one walk in a 7-2 win.

The Marlins also have to be pleased with their new outfielder’s season so far, as he’s helped carry them to a very early first place spot atop the NL East. The 23-year-old outfielder has driven in 8 runs so far, with a walk-off home run and an impressive .350 batting average.

The success of both principal players in the Cubs-Marlins swap has created an odd point of debate when it comes to which team actually “won” the trade.

A trade that was both smart and dumb?

Michael Brauner of SI.com encapsulates this perfectly in a recent piece regarding the Cubs dumbest and smartest moves of the offseason—including the trading FOR Cabrera as a smart one and the trading OF Caissie as a dumb one.

Per Brauner:

“Cabrera came in on Monday night and did exactly what he was brought in to do: generate a ton of swing and miss. The right-hander carved up the Los Angeles Angels lineup with six scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one while allowing just one hit.

Cabrera may just wind up as the ace of this staff, and if he keeps looking how he did on Monday night, he very well could be an All-Star as well.

He still has a ton to prove, but it was as strong a beginning to his time with the team as one could possibly hope for.”

Also, per Brauner:

“The way Chicago’s former top prospect has started with the Miami Marlins, it makes fans wish Hoyer had found a way to get Cabrera without sacrificing Caissie.

The 23-year-old has slashed .385/.429/.769 so far this year (.350/.391/.600 currently, as of April 2) coming off a huge showing in the World Baseball Classic and even hit a walk-off home run for Miami the other night. The Cubs needed pitching, but seeing Caissie have a huge rookie season would be a tough pill to swallow.”

There’s no doubt that Cabrera and Caissie will always be connected from this point forward with both team’s fan bases and the value of the trade judged by each player’s performance. But this very well could go down as one of those deals where both sides come out a winner.

The post Chicago Cubs trade deemed both smartest and dumbest move of offseason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has turned heads very early this season with some very intriguing data points.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be the team’s Plan A

By the account of some well-respected baseball analysts, PCA’s bat speed has ticked up considerably and he’s currently swinging the bat faster than anyone in MLB. As a matter of fact, his top-end bat speed right now is greater than that of any qualified player over the last two seasons.

Last season, the emerging young star, who just signed a 6-year, $115 million contract extension, blew people away with a stellar first half of the year before experiencing a significant fall over the second half. Overall, though, he finished 2025 with high-end stats that included 31 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases, as well as a Gold Glove.

PCA on the verge of even bigger things?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Brilliant Ben Brown angling to take James Taillon’s rotation spot?

Over the offseason, the 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong worked on the mechanics of his batting stance and is sporting a more balanced approach at the plate, which is likely leading to the faster swing speed. So far, though, his 6 hits this season have all been singles.

But increased bat speed is considered a harbinger of good things to come, across the board, for a hitter.

Evan Altman of Cubs Insider lays out the case for why increased bat speed is not only important for power numbers, but also for overall success at the plate:

“The thing about increased bat speed isn’t just that it will directly correlate to more home runs, but that it broadens a hitter’s margin for error. Every additional tick of EV correlates to around 7 feet of ball flight, which means carrying over a shortstop’s glove or past a leaping outfielder. And in a game decided by fractions of inches or seconds, hitting a ball even slightly harder puts that much pressure on the defense.”

A 50-home run season?

Driveline Baseball ops analyst Sam Ehrlich is estimating that PCA’s added 3.5 mph of bat speed—the greatest jump in all of MLB—could make for a 50 home run season if the trend continues.

PCA w +3.5mph of bat speed could be looking at a 50HR season. Small sample, but that is a massive gain https://t.co/KGhKX9jI2A pic.twitter.com/1SHZz2Es9l

— sam ehrlich (@SamEhrlich) March 30, 2026

Eno Sarris of The Athletic, using his own metrics, has arrived at the same conclusion that the young star is currently sporting a mighty swing:

“Pete Crow-Armstrong is swinging a powerful stick right now. Using our method, we find that he’s swinging more than 2 mph harder this March than he did in September. At Driveline Baseball, they are big proponents of bat speed training, and they were enthusiastic about PCA’s gains, even modeling what the increased bat speed would mean.

The real gains for the Cubs’ center fielder are probably smaller than this, but it also seems likely that last year’s 31 homers were not a mirage, and more might be coming this season.”

It’s wild to imagine that a 30+ home run season from the Cubs centerfielder in 2025 could actually be the just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what he’s capable of doing.

Of course, all of this actually has to play out on the field, But, still, it’s pretty exciting to think that the best of PCA may be yet to come.

The post Chicago Cubs: PCA data suggests a monstrous 2026 may be on the way appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs knew that they needed to make a significant addition to their starting rotation. With Justin Steele recovering from injury and not available to start the season, they wanted to get a pitcher who would do more than just fill the gap. They wanted one who would give them years of added stability.

And that is what they got when they traded for Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins, sending a package of prospects in return, most notably Owen Caissie.

While Cabrera has made just one start for the Cubs so far this season, his performance has inspired a great deal of excitement among fans.

The Chicago Cubs could have something special in Edward Cabrera

In his Cubs debut, Cabrera threw six innings of shutout ball while allowing just two base runners. He also notched five strikeouts and earned the win.

It was an impressive enough performance for MLB.com to name Cabrera Chicago’s biggest takeaway of the first week’s worth of games:

“When Cabrera took the mound at Wrigley Field for his Cubs debut on Monday, the announced attendance of 36,702 was the largest home crowd he had experienced in his MLB career. Not only was he in the North Side’s rowdy environment, but the wind was blowing out and it was his shot at a good first impression as Chicago’s big trade acquisition over the winter.

“Cabrera was unfazed by all of it. The big righty showed off his powerful arsenal and held the Angels to one hit over six shutout innings. He flashed a combination of swing-and-miss (15 whiffs) and trust in the Cubs’ elite defense. It was an impressive debut in every way and showed why Chicago had been trying to reel in Cabrera for a couple years.”

If Cabrera can keep pitching this way, the Cubs’ starting rotation is going to be in excellent shape. What is more, he is under team control for the next several seasons.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Matthew Boyd responds in strong outing in Cubs win
• Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be Cubs’ plan A
• Craig Counsell announces exciting timeline for Seiya Suzuki return

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Edward Cabrera considered team’s biggest takeaway after 1 week of games appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After an impressive 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs, Matthew Boyd earned the right to be the team’s opening day starter. He’s leading what is considered one of the top pitching staffs in the national league. But Boyd’s season got off to a rocky start.

In the opener against the Washington Nationals, Boyd only lasted 3.2 innings. He gave up six hits and six runs in the game along with one walk in the game. That ballooned his ERA to 14.73 after just one start.

But then Wednesday happened and he made his second start of the season, this time against the Los Angeles Angels.

Matthew Boyd responds with big outing

Boyd was much better on Wednesday against the Angels, going 5.2 innings allowing just two hits, and one earned run. The biggest thing? He was getting swings and misses as he struck out 10 batters.

Following the game, he earned praise from his manager Craig Counsell.

“He established the change up really well early,” Counsell said on Wednesday after the game. “He played the front and back game, he was able to get strikeouts with the fastball and change up essentially. Just being in zone and competitive with the change up, really set him up as he went through the lineup the second time. He pitched really, really well. The swing-and-miss in both starts is always encouraging.”

It was a cold day with the wind blowing in, but Boyd did look like the 2025 version of himself. That’s encouraging for the Cubs who already got strong starts from Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera this season.

If Boyd can get better as the season goes on, the Cubs really could have one of the best rotations in all of baseball this season.

The post Matthew Boyd responds with strong outing in Chicago Cubs’ win appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have a spent a bundle this year extending two prized assets on six-year deals—center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and second baseman Nico Hoerner. In total, that amounts to $256 million invested into the team’s future.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Brilliant Ben Brown angling to take James Taillon’s rotation spot?

But even with the bundle of money spent this past offseason, including the extensions and free agent signings of Alex Bregman and four relievers, the team will still have a lot of money coming off the books after 2026.

Several core members of the roster could become eligible for free agency at the end of this season, including names such as Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon.

Happ or Suzuki?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman points out major change in Cubs business mindset

The outfield situation for Chicago is especially interesting since they could lose both corner outfielders. The 2027 free agent class is not deep with outfielders and both Happ and Suzuki would rank highly on the list of most desired acquisitions if they hit the open market. That’s why the thought is that the front office will make a move to extend at least one of them.

And although Suzuki has a better offensive upside and is a beloved member of the team, re-signing the more consistent and defensively sound Happ may be a more Cubs thing to do.

As a matter of fact, there may already be a Plan B in place for when Suzuki moves on—Ethan Conrad, the team’s first round draft pick in 2025.

By all accounts, Conrad is a true five-tool player who may already be much closer to major league-ready than many anticipate—and this is without having played in one minor league game last season due to a shoulder injury and after starting this season on the IL with a back issue.

The 21-year-old is, apparently, THAT good.

Ethan Conrad lined up to take Suzuki’s spot?

He’s at least good enough and promising enough for the Cubs to not want someone blocking his path to the majors for the next four or five years.

“He’s somebody that can turn a double into a triple with his speed, and I think he’s somebody that is gonna be able to put pressure on the defense in a number of different ways,” Cubs vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz said at the time of the draft. “His decision-making, his ability to make contact, his ability to hit for damage — all three of those pillars are there, and we think that he’s just getting better across the board.”

“Ethan is a five-tool player, who is a gamer,” Conrad’s head coach at Wake Forest Tom Walter said. “This is a great pick by the Chicago Cubs. Ethan will be a guy who will play in the big leagues for a long time and is a potential All-Star. His bat-to-ball skills are elite and he is just scratching the surface of his power potential.”

And the Cubs may already have a backup to Conrad.

Kevin Alcantara as a Plan B?

Kevin Alcantara, who’s flirted with a major league role over the last three seasons is tearing things up in Triple-A Iowa so far this year. The 23-year-old has already hit two home runs and a double in 13 at bats.

The Cubs could let Suzuki walk and then roll the dice on Conrad or Alcantara winning the right field spot. They may also pick up a lower-level free agent next season as temporary one-season insurance for that spot. Because of their prospects’ promise, they may not want a corner outfield spot filled for an extended period of time anyway.

Of course, Conrad has to actually play a game of pro ball before he can be anointed the next big outfield thing and Alcantara has to prove that he can be consistently good over an entire season. But the Cubs do have options and they seem more and more likely to trust in them as soon as next season.

The post Chicago Cubs: Moving on from Seiya Suzuki may be the team’s Plan A appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs were forced to start the 2026 MLB regular season without the player they believed would be their everyday right fielder. During the World Baseball Classic, Seiya Suzuki suffered a knee injury while he was sliding into second base. As a result, he was unable to start the year on the Cubs Opening Day roster.

While it is still early, Chicago is 2-3 and in last place of the National League Central Division. They are coming off a game in which they were shutout by the Los Angeles Angles 2-0. Indeed, offense has been a bit of a concern for the Cubs in the early going.

Fortunately, help is on the way.

Chicago Cubs manager reveals likely timeline for Seiya Suzuki return

It was recently revealed that Suzuki was nearing return. Now, it is being reported that he will soon be heading out on a rehab assignment, one that is going to last just 3-7 days:

#Cubs Seiya Suzuki will begin his rehab assignment on Friday with Double-A Knoxville. Craig Counsell expects his assignment to be between 3-7 days.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) April 1, 2026

Last season, Suzuki had the best season of his MLB career, hitting .245/.326/.478 with 32 home runs and 103 RBI. It was the first time in his Cubs tenure that he hit more than 30 home runs and had 100 or more RBI.

That being said, his batting average and on-base percentage was well-below his career norms. This season marks the final year of his contract with Chicago, and he will have to perform well if he wants them to bring him back in 2027.

Bringing in a power bat to an offense that has been inconsistent thus far this year will certainly help.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs drop in The Athletic‘s week 1 power rankings
• Former Cubs slugger predicts 1 achievement is in Edward Cabrera’s future
• Former Cubs and White Sox pitcher impresses in Diamondbacks debut

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell announces exciting time-table for Seiya Suzuki retrun appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs came up short against the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, but there was some good news mixed into the bad of a 2-0 loss.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw’s options running out after Hoerner extension

The biggest piece of positivity was the performance of Ben Brown, who came into the game in the top of the sixth inning with two outs and a pair of runners on base. The 26-year-old proceeded to cook through his appearance.

Overall, the lanky right-hander pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out 5 against 1 hit and 1 walk. The impressive box score numbers, alone, don’t even tell the full story of Brown’s performance, though.

Brown dazzles, Taillon hangs tough:

More News: Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman points out major change in Cubs business mindset

The young arm dazzled with a mix of overpowering stuff and outstanding placement. He was also sporting supreme control with 39 strikes in 50 pitches thrown.

This was his second appearance of the season and he delivered much better results this time out, although he did notch 3 strikeouts against the Nationals in relief on Opening Day. Overall this early season, he’s sporting a 2.70 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched.

Brown fought his way this spring to the last bullpen spot on the roster and he’s quickly making a case for staying in the majors. If he keeps up the long-relief brilliance, he could also force himself back into the running for a rotation spot.

Starter Jameson Taillon didn’t quite dazzle Tuesday night, but he showed that he could perform well, even when he doesn’t have his A+ stuff. On the evening, the veteran struck out 3 over 4.2 innings while giving up 2 hits and 4 walks.

The reality is that he looked to be on the verge of allowing a big inning on a couple of occasions this outing, but he managed to maneuver out of trouble. Regardless, the scoreless appearance was a relief after a horrendous spring where he posted a 17.55 ERA over 5 games and experienced a significant dip in velocity. That velocity dip (the four-seamer was down to 90-91 mph on Tuesday) is still there, however, and that is definitely something to watch.

“I thought Jameson pitched well,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game. “I thought he navigated it and there was really very little hard contact…They drove the pitch count up on him a little bit, but he did a really nice job.”

After the game, the 34-year-old said he felt good and expressed his relief with being able to get to Chicago and restart his pitching a bit.

A swap of roles?

But the tremendous Brown outing and Taillon’s lower-velocity outing happening on the same day kind of introduces the possibility that, maybe, there could be a swap of roles between the two before the end of the season.

The Cubs believe that Brown’s ultimate place will be as a starter and Taillon is working on the last year of his contract before becoming a free agent. If the younger, cheaper Brown can establish himself as a consistent presence over multiple innings, there could be a push to get him into the rotation and move Taillon into a swing man role, especially if there are no significant injuries in the rotation necessitating the use of both as starters.

That’s a big “if,” of course. Brown has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, before much longer stretches of struggle. Taillon, meanwhile, has shown the veteran ability to stabilize and solidify his game after a rough stretch of outings.

For now, the Cubs will let the season play on and make decisions further down the road.

The post Chicago Cubs: Brilliant Ben Brown angling to take James Taillon’s rotation spot? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs got off to a slower start than the team was hoping for, going 2-2 in their first four games. While a slow start does not necessarily indicate anything for the entire season, it will affect them in the power rankings. Let’s take a closer look at how far they fell in one outlet’s power rankings.

The Chicago Cubs drop four spots in The Athletic’s power rankings

The Cubs dropped from being tied for fourth place in the preseason rankings to now being eighth. Their average ranking was 8.0 by the selection panel. The Athletic’s Chad Jennings wrote the following snippet regarding the Cubs’ opening four games of the season:

“After a winter where the Cubs finally acted like a big-market team, it had to be at least a little disappointing to come out and lose two of three, especially to a Nationals team that spent the winter offloading big-league talent. But it’s just three of 162. Right now, that’s completely shrug-offable, a blip on the schedule. If the Cubs go into a tailspin, it won’t be because of this, and if they’re a playoff team, it wont’t even really be in spite of this. It’s just a thing that happened.

“The only way it really matters would be if the Cubs miss a division win or the postseason by one game. If that happens, I promise to rewrite this section.”

Below is the full top 10 list that The Athletic had for their power rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. New York Yankees
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. New York Mets
6. Milwaukee Brewers
7. Boston Red Sox
8. Chicago Cubs
9. Philadelphia Phillies
10. Atlanta Braves

This is a bit of a more harsh drop than the Bleacher Report power rankings, which saw Chicago only drop one spot. The team has two home games remaining against the Los Angeles Angels before a three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians. It will be intriguing to see if they can turn things around and get back to the top five in the power rankings.

The post Chicago Cubs drop in The Athletic’s Week 1 MLB power rankings appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs went out and bolstered the starting pitching rotation by acquiring Edward Cabrera this offseason from the Miami Marlins. It cost the Cubs top prospect, Owen Caissie who is off to a hot start this season. But if Cabrera pitches like he did in his debut on Monday, the trade will pay off.

The starter went six innings, struck out five batters and allowed just one hit and one walk in his debut. He quickly won over the Wrigley Field faithful as he mowed down the Los Angeles Angels lineup, helping the Cubs get their second win of the season. After a tough weekend in which the Cubs lost the series to Washington, they needed an outing like this.

That was especially true after both Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga struggled in their starts to open the season. Following the start, Cabrera earned some praise not only from his teammates but from a former Cubs slugger as well.

Cliff Floyd believes Edward Cabrera has no-hit stuff

Following the Cubs win over the Angels, Cliff Floyd had nothing but praise for Cabrera on the team’s postgame show on Marquee Network. He went through Cabrera’s outing, pointing out some positive stuff.

“He didn’t shake off Carson [Kelly] once, he was in rhythm, he was in a flow. It allowed him to get deep into the ball game. I’m serious, he’s going to throw a no-hitter,” Floyd said. “If he can keep this stuff up and stay healthy, a no-hitter is gonna go under his belt at some point.”

It was certainly an impressive outing for Cabrera in his first start at Wrigley Field. Floyd has some good points too about how he was able to get into a flow of the game and pitch the six innings.

With teams monitoring pitch counts now, no-hitters are becoming even more rare. That would be an obstacle for Cabrera in Floyd’s prediction. However, you have to be encouraged by his first start as a member of the Cubs and what it could mean for this rotation moving forward.

The post Former Cubs slugger predicts big achievement is in Edward Cabrera’s future appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Former Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox right-hander Michael Soroka had quite the debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

More News: Chicago White Sox’s pair of grand slams makes MLB history

Signing a one-year ($7.5 million) contract in the offseason, Soroka scattered four hits, struck out 10, and walked one in five innings against the Detroit Tigers. According to MLB Stats, Soroka’s 10 strikeouts surpassed Hall of Fame left-hander Randy Johnson for most strikeouts in a Diamondbacks debut.

Dominance in the desert

Michael Soroka passed Hall of Famer Randy Johnson for the most strikeouts in a @Dbacks debut!

(MLB x @SageUSAmerica) pic.twitter.com/QAHCCE2kOq

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) March 31, 2026

Michael Soroka pitches an immaculate inning in his debut

Even more impressive the former All-Star (2021), Soroka pitched an immaculate inning (nine strikes, three strikeouts). Soroka struck out Tigers shortstop and former Cub Javier Baez, designated hitter Kerry Carpenter, and second baseman Gleyber Torres.

IMMACULATE INNING FOR MICHAEL SOROKA!

10 strikeouts through 5 innings in his @Dbacks debut! pic.twitter.com/M9hopu3jxN

— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2026

The seven-year veteran knew he was in the middle of an immaculate inning with one strike remaining on Torres. Soroka called Torres a “good hitter” and tried to throw a pitch in the zone to complete the feat.

“It was pretty special,” Soroka said to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. “I think I’ve talked to you guys about not putting too much stock in results but I think that’s one that’s worth celebrating. Gleyber is a good hitter, he’s quite passive, too. So I wanted to make sure it was something in the zone and just give myself a chance to get it done right there. So pretty cool. I tried to play it off, but started smiling on the field.”

Soroka’s performance helped the Diamondbacks secure their first victory of the season. The 28-year-old filled up the strike zone, with 60 of his 89 pitches being strikes.
The Diamondbacks right-hander also threw first-pitch strikes to nine out of the 20 batters faced. He also recorded five outs via flyout (three) and groundout (two).

The post Former Cubs and White Sox SP impresses in Diamondbacks debut appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs, early in Spring Training, made it known that they did not intend to let their top prospect, Moises Ballesteros, start another year in the minor leagues. Instead, he was an early addition to the Opening Day roster. This followed his successful Spring Training and brief first stint in the Majors last season.

Indeed, Ballesteros is one of the most highly regarded rookies in all Major League Baseball this season, and there are many who think he could make a run for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Chicago Cubs youngster Moises Ballesteros gets top-10 rookie ranking

In a recent ranking of the top 25 rookies across Major League Baseball, Bleacher Report slotted Ballesteros in at number 10, writing:

“The departure of Kyle Tucker in free agency cleared a path for Moisés Ballesteros to break camp with a starting spot in the Chicago Cubs lineup, serving as the team’s primary designated hitter.

“The 22-year-old has a 60-grade hit tool and has produced every step of the way in the minors. After struggling in his first MLB action early last season, he returned to post a .333/.435/.564 line in 46 plate appearances as a September call-up.

“His value is exclusively tied to what he does in the batter’s box, but he has raked throughout his pro career.”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs’ Nico Hoerner makes bid statement amid 1-2 start
• Alex Bregman points out big change in Cubs business mindset
• Cubs post-2026 payday window driving major contracts

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Moises Ballesteros grabs top-10 MLB rookie ranking after season’s first weekend appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs bats woke up on Saturday in a 10-2 win, but the team has much more work to do if they want to be a playoff contender after losing to the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Sunday.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw’s options running out after Hoerner extension

The Cubs squandered an opportunity to win their opening series at Wrigley Field.

Shota Imanaga was the losing pitcher for Chicago, allowing four earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings pitched on Sunday. The Nationals put up three runs in the first inning in front of a crowd of 33,559 at Wrigley Field.

The loss came just days after second baseman Nico Hoerner signed a six-year contract extension worth $141 million. He went 1-of-4 at-bat on Sunday, and has two hits and 11 at-bats through the first three games of the season.

Chicago Cubs 2B Nico Hoerner is thinking about a World Series

More News: The Chicago Cubs’ x-factor in 2026 may be this unsung hero

Amid the rough start, Hoerner told reporters on Sunday that he wanted to stay with the Cubs because he believes the team can win a World Series.

“I think there’d be nothing more rewarding and satisfying than winning a championship in the place that you started,” Hoerner said, via Marquee Sports Network. “There are just so many relationships in this building and people that I’ve gotten to know over the years, and it’s just those kinds of celebrations that mean that much more.

“When it’s with people that you’ve been through a lot with. We can get a small taste of that just making the playoffs last year, winning a first-round series… I think we’re a part of a group right now that’s capable of a whole lot more, and I think that should be the standard moving forward.”

"I think there'd be nothing more rewarding and satisfying than winning a championship in the place that I started."

Nico Hoerner is ready to bring home some hardware pic.twitter.com/VN8wawGr5m

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 29, 2026

The Cubs didn’t look like a postseason contender during their series with the Nationals. It was a series the team absolutely should have won.

Chicago will ned host the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner makes big statement amid 1-2 start appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs ownership had been blasted prior to this offseason for being too conservative, too unwilling to spend like the major market team they are. Those criticisms have been quieted this year.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw’s options running out after Hoerner extension

Over the offseason, the Cubs restocked a depleted bullpen with four free agent relievers, signed free agent three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, and extended center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong on a six-year-deal. After Opening Day, they then extended second baseman Nico Hoerner on another six-year deal. They even flipped on their informal policy against deferred money by using some of that down-the-road cash in the Bregman and Hoerner deals.

Per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic:

“Within one fiscal quarter, the Chicago Cubs guaranteed $431 million to three players [Bregman, PCA, Hoerner] in deals that will cover 17 total seasons.”

Throw in the bullpen acquisitions, minor league contract deals, and a couple of position players, and we’re talking about a half-billion dollars invested into the team this year by the Ricketts family. It’s not Dodgers-level spending, but this isn’t something done unless ownership is really serious about winning.

Bregman speaks on Cubs investment

More News: The Chicago Cubs’ x-factor in 2026 may be this unsung hero

“They see the potential of this team being a winner for a sustainable period of time,” Bregman told reporters Saturday at Wrigley Field. “When you have a team like that, you want to invest in it.”

The soon-to-be 32-year-old Bregman was acquired as a cornerstone of the Cubs immediate future and now he has company in that regard with Crow-Armstrong and Hoerner.

Including shortstop Dansby Swanson and first baseman Michael Busch, who are both under contract through the 2029 season, the Cubs are guaranteed to be featuring the same five of eight position players for at least the next four season. And that number becomes six of eight if you include catcher Miguel Amaya, who is also under contract through the 2029 season.

That’s the kind of security most teams would kill for. The Cubs, specifically, believe in the team they’re fielding to such a degree that they were willing to go all-in, monetarily (at least as all-in as the Cubs would realistically go).

Daring in the face of uncertainty

Chicago’s offseason daring wasn’t just limited to spending, though. Trading their top prospect Owen Caissie (along with two other prospects) for three years of pitcher Edward Cabrera also screams of confidence that they can not only compete for a championship right now, but also win one (or more).

“It’s hard to try and re-create something good every year with a bunch of new pieces,” Swanson told media. “That’s in any business. So when you have good things going, you try and find ways to keep them and also improve at the same time. Continuity is huge.”

The Cubs are still facing a lot of uncertainty this offseason, however. Core elements of the team such as Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga could all be gone next season via free agency. The bullpen could also find itself nearly as depleted at the end of 2026 as it was at the end of 2025.

For now, though, the Cubs have locked in much of the foundation for the future. Whether they’re actually serious about winning should stop being a question.

The post Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman points out major change in Cubs business mindset appeared first on ChiCitySports.

2026 looms as a pivotal season for the Chicago Cubs. A wave of key players are set to hit free agency while facing a new collective bargaining agreement that could reshape the financial landscape. Despite this, the team has already shown a willingness to spend big by locking in Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Nico Hoerner, on top of Dansby Swanson,who is locked up through the 2029 season.

For Cubs fans, it’s encouraging to see Jed Hoyer getting the green light from the Ricketts Family to commit $175 million to Bregman, $115 million to Crow-Armstrong, and $141 million to Hoerner, bringing their total spending since the end of last off-season up to $488 million. That said, many might be wondering “how are they doing this?”

Chicago Cubs post-2026 payday window could be driving recent contracts handed out

As things currently stand, right now the Cubs are scheduled to have $124.325 million come off the books at seasons end, according to a deep dive of the finances by Michael Cerami at BleacherNation. Of the 14 players potentially becoming free agents, five are making more than $10 million and two more than $20 million. Additionally, all of Shota Imanaga, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Jameson Taillon, and Matthew Boyd are over 30 years old, meaning they are unlikely to get long term contracts.

Money coming off #Cubs books at the end of this season (luxury tax):

Imanaga: $22.025M
Happ: $20.3M
Suzuki: $17M
Taillon: $17M
Boyd: $14.5M
Rea: $6.5M*
Harvey: $6M
Kelly: $5.75M
Thielbar: $4.5M
Milner: $3.75M
Carlson: $2M
Conforto: $2M
Webb: $1.5M*
Austin: $1.5M

Total:…

— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) March 28, 2026

In other words, the Cubs aren’t just spending to spend, they’re strategically extending their competitive window. By committing big money now, they’re locking in cornerstone talent before that financial flexibility opens up, positioning themselves to supplement the new future core even further once contracts from Imanaga, Happ, Suzuki, Taillon, Boyd, and others roll off.

Furthermore, no matter how the next collective bargaining agreement shakes out, the Cubs are positioned to have significant financial flexibility next winter. Even if a new CBA introduces stricter payroll thresholds or spending penalties, this kind of built-in breathing room ensures the Cubs can remain aggressive, whether that means pursuing top free agents or trading for more talent.

The post Chicago Cubs post-2026 payday window driving recent contracts appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs made early-season headlines when their extension of second baseman Nico Hoerner hit the news, seemingly out of nowhere.

More News: The Chicago Cubs’ x-factor in 2026 may be this unsung hero

The deal for Hoerner is a nice, fat one—befitting one a player of his caliber deserves, actually. The elite-level contact-hitter and Gold Glove middle infielder will get $141 million over six years, with deferred money factoring into the equation.

The deal will keep him in Chicago through the 2032 season and ensure that that the Dansby Swanson-Hoerner double play tandem stays together at least through 2029, when Swanson’s contract runs out.

This is good news for the Cubs and for Cubs fans. Hoerner has proven his worth with the team over the years and, last year, he was an absolute spark plug for Chicago, especially in the latter part of the season and through the playoffs, where he hit .419 in eight games.

But Hoerner’s deal to stay in Chicago is not great news for everyone.

Bad news for Matt Shaw

More News: Could Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins be the next rookie surprise?

Matt Shaw has to be a bit troubled by the team’s decision.

The Cubs’ 2023 no. 1 draft pick came through the farm system as a bat-first prospect, but was nudged towards the third base and second base positions because of big league roster needs. He landed his first major league gig last season as the team’s starting third baseman.

The Cubs, then, of course, acquired third baseman Alex Bregman. Shaw was moved from the hot corner and made a utility man. The thought, however, was that the 24-year-old was being kept around as insurance in case Hoerner opted to explore free agency.

Now, that second base plan is off the table.

Shaw will get playing time as the backup third baseman and second baseman. He’s also getting a shot at the outfield and first base.

Right now, he’s playing right field as a replacement for the injured Seiya Suzuki, but Suzuki will be coming back fairly soon. When the Japanese star is back in his spot, Shaw will go right back to the bench, playing a little bit of everywhere.

“Honestly, it’s been a lot of fun,” Shaw told reporters earlier in the spring. “It feels like Little League, playing a bunch of different positions and moving around. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

This player-without-a-position thing might not be so fun and enjoyable, though, as Shaw further faces the reality that there may be no spot for him on the roster, at least not as a full-time starter.

Shaw’s only spot may be corner outfield

That’s why the pressure is on to look as good as he can in right field while he’s being given the playing time. Suzuki and left fielder Ian Happ are both eligible for free agency after the end of the season and the Cubs may not hold on to either.

Shaw’s best chance to wedge himself into a starting position in Chicago is at a corner outfield spot next season if the Cubs don’t bring back Suzuki and/or Happ. Other than that, barring major injury to Bregman or Hoerner, Shaw’s Cubs future may be as a utility man or, more likely, as trade bait for more pitching.

For now, Shaw is getting his shot in right. His Opening Day performance was solid, although he did misjudge one wind-swatted fly ball a bit before recovering to make the catch. Whatever the case, one wouldn’t blame him for feeling added stress these days.

The post Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw’s options running out after Hoerner extension appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs did not get off to the start that they wanted to in 2026. They dropped their Opening Day game against the Washington Nationals by the score of 10-4. However, over the span of the last few days, they have locked up two of their core players for the long run.

After the Opening Day game was over, it was reported that the Cubs and Gold Glove outfielder Nico Hoerner had agreed to a long-term extension. This news came after Chicago announced that they had signed All-Star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to a six-year $115 million contract.

On Friday, Crow-Armstrong addressed the media for the first time since signing his new contract.

Pete Crow-Armstrong praises Chicago Cubs fans

When Crow-Armstrong spoke to the media on Friday, he was highly complimentary of the Cubs organization and manager Craig Counsell. But he also seemed to indicate that it was the fans in Chicago themselves who made him want to stay right where he was for the long-term.

“I’m most excited about being in Chicago for the next six-plus years, very lucky to be in an amazing city and around the people here,” Crow-Armstrong said.

“This is one of the most unique baseball cities in the world, I would argue that it’s the best. It was the coolest thing for me to learn about Cubs fans and the attention they pay. They’re not quick to turn things negative. It really helps us as players to play in front of people who want to win, but are also just happy to be at the ballpark and watch baseball.”

While Opening Day did not go the way the Cubs wanted it to, it is a 162-game season. They have months of baseball left to play.

And thanks to this extension, and their fans, Chicago will have Crow-Armstrong around for next 1,000+ baseball games.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs World Series champion outfielder officially retires
• 2 Cubs players who may not receive contract extensions
• Cubs were outbid for All-Star closer this off-season

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong credits fans for desire to sign 6-year contract extension appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder and 14th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves, Jason Heyward, has officially retired. The man who made the famous rain delay speech in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series last played in a Major League game on May 23rd, 2025 with the San Diego Padres. He finishes a 16-year career with five Gold Gloves, a .255/.336/.408 slashline with 186 home runs and .744 OPS in 1,824 games.

Jason Heyward has officially retired, via a release today. 16 years, two rings, one rain delay speech.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 27, 2026

Heyward’s legacy on the North Side.

Heyward signed the biggest free agent contract in Cubs history in December, 2015. Coming off a very good season with the Cardinals, the Cubs won the bidding war to get the All Star outfielder. There is no debate that the offensive numbers Heyward posted in a Cubs uniform did not live up to the expectations of the $184 million deal. As a Cub, he hit .245/.323/.377 with a .700 OPS, 62 homers, and an 85 OPS+ in 744 games. He was eventually cut with money and years still owed after 2022.

With that said, Heyward was part of a World Series Cubs team and four Cubs postseason teams total. His defense was very good, winning two of his five Gold Gloves in Chicago, and he was a respected leader in the clubhouse. Even if the results were not there, the work ethic and respect were. Heyward carried himself with class and was a great asset to the community. Just a few years ago, he opened his baseball academy in Chicago.

As corny as it is, the rain delay speech will live in Cubs lore forever. Blowing a 5-1 and 6-3 lead and being in a delay before extra innings put the players, as Anthony Rizzo would say, in a “glass case of emotion.” Rallying the troops and winning in 10 innings proved to be huge in ending a 108-year drought. That was worth something. It’s fitting he retired and can celebrate the 10-year anniversary this season.

Happy retirement to Jason Heyward.

The post Cubs World Series champion outfielder officially retires appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs aren’t hesitating to lock up their talented young players, dishing out two extensions.

More News: 3 takeaways from 2026 Chicago Cubs Opening Day

All-Star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (six years, $115 million) received his extension as spring training ended, with second baseman Nico Hoerner also receiving one. Hoerner and the Cubs reportedly agreed to a six-year extension, preventing the Gold Glove winner from hitting free agency this offseason.

The Cubs also spent money in free agency. All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman signed a lucrative contract (five years, $175 million) with the Cubs after they pursued him the offseason before.
Despite the Cubs’ willingness to pay Crow-Armstrong, Hoerner, and Bregman, two players may not receive extensions.

The Chicago Cubs may let two core players walk in free agency

Outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are core members of the Cubs’ lineup and are two players who may not receive extensions. Pending free agents, Suzuki signed a five-year ($85 million) contract in 2022, while Happ signed a three-year extension ($61 million) in 2024.

Suzuki had a breakout season in 2025, mashing 32 home runs and driving in 103 RBI. Happ was his consistent self, having his third straight 20+ home run season (23), and winning his fourth straight Gold Glove.

Both should get extensions, but the Cubs aren’t likely to extend both. Happ and Suzuki are entering their early 30s, and Suzuki is on the injured list with a knee injury.

MLB’s labor negotiations could affect the Cubs’ signing of Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki

The looming work stoppage for 2027 may also affect the Cubs’ efforts to sign Suzuki and Happ. MLB’s wanting a “salary cap” will change how teams spend. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires on December 1, 2026.

Currently, teams can spend as much as they want, with penalties (taxes) applying once they reach a threshold. Under the current CBA, the luxury tax in 2026 is $244 million.
The Cubs’ current payroll, per Spotrac, sits at $246.65 million, the second time in this CBA (2024) the Cubs have surpassed the luxury tax. The Cubs total allocations for 2027 sit at $105.6 million — Hoerner’s contract details are still unknown.

Suzuki’s power potential could sway the Cubs to sign him over Happ. However, a consistent Gold Glove winner in left, paired with a Gold Glove center fielder (PCA, 2025), could be more beneficial.

Outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara — Alcantara was optioned to the minor leagues — is waiting in the wings and one of, or maybe both, Happ and Suzuki could be departing.

The post Two Chicago Cubs who may get left out of the extension carousel appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The 2026 MLB season is finally here following Wednesday night’s showcase on Netflix between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. But for the Chicago Cubs, they held Opening Day on Thursday at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs dropped the opener to the Washington Nationals, falling to 0-1 on the year. It was a shaky start for Ben Brown who was cruising before allowing seven total runs. But before the game, another story regarding Cubs pitching broke from the offseason.

One of Chicago’s needs this offseason was more bullpen help. They almost got it too in the form of former All-Star closer Devin Williams who eventually signed with the New York Mets. However, the Cubs were very much in on Williams per a new report.

Chicago Cubs were outbid for Devin Williams, other relievers

The 31-year-old Williams is now a member of the Mets, signing a three-year deal there this offseason. Prior to that, he was traded by Milwaukee to the New York Yankees last offseason. But Chicago almost had a chance to land him as Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma wrote in The Athletic on Thursday:

The Cubs made a three-year offer to All-Star closer Devin Williams but did not come close to the $51 million that the New York Mets guaranteed. The Mets and Philadelphia Phillies also outbid the Cubs for relievers Luke Weaver and Brad Keller, who each landed two-year, $22 million contracts from those respective NL contenders.

Along with Williams, the report states that the Cubs were also outbid for relievers Luke Weaver and Brad Keller. That’s tough to hear.

The Cubs’ bullpen will be in the spotlight once again this season and on Thursday they saw Boyd give up six earned runs while Ben Brown gave up two. If Chicago’s pitching struggles, it could be a long year for them.

The post REPORT: Chicago Cubs were outbid for All-Star closer this offseason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Opening Day has come and gone for the Chicago Cubs, and it looks like it is one Cubs fans would like to forget. However, there are some positive things that can come out of the first game of the season. Only a few days after signing center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to an extension, it appears the front office was not done. Let’s take a closer look at what is being reported.

Nico Hoerner has reportedly signed an extension with the Chicago Cubs

Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation has reported that second baseman Nico Hoerner has agreed to an extension with the Cubs. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers has reported that it is a six-year contract to add some details. However, the price tag has not been announced as of this writing. This is a massive sign of Chicago looking to extend its window to be a sustained winner. Now another integral part of the team is locked into a long-term deal.

Hoerner had a strong 2025 season. He finished with top-20 votes for the National League Most Valuable Player Award and the NL Gold Glove at second base. At the plate, he posted a .739 OPS with seven homers, 61 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases. He provides a stable contact-oriented hitter at the plate with incredible defensive prowess in the middle of the infield.

Hoerner is in the final year of his three-year, $35 million deal. However, it is likely that the extension will keep that contract in place. He is slated to make $12 million in 2026 before this extension, but he will avoid free agency. It appears that Jed Hoyer and the rest of the front office believe in this core to be a winning group. This will be intriguing to watch as Chicago could be a serious threat in 2026. Hoerner can step up without the pressures of the contract in a place he is familiar with.

The post Chicago Cubs reportedly extend second baseman Nico Hoerner appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Washington Nationals got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead on the Chicago Cubs in the second inning of Opening Day.

More News: The Chicago Cubs’ x-factor in 2026 may be this unsung hero

The Cubs struck back in the third, taking a 2-1 lead on a single by Pete Crow-Armstrong that allowed Michael Busch to score.

But the fourth inning was a disaster for starting pitcher Matthew Boyd, who allowed four runs before Ben Brown came into relieve him with two outs. Brown gave up a two-run shot by Nationals center fielder Jacob Young, allowing Washington to take a convincing 7-2 lead before the Cubs’ next at-bat.

During his postgame news conference, Boyd told the media he felt like he was in a rhythm early, but didn’t make an adjustment when he needed to in the fourth inning.

“Was executing pitches and one whatnot, then just fourth inning,” Boyd said, via Marquee Sports Network. “Honestly, I just needed to make an adjustment faster and that, you know, I wasn’t able to. And, you know, that’s kind of the story of the game.

“Unfortunately, that was the difference maker that gave them a big enough lead to kind of roll with it. And that’s on me. I got to make an adjustment faster, and, you know, I’ll be better from it. But yeah, it’s unfortunate.”

A rough start for the Chicago Cubs

More News: Could Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins be the next rookie surprise?

Boyd allowed six hits and six earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched. He struck out seven batters and walked one batter.

Washington outhit the Cubs 11-8. The Cubs only earned four runs in a 10-4 loss to Washington in front of 39,712 fans at Wrigley Field on Thursday.

The Cubs lost their first game of the season in 2025 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan. The team still made the playoffs.

But Thursday’s loss shows how much work the Cubs have to do to compete for a postseason appearance in 2026.

Chicago will next host Washington on Saturday.

The post Chicago Cubs SP Matthew Boyd reacts to dreadful MLB Opening Day appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are about to kick off a 2026 season where big acquisitions were made and big things are expected. Manager Craig Counsell just released today’s Opening Day lineup for the game against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field in Chicago (1:20 pm CT).

More News: The Chicago Cubs’ x-factor in 2026 may be this unsung hero

There are a couple of surprises in this season-opening lineup, but nothing earth-rattling.

Any surprises in the Opening Day lineup?

More News: Could Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins be the next rookie surprise?

First, first baseman Michael Busch is leading off. There were some projected Cubs lineups that had him filling that spot, but there was also the belief that maybe his power presence (34 homers last season) would be better felt somewhere near the middle of the lineup.

New Cub Alex Bregman is a good choice for no. 2 and his presence should be of great benefit to no. 3 hitter Ian Happ.

Pete Crow-Armstrong in the cleanup spot is also a bit of a surprise as he moves down from the second-half-of lineup position he worked most of last season. Is this an indication that big things are expected of the newly-extended young star this year?

Nico Hoerner in the fifth slot is, arguably, the biggest surprise of this Opening Day lineup. Hoerner, with his strong contact-hitting abilities and stellar on-base rate, is the prototypical no. 2 hitter. Leadoff would’ve also been a not-so-surprising placement.

Rookie DH Moises Ballesteros will get his first Opening Day lineup designation, batting seventh and serving as the lefty bat between righties Carson Kelly and Dansby Swanson.

Matt Shaw playing right field and taking the no. 9 spot in the lineup is not that much of a surprise given his big spring and the team’s apparent confidence in his abilities as a super utility player. A case could’ve been made for new Cub veteran outfielder Michael Conforto taking the right field Seiya Suzuki spot in this big game, but it’s not too much of a shocker that Counsell decided to go with the sophomore Shaw.

Taking the mound is Matthew Boyd

Taking the mound for the first game of the 2026 season will be lefty Matthew Boyd, who worked his way into Cubs ace status following the early-season year-ending injury of Justin Steele last April, with an outstanding 2025.

The game will be broadcast on Marquee Sports Network.

Here’s your 2026 Chicago Cubs Opening Day lineup:

Michael Busch 1B
Alex Bregman 3B
Ian Happ LF
Pete Crow-Armstrong CF
Nico Hoerner 2B
Carson Kelly C
Moises Ballesteros DH
Dansby Swanson SS
Matt Shaw RF

Matthew Boyd P

The post Chicago Cubs: Today’s Opening Day lineup is set, with a couple of surprises appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are kicking off the 2026 season with a solid roster and big expectations.

More News: Could Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins be the next rookie surprise?

This offseason, the team lost right fielder Kyle Tucker and surprise bullpen anchor Brad Keller to free agency. However, they brought in free agent three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, traded for emerging powerhouse starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, and restocked a depleted bullpen with four free agent relievers (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey).

There’s so much enthusiasm with the additions to the roster that World Series talk has even begun to whirl.

But a key factor to the Cubs’ 2026 success may be a holdover from 2025—one that hardly anyone is talking about.

Michael Busch as the under-the-radar hero

More News: Chicago Cubs: Can Alex Bregman live up to expectations?

First baseman Michael Busch came to the Cubs prior to the 2024 season in a trade with the Los Angeles, along with reliever Yency Almonte. The Cubs gave up a pair of quality prospects in the deal (LHP Jackson Ferris and OF Zyhir Hope) who are doing exceptionally well in the Dodgers’ system, but nobody in Chicago is regretting the swap.

Last season, Busch established himself as a “for real” major league presence, hitting 34 home runs and driving in 90 runs with a .261 batting average, all while playing elite-level defensive first base.

ESPN is projecting him to hit 41 homers this season, something which would make him only the second first baseman in Cubs history to pass the 40-home run mark and only the tenth Cub to achieve that feat.

While Pete Crow-Armstrong is a flashier presence and Bregman is the exciting newcomer, Busch may be the glue that holds the offense together. You just wouldn’t know this from the lack of attention he gets.

Hoyer on Busch

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer recently talked about Busch’s under-the-radar presence in a Q&A with Jon Greenberg of The Athletic.

Per Hoyer:

“…The guy had 34 homers during the season, he was our best player in the postseason. He was awesome. The teams were pitching around him in the postseason. It’s who he is as a person. He’s sort of aw-shucks about how he goes about it. He’s very understated. I feel like he’s going to be on my Kyle Hendricks Mount Rushmore of low-maintenance people in the organization. He’s an awesome teammate. There’s never a negative word about him. He just goes about his business and does his thing, but in a very understated way. And I think Kyle Hendricks, for years and years, was so underrated. And then finally, I think he became properly rated. I’m hoping, for Michael’s sake, he becomes kind of properly rated at some point.”

The 28-year-old is heading into his third full season in the majors, but maybe the first year where there are some legit high-end expectations of him. But, as everyone saw from his performance in the playoffs (4 home runs in 8 games), Busch doesn’t easily wilt under pressure.

“Fell short of our goal [in 2025]… and it kind of makes us want a little more,” Busch told CBS Sports in February. “I want us to go back there again, and it kind of creates a little bit of hunger for us.”

The post The Chicago Cubs’ x-factor in 2026 may be this unsung hero appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs made one of the biggest signings of the Major League Baseball off-season by inking Alex Bregman to a five-year $175 million contract. While adding his bat will help ease the loss of outfielder Kyle Tucker, and his glove is good enough for the best defensive infield in baseball, it did leave Chicago with a big question.

That is, what are they going to do with Matt Shaw?

Last season, Shaw emerged as the Cubs everyday third baseman and hit .226/.295/.394 with 13 home runs, 44 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. His production was good enough to earn him a ninth-place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

It was not good enough, however, to earn him a fixed spot in Chicago’s lineup.

What are the Chicago Cubs going to do with Matt Shaw?

The fact of the matter is that Shaw’s glove and offensive ceiling are just too good to keep out of the lineup every day. He is still young and his swing is still developing, but he has all the makings of a very useful and productive Major League player.

But how are the Cubs going to get him enough at-bats to reach that ceiling? That question is why MLB.com made him Chicago’s biggest unknown of the 2026 season:

“Shaw was the Cubs’ regular at third base in ‘25 and ended the year with some down-ballot Rookie of the Year votes and as a finalist for a Gold Glove Award. When the Cubs signed Alex Bregman, Shaw was asked to move off third and try his hand at being a super sub for both the infield and outfield.

“The 24-year-old Shaw is athletic enough to play all over the field, but there were ups and downs this spring as he learned new positions. Offensively, Shaw also had an up-and-down showing last year, posting a .556 OPS in the first half and an .839 OPS after the All-Star break. Shaw is hoping to be a steady part of the lineup in ‘26, so it will be interesting to see how the Cubs try to make that happen.”

Clearly, the Cubs would much prefer to have the bat Shaw displayed in the second half of last season as opposed to the first half. They have given him some reps in the outfield this spring, but he is still mastering his defense there.

Regardless, Chicago needs to find a way to get him in the lineup more days than not, and bring him in as a pinch hitter, perhaps, if they cannot have him starting.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Where does Pete Crow-Armstrong’s contract rank in Cubs history?
• Cubs finalize contract with Pete Crow-Armstrong
• Michael Busch predicted to be 10th Cubs player to accomplish this feat

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw named team’s biggest “unknown” of the 2026 MLB season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are, maybe, not as secure in the starting pitching department as many thought they would be this winter.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Can Alex Bregman live up to expectations?

The names are there and there’s still an overflow of arms for the rotation, but just about every proposed starter has looked vulnerable this spring and depth has suddenly become a concern. Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Edward Cabrera, and Shota Imanaga have been beaten up in Cactus League play and that makes one wonder about backups.

Colin Rea, Ben Brown, and Javier Assad will be around, but none project as high-end starters over the long haul.

But could the Cubs have another Cade Horton surprise this season?

The next Cade Horton surprise?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Insider predicts big things for two young Cubs in 2026

Last year, top pitching prospect Horton came up from Triple-A in May, after Imanaga’s injury, and ended up blowing people away with a dominant post-All-Star break run.

This year, current top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins is being predicted by some to be the surprise pitching star of the season.

The 24-year-old Wiggins came to spring training this year as a non-roster invitee and turned some heads, despite getting touched up a bit in his limited play.

“There’s a lot of good signs with Jaxon, there are a lot of good things happening,” manager Craig Counsell told media. “The finishing touches can happen really fast is how I would describe it. But they can also take a while. That’s Jaxon’s job right now, just make himself a little bit more complete pitcher. It’s certainly very close.”

Big league expectations for Wiggins

Michael Brauner of Sports Illustrated fully anticipates the 6-foot-6 Wiggins getting the major league call-up at some point this season:

“He was never going to break camp with the team, but he certainly could be on a similar trajectory as Cade Horton last year, starting the season in Iowa.

Making an impact on the coaching staff, Wiggins established himself as a name to watch and once Ballesteros officially graduates he will become the top prospect in the organization. Jed Hoyer has spoken often about how much pitching depth is needed, and the 24-year-old is the next one up.

It would be a significant surprise to not see Wiggins’ big league debut in 2026.”

Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic echoes the enthusiasm, although he holds back in predicting a likely big league debut in 2026 for the pitcher he describes as having “one of the best fastballs in the minors.”

Per Sharma:

“The fastball is in the upper 90s and has the type of vertical rise that is impossible to ignore. He also has a strong curveball, a quickly developing changeup and a slider. So what are the next steps?

…He has a walk rate well above 10 percent in each of his pro seasons. That has to change. That he walked just 5.9 percent of batters this spring was something that was taken note of. Now bring that into the season.”

Wiggins is, arguably, the last homegrown high-end starting pitching prospect in the Cubs farm system, at least for now. Fast-tracking his development and bringing him up to the majors this coming season will probably be a last resort for the Cubs– and a sign that the rotation is in deep distress.

The post Could Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins be the next rookie surprise? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have locked up their brightest young star, Pete Crow-Armstrong, to a six-year contract worth $115 million. The extension does not begin until the 2027 season, so he is locked into Chicago through the 2032 season. This year, Crow-Armstrong is playing on his pre-arbitration salary, which means he is getting paid $894,000. However, he also was given a $5 million signing bonus for 2026, giving him a wage of $5.894 million.

Last year, the Cubs approached Crow-Armstrong about signing a long-term contract extension. It is said to have been worth about $66 million. He turned it down hoping to earn a larger offer in the future. Clearly, it worked out for him.

Pete Crow-Armstrong contract details with the Chicago Cubs revealed

Crow-Armstrong’s contract, as stated, is a six-year deal worth $115 million, giving him an annual salary of $19 million. However, he is not going to be paid exactly $19 million in any of the contract’s six seasons.

According to Mark Feinsand, the Cubs have structured Crow-Armstrong’s deal so that he gets salary bumps every few years:

PCA contract details, per source:

$5M Signing Bonus
2027-29: $10M
2030: $20M
2031-32: $30M

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) March 25, 2026

As referenced above, $5 million of the extension is being applied to the 2026 season as a signing bonus. Then, he will be paid $10 million a year in 2027, 2028, and 2029.

2030 will see Crow-Armstrong getting paid $20 million, and then he will earn $30 million a year in 2031 and 2032.

The Cubs center fielder is coming off a season in which he hit .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI, and 35 stolen bases. If he can cut down on his strikeouts and improve his on-base percentage, $30 million a year for him in 2031 and 2032 will be an absolute steal by the time those years roll around.

What will be interesting to see, and this is true for all MLB contracts, is how teams and players view them if there is a lockout in 2027. If there is no season, his contract could be bumped to 2033.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Where does Pete Crow-Armstrong’s contract rank in Cubs history?
• Cubs finalize contract with Pete Crow-Armstrong
• Michael Busch predicted to be 10th Cubs player to accomplish this feat

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong contract details revealed with interesting pay structure appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs finally got their man when they signed three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman this past offseason.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Insider predicts big things for two young Cubs in 2026

The cost was pretty high ($175 million over 5 years) to land the veteran they failed to acquire in a bid before last season. The team also had to move Matt Shaw, one of their top young assets, from third base to a utility role to accommodate Bregman. But the Cubs don’t seem to be second guessing themselves in grabbing at the star.

The question, though, is whether Bregman can live up to the team’s (and the fans’) lofty expectations.

Big expectations of Alex Bregman

More News: The Chicago Cubs bullpen is all set, but will it be enough?

In terms of the lineup, the soon-to-be 32-year-old is expected to fill the offensive spot left behind by right fielder Kyle Tucker, who moved on to a monster free agent deal with the Dodgers.

He’s also expected to assume a big leadership role in the clubhouse. With so many core veteran elements of the team possibly leaving via free agency after this season (Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, etc.), Bregman was signed, in part, to be a cornerstone to a somewhat restructured foundation.

This spring, however, the third baseman hasn’t had all that much time to bond with his teammates due to his involvement in the World Baseball Classic. He’s been limited to just 9 games of Cactus League play.

Jed Hoyer talks expectations and Bregman

In a recent Q&A with Jon Greenberg of The Athletic, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer talked about the expectations for Bregman and a little about the difficulty in making up for lost spring time with his new teammates.

“I think that’s the fun part of expectations. You want fans excited for the season. You want them to have high expectations. And we have that. I do think Alex raises that,” Hoyer said. “I think he wants that as well. But, you know, he’s been gone a lot, so I think he hasn’t really been able to get into the flow here. He’s a really good hitter. He’s going to do all the things that we like in our hitters in terms of his swing decisions, he puts the ball in play, plays really steady defense. And he provides, you know, a real sense of gravitas, I would say, within the clubhouse. So I think those things are all positive, and we’re just excited to see the season.”

For what it’s worth, Bregman tore things up in the little spring training play he had, hitting .524 with 4 home runs and 5 RBIs in 21 at bats. He’s also saying all the right things.

“The work has exceeded expectations,” the veteran told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s a cohesive group, super-intelligent, and the work ethic has been outstanding. Every single day the preparation has been eye-opening, and it’s exciting to be part of a group like this.”

Nobody has to worry about Bregman being Bregman this season and beyond. He’s an established presence in the league at this point. The concern will be with expectations and whether too much is anticipated from one player. Everyone will find out what’s what soon enough.

The post Chicago Cubs: Can Alex Bregman live up to expectations? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are one of the baseball world’s early picks to compete for and win the World Series in 2026. They have made a big free agent splash, orchestrated a major trade, and have rebuilt their bullpen in an effort to get there. A day before their first regular season game, they have many people buzzing in regard to their chances.

But these things are similar to what they have done in each of the past few years. In each of the last three years, the Cubs have finished second in the National League Central Division… to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Indeed, the Cubs versus Brewers rivalry has become intense over the course of the last two years especially, and it all came to a head in the postseason last year.

The Chicago Cubs rivalry with the Milwaukee Brewers named a top MLB storyline

Chicago and Milwaukee have been fierce rivals ever since the Brewers made the move from the American League to the National League. This rivalry intensified prior to the 2024 season when the Cubs hired Craig Counsell away from Milwaukee.

Over the course of the last years, Cubs and Brewers matchups have seemed to mean more, especially to the fans in Milwaukee. But it would appear that the national media has taken notice, too. In his article in which he lists the 12 biggest storylines of the 2026 MLB season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic listed the Chicago v. Milwaukee rivalry:

“Here we go again. The Cubs loaded up by signing third baseman Alex Bregman, trading for righty Edward Cabrera and remaking their bullpen. The Brewers pared down by trading their ace, righty Freddy Peralta, and the third- and fourth-place finishers for NL Rookie of the Year, third baseman Caleb Durbin and outfielder Isaac Collins.

“Will it matter? Does it ever matter?

“Prior to the 2024 season, the Cubs lured Craig Counsell from the Brewers by awarding him a five-year, $40 million contract, a record total for a manager. Since then, the Brewers have won two more division titles, making it four in five seasons. And Counsell’s replacement, Pat Murphy, twice has won NL Manager of the Year.

“Every year, people like me predict the Brewers’ demise. Every year, the Crew defies expectations. Their rotation without Peralta looks vulnerable, but the same was true at the start of last season, and Milwaukee won 97 games, most in the majors.

“The Brewers … remain the division’s standard. Just ask the Cubs.”

While many experts are picking the Cubs to win the division, they are doing so cautiously, stating that the Brewers have proved everyone wrong before and that it would not be a surprise if they do so again.

Therefore, it is up to the Cubs to make sure that surprise does not happen.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Where does Pete Crow-Armstrong’s contract rank in Cubs history?
• Cubs finalize contract with Pete Crow-Armstrong
• Michael Busch predicted to be 10th Cubs player to accomplish this feat

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs rivalry with Milwaukee Brewers named top 12 storyline of 2026 season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs and Pete Crow-Armstrong have officially reached a contract extension. About a year ago, the talented but still relatively unproven outfielder was approached about a long-term deal, but he chose to bet on his offensive growth in 2025. It paid off in a big way as he went on to put together a 30 home run/30 stolen base season with 95 runs batted in.

Now armed with proven big league success at the plate, Crow-Armstrong has agreed to a six-year, $115 million contract, that could reach up to $133 with escalators. This deal buys out his first two free agent years and does not include any additional option years. This makes it the largest contract ever with no club options for a player with five years of control remaining. For reference, he previously turned down a deal in the $66-$75 million range.

As impressive as Crow-Armstrong’s deal is, especially considering he was just days shy of turning 25 at the time of the extension announcement and had only three seasons under his belt, it’s worth examining where it ranks among the richest contracts in Cubs history.

Where does Pete Crow-Armstrong’s contract rank among richest in Chicago Cubs history?

Earlier this offseason, the Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, the third-largest contract in franchise history. Only Jason Heyward’s $184 million pact and Dansby Swanson’s $177 million deal rank higher.

Outside of those top three, Crow-Armstrong is one of just a handful of players to surpass the $100 million mark. Jon Lester signed for six years and $155 million, Alfonso Soriano received $136 million, and Yu Darvish landed a $126 million deal. That places Crow-Armstrong’s $115 million contract seventh overall in Cubs history.

Richest Chicago Cubs contracts in team history

1. Jason Heyward – 8 years, $184 million

2. Dansby Swanson – 7 years, $177 million

3. Alex Bregman – 5 years, $175 million

4. Jon Lester – 6 years, $155 million

5. Alfonso Soriano – 8 years, $136 million

6. Yu Darvish – 6 years, $126 million

7. Pete Crow Armstrong – 6 years, $115 million

The post Where does Pete Crow-Armstrong’s contract rank among richest in Cubs history? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

On Monday night news broke that the Chicago Cubs and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong were finalizing a long-term contract extension. Now, just under 24 hours later, that deal is finalized.

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the two sides have agreed on a six-year, $115 million contract extension. The deal starts in 2027 and does not include a club option,which is rare these days. In the end, the two sides were able to hammer out a deal to keep the star center fielder in Chicago for the long term.

That’s not only a win for the Cubs and Crow-Armstrong but for the fan base as well.

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a six-year, $115 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. The deal starts in 2027 and does not include a club option, allowing Crow-Armstrong to hit free agency before his age-31 season.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 24, 2026

As Passan notes, no club option is rare:

“This is by far the biggest guarantee for a player with five years of club control that doesn’t include an option. Cubs were still fine with it. They get a high-floor player with superstar ceiling,” Passan said in a follow up tweet.

Crow-Armstrong will turn 24 on Wednesday ahead of Opening Day for the Cubs. He’s considered a key piece to the team’s core and will now be here for the long haul as the Cubs continue to build out this roster.

Last season, Crow-Armstrong hit .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs and 95 RBI’s. While he struggled in the second half of the season, his defense was still elite which helped the Cubs in their push to the playoffs.

The post Chicago Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong finalize contract extension appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have accumulated some great young homegrown talent to form the foundation of their 2026 MLB roster. Indeed, looking all over the diamond, All-Star caliber players can be found that came up within Chicago’s farm system.

A few others started their careers elsewhere, but found more success playing in a Cubs uniform. One of these is first baseman Michael Busch, who burst onto the scene last year by mashing 34 home runs, besting his previous career-high of 21.

Busch has, understandably, emerged as Chicago’s everyday first baseman, and ESPN thinks he may do something in 2026 that no Cubs first baseman has done in over 20 years.

ESPN predicts Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch will hit 40+ home runs

In their recent article in which they gave a realistic bold prediction for each Major League club, ESPN predicted that Busch will take an even bigger step in his power production and hit over 40 home runs in 2026:

“This is a little surprising given Wrigley Field has historically been a great home run park, but only nine Cubs players have hit 40 home runs in a season (for a total of 19 times, including seven from Sammy Sosa and five from Ernie Banks). The only first baseman to do it was Derrek Lee with 46 in 2005. Michael Busch joins the club with 41 home runs and has the first 150 OPS+ by a Cubs hitter since Anthony Rizzo in 2014.”

If Busch is able to mash 40 home runs, he would become just the first first baseman to do so for the Cubs in over 20 years. He would also become just the 10th player in franchise history to hit that many.

Not only is Derek Lee the only first baseman in Cubs history to hit 40+ home runs in a season, he is also the last player at any position to do it with the franchise.

Busch could really cement himself in Cubs lore by fulfilling this prophecy.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs option top outfield prospects to Iowa
• Cubs finalizing a massive extension with Pete Crow-Armstrong
• Cubs 2026 Opening Day starting rotation appears set

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Michael Busch predicted to become 10th player in franchise history to accomplish this feat appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are entering the third season of the Craig Counsell Era. After finishing the 2023 season 83-79 and in second place behind the Counsell-led Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs shocked everyone in baseball by luring him away from what he had called his hometown team.

Indeed, Counsell grew up in the Milwaukee area and still resides there as his children attend high school in the area. Getting him to leave Milwaukee was an absolute shock.

Prior to leaving the Brewers, Counsell became the winningest manager in that franchise’s history, ushering in an era of competitiveness the city had not seen since the 1980’s. Yet, he never won a National League Manager of the Year Award.

Chicago Cubs skipper Craig Counsell predicted to win NL Manager of the Year

In an ironic twist of fate, Pat Murphy, who replaced Counsell as manager in Milwaukee, has been named the NL Manager of the Year in each of the past two seasons. Meanwhile, the Cubs skipper still seeks his first such honor.

ESPN, though, thinks he will win it this year:

“Counsell has now finished in the top four of NL Manager of the Year balloting six times without winning the award — all he has gotten for his trouble is a high-profile job and a record-setting contract. Is it possible at this point that Counsell could earn support because of a career recognition factor? The prerequisite is for the Cubs to have another strong season, of course. But doesn’t it seem like Counsell has to win this award at some point?”

Last year, Counsell led the Cubs to a 92-70 record and [another] second place finish in the National League Central Division. If he is able to lead Chicago to a division title, one would have to assume that he would finally win the award that has alluded him for so many years.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs option top outfield prospects to Iowa
• Cubs finalizing a massive extension with Pete Crow-Armstrong
• Cubs 2026 Opening Day starting rotation appears set

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell predicted to finally earn long-deserved recognition in 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are prepping for the start of the MLB season on Thursday, hosting the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Coming off a season in which they won the Wild Card round but then fell short in the divisional round, the Cubs are looking to make a run at the NL Central.

But before the season begins, the Cubs are attempting to lock up a core player.

On Monday, Jeff Passan reported that the Cubs and outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are close to a long-term extension. We don’t have the official numbers on the deal just yet but it’s great news that the Cubs are locking up a core player. Crow-Armstrong being here for the long-term is great news as it shows the Cubs are serious about spending.

However, one MLB insider is looking at another future deal in order for them to prove that they can spend like a big market team.

Ken Rosenthal points to Nico Hoerner for Cubs to prove they can spend like a big market

The Cubs still have a big decision to make on another core player — Nico Hoerner. The infielder is quietly one of the best second basemen in all of baseball year after year. He’s a core piece in the infield that the Cubs can continue to build around. With Hoerner’s contract running up at the end of the 2026 season, the Cubs need to get something done here.

While appearing on “Foul Territory” Ken Rosenthal was asked if this extension signifies maybe the Cubs are going to spend more. In his answer, he pointed to Hoerner’s situation for them to prove it.

“I don’t know that this signals a commitment by the Cubs as much as the Bregman deal did. The next test for them will be Nico Hoerner,” Rosenthal said. “Hoerner is a free agent after this season. He is another palyer who has great value in part because of his defense. He is a guy that they consider, the players, the coaches, everyone within the organization to be really part of their fabric. So do they re-sign Nico Hoerner? The Cubs, still to me have some work to do to prove they can spend like a big market team. . . Nico Hoerner, that will be a better test.”

Cubs fans have been clamoring for the team to spend like a big market team for years. The additions of Bregman and now the extension of Crow-Armstrong were steps forward.

Now, they need to go lock up another key piece of their core.

The post Insider believes Chicago Cubs have ‘more work to do’ to prove they can spend as big market appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs’ Opening Day roster is all set. For the most part, the spring played out exactly as expected, except for the WBC knee injury of Seiya Suzuki which shouldn’t be too much of an early setback.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Former Counsell charge named as possible surprise roster addition

But, after making some big offseason moves, big things are expected of this 2026 Cubs team and the pressure is on.

There are a number of possible breakout stars and team MVP candidates on this roster. It could be argued that Chicago’s success this coming season hinges on some heroes stepping up to next-level achievement.

Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic has boldly predicted two such heroes for the coming season, both 20-something assets who are also key to the team’s success for years to come

A Cy Young year for Cade Horton?

More News: Chicago Cubs get interesting lineup ranking from former exec

Sharma is predicting big things for Cade Horton, who’s coming off an eye-catching rookie season.

Horton wasn’t even supposed to be on the big league Cubs’ roster last year, but an injury to Shota Imanaga in May forced him up from Iowa. The kid responded, big time. After a solid start to his majors career, he caught fire after the All-Star break, going 8-1 and posting an amazing 1.03 ERA in twelve starts. In that stretch of time, he was, arguably, the best pitcher in all of baseball and came in second place in Rookie of the Year voting because of it.

The 24-year-old Horton’s late-spring training performances this year would seem to indicate that he’ll start 2026 right were he left off in 2025 before a rib injury cost him his final games of the year.

Per Sharma:

“Craig Counsell is trying to tamp down expectations for the young righty. He knows matching, let alone topping, last season’s success will be a challenge. He’s warned against it…

Horton had a 2.67 ERA over 118 innings last year, finishing runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He was incredibly efficient, almost forced to with a tight pitch count. The one area he can improve is strikeout rate, which was a mere 20.6 percent last summer. Yet, over his last nine starts, that number jumped to 26 percent while his already strong walk rate dropped to 4.7 percent.

If Horton can stay even close to those peripherals and add 60 innings to his total, he’s a likely Cy Young candidate.”

Miguel Amaya, All-Star?

The 27-year-old catcher seemed on the verge of a breakout in late 2024. Injuries early into the 2025 season, however, stopped his progress. Amaya finished last season with only 28 games played, but he looked like the real deal in all of them.

This spring he looks strong and healthy, hitting .308 with 2 home runs in 26 at bats over 10 games.

For the longest time, Amaya was considered the premier catching prospect in the Cubs’ system and 2026 could be the year he finally realizes his full potential in the majors.

Per Sharma:

“Many are overlooking Amaya after an injury-plagued 2025, along with Carson Kelly putting up a career year. He’ll continue to split time with Kelly, but Counsell won’t be afraid to lean on one or the other depending on who is playing best.

If Amaya can get off to a hot start with the bat — don’t expect a match of Kelly’s April last season — perhaps he’ll get some attention league-wide. The Cubs are expected to be one of the best teams in the NL, so if Amaya, who has appeared healthy and strong at the plate this spring, hits a hot stretch, the All-Star Game shouldn’t be a stretch.”

Having an entire year of Horton’s dominance and a breakthrough full season from Amaya would go a long way in guaranteeing the Cubs’ success in 2026. Soon enough, the actual season will begin and everyone will see what’s what.

The post Chicago Cubs: Insider predicts big things for two young Cubs in 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have many bright young stars on their roster. Perhaps none of them are as bright, though, as center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Last year, he became the first Cubs player since Sammy Sosa to have a 30-home run and 3-stolen base season.

He is also under club control until 2031 and not arbitration eligible until 2027. But with so much uncertain regarding whether or not there will even be a season in 2027, and not knowing what the salary cap will be (if there is a harder one placed on teams, eventually), Chicago wanted to make sure they can retain their star for the long haul.

Pete Crow-Armstrong turned down a contract extension in 2025

Last night, news was buzzing that Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs are finalizing a lucrative long-term extension. While the details have not yet been announced, it is assumed that it will be worth well over $100 million. He will probably be the second-highest paid player on the team behind Alex Bregman.

This is, of course, well-deserved, but also a lesson in the benefit of betting on one’s self. According to Mark Feinsand, the Cubs approached their star center fielder about a contract extension last year:

Last April, the Cubs approached Crow-Armstrong about a long-term extension that would have maxed out ~$75 million if all option years had been exercised.

The deal the two sides are closing in on should be worth far more after PCA’s 6.0-WAR, All-Star & Gold Glove 2025 season.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) March 24, 2026

As one can see from the post above, the offer Chicago made to Crow-Armstrong was worth $66 million and maxed out at $75 million, though the length of the proposed contract was not given.

Of course, he turned it down.

PCA went on to hit .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI, and 35 stolen bases last season. He won the Gold Glove in center field and was named a National League All-Star.

Clearly, the Cubs think that this is just the beginning for PCA and want to keep him around beyond his arbitration years.

Now they will, and he is cashing in.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs option top outfield prospects to Iowa
• Cubs finalizing a massive extension with Pete Crow-Armstrong
• Cubs 2026 Opening Day starting rotation appears set

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong extension teaches inspiring “bet on yourself” lesson appeared first on ChiCitySports.

MLB’s Opening Day is this week and on Monday, the Chicago Cubs made a flurry of moves to cut their roster down ahead of the start of the season. While the injury news to Seiya Suzuki and Ben Brown making the roster stole the headlines, one move went under the radar.

The MLB transactions page shows that the Cubs have officially optioned outfielder Kevin Alcantara to Triple-A Iowa. He joins Javier Assad who was also optioned down to Iowa earlier in the day.

Why the Chicago Cubs optioned Kevin Alcantara

The 23-year-old Alcantara had a solid shot at making the Opening Day roster but the concern was lack of playing time. Michael Conforto made the team and with the report of the Cubs looking to add another infielder, it left Alcantara as the odd man out.

The good news? Down in Iowa he can start every day and get key playing time this season. From there, he can join the big league club with a call up at some point.

Last season Alcantara hit .266/.349/.470 in Iowa, disappointing numbers. However, he did play better as the season went on and entered Spring Training as a guy who could breakout for the Cubs. Maybe more time down in the minors can help him get his confidence back moving forward.

The post Chicago Cubs option top outfield prospect to Iowa appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs’ roster is all set for Opening Day this Thursday. After an interesting offseason, which saw the team restock a depleted bullpen and add big names in third baseman Alex Bregman and starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, there are big expectations.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Insider predicts big things for two young Cubs in 2026

Anything less than the NL Central Division title and a deep playoff run will be considered a failure after the team’s winter moves.

The biggest x-factor, though, may be the bullpen.

The bullpen as the Cubs’ x-factor

More News: Chicago Cubs: Former Counsell charge named as possible surprise roster addition

Chicago’s 2026 pen features four new faces in free agents Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey, who will make up the breadbasket of the relief corps, along with the re-signed Caleb Thielbar. All are coming into the season with a solid history of success behind them.

The only unknown in the mid-section of the Cubs’ bullpen is Harvey, who has a significant history of injury. So far this spring, however, Harvey has been healthy and strong, throwing 96-97 mph with a 1.80 ERA and 5 strikeouts in 5 innings.

The 26-year-old Ben Brown fought his way on to the Opening Day roster this spring and will take a long relief/swingman role alongside veteran Colin Rea, who was an unsung pitching hero in 2025.

Then, there’s Daniel Palencia, the closer.

Will Palencia’s WBC dominance carry over?

Palencia had a surprisingly dominant run after being called up from Triple-A last April, but then suffered through a prodigious fall from grace over the last part of the season.

This spring, though, Palencia has been monstrous. His dominance in the WBC as the closer for Team Venezuela will go down as borderline legendary. Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic believes that this is the harbinger of good tidings for the coming season

Per Sharma:

“It’s time to go all-in on the Daniel Palencia hype train. Yes, it’s dangerous to assume that a reliever can do it again after just one season of success (see: Porter Hodge from 2024 to 2025). Yet, Palencia came into camp even more determined after a breakout 2025 and looked the part physically. Then he dominated as the closer for the World Baseball Classic champions, Team Venezuela.

Palencia allowed no runs or hits and struck out nine in five innings while walking just one batter and hitting another. He was perfect in his three save opportunities, and his two-pitch mix was dialed in. The Cubs will certainly trade for a reliever. Maybe even a dominant one. Still, Palencia will leave no doubt as to who is finishing games.”

The big question when it comes to every bullpen is whether it’ll hold over the course of a 162-game season and into the playoffs. Last year, the Cubs used 26 different relief pitchers during the regular season, with their season-ending bullpen looking almost nothing like their Opening Day bullpen.

That’s likely to happen again this season, despite there being more of an established veteran vibe in the bullpen right now. Injuries happen, arms go flat, changes need to be made. That’s just the nature of baseball.

Do the Cubs have the bullpen horses to win this 2026 race? That’s the question. If/when someone falters from the bullpen right now, Chicago will have names such as Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Porter Hodge, and Gavin Hollowell to move in. It’s also pretty much a guarantee that some arms from the outside will be brought in over the course of the season.

Right now, at least on paper, the bullpen looks more secure this Opening Day than last. But this IS baseball…

The post The Chicago Cubs bullpen is all set, but will it be enough? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are getting ready for the 2026 season, but there is still work happening before Opening Day. Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has been one of the top players in the majors the last few seasons and continues to improve on both sides of the field.

With a lockout likely happening following this season, the Cubs are ready to lock him up for a long-term deal.

Let’s take a closer look at what is known at this point and what it means for Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a massive extension for Pete Crow-Armstrong

Crow-Armstrong has quickly been able to dominate in the majors as he enters his fourth season in the bigs. ESPN’s Jeff Passan is reporting that the Cubs and Crow-Armstrong are finalizing a massive extension. The details of the contract are not known as of this writing, but it is expected to be a long-term deal. With the lockout looming after this season, Chicago is making sure they have Crow-Armstrong under contract for a long time.

This certainly is not coming out of left field as Chicago was attempting to sign a deal last offseason. However, the deal is certainly going to be more than the reported $66 million extension they offered in 2025. Crow-Armstrong had a breakout season by finishing ninth in the NL MVP voting and winning the NL Gold Glove in center field. At the plate, he posted a .247/.287/.481 slash line with 31 homers, 95 RBI, and 35 stolen bases.

It is clear the Cubs view him as the centerpiece of the franchise and a budding superstar. Now, it will be intriguing to see what the contract actually looks like and how long the 21-year-old signs for. Being a pre-arbitration player, he could simply have his arbitration bought out, but don’t be surprised to see a lengthy deal as well.

The post REPORT: Pete Crow-Armstrong finalizing a massive extension with the Chicago Cubs appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are days away from kicking off the 2026 MLB season with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. They have spent the past several weeks in Arizona for Spring Training. During that time, they have answered many questions regarding the make-up of their roster.

One of the last questions to be answered, as is the case for most teams every year, is what five pitchers will make up their starting rotation.

Despite a plethora of quality candidates, it appears that the Cubs have finally settled on who their initial starting-five will be.

The Chicago Cubs seem to have figured out their Opening Day starting rotation

It has been known for several days now that 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd will be Chicago’s Opening Day starter. This decision was somewhat unpopular among fans. Many of them wanted to see Cade Horton get a chance to start on Opening Day, especially after Boyd struggled in the World Baseball Classic.

Of course, Horton is making the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, and his spot in the rotation appears to be cemented.

Based on previous roster moves, the following five pitchers appear set to make up the Cubs’ initial starting rotation.

Matthew Boyd

2025 stats: 14-8, 3.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 31 starts, 154 strikeouts, 172.9 innings

Cade Horton

2025 stats: 11-4, 2.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 23 games (22 stats), 97 strikeouts, 118.0 innings

Shota Imanaga

2025 stats: 9-8, 3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 25 starts, 117 strikeouts, 144.2 innings

Edward Cabrera

2025 stats (with the Miami Marlins): 8-7, 3.53 ERA, 1,23 WHIP, 26 starts, 150 strikeouts, 137.2 innings

Jameson Taillon

2025 stats: 11-7, 3.68 ERA, 1,06 WHIP, 23 starts, 98 strikeouts, 129.2 innings pitched.

As can be seen, on paper, this is an excellent starting rotation. Justin Steele is going to return at some point this season as well, and will fill in for whoever is injured or under-performing at that point.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs get interesting lineup ranking from former MLB executive
• Cubs latest first round pick already facing injury setback
• Cubs shed 2 pitchers, 1 infielder, from roster

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs 2026 Opening Day 5-man starting rotation appears set appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell made the news official on where outfielder Seiya Suzuki and right-hander Javier Assad will begin the season.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Suzuki will miss Opener, Conforto to make roster

According to Counsell, via Marquee Sports Network, Suzuki will start the season on the injured list (knee), and Assad got optioned to Triple-A. Suzuki injured his knee while sliding into second base playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

In four World Baseball Classic games, Suzuki hit two home runs, drove in five RBI, and walked six times. In 6.2 innings (three games), the 28-year-old Assad had a 1.35 ERA and eight strikeouts. Assad had a 4.50 ERA in two games with Mexico during the World Baseball Classic. 

Seiya Suzuki will start the season on the IL, and Javier Assad was optioned to Triple-A, Craig Counsell announced today. pic.twitter.com/JTfCan9RQd

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 23, 2026

Other Chicago Cubs need to step up in Seiya Suzuki’s absence

Suzuki is one of the Cubs’ main power hitters — smashing 32 home runs last season — which leaves a void that others need to fill. First baseman Michael Busch (34) and centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (31) were the only other 30+ home run hitters last season.

Busch and Crow-Armstrong will provide decent pop, but others will need to step up. Shortstop Dansby Swanson hit 24 home runs last season and hit nine combined between April and May. The Gold Glover also has two home runs and nine RBI this spring.

Third baseman Alex Bregman will also need to provide some pop — hitting 18 home runs last season and two this spring. Bregman had 11 home runs between April and May last year. Like Swanson, Bregman also has two home runs.

Sadly, the Chicago Cubs didn’t have a place for Javier Assad

Despite him doing well, the Cubs didn’t have a place on the 26-man roster for Assad. A swing-man (both a starter and reliever), the Cubs already have right-hander Colin Rea to fill that role. Rea had a 3.10 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.

Assad also had no place in the starting rotation. Left-handers Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga, and right-handers Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon will be the starting five to begin the season. Right-hander Ben Brown will also make the Opening Day roster, offering Counsell another swing-man option. 

Assad will likely get work in the Iowa Cubs rotation to keep him ready to start in case of an injury.

The post Chicago Cubs manager provides status update for two key players appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs, for the longest time, appeared to be all set when it came to position players. The thought was that, maybe, just one bench spot (and two at the most) would be up for grabs in the spring.

More News: Chicago Cubs get interesting lineup ranking from former exec

But baseball is baseball and things happen.

In the Cubs’ case, Seiya Suzuki injured his knee in a steal attempt during the World Baseball Classic, suffering a minor sprain of the right posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) that would keep him off the Opening Day roster.

Prior to that, Tyler Austin, acquired to be the backup first baseman behind Michael Busch and a right-handed bat off the bench, suffered a knee injury that would require surgery and, maybe, the loss of at least half the season.

Uncertainty for the Opening Day roster

More News: Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong contract extension talk heats up

That prior certainty regarding the Opening Day roster is not quite there right now.

Patrick Mooney of the Athletic recently spotlighted the team’s possible desire to add an extra infielder to the team, either by waiver acquisition or promotion from within:

“With Suzuki sidelined, Matt Shaw could become a more prominent option in right field, limiting the scope of his super-utility role and emphasizing the need for a versatile infielder off the bench.”

Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib, meanwhile, offered up a possible fill for the Cubs’ needs right now:

“As it stands, Matt Shaw is the only backup infielder that the Cubs have on their roster. With Shaw expected to start in right field while Seiya Suzuki is on the IL, it would make sense for the Cubs to add to their infield depth before Thursday.

If the Cubs can’t find a veteran on the waiver wire, perhaps Owen Miller slides onto the roster as the final piece of the bench. He was a bench piece for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023 and 2024 and has experience playing all over the infield. Miller would also add some speed to the Cubs’ bench, ranking in the 99th percentile in sprint speed last season.”

Internal options

The Cubs have internal options when it comes to backup infielders. Miller, given his past ties to manager Craig Counsell, could be considered a favorite for the gig. The Cubs also have Scott Kingery and some minor league options. Unless they see a need for a long-term bench player, they probably won’t spend too much time looking for still-available free agents or combing the waiver wire.

If veteran pickup Michael Conforto sticks with the roster after Suzuki returns, Shaw could be moved back to full-time infield duty and there suddenly wouldn’t be such a big need for another infielder.

The 29-year-old Miller has played with the Guardians, Brewers, and Rockies over the course of his major league career with playing time at all four infield spots, plus all three outfield positions. He was picked up in early February on a minor league deal.

The post Chicago Cubs: Former Counsell charge named as possible surprise roster addition appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs did not even really attempt to bring back outfielder Kyle Tucker once the 2025 season ended. He ended up signing a massive four-year $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a contract the Cubs certainly could not afford. However, they were still left having to figure out how to replace his batting line of .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases.

They attempted to do so by signing free agent third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year $175 million contract. While playing for the Boston Red Sox in 2025, he hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI.

On paper, the Bregman signing does not seem to be enough to replace Tucker’s offense, and ESPN seems to think the Cubs could be in for a rude awakening in 2026.

Chicago Cubs signing Alex Bregman said to have shaken up MLB

With the start of the 2026 MLB season just days away, ESPN released an article in which they listed the off-season moves they felt shook up the league. They included the Cubs signing of Bregman, but warned that it may not have the desired effect:

“It’s now or never for the Cubs in the NL Central. Beaten out by Milwaukee the past several years, Chicago has built its most complete roster since the one that won the 2016 World Series. Bregman’s addition should push them over the top, but then again, many thought that of last year’s squad after adding Kyle Tucker.

“The Cubs couldn’t match the run Milwaukee made last year after being atop the division for the first two months. Signing Bregman should signal a changing of the guard in the NL Central, but the Brewers have earned the benefit of the doubt — at least at this moment.”

Now, there is a great deal of good things said about the signing, how Bregman’s leadership is going to be immensely beneficial on a young Cubs roster. His defense is also praised as he joins multiple Gold Glove winners on one of the best infields in the game.

But as is stated, everyone thought Tucker would be enough to push the Cubs past the Brewers in 2025, and he was not. At least to start the year, it does not appear that Bregman will be enough either.

That is, he can certainly prove everyone wrong by returning to hitting 30-40 home runs a year in hitter-friendly Wrigley Field.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs get interesting lineup ranking from former MLB executive
• Cubs latest first round pick already facing injury setback
• Cubs shed 2 pitchers, 1 infielder, from roster

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: MLB analyst says Alex Bregman signing may not be enough in 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are starting the 2026 MLB regular season this week as they wrap up Spring Training. Indeed, there is a great deal to like about this year’s roster, including the fact that top prospect, Moises Ballesteros, has already been told he made the Opening Day roster.

That being said, there are quite a few questions that remain unanswered. Is the starting rotation going to be good enough? Will the Cubs miss Kyle Tucker, whom they lost in free agency over the winter?

These questions, along with others, have some thinking that Chicago may have to wait a little longer before reclaiming the National League Central Division.

Chicago Cubs predicted to finish 2nd in the NL Central (again)

Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report recently released an article in which he predicted the 2026 record for each MLB team. And while he had the three-time reigning NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers winning seven-fewer games than they did in 2025, he still picked them to win the division.

As for Chicago, he, once again, has them coming in second:

“Cubs fans should be excited that the team added Bregman, but while he is considered one of the best leaders in the sport, he’s probably a worse player at this point than Kyle Tucker, who Jed Hoyer and company made no effort to re-sign this winter.

“Once again, the Cubs feel like a lineup where there’s a lot of good, with pieces like Bregman, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ. But is there a superstar that can consistently carry Craig Counsell’s lineup? That’s fair to wonder.

“There also seem to be a wide variance of possible outcomes for the starting rotation. Will Shota Imanaga pitch more like he did in 2024 than 2025? Can Matthew Boyd replicate the career-year he had at 34 years old? Will Cabrera stay healthy? A rotation that also will include Cade Horton and Jameson Taillon has a high ceiling, but it’s not difficult to imagine things going south, either.

“Overall, the Cubs feel like a good team, but owner Tom Ricketts doesn’t flex the financial muscle of the organization nearly enough, which is why they seem more likely to be an 89-win club than a 99-win one.”

Prediction: 89-73 (Over)

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs get interesting lineup ranking from former MLB executive
• Cubs latest first round pick already facing injury setback
• Cubs shed 2 pitchers, 1 infielder, from roster

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs 2026 record prediction sees them finishing in an all-too-familiar position appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs ended last season, publicly declaring their goal to focus on pitching in the offseason. They lived up to their words with a deep investment in restocking a depleted bullpen via four solid free agent acquisitions. Then, they bolstered the starting rotation with a high-profile trade with the Miami Marlins for emerging powerhouse pitcher Edward Cabrera.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong contract extension talk heats up

On the offense side, the Cubs also managed to make some big news, although there was a big subtraction that went along with an addition.

They picked up free agent Alex Bregman, a three-time All-Star third baseman, as a lineup replacement for right fielder Kyle Tucker, who would eventually sign a monster deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tucker was a linchpin for an overwhelming Cubs offense over the first three months of last season, but then fell apart completely and languished in a career-worst extended slump for the rest of the year. Bregman, meanwhile, is probably a level lower with the bat than Tucker, but offers a more consistent defense and is the kind of positive clubhouse presence Tucker couldn’t be.

Everything else in the Cubs’ lineup is the same as late last year. As a result, the team’s focus will be on revisiting the highs from last season’s offense while avoiding the team-wide hitting slumps that plagued the offense over the second half of 2025.

A conservative ranking for the Cubs’ lineup

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd and rotation get shocking poor assessment

Jim Bowden of The Athletic spotlighted the highs and the question marks of Chicago’s lineup by giving the team a mid-ish no. 7 ranking in his recent list of the MLB lineups, one spot behind the New York Mets and one spot ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Per Bowden:

“The Cubs lost right fielder Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers, but pivoted perfectly by landing third baseman Alex Bregman. In addition to his strong bat, Bregman gives the Cubs a significant clubhouse presence who is willing to help other players and should be a positive influence on this deep lineup.

Pete Crow-Armstrong is working to be more consistent this year after seeing his second-half performance fall off considerably following a very strong first half. Even with the second-half struggles, however, he was worth 6.0 bWAR thanks to his power, speed and excellent center-field defense…

The Cubs will try to win the division with pitching, elite defense and this well-balanced offense.”

Primed for a letdown?

The Cubs are staring down the fact that a lot of their offensive assets had career years last season (PCA, Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner) and the question will be whether last season was the tip of an iceberg for them or a prelude to a comedown.

It’ll also be interesting to see how rookie Moises Ballesteros does over the course of an entire season. In minimal at bats last year, he certainly looked like the real deal.

Time will tell what the Cubs’ offense looks like this coming season, but there’s a lot to be excited about as well as some things that spark concern.

The post Chicago Cubs get interesting lineup ranking from former exec appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs personnel and fans will have to stay patient a bit longer before 2025 first-round pick Ethan Conrad makes his professional debut. The 21-year-old out of Wake Forest slid to No. 17 in the draft largely because of a shoulder injury he suffered in April 2025 that required season-ending surgery.

While the Cubs were thrilled to see that misfortune work in their favor on draft day, Conrad has hit another snag. An unrelated injury will now push back his pro debut even further as he heads into 2026.

Outfielder Ethan Conrad to miss time with a back issue, thus delaying his organizational debut for the Chicago Cubs

According to Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler, Conrad has been dealing with a back issue. There wasn’t an injury that caused this, so therefore they are going to be cautious with his return. Kanzler indicated that right now he anticipates Conrad will miss the first month of the minor league season.

That timeline isn’t devastating in the grand scheme, but it does continue a frustrating trend for a player the Cubs view as a high-upside bat. The organization will prioritize getting Conrad fully healthy over rushing him onto the field, especially after already navigating a major surgery on his shoulder just one year ago. Once he’s cleared, Conrad is expected to get regular reps in the outfield and begin building momentum in what the Cubs hope will still be a promising first full professional season.

With outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki both set to hit free agency at season’s end, getting an extended look at Conrad this year will offer valuable insight as to whether he’s on track for a big-league push in 2027. For now, that evaluation is on hold. The focus shifts to getting him healthy and back on the field, with the hope he can still perform at the level that convinced the Cubs to take him in the first round.

The post Chicago Cubs’ latest 1st round pick already facing injury setback appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have a busy week ahead of them.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Assad leaves game with apparent finger injury, Taillon continues to struggle

The Cubs roster stands at 38 on Sunday, meaning the team will need to shed a total of seven players from their major league roster before opening day.

Chicago will open its season at Wrigley Field on Thursday against the Washington Nationals.

On Sunday, the Cubs made a significant roster move as they figure out how to put their major league puzzle together to start the season.

Per the Cubs, right-handed pitchers Collin Snider and Corbin Martin were returned to minor league camp. Infielder Jonathan Long was returned to minor league camp.

Today's roster moves presented by @NuveenInv: pic.twitter.com/Hp9pez3SKu

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 22, 2026

Chicago Cubs send three to minor league camp

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd and rotation get shocking poor assessment

Snider, 30, appeared in eight games during spring training. He earned a 1-0 record, with an ERA of 4.50 in 8.0 innings pitched. He allowed four earned runs, six hits, and struck out 11 batters.

Martin appeared in eight games and earned an ERA of 7.04. He allowed seven hits and six earned runs in 7.2 innings pitched. He walked five batters and struck out 10 batters.

First baseman Long appeared in nine games. He had 21 at-bats, earning seven hits and scoring five runs. He batted .333/.444/.476 in spring training with one home run.

The Cubs are 12-16 in spring training this season. They had a 3-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning of Sunday’s game.

Following Sunday’s contest, Chicago will finish its spring training by playing a two-game series against the New York Yankees on Monday and Tuesday.

Then the real season starts, and the Cubs will have a much smaller roster than the one that took on the Brewers on Sunday.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs shed 2 pitchers, 1 infielder from major league roster appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Two unsurprising news bits have come out regarding the Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster. The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney reports that Seiya Suzuki, dealing with the PCL injury, will not be ready for Opening Day and that veteran outfielder Michael Conforto will make the roster. Suzuki has not yet been placed on the IL, but Mooney believes he will be.

Seiya Suzuki, who’s dealing with a right knee injury, will not be ready for Opening Day, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. The club has not yet decided whether Suzuki will start the season on the injured list, but it appears to be trending in that direction.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) March 21, 2026

The Cubs are planning to add Michael Conforto to their Opening Day roster.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) March 21, 2026

Conforto in, Seiya out.

Despite the optimism from manager Craig Counsell last week, it seemed highly unlikely Suzuki would be ready for Opening Day. Counsell mentioned that Suzuki’s knee was swollen and that he was still hobbling a bit. This was with less than two weeks to go before the start of the season. The hope is that there are no setbacks, that Suzuki’s knee heals, and that he’s not gone longer than a 10-day IL stint, assuming he is placed on the IL. They will have until Wednesday to make that decision.

Conforto making the roster also felt like a safe bet. The 33-year old veteran slugger, coming off a rough year in Los Angeles (.199/.305/.333), was signed to a Minor League deal and is looking to bounce back. He’s two years removed from a 20 home run, .759 OPS season with the Giants in 2024. Conforto is not expected to have a huge role, but he gives the Cubs an experienced lefty bat with some pop and the ability to draw walks.  It’s worth noting that Conforto’s BB% was in the 84th percentile last year.

Even if Suzuki was healthy, Conforto had a solid shot to make the team out of camp. He can play right on days Matt Shaw is not out there, or pinch hit when needed. Time will tell if he has anything left in the tank and how long he sticks around. The rest of the roster will be coming together in the coming days.

The post Chicago Cubs: Suzuki will miss Opener, Conforto to make roster appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs starter Justin Steele appears to be making outstanding progress after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, checking every milestone along the way from receiving full clearance from his surgeon to recently facing live hitters. Great as this is, his timeline to return to the big leagues remains late May to early June.

With Steele projected to miss around the first two months of the season, the Cubs face an important roster decision with him that must be made prior to Opening Day. That is whether to put him on the 15-day or 60-day injured list.

Should the Chicago Cubs place Justin Steele on the 15-day or 60-day injured list to begin the 2026 season?

From a roster construction standpoint, the key difference between the 15-day and 60-day injured lists is how they affect the Cubs’ roster flexibility. The 15-day IL doesn’t free up a spot on the 40-man roster, meaning Chicago can’t bring in a replacement for Steele, potentially leaving them short-handed as they wait for him to recover.

Timeline-wise, Steele’s projected return lands right on the 60-day borderline. A late-May return would come just under that threshold, creating the risk of delaying his return if he’s ready but ineligible due to a 60-day IL placement. An early-June timeline, however, would push him beyond 60 days, removing the concern of keeping him sidelined longer than necessary. For now, it remains unclear which way his recovery will break.

Ultimately, the Cubs must decide between maximizing roster flexibility and ensuring Steele returns as soon as he’s ready. With his timeline hovering around that critical 60-day mark, the decision isn’t straightforward and could have ripple effects on both the pitching staff and overall roster construction.

The post Cubs face 1 important Justin Steele decision prior to Opening Day appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs’ 2026 Spring Breakout roster includes multiple MLB Pipeline Top 30 prospects, most notably all 10 infielders. With three pitchers and two catchers also ranking in the Top 30, it’s an impressive looking group. Of the players on the roster, one player in particular stands out as someone who could impact the big league club in 2026.

Chicago Cubs prospect Jonathon Long could be the first prospect on the Spring Breakout roster to reach the big leagues

Ranked No. 7 in the organization, Long is firmly in the mix to make an impact in Chicago at some point this season. The first baseman suffered an elbow injury early in Spring Training, which forced him to miss the World Baseball Classic, but manager Craig Counsell recently noted that Long remains a candidate for a bench spot on the major league roster.

That said, Long’s path,and his ability to stick in the majors if he does break camp, is somewhat unclear. At the moment, he profiles as a backup first baseman, designated hitter, or pinch-hit option. However, once Tyler Austin fully recovers from offseason knee surgery, Long could find himself squeezed out of a role.

Ultimately, regular MLB at-bats may be hard to come by right away, making a start at Triple-A the more likely scenario. Even so, he stands out as the most likely player on the Cubs’ Spring Breakout roster to reach the big leagues first.

The Spring Breakout game is scheduled for Saturday night, March 21, with first pitch set for 8:05 p.m. CT. Fans can watch on MLB.TV, MLB.com, the MLB App, Marquee, SDPA, and Gameday.

The post Which Cubs’ top prospect in Spring Breakout will reach the big leagues first? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have some intriguing decisions to make over the next week for their 26-man Opening Day roster. There are some questions about the final few roster spots, but the team made the decision on one of them. With one of the players with a lot of upside set to begin the year with the Cubs, this lineup will be even better. Let’s take a closer look at who will be beginning the season with Chicago.

Moises Ballesteros makes the Chicago Cubs’ Opening Day roster

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic is reporting that Cubs manager Craig Counsell has told Moises Ballesteros that he will be on the Opening Day roster. This should not come as a surprise as many expected this to be the case. Ballesteros has had an outstanding Spring Training at the plate, posting a .355/.394/.613 slash line with two homers, eight RBI, and four runs over 11 games played. He is known for his ability to be an outstnading hitter, and he proved just that this spring.

Ballesteros is expected to be the starting designated hitter for Chicago to begin the season. He has played catcher and first base as well in his professional career, so expect him to get some games there. He played a bit last season in the majors and played very little in the field. Ballesteros would play just six innings at catcher and four innings at first base over the course of 20 games. He has a massive bat that keeps him in the lineup as he posted a .868 OPS with two homers, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored.

Ballesteros also adds a lefty bat in the middle of the projected lineup for Chicago. With Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong both also being left-handed hitters, this creates more balance in the lineup. It will be intriguing to see how he does as an everyday option in the majors.

The post Moises Ballesteros officially on 2026 Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs realize the value of center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and seem to be acting accordingly. By all accounts, they are very willing to make a real effort to extend the soon to be 24-year-old.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Assad leaves game with apparent finger injury, Taillon continues to struggle

MLB insider Jon Heyman recently touched on that in a NY Post article talking about possible MLB extensions.

According to the veteran baseball writer, the Cubs are willing to be significantly more generous with a current offer than they were with the extension deal they tossed PCA’s way prior to the 2025 season.

Per Heyman:

“The Cubs offered $66M last spring and are believed willing to go significantly higher for their star CF. But there’s no indication anything’s close.”

Of course they are. They have to be.

Crow-Armstrong hit 31 home runs, drove in 95 runs, and stole 35 bases last season, while playing Gold Glove defense. Before earning his first All-Star game nod, he was already the talk of baseball and a clear emerging superstar with the charisma and high-end ability to support that assessment.

Even with a particularly brutal dip over the second half of the season, the baseball world is still bullish on PCA. Superstar money is right around the corner.

How much would a PCA extension cost?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd and rotation get shocking poor assessment

But how much could the young star get in a Cubs extension? Estimates vary, but none are below the $130 million mark.

Aldo Soto of Sports Mockery projects that the deal could reach as high as $240 million over 11 years, something which would keep Crow-Armstrong a Cub through the 2036 season.

Per Soto:

“$130 million guaranteed through 2032 (incentives increase annual value). So, that initial seven-year, $130 million extension would buy out his arbitration years and two free agent years, 2031 and 2032, respectively. Then, you can include escalators for the next four years of the contract where at the minimum Crow-Armstrong is in the $30 million range, incentivizing him to stay with the Cubs and not go into free agency. In turn, the Cubs could add a couple different team options to secure Crow-Armstrong beyond the four years after the initial guaranteed extension expires. Add in three option years and make the total max value near $400 million over 14 or 15 years.”

Cubs are staring down big budget/roster decision

That’s a lot to ask of a Cubs team that generally shies away from contracts that big over that many years. It’s an especially tough proposition when one considers the decisions that need to be made at the end of the coming season.

Chicago will have several core members of their roster either eligible for free agency or staring down options for next season. Important names such as Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, and Carson Kelly could be gone after 2026. Few, if any of the above, will be extended before the end of the 2026 campaign or re-signed as free agents after that. The team will have a lot of budget and roster decisions to make very soon, just as a pending labor dispute challenges the 2027 season.

But Crow-Armstrong is a special player demanding of special consideration. It seems likely that the Cubs will move to lock him in before working on the other issues.

The young talent has gone on record numerous times about his desire to stay in Chicago and remain a Cub.

“I’ve made it clear I want to be here for as long as they want me,” Crow-Armstrong said in a recent Chicago Magazine profile piece. “I want what’s best for the team.

“I play the game because I like beating other people. The money will be life-changing regardless. I would like to get a fair deal so I don’t f**k the market up. I want to look out for the other center fielders who have to go through the same process. Which is why I’m glad [Cubs management] and my agents are figuring out how to do this.”

The post Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong contract extension talk heats up appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are moving through their last week of spring training, fine tuning some things, and hoping for the best as they head into a 2026 season where big results are expected. Things, however, haven’t gone exactly as expected.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd and rotation get shocking poor assessment

The Cubs’ run of bad luck may have continued on Friday night in a split squad 6-2 loss to the Athletics at Hohokam Park in Mesa, Arizona.

Javier Assad pulled from game

More News: Chicago Cubs: Counsell hints at worries over Daniel Palencia WBC usage

Starter/swingman Javier Assad had to be pulled from the game by manager Craig Counsell in the bottom of the eighth inning, 50 pitches into a relief appearance, with an apparent finger injury. Video replays subsequently showed that injury to likely be a blister-related issue.

Assad, who recently turned 28, had been having a very good spring, along with a very solid run in the World Baseball Classic as part of Team Mexico. His work this offseason seemed to bolster the case for him making the Opening Day roster, despite chatter that being one of the few Cubs pitchers with minor league options could have him opening the year at Triple-A Iowa.

As of this writing, there’s been no update on the injury or on what, exactly, it was, although it pretty clearly shows it to be a blister. The timing of this setback, though, will have big implications on whether Assad breaks spring training with the big league Cubs or finds himself starting the regular season in the minors.

This latest bit of bad news shows one more crack in the foundation of what many saw as a pretty deep and solid starting rotation. While Assad wasn’t expected to make the starting five, he was expected to be a valuable swingman and one of the key backups in case of injury or poor performance.

Taillon’s struggles continue

One of the biggest rotation concerns this spring is Jameson Taillon, who has been getting bashed around during Cactus League play to an alarming extent. The veteran starter, who will be eligible for free agency at the end of this coming season, started Friday’s game with the Athletics and delivered another disappointing outing. Despite four initial shutout innings, 2 home runs in the fifth accounted for 3 earned runs in those 4 innings pitched (although his 6 strikeouts were a nice sidebar). The 34-year-old ends the spring with a 0-4 record and a 17.55 ERA in 5 games and 13.1 innings pitched.

Needless to say, this is not the lead-in to 2026 that Taillon or the Cubs wanted.

An Assad injury just complicated issues further as it possibly takes one of the key backup options off the table for an undisclosed period of time.

As of right now, the Cubs 5-man rotation still seems to be locked in with Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, and Taillon. Colin Rea and Assad stand as swingmen who can step in as starters. Justin Steele, meanwhile, is due back around May-June after season ending elbow surgery last April.

The post Chicago Cubs: Assad leaves game with apparent finger injury, Taillon continues to struggle appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are days away from beginning the 2026 MLB season. Over the last several weeks, they have been figuring out their roster as the team participated in Spring Training. Some of their players, too, participated in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, getting valuable experience in high-leverage games.

Unfortunately, however, slugging outfielder Seiya Suzuki suffered a knee injury while representing Team Japan in the WBC. It is not yet known how long he will be forced to be out because of it.

Chicago already faces a challenge in replacing the offensive presence of Kyle Tucker, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. And while the signing of Alex Bregman is hopefully going to make up for that loss, the Cubs now have to find a way to fill the gap left by Suzuki, who hit 32 home runs and drove in 103 runs.

For the start of the season, at least, it sounds like they will be looking to Moises Ballesteros to help.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell reveals role Moises Ballesteros will have in 2026

On Friday, manager Craig Counsell revealed that Ballesteros had been informed that he had made the Opening Day roster. However, with the Cubs fairly well set at catcher and first base, the two positions Ballesteros plays, the Chicago manager said that their top prospect will play primarily as the designated hitter:

“He’s going to DH for us a pretty significant amount to start the season. He has earned that, is the best way to say it. When you have a player that has [Minor League] options and it’s a young player, you’ve got to kind of beat down the door to get yourself in the lineup. And so, Moisés has earned that opportunity.

“You almost have to do a little more to get that opportunity, and I think he has. He’s shown us through his stint last year and through what he’s continued to do this spring that he deserves at-bats. And he’s going to get some.”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs urged to sign WBC star after Seiya Suzuki injury
• Former Cub Kyle Hendricks voted into “Hall of Pretty Good”
• Cubs star Ian Happ gets top-10 MLB left fielder ranking

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell reveals what role Moises Ballesteros will have on 2026 Opening Day roster appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs took a gamble in signing oft-injured starter Matthew Boyd prior to the 2025 season on a 2-year, $29 million contract.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Counsell hints at worries over Daniel Palencia WBC usage

The veteran lefty was coming off Tommy John surgery in mid-2023 and had just gotten back into the swing of things at the very end of the 2024 season. Plagued by an assortment of injuries, he hadn’t thrown over 100 innings in a season since 2019.

But the Cubs’ bet paid off. Boyd was brilliant last season, posting 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA over 179.2 innings. With ace Justin Steele sustaining a season-ending elbow injury after just four starts, Boyd stepped in to become the Cubs’ ace the rest of the way.

The experts and analysts, however, are not very high on Boyd heading into the 2026 season and have almost unanimously predicted a prodigious fall from grace for the starter.

Boyd blasted with poor ranking

More News: Two Chicago Cubs named to star-studded All-Under-25 team, another gets honorable mention

In a collaborative piece for The Athletic ranking the top 50 starters in baseball, Andy McCullough, Will Sammon and Sahadev Sharma placed Boyd nearly at the bottom of the list. They actually him him tied for 49th.

Per The Athletic:

“Boyd made his first All-Star team in 2025, rewarding the Cubs for their faith in giving him a two-year, $29 million contract after an intriguing eight-start campaign with Cleveland in 2024. ‘Good for a solid, back-end arm,’ one executive said. But many of our panelists were pessimistic about Boyd putting together a repeat. ‘Very good 2025,’ one scout said, ‘but that was his first healthy year since 2020.’”

According to their tier system for the rankings, Boyd falls into the area of a fourth or fifth starter.

The Cubs plan on Boyd being their Opening Day starter and implied ace.

Overall, the Cubs starters rate poorly on this list, with the highest placed Cub being Cade Horton as a tie for no. 40 of the top 50. Newcomer Edward Cabrera comes in at 48, one spot below Boyd. Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon are unranked.

This assessment falls in line with MLB projections systems, which don’t view Chicago’s starting pitching in much of a positive light.

Cubs rotation “deep in meh and unexcitement”

Dan Szymborski, the developer of the computer-based ZiPS projection system, blasted the rotation as one “deep in meh and unexcitement.”

Per Szymborski:

“ZiPS sees the Cubs as having a very deep rotation that’s also very deep in unexcitement. There’s certainly some upside here, especially in Edward Cabrera, but ZiPS largely views the team as having a whole lot of broadly average starting pitching options. The good news here is that if Justin Steele has any setbacks, ZiPS likes the team’s replacement options. Even with especially bad luck in the injury department, the computer thinks Javier Assad will be adequate — it has him with an ERA considerably lower than his FIP, though some of that is thanks to the stellar Cubs defense — and that Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks would both be far more acceptable as starters if called into duty than they’ve shown so far. Heck, if Colin Rea or even Connor Noland were forced into starting some games, that wouldn’t be an apocalyptic scenario for the Cubs.”

None of this guarantees the Cubs starters a great, big fail this season. It does raise some concerns, though, that maybe the rotation is not as rock-solid as fans would like to believe. As always, time will tell.

The post Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd and rotation get shocking poor assessment appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell turned some heads earlier in the spring when he flat-out told reporters that Daniel Palencia would be the team’s closer.

More News: Two Chicago Cubs named to star-studded All-Under-25 team, another gets honorable mention

It’s not the kind of talk one usually hears from Counsell, who usually keeps his cards close to his chest when it comes to roster moves and defaults to a “we’re just trying to win games/get outs” response when pressed.

This time, though, he went bold with his declaration. And there’s definitely a case to be made for that.

Palencia’s up and down 2025

More News: Chicago Cubs: Counsell talks to team, addresses huge issue ahead of 2026 run

Last season, Palencia shocked and awed as a mid-April call-up from Iowa, eventually winning the closer spot. Through the end of July, the hard-throwing righty had posted an impressive 1.40 ERA and was carrying himself with the swagger of an established veteran.

Then, came the struggles.

Over the final two months of the regular season, Palencia delivered a 7.07 ERA in 17 appearances and suffered through an IL stint after the first week of September.

It was a noteworthy fall from grace that put the young arm’s closer status in serious doubt for 2027.

Well, Palencia’s shutdown showing in the World Baseball Classic [WBC] as a member of the champion Team Venezuela has reinforced Counsell’s early spring declaration. In five high-leverage outings, the 26-year-old struck out 9, allowed no runs and no hits. He also closed the show in the championship game versus Team USA.

But, with the great WBC performance, there also come concerns.

Counsell concerned with Palencia’s WBC usage

Counsell recently hinted at, maybe, a discomfort at how his closer was used in the tournament.

“The usage is more than anybody would like at this time of year,” Counsell told media on Wednesday. “But the moment was also a moment that you want someone to experience. So if it was going to be usage that we weren’t comfortable with, we wanted to make sure it was in the moment that every player should get to experience.”

Arm health is a concern at this stage of the spring and Palencia was taxed at a mid-Summer level during the three-week spectacle.

Still, Counsell definitely sees a trade off when it comes to Palencia. The WBC experience was a shot of pure confidence into the body of a young man who could’ve entered into the spring with a few doubts after last season’s late collapse.

“It’s really a confidence thing,” Counsell said. “You’re in a really big moment, you know how you react to those moments. That’s the biggest thing when you’ve had success on the mound in a moment like that. It gives you a lot of confidence that you call on, probably when the bad stuff happens more than anything.”

Right now, Palencia is riding high. His self-belief has to be shooting through the roof, although he never really seemed to be lacking in confidence all that much before.

Hopefully, for the Cubs, this WBC experience has cemented the young pitcher’s status as a legit major league closer and that he’ll deliver a full season with the same fire he had on Team Venezuela.

The post Chicago Cubs: Counsell hints at worries over Daniel Palencia WBC usage appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are entering the 2026 MLB season with one goal in mind: winning the World Series. With so many players not under contract for the 2027 season, the 2026 season is likely going to be the last go around for many on the roster.

Per Mark Feinsand, “With more than 40 percent of the roster potentially headed to the open market in the fall, the 2027 Cubs are almost certain to have a drastically different look than this year’s iteration. ”

And so, 2026 is one in which the Cubs are almost certainly gunning for a World Series, and certain MLB analysts think they have a great chance of winning it.

MLB analysts pick the Chicago Cubs third in their annual World Series winner draft

Every year, MLB.com analysts Will Leitch and Mike Petriello take turns picking teams in a “World Series draft.” In it, they take turns picking teams they think have the best chance to win the World Series. The Los Angles Dodgers were picked first, and the Seattle Mariners were picked second.

But then they picked the Cubs third:

“I am not blind to the fact that the Brewers are the three-time NL Central champions, and that the Cubs haven’t actually won their division in a full season since way back in 2017. And yet: I picked Chicago here, not Milwaukee. It wouldn’t be a season preview if someone wasn’t out here failing to fully respect Milwaukee, right? Why should this year be any different?

“Part of this is that winning the division isn’t a requirement for winning the World Series, so even if the Cubs finish second again, they could still get the ring, but also I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen of Shota Imanaga this spring, and I have hope they can unlock Edward Cabrera a bit. The lackluster rotation has had me down on this team the last few seasons – and I regret to say that I do not share everyone’s optimism about Cade Horton – but it’s at least deeper. The defense is great. They should hit.

“I have to admit, though: It’s very uncomfortable picking this team this high. You could probably order teams 3-13 here in any way you like. I sure hope Seiya Suzuki is healthy, though. We couldn’t have waited another day, Will?”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• 2 Cubs named to All-Star studded All-Under-25-Team
• Craig Counsell addresses Cubs issues heading into 2026 season
• Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki named a top-10 right fielder in MLB

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs get picked in the top 3 of annual “World Series” draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs enter the 2026 season with a unique roster makeup. There are a number of veterans on the team (Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, etc.), but there are also a lot of young, 20-something stars (Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Cade Horton, and Daniel Palencia, among others).

More News: Chicago Cubs: Counsell talks to team, addresses huge issue ahead of 2026 run

With so many veterans possibly leaving the team for free agency at the end of the 2026 campaign, it’s reassuring that there are also so many young players still with them over the long haul.

The Athletic recently acknowledged two of the Cubs’ young stars– Crow-Armstrong and Horton– as especially valuable assets by naming them to their MLB All-Under-25 Team.

Pete Crow-Armstrong gets his props

More News: Chicago Cubs: This under-the-radar prospect could end up doing big things in 2026

Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was an honorable mention in the publication’s All-Under-25 Team last year, was named the top young center fielder on this year’s list.

Per Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic:

“Crow-Armstrong was another honorable mention on last year’s All-Under-25 Team; at that point, he carried a meager .652 OPS in the majors. He changed the narrative in 2025. Through Aug. 1, Crow-Armstrong batted .273/.309/.560 (.869 OPS) with 27 homers and 29 steals, then faded down the stretch. He won his first Gold Glove and finished ninth in NL MVP voting. Swing-and-miss remains an issue, but the power-defense combination in center field is immensely valuable.”

The struggles of “PCA” are well-documented, but so is his tremendous upside, which makes him a dream multi-tool star with the competitive drive to match.

The soon-to-be 24-year-old, who came to the Cubs in a 2021 trade involving Javier Baez, has been very open about the stress and strain of maintaining his progress in the rough, tough world of major league baseball. Last season’s second-half dip saw him displaying clear frustration. But it’s his openness, honesty, and competitive drive that could see him through his growing pains.

Cade Horton rewarded for breakthrough 2025

The Athletic also named Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton to their All-Under-25 squad.

The 24-year-old was not even slated for the major league team in 2025, but was pulled up from Triple-A when starter Shota Imanaga went on the IL with a hamstring injury.

Although Horton performed well enough in his first tour of big league duty, he REALLY took off after the All-Star break.

The Cubs’ 2022 no. 1 draft pick dominated over the second half of the season, delivering an 8-1 record and posting an amazing 1.03 ERA in twelve starts after the All-Star break. Over that run, he was, arguably, the best pitcher in all of baseball. A late September rib fracture, however, put him on the shelf and prevented him from pitching in the postseason. The final season tally saw Horton finish the year with an 11-4 record and a 2.67 ERA, plus a second place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Per Nesbitt:

“Despite missing the 2025 postseason with a cracked rib, Horton was vital for the Cubs as a rookie, posting a 2.67 ERA over 118 innings and stabilizing the rotation in the second half. Horton ran a modest strikeout rate (20.4 percent), but his plus command and the elite defense behind him made hunting early contact an effective approach.”

Both Crow-Armstrong and Horton stand to be big parts of the Cubs’ 2026 team and, in many ways, play pivotal roles in the team’s success.

22-year-old Rookie DH/catcher Moises Ballesteros, another big piece to Chicago’s 2026 puzzle, also received an honorable mention by the sports news outlet.

The post Two Chicago Cubs named to star-studded All-Under-25 team, another gets honorable mention appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have the team in place to make a big push to a championship. On the flip side of that big opportunity, though, is the reality that much of this current roster will not be back to make a second run at a title.

More News: Chicago Cubs: This under-the-radar prospect could end up doing big things in 2026

A good portion of this team’s roster– including several core members– will either be eligible for free agency at the end of the coming season or staring down options for 2027. Atop the list of possible outgoing Cubs is Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and Carson Kelly.

Anyone facing that kind of uncertainty could be forgiven for suffering through at least a bit of distraction. But with a real possibility of making some waves this offseason, manager Craig Counsell has the task of keeping his guys’ eyes on the prize.

“We certainly feel very confident in our team going forward, but it’s going to look different in ‘27 than this,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told MLB.com. “There is going to be change. Craig has talked to the players about trying to embrace that.”

Counsell addresses 2026 elephant in the room

More News: Chicago Cubs: Daniel Palencia’s message to PCA ahead of WBC Final– “I’m coming after you”

And Counsell has, indeed, already addressed the gigantic elephant in the room called ‘uncertainty.’

“[Boston Celtics head coach] Joe Mazzulla, who is one of my favorite coaches, said, ‘I go to bed questionable and wake up probable.’ None of us are guaranteed anything, and that’s really a great way to put it,” Counsell told media. “Like, why am I worried about what’s going to happen? I have to make sure I wake up the next day, so let’s just worry about what’s going on right now.

“The whole point of this is to be where your feet are, so I don’t think you worry about it. Everybody thinks about what’s next for them; that’s a natural thought for people to do. But when you have an opportunity like we have, it’s also easier to be where your feet are every day, be present, enjoy it and cherish it. That’s what we’ve talked about our goal being every single day: to enjoy what you have right in front of you.”

Focusing on the here and now

That focus on the here and now will be crucial to a successful 2026. It just takes a small handful of distracted or overly-strained players to ruin a vibe and bring a team down.

There’s hope that at least two or three of these possibly outgoing Cubs could be retained. Ideally, second baseman Nico Hoerner would be one of them. It would also be nice to see at least one of the corner outfielders– Happ or Suzuki– extended, just because of how hard it would be to sign two starter-level corner outfielders in one free agent class. People would also probably not balk at the Cubs doing everything they can to hold on to Boyd.

Ultimately, though, business is business and the Cubs will make the decisions that go best with their business plan. Hopefully, those decisions are made after a very successful 2026.

The post Chicago Cubs: Counsell talks to team, addresses huge issue ahead of 2026 run appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After several days, the diagnosis for Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki is in. Per Bruce Levine, Seiya suffered a strained PCL on the slide into second in Japan’s WBC game against Venezuela. He had an MRI done on Monday after returning to Cubs camp. It has not yet been determined whether he will go on the IL, but manager Craig Counsell seems fairly optimistic.

Suzuki update -strained PCL. Unsure of IL right now

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) March 17, 2026

Counsell on Suzuki’s injury.

Immediately after Levine’s report, Counsell spoke to the media to give a full update. While he confirmed the strained PCL, Counsell mentioned that he will stick with baseball activities and not be shut down. He called the PCL strain “minor in nature,” and they will treat it over the next week, then determine whether he needs to go on the IL.

Seiya Suzuki has a minor PCL strain, per Craig Counsell.

Seiya will not be shut down, and will continue baseball activities as he can tolerate them. pic.twitter.com/T2Slsv9a9v

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 17, 2026

Counsell also confirmed that he is still limping slightly, likely due to swelling, but it’s been improving since he first returned on Monday. By next early week, we will know whether he will be moved to the IL.

This all seems like great news, all things considered. There was fear that it could be much worse. While a torn ACL did not seem likely, a more severe ligament sprain or a bone bruise could have kept him out longer. With that said, Suzuki and the Cubs are not out of the woods yet, as it has not been determined whether he will go on the IL. He could very well still, but not being immediately shut down is very good to hear.

If he’s on the IL for a shorter period, they need depth to manage. Never ideal, but not devastating if for a few weeks.

The post Chicago Cubs: Seiya Suzuki suffers “minor” strained PCL appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are hoping that they can snap their streak of not winning the National League Central Division in 2026. After seeing the Milwaukee Brewers win the division in each of the past three seasons, the Cubs are on a mission this year to retake the crown.

In order to accomplish this, they have put together a group of players that rivals most Major League Baseball teams. Indeed, young stars can be found all of the diamond and batting order. Additionally, Alex Bregman was brought in to play third base and replace the power bat Chicago lost when Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angles Dodgers.

This all being said, there is a cloud hovering over the Cubs’ clubhouse in the form of the Seiya Suzuki injury.

Chicago Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki named the 6th-best right fielder in baseball

Suzuki injured his knee while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. In their loss to Team Venezuela, Suzuki came up lame after sliding into second base. He has already had an MRI after returning to Arizona, but the Cubs have not made the results of that test public.

If Chicago is going to have to be without Suzuki for any amount of time in 2026, it will be a tough loss to overcome. Bleacher Report recently named him the sixth-best right fielder in all baseball:

“Suzuki had an .867 OPS with 25 home runs and 77 RBI during the first half last season, and he was the biggest All-Star snub in either league. He slumped coming out of the break, but still finished with his best offensive season stateside, reaching 30 home runs and 100 RBI for the first time. After serving primarily as a DH last year, he will shift back to right field to replace Kyle Tucker.”

Suzuki has his critics, but it is going to be incredibly hard to replace 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI on such short notice. Matt Shaw is probably going to see plenty of time in right field if Suzuki is out, but he does not have the power bat that the slugger has.

More Chicago Cubs news from Chicity Sports

• Cubs’ Daniel Palencia’s message to PCA ahead of WBC final
• Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki gets MRI on knee after WBC injury
• Cubs fans question Seiya Suzuki Instagram post after injury

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Seiya Suzuki top-10 right field ranking reveals how dire injury situation is appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs went through a lot of effort to restock a bullpen this offseason that was seriously depleted. To do this, the team went on an uncharacteristic spending spree this past winter.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Daniel Palencia’s message to PCA ahead of WBC Final– “I’m coming after you”

The Cubs would sign four free agent relievers for the rebuild (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey). They also opted to re-sign lefty Caleb Thielbar. Those five join closer Daniel Palencia and swingmen Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Ben Brown to make up the new Cubs bullpen.

One can forgive the apparent overflow in relief options. The bullpen is probably the most unstable part of any major league team. Simply put, relievers get hot and cold and they also get injured. A team’s Opening Day bullpen is almost never the same bullpen even at the All-Star break. Last season, the Cubs used 25 pitchers out of the pen.

So, when 25-year-old prospect Jack Neely was sent down to Triple-A in the first cuts this spring training, it didn’t really mean that much to his long term chances of pitching in the majors.

This year’s Daniel Palencia?

Next More: Chicago Cubs manager makes right field decision following Suzuki injury

Actually, some feel that the 6-foot-8 righty could make a big splash this year in Chicago, possibly even becoming the Daniel Palencia of 2026 with an in-season call-up that grabs everyone’s attention.

Neely came to the Cubs in the 2024 trade deadline deal with the Yankees for Mark Leiter Jr. He hasn’t put up great numbers in the Cubs’ system, but he HAS proven himself to be a strikeout machine. Last season, between South Bend and Iowa, he notched 43 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. In 2023, as part of the Yankees system, he struck out a whopping 100 batters in 66.1 innings. In a 2024 cup of coffee with the big league Cubs, he struck out 7 in 6 innings.

The biggest issue affecting him has always been control. But some feel that he may have turned a corner in that area. This spring with the Cubs, he did walk 2 in 4 shutout innings, but he generally looked more in control of his stuff.

Overlooked

Rich Eberwein of Cubbies Crib feels that Neely is an overlooked prospect who demands attention:

“Neely has the potential to be a bullpen weapon and a contributor in high-leverage situations. We know he will not begin the year in the majors, but he should be one of the first arms to get the call if/when someone goes down with an injury. Walks have been the main thorn in Neely’s side in the past and it remains to be seen if he has worked past that issue. But Daniel Palencia struggled with the same thing before he emerged as a legitimate closer last year, so Neely is a guy that I’m keeping a close eye on early in the season.”

It’s likely that Neely will get a call or two from the Cubs this season. There’s no denying that he has a high upside and that he profiles as a shutdown closer-type. The question, as is always the case when it comes to prospects, is if he can live up to his potential.

The post Chicago Cubs: This under-the-radar prospect could end up doing big things in 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are going to have some questions that need answering soon regarding their Opening Day roster. With Seiya Suzuki injured, and the extent of his injury unknown, they need to figure out a solution in right field. And while Matt Shaw can certainly play the position, a bigger question is how the team is going to replace the 30+ home runs that Suzuki hit a year ago.

Indeed, the Cubs offense is going to be interesting to watch as it comes into form in 2026. With Kyle Tucker now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago signed Alex Bregman to help replace his bat. However, losing Suzuki so late in the spring does not allow the Cubs time to go and find an external solution to replace his power (if, indeed, they need to).

But the solution to that may come internally in the form of top prospect Moises Ballesteros.

The Chicago Cubs may platoon Moises Ballesteros at DH

Ballesteros is almost certainly going to make the Opening Day roster for Chicago. Last year, in his first 20-game stint in the Majors, he hit .298/.394/.474 with two home runs and 11 RBI. This spring, he has hit .333/.357/.407 with six RBI in nine games.

The problem, though, is that he plays catcher and first, and the Cubs are set at those positions. However, Jim Bowden of The Athletic believes Chicago will actually be better off platooning Ballesteros at designated hitter:

“The Cubs believe that he will be good enough defensively to be an everyday catcher in time, but for now his best role is as a platoon designated hitter against righties. He has above-average bat-to-ball skills and can hit all types of pitches, including high velocity, sharp breaking balls and off-speed offerings. He’ll use the entire field to hit line drives with elite exit velocity.”

Using Ballesteros as a DH against right-handed pitchers will get him into the lineup most days. Additionally, it will give Cubs coaches time to work with him defensively at both first base and catcher.

From what Bowden says, it looks like he is likely going to be their future at the catcher position, but for now they need him for his bat. Using him as a platoon DH will allow them to do that while also giving him time to develop defensively.

More Chicago Cubs news from Chicity Sports

• Cubs’ Daniel Palencia’s message to PCA ahead of WBC final
• Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki gets MRI on knee after WBC injury
• Cubs fans question Seiya Suzuki Instagram post after injury

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Moises Ballasteros “best role” on 2026 team revealed appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs and their fans have their eyes fixed on the World Baseball Classic [WBC] final Tuesday night, when Team USA meets Team Venezuela for the championship. Specifically, they’ll be watching Team Venezuela closer Daniel Palencia along with Team USA stars Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman.

More News: Chicago Cubs manager makes right field decision following Suzuki injury

On Monday, Palencia continued his scorching-hot spring by closing out the semifinal game against the surprising Team Italy. It was another dominant showing from the 26-year-old, who pitched a shutout ninth inning, striking out the last two batters of the game.

So far this spring, the Cubs closer has yet to give up a run. In the WBC, he’s pitched 4 shutdown innings, striking out 7. In regular Cactus League play, he’s thrown 3 scoreless innings, striking out 3.

Palencia on the secret to his run of success

More News: Chicago Cubs: Could Ben Brown be taking Jameson Taillon’s spot?

Before Monday’s game against the Italians, Palencia talked to the guys at MLB Network about he found the success last season, that has extended through this spring, after not having much success at the major league level before.

“For me, it was just finding a way to put the fastball wherever I want,” Palencia told them. “Using more my splitter and my slider, in that way I can protect my fastball…and it works right now”

Last season, he had a surprise breakthrough season for Chicago. Called up from Triple-A Iowa in mid-April following the Justin Steele injury, he would soon win the closer gig in an eye-catching run that made him a Wrigley Field fan favorite. Through the end of July, the hard-throwing righty had posted an impressive 1.40 ERA and was working with the swagger of an established veteran.

Then, things kind of went sideways.

Over the final two months of the regular season, Palencia fell off. He posted a 7.07 ERA in 17 appearances during that time and suffered through an IL stint after the first week of September. In the playoffs, he was no longer closing games and, instead, being used by manager Craig Counsell as a mid-game stopgap.

Cubs are bullish on Palencia

Very early this spring, however, Counsell made the bold move of declaring him the Cubs closer.

“I told Counsell the first time I met him, ‘I’m going to be ready wherever you need me,’” Palencia told MLB Network. “Last year, he put me in the sixth, in the fourth, seventh sometimes. I just try to be ready whenever he needs me. If you need me in the first, I’m going to be ready.”

He did acknowledge, though, that “of course” coming out to pitch in the ninth was cooler.

Then, Palencia was asked about the possibility of facing Cubs teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong, who’s playing center field for Team USA.

“I would love to face Pete…[In spring training] I told him, ‘I’m coming after you.’ It was the same with Seiya. I told him, ‘Hey, bro, I’m coming for you.’”

The post Chicago Cubs: Daniel Palencia’s message to PCA ahead of WBC Final– “I’m coming after you” appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs were hoping that right fielder Seiya Suzuki would be able to build off his best slugging MLB season from a year ago. In 2025, he hit .245/.326/.478 with 32 home runs and 103 RBI. It was the first time in his Major League career that he hit over 30 home runs and drove in over 100 runs.

Indeed, the first three seasons of his career after coming over from Japan had been less successful than the Cubs had hoped. And even last year, when he had career highs in home runs and RBI, he still had the worst batting average and on base percentage of his time in Big Leagues.

But any hopes that Suzuki and the Cubs had of him having a better year in 2026 have been put on hold.

Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki has gotten an MRI on his knee

During Team Japan’s loss to Team Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), Suzuki hurt his knee while sliding into second base. He was removed from the game and, after the loss, returned to Cubs’ training camp.

But he has not returned to baseball activities. Instead, he has undergone an MRI on his knee after team physicians examined it:

After being examined by a doctor, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki is undergoing an MRI on his right knee to determine the extent of the injury he experienced while playing in the World Baseball Classic.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) March 16, 2026

“Let’s get the information, and then we should be able to tell you that,” manager Craig Counsell said when asked about the nature of the injury. Still, the fact that the team needed to get an MRI ordered for their right fielder is not exactly a positive sign.

Should Suzuki miss any time, and it sure sounds like he will, Matt Shaw will see plenty of playing time in right field.

Last season, Shaw emerged as the Cubs’ everyday third baseman. However, he lost that job this spring following the free agent addition of Alex Bregman.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs manager makes right field decision following Suzuki injury
• WBC: Italy makes last-minute starting pitcher change vs Venezuela
• Why the Cubs can’t afford a slow start in 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Seiya Suzuki gets MRI after 2026 WBC injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki is entering the final year of his five-year contract with the team. This year, in particular, was going to determine whether or not the Cubs would bring him back in 2027 (or whenever baseball resumes following a likely lockout next season).

After four disappointing seasons, Suzuki finally hit over 30 home runs and drove in more than 100 runs for Chicago last season. The hope, of course, was that he would build off of that success and have another solid season in 2026.

However, Suzuki was recently injured while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. What is more, the severity of the injury is either not known or has not been revealed to the public.

Chicago Cubs fans question Instagram post of Seiya Suzuki following injury

While Suzuki has arrived back in Cubs camp, it has still not been announced whether or not he will be healthy for Opening Day. And his post on Instagram after Japan was eliminated from the WBC provided not hints:

Seiya Suzuki on Instagram:

“Good day everyone. Thank you to all the fans for your support and warm cheers. I’m just really happy that I was able to play in front of all the Japanese fans, and that I was able to play with your loud cheers. So happy I got to play baseball this… pic.twitter.com/pXrwciMTWX

— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) March 16, 2026

As one can imagine, fans were rather confused about the post:

Sounds like he is out for an extended period of time.

— MountainIllini# (@IlliniMountain) March 16, 2026

That’s a whole lot of nothing. Is he out for the season or not?

— Massivelayoffs (@MassiveLayoffs) March 16, 2026

WHTAT DOES THIS MEAN SEIYA

— chicago fanatic (@cubbies914) March 16, 2026

That doesn’t sound good .. https://t.co/lAVwtxh8Tn

— Jacob Beaulieu (@JacobBeaulieu) March 16, 2026

The concern, of course, is that Suzuki could be out for an extended period of time, or even for the entire year. If he is, Matt Shaw will see plenty of time in right field.

But Suzuki’s time in Chicago would most likely be at an end.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs manager makes right field decision following Suzuki injury
• WBC: Italy makes last-minute starting pitcher change vs Venezuela
• Why the Cubs can’t afford a slow start in 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs fans questioning Seiya Suzuki social media post amid injury concerns appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs took a gut shot on Saturday when Seiya Suzuki limped off the field in Japan’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinal loss to Venezuela after a failed steal attempt at second base.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Could Ben Brown be taking Jameson Taillon’s spot?

Initially pulled from the game due to right knee discomfort, the Japanese star has returned to Cubs’ camp in Mesa, Arizona to be evaluated by team doctors.

Suzuki, who had a career power year in 2025 with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs, was slated to be the Cubs’ every day right fielder, replacing the outgoing Kyle Tucker. In January, Chicago traded top prospect Owen Caissie to the Miami Marlins for starter Edward Cabrera, cinching Suzuki’s spot at the position.

Now, things are a bit up in the air, at least until there’s some confirmation as to the seriousness of the injury.

Counsell’s Plan B for injured Suzuki

More News: Could the Chicago Cubs revisit a rumored trade deadline target from last season?

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, meanwhile, is reporting that manager Craig Counsell has a Plan B, at least for now:

“In the meantime, Counsell confirmed that Matt Shaw would be in line to take over as the club’s primary right fielder if Suzuki is sidelined for an extended period. Shaw, a Gold Glove finalist as a rookie third baseman last year, is adapting well to the new super-utility role that will shift him between the infield and outfield.”

It would be fantastical thinking, though, to assume that the sophomore Shaw, who has limited outfield experience and just started seriously taking up the position this spring, could be this team’s every day right fielder.

The Cubs still have veteran Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlson, and Chas McCormick in camp. Justin Dean had just been sent to Triple-A, but he could be brought back. They also have prospect Kevin Alcantara. All five of these options are natural outfielders and could play an adequate fill-in role for a short stretch of time.

But if Suzuki is lost for a lengthier period?

Moves that might need to be made

That would be a major concern and it could have Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer on the phone looking for a trade. Some kind of platoon situation could also be cooked up to get maximum production from the available outfielders, who were all thought to be competing for the fourth outfielder spot on the 26-man roster.

The 31-year-old Suzuki is in the last year of his 5-year, $85 million contract with Chicago and will be eligible for free agency at the end of the season. The Cubs will be staring down the choice of re-signing both Suzuki and the similarly free agency-eligible corner outfielder Ian Happ (along with pitchers Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and second baseman Nico Hoerner).

An injury that keeps him out of commission for an extended period of time could likely nudge the Cubs further from the possibility of bringing him back.

Before any action is taken, however, the Cubs and Suzuki need a clear idea of what’s going on with the knee.

The post Chicago Cubs manager makes right field decision following Suzuki injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Italy has changed its plans for who will start the Semifinal game against Venezuela. According to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base, manager Francisco Cervelli will start right-hander Aaron Nola over right-hander Michael Lorenzen.

More News: Chicago White Sox prospect receives high praise from Will Venable

Nola has pitched five innings this World Baseball Classic, struck out five. Italy and Cervelli feel that the Philadelphia Phillies All-Star right-hander gives them the best chance to advance to the finals.

Cambio de planes en Italia: Aaron Nola será el abridor contra Venezuela, no Michael Lorenzen.

Es un movimiento meramente estratégico por parte de Francisco Cervelli. https://t.co/tPRNMqVyt4

— Daniel Álvarez-Montes (@DanielAlvarezEE) March 16, 2026

Italy has been perfect in the World Baseball Classic

Despite being an underdog in the World Baseball Classic, Italy is a perfect 5-0. Italy showed it could hang with teams like the United States, beating them 8-6 on March 10. Lorenzen went 4.2 innings, allowing two hits, a walk, and striking out two without allowing a run.

If Lorenzen had to pitch in the game against Venezuela, left-hander Sam Aldegheri would be an option to start. Aldegheri struggled in his last appearance against Puerto Rico, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing two earned runs and a home run while walking two.

Pete Crow-Armstrong has done well in the World Baseball Classic

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has done well filling in for Minnesota Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton, who got hit on his hand during an at-bat against Brazil. In five games, Crow-Armstrong is hitting .294, has hit two home runs, and driven in six RBI.

The United States will send New York Mets right-hander Nolan McClean to the mound. McClean struggled in his one outing against Italy, allowing three earned runs, two walks, and two home runs in four innings.

The post WBC: Italy makes last-minute swap to who’s starting against Venezuela appeared first on ChiCitySports.

A season ago, the Chicago Cubs came out of the gates strong. Despite dropping a pair of regular season games in Toyko against the Los Angeles Dodgers, two games below .500 is the deepest hole they found their record in all season as they kicked off April with a five game winning streak, thanks to a sweep of the Athletics and winning the first two out of three against the San Diego Padres.

The Cubs hot start to the season helped them grab an early lead in the National League Central. They held first place for 93 days and in mid-June held a 6.5 game lead in the division. Unfortunately a pair of double digit winning streaks by their division rival, the Milwaukee Brewers, aided them in eventually chipping away and catching Chicago.

Looking ahead to 2026, a similar hot start to the season would be extremely beneficial. Here we break down why.

The Chicago Cubs can’t afford a slow start to the 2026 season

To kick of the 2026 campaign, the Cubs have drawn a pretty easy first six games. While at home, they will face the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels. After that things get a little tougher with series on the road against the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays, but by the end of the month Chicago has a gauntlet stretch of games.

From April 13-29, 13 of 16 games games will be played against playoff teams from a season ago. All those opponents, the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres are expected to be in the mix again. Notably, the three games not against post season teams from a season ago are against the New York Mets, who just missed out on October baseball a season ago.

The post Why the Cubs can’t afford a slow start to the 2026 season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs appeared to have things pretty much hashed out when it came to their starting rotation. The offseason acquisition of emerging powerhouse Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins seemed to fill the last spot of a rotation that was already pretty packed before the trade.

More News: Could the Chicago Cubs revisit a rumored trade deadline target from last season?

But things can change in a heartbeat in baseball– both for the better and for the worse.

Some of that “worst” is coming from Jameson Taillon. The veteran starter, who was so clutch last season for the Cubs down the stretch and through the playoffs, has been getting absolutely shellacked this spring. In Sunday’s 14-8 loss to the Dodgers, the 34-year-old gave up 10 runs on 8 hits, with 4 walks, over 3.2 innings, bringing his Cactus League ERA to a whopping 22.18. Perhaps more importantly, his velocity is down significantly, as is the movement on his pitches.

But with the bad news, there’s also some good news.

Brown’s rise paired with Taillon’s fall

More News: Chicago Cubs: Ballesteros getting rave reviews and some Rookie of the Year chatter

The 26-year-old Ben Brown has been looking like he’s finally turned a corner in his development.

The Cubs have always eyed the tall righty as a potential rotation piece, but, despite flashes of brilliance, his performances have been too inconsistent to really consider him in that role. That may be changing.

Coming into the third year of his young major league career, Brown has added a sinker to his repertoire and is also sporting a fortified mindset.

“I feel like I’m in a much better spot than I was last year,” Brown told the Chicago Tribune. “The resilience and the ability to pitch in different situations is something that I need to add to my repertoire and to be confident in. And that doesn’t mean I can’t stop dreaming of what my career could be like, but for right now, what can my day look like? That’s the focus…Wherever I am right now is where I have to be and be my best because I didn’t really do a good job of that last year.”

Being focused on the present and on growing as a pitcher has yielded solid results this spring. In 10.2 innings of spring training play, Brown has a 3.38 ERA and 15 strikeouts against only 3 walks.

Swapping of roles?

So, the rise of Brown and the apparent fall of Taillon have to bring up the possibility that Chicago might be forced into making a major decision soon. Could they consider a swapping of roles, with Brown taking a spot in the rotation and Taillon moving to long relief duties in the bullpen?

Taillon, set to become a free agent at the end of next season, has been an important starting pitching asset for the Cubs over the last three years, but they can’t go too long with him every fifth day if he’s just not up to the task.

The team has been clear that they hope for Brown to become the rotation stud his raw ability always suggested he could be. But will 2026 be that year where he establishes himself in that regard?

The Cubs have a deep enough starting pitching pool to absorb the loss of a guy like Taillon. If Brown’s not the man to fill the job, there’s Javier Assad, who’s done very well this spring, as well as the reliable Colin Rea. Then, of course, ace Justin Steele is moving towards his comeback, which is projected to happen in May or June. A little bit down the road, top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins will also be knocking on the door.

For now, though, the Cubs will surely give Taillon every possible chance to figure things out and get back on track. If he can’t, though, there are options.

The post Chicago Cubs: Could Ben Brown be taking Jameson Taillon’s spot? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Jameson Taillon hasn’t exactly set the world on fire during Spring Training during his time with the Chicago Cubs. Last year the veteran had a 6.75 ERA over three starts, but this year the results have even worse. After giving up 10 earned runs during an outing on March 15, his ERA sky rocketed to 22.18, but also has outings of four, three, and six earned runs.

Perhaps the only real bright spot for Taillon this spring came during his appearance in the World Baseball Classic. Pitching for Team Canada, he tossed 3.2 innings and allowed just one earned run. Still, the overall results this spring have been troubling enough to give the Cubs legitimate reason for concern.

Jameson Taillon is giving the Chicago Cubs a growing reason to worry

Against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 15, Taillon surrendered a pair of home runs on his cutter. He told the Chicago Sun-Times the pitch had “not a ton of deception there,” calling it “a disappointing setback.”

Interestingly, Statcast showed the pitch’s vertical and horizontal break were roughly in line with last year’s averages, but his sweeper, changeup, and sinker all showed noticeably less movement. Velocity wise, his heater was down almost a whole one mile per hour compared to normal.

With decreased velocity and a lack of deception and movement on several pitches, particularly in terms of horizontal break, the Cubs have reason to be concerned about their projected No. 5 starter. At 34, a dip in velocity wouldn’t be unusual, but it’s clear he’s still searching for a consistent feel for his pitches. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, minor mechanical tweaks are already in the works as he tries to get back on track.

The good news? If Taillon falters, the Cubs have other options to turn to in Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Ben Brown, all of whom could step in if Taillon needs more time to sort things out. Whether that means an IL stint or a move to the bullpen, something uncommon for him, the reality is that if these results continue over the next two weeks, the Cubs may need to pivot from their projected starting rotation plans.

The post Jameson Taillon is giving the Cubs a growing reason to worry appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki is entering what very well may be the most important season of his MLB career. Coming off of a season in which he hit .245/.326/.478 with 32 home runs and 103 RBI, Suzuki goes into 2026 as a player scheduled to hit free agency in 2027. In other words, his performance this season will determine his future in Chicago and/or what kind of contract he gets on the open market.

For now, though, everyone surrounding the Cubs is holding their collective breath in regard to his health. Last night, Suzuki suffered a knee injury of unknown severity while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

Shohei Ohtani addresses the injury to Chicago Cubs star Seiya Suzuki

Suzuki was injured early in Japan’s loss to Venezuela when he hurt his knee sliding into second base. He was removed from the game and, of course, did not return.

No imaging has been done yet, so the extent of the injury is not known.

After the game, Suzuki’s Japanese teammate, superstar Shohei Ohtani, addressed the concerning injury:

Shohei Ohtani talked to Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki during the game after he limped off the field with right knee pain.
“He hasn’t had any imaging done yet so right now it’s just based on how he feels,” Ohtani said. “I’m just hoping it turns out to be something positive and…

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 15, 2026

“He hasn’t had any imaging done yet so right now it’s just based on how he feels. I’m just hoping it turns out to be something positive and that it won’t affect his season.”

The Cubs, of course, were hoping to have Suzuki as their starting right fielder this season. At best, it looks like he will be out for a couple of weeks. At worst, he will be out much longer.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Could the Cubs revisit a rumor trade target from last year’s deadline?
• Cubs’ Ballestreos getting rave reviews and Rookie of the Year chatter
• Ben Brown’s sinker coming with training from 2x All-Star

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Shohei Ohtani addresses the Seiya Suzuki injury suffered in Japan’s WBC loss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs pulled the trigger on the big trade that had been rumored for the better part of a year when they acquired emerging powerhouse starter Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. By all accounts, the Cubs had been eyeballing the young arm since the end of the 2024 season and were finally willing to part with the prospects to secure the deal.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Ballesteros getting rave reviews and some Rookie of the Year chatter

If one recalls last season, though, there was considerable debate over whether the Cubs should move to acquire Cabrera or the more proven Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, who was coming back from Tommy John surgery. The debate became more fierce as the trade deadline neared.

Ultimately, the Cubs didn’t move on either pitcher. Now, some feel that the Cubs could have both by the time the 2026 trade deadline passes.

Cubs, back in the Sandy Alcantara hunt?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw rolling with punches, killing it this spring

Chicago was recently mentioned by Mike Axisa of CBS Sports as a possible landing spot for Alcantara at the trade deadline.

Per Axisa:

“The Marlins moved two veteran-ish starters this offseason (Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers) but hung on to Alcantara, who was a prime trade candidate last winter and again at last year’s trade deadline.

He instead remains in Miami. How long will that last? I don’t think it will be too much longer given his $17 million salary this year and $21 million club option next year. Interested teams will give up more to get two postseason of Alcantara rather than one, making a trade this summer more likely.”

On the surface, this Alcantara-to-the-Cubs scenario wouldn’t seem to make a lot of sense. The Cubs already have a deep rotation with too many starters for too few spots. Returning ace Justin Steele, who’s expected back in May or June, will make the starting corps even more crowded.

But what about 2027?

A holdover for 2027

Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga could all be gone via free agency at the end of this 2026 season. At that point, the Cubs’ surplus of starters could turn into a deficit.

Alcantara has potential ace-level stuff and would be working under a $21 million club option in 2027 before becoming eligible for free agency at the end of that season. He’d fit nicely into a new-look Cubs rotation around guys like Steele, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, and, possibly, top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins.

As for what to do with the 30-year-old righty in 2026? That’s not a problem. You find a place for someone as talented as Alcantara and it’s not difficult to see him wedged somewhere into the rotation as the Cubs push for a deep postseason run. A team can’t have too many quality arms.

Although his 2025 numbers didn’t look good (11-12, 5.36 ERA), he did finish closer to his old self with a 3.33 ERA in 13 starts after the All-Star break.

There will be a market for Alcantara, especially if he’s still available at the trade deadline. So, the Cubs will have competition if they decide to make a play for him. But finding a way to bring him aboard is an idea certainly worth exploring.

The post Could the Chicago Cubs revisit a rumored trade deadline target from last season? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs don’t typically target young prospects like Moises Ballesteros. The analytics-loving Cubs staff usually goes after the thoroughbred multi-tool athletes who, visually, stand out as blue chip prospects.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw rolling with punches, killing it this spring

Ballesteros was short and squat. He didn’t fit the bill of a blue-chipper by Cubs’ standards and, by all accounts, his defensive game was all but nonexistent.

Yet, the Cubs signed the kid from Venezuela anyway, snatching him up as an international free agent just about two months after his 17th birthday, forking over a $1.2 million signing bonus. And they did it all because they recognized that this kid could really hit.

Ballesteros’ impressive run

More News: Chicago Cubs ace Justin Steele takes next step to full comeback

Ballesteros would prove the team’s faith in him warranted. Despite being the youngest prospect at almost every level he reached in the organization, he never failed to impress with the bat. His advanced hitting prowess would carry him to Cubs Minor League Player of the Year recognition in 2023 and 2024.

In his first major league run last season, he hit .298 in 66 plate appearances split up over three separate call-ups, with an especially impressive .333 average over 39 at bats in September He’s now slotted in to be the team’s full-time DH in 2026.

This spring, the talk regarding Ballesteros has centered around his still-developing defensive game as a catcher because, apparently, everybody just assumes now that he’ll hit (and he HAS, hitting .333 in 27 Cactus League at bats so far after a late arrival due to Visa issues).

Catching is getting rave reviews

The assessments of Ballesteros, the catcher, have been positive.

“From a pitch-calling standpoint, I love the way he thinks,” Cubs pitcher Ben Brown told media. “I love the way he goes about hitters. He’s a great hitter himself. He has great plate discipline. What he can do offensively is really special, so I think he brings that into his catching.

“I think everyone, top to bottom, in all honesty, we truly believe that Bally can stick back there. There’s no doubt. He loves to learn. He’s such a good teammate. He’s such a light in the clubhouse. He’s a joy to be around.”

New Cubs starter Edward Cabrera also praised him for his work behind the plate.

“I was shocked,” Cabrera told reporters, via interpreter, following a game caught by Ballesteros, where the young catcher flipped three balls to strikes via ABS challenge. “Having a catcher who sees the zone that well gives me a lot of confidence, especially in tight counts. He did a great job guiding me through those innings.”

Bat first, everything else is a bonus

The reality when it comes to Ballesteros, though, is that he’ll make the major league roster almost entirely on the weight of his bat. Everything that he can give defensively, would be just a bonus.

“He’s been an exceptional hitter,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters late last season. “That’s the best development for Moisés, really, is that he’s come up to the big leagues and shown everybody what a natural hitter he is, (while being) put in the fire against some tough, tough competition. The rest is a bonus.”

Even as an all-bat prospect, expectations are high heading into this season. There’s even been some Rookie of the Year chatter.

Right now, defensively, he stands to be the Cubs’ third catcher, behind Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya and he’ll also be in the mix as a backup to first baseman Michael Busch. But the team would be ecstatic if he could work his way into becoming an Alejandro Kirk-like asset behind the plate. Early thoughts appear to be that he has the unconventional athleticism and work ethic to develop in that direction. He is, after all, only 22.

For now, he’ll be given the bat and asked to produce come Opening Day. Defensive nuance can wait.

The post Chicago Cubs: Ballesteros getting rave reviews and some Rookie of the Year chatter appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Ben Brown has showcased a new pitch to his arsenal this Spring Training. So far, he’s used a sinker exclusively against right-handed hitters, giving him another option alongside his four-seam fastball and knuckle curve. Against lefties, Brown has leaned on his changeup, a common strategy for right-handed pitchers looking to neutralize opposite-handed batters.

Now halfway through Spring Training, the metrics on Brown’s sinker look exceptional. He’s averaging 13.5 inches of run on the pitch, consistently throwing it for strikes and generating swings and misses. Given those early results, the Chicago Cubs may want to consider making it his primary fastball. Last season, opposing hitters teed off on his four-seamer, batting .315 with a .566 slugging percentage while producing just a 14% whiff rate.

No matter how it’s ultimately deployed, Brown figures to use the sinker in some capacity in 2026. Recently, he revealed how the pitch came to be, and the strenuous training he went through with a former two-time All-Star to develop it.

Ben Brown’s new sinker came from training with 2x All-Star Clay Holmes

After the 2025 season, Brown was encouraged by multiple people to train with Clay Holmes during the offseason. The two had never met before, but Cubs vice president of pitching strategy Tyler Zombro helped connect them. Brown ultimately spent the entire offseason working alongside Holmes, something few pitchers can say, given Holmes’ reputation for intense workouts.

Together, the two worked to develop Brown’s sinker. Holmes, who pitches for the New York Mets, is a sinkerballer himself. Brown doesn’t use the exact same grip as Holmes, but it’s easy to see why Holmes was able to guide him through the nuances of the pitch and why Brown has seen positive results so quickly.

According to Holmes, Brown’s sinker was generating as much as 18 inches of run during bullpen sessions over the winter. Brown has reached that mark a few times this spring, but the pitch has still produced strong results overall. If he’s looking to take a step forward, continuing to incorporate the sinker,  perhaps even making it one of his most frequently used pitches, could be a strategy worth serious consideration.

The post Ben Brown’s new sinker came from training with 2x All-Star appeared first on ChiCitySports.

One of the more intriguing players this season for the Chicago Cubs is outfielder Seiya Suzuki. He is expected to be an everyday starter in the outfield and is coming off a strong 2025 season. However, he popped up in the news as he left the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals early. Let’s take a closer look at what we know at this point and what it means going forward.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki exits WBC Quarterfinals early

In the bottom of the first inning for Team Japan, Suzuki would get on base. He would attempt to steal second base, but would be called out following a review. However, something more significant happened as Suzuki would rub his right knee while sitting on the dirt after the play. Team Japan’s trainer would come out and help him off the field, which Suzuki would visibly limp off the field.

He would not go out to the field for the top of the second inning, instead being replaced by Shota Morishita in center field. As of this writing, there has not been an official diagnosis regarding the injury. If Team Japan loses, they are eliminated, and Suzuki would return to the Cubs’ Spring Training facility.

Suzuki is in an interesting position heading into the 2026 season, as he is in the final year of his contract. Suzuki had been on fire at the plate during the World Baseball Classic, as he is 3 for 9 with two home runs and five RBI. He has also been seeing the baseball well with six walks and only one strikeout. This is not the first injury to take place during the WBC as Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel suffered a right hamstring strain for Team Italy earlier this week.

It will be intriguing to see what the severity of Suzuki’s injury is and how it will affect the start of the 2026 season.

The post Seiya Suzuki exits WBC Quarterfinals vs Venezuela early with apparent injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Team USA punched their tickets to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic after beating Canada 5-3 on Friday night. They will now face off against the Dominican Republic on Sunday night.

A big reason why they are in this position is due to the play of Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

He’s been in and out of the lineup for Team USA but when he gets the start from Mark DeRosa, he’s delivered. And you could argue he’s been the best position player for Team USA. Crow-Armstrong proved that once again on Friday night in the win over Canada.

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s hot start at World Baseball Classic

On Friday, Crow-Armstrong got the start in center field once again for Team USA over Byron Buxton. He finished the game 2-of-4 with 1 RBI and played really good defense in the outfield. That brings his numbers up to an impressive pace this World Baseball Classic.

PCA has been COOKING so far in the #WorldBaseballClassic

.357 AVG || .438 OBP || .857 SLG

2 HR
6 RBI
4 R
2 SO pic.twitter.com/jZjqaztmgX

— DodgersMuse (@LADodgersMuse) March 14, 2026

This performance comes after Crow-Armstrong was a significant part of the team’s performance against Italy. Despite a loss, Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs to help the run differential tiebreaker. He showed off his power which the Cubs are hoping he has again this season.

With a huge game against the Dominican Republic coming up, it will be interesting to see if DeRosa goes with Crow-Armstrong as the starter in center field. Or if he goes back to Buxton. It’s hard to imagine the latter in this situation.

The post Pete Crow-Armstrong center point of Team USA’s success at World Baseball Classic appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw had every reason to walk into spring training bitter and discontent. The young talent, who fought his way to the starting third base gig over the course of a tough rookie season, had been outright replaced by incoming free agent Alex Bregman. He was now being asked to play a utility role off the bench.

More News: Chicago Cubs ace Justin Steele takes next step to full comeback

Instead of taking it as a blow, however, the Cubs’ 2023 no. 1 draft pick accepted the new role as a challenge and has excelled.

Tasked with playing corner outfield, center field, and most recently first base– in addition to his more comfortable third base and second base spots– the 24-year-old has adapted well, while accepting that there’s still plenty more to learn.

Through all the pressure of learning new positions on the fly, Shaw has also seemingly taken a step forward with his offense. In 35 Cactus League plate appearances, he’s hitting .333 with 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 4 stolen bases, and an OBP of .400.

Passing every test

More News: Chicago Cubs encouraged to sign still-available free agent slugger

“We’re giving him a difficult spring training experience here,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told media. “We’re moving him around a lot. You’re going to see him at first base. I respect what he’s doing this spring, it hasn’t been easy for sure. But I’d rather make it hard right now and then go into the season with at least some experience at all these things.”

Last Wednesday, Shaw played his first game ever at first base and, while clearly still learning the ropes, seemed up to the task.

“Honestly, it’s been a lot of fun,” Shaw said, referring to being moved around the field. “It feels like Little League, playing a bunch of different positions and moving around. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

This humbling experience has just reinforced the team’s opinion of Shaw as a player and as someone with a high ceiling as an every day player.

“He’s not someone that you need to worry about being professional or motivated or driven or working on his game,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner told media. “He’s a very driven young player. You look at how many great players at some point earlier in their career were bouncing around between positions, it’s just the reality of being a part of a really strong roster…he’s going to be a very valuable part of our team this year.”

Getting Shaw where he needs to be

The Cubs will try to strike a balance this season between fielding the best, most experienced team possible and getting Shaw the at bats and playing time he needs to continue his development. He’s still, for all intents and purposes, the team’s chief insurance policy when it comes to injury and, also, when it comes to possibly replacing Hoerner, who will become a free agent at the end of this coming season.

As a chief backup to at least six position player spots, he should get plenty of playing time and get plenty of opportunity to prove his worth.

The post Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw rolling with punches, killing it this spring appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs figure to have a deep and well-rounded starting rotation as they head into a 2026 season where expectations are high. They’d really like for Justin Steele to be a part of the team’s success. Actually, some think that the lefty might help push the team to that success.

More News: Chicago Cubs encouraged to sign still-available free agent slugger

Steele went down with an elbow injury last season after just four starts, forcing the Cubs to scramble and find an emergency rotation replacement or two. Subsequent elbow surgery (ulnar collateral ligament revision repair) put him on the shelf for the rest of the year.

Hopes were high, though, that the Cubs’ ace could make a full recovery and be a big part of a 2026 squad aiming for a deep postseason run. The 30-year-old has been Chicago’s most reliable and effective starter through the last four seasons, posting a 3.18 ERA over 82 starts in that span of time. A full comeback would be a huge boost to the team’s chances for success.

Justin Steele faces live batters

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd speaks on Opening Day gig as contract uncertainty looms

On Friday, Steele took another big step in the direction of a return. For the first time since he was given medical clearance to resume pitching activities, he faced live batters.

With several teammates in attendance, the southpaw threw 19 pitches to Michael Busch and Jonathon Long, notching three strikeouts and provoking some uncomfortable swings.

It was a small sample size of pitches, which was to be expected, but everything went well and, reportedly, he already looks to have some of his old mojo back.

“Looks like Justin,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy told reporters with a smile. “There’s days where he has really good cut to the fastball and gets weak contact. And there’s days where it has a little more carry, where you get more swing and miss. I thought today, you kind of saw a little bit of both.”

“I think it went as well as he could have wanted it and hoped for it to go,” Hottovy added. “Now it’s just continuing to build off every outing, every live BP and making sure we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves.”

“Another box to check,” Steele told media after the outing. “Felt good today, that’s the main thing — I was throwing strikes, putting the fastball where I wanted to for the most part. Just excited about it.

“I’ve worked really hard to come back as fast as I could and as strong as I could. It was really cool to see all my teammates and coaches come out to watch.”

Nice, relaxed return

Steele, who had full Tommy John surgery back in 2017, says that the recovery process this time around is going much smoother, thanks in great part to knowing what to expect and how to handle his limitations.

It also helps that there’s no rush to get him back on the mound.

With the Cubs rotation sporting five capable starters (Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga) as well as several solid backups (Javier Assad, Colin Rea, Ben Brown), Steele can take his time and make sure that he’s truly at 100% before getting back into the thick of things. Right now, the target remains May-June for his return

The Cubs will eventually have to figure out what to do with the surplus of starters when their ace comes back, but that’s certainly a good problem to have.

For now, the Cubs move forward and Steele keeps working to get back.

The post Chicago Cubs ace Justin Steele takes next step to full comeback appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Throughout seven seasons, Nico Hoerner has given the Chicago Cubs steady contact, speed on the bases, and Gold Glove–caliber defense. The one area where his offensive profile has room to grow is power. He owns a career .384 slugging percentage and has topped the .400 mark in just one full season.

That said, Hoerner recently opened up about his plan to generate more power in 2026. According to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Hoerner isn’t overhauling his mechanics, nor did he bulk up dramatically during the off-season instead, he’s leaning on analytics and smarter swing choices to unlock extra pop.

Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner is reworking his approach to unlock more power

Talking to the Chicago Sun-Times, Hoerner explained why simply taking bigger swings hasn’t worked for him. Instead, his focus is on smarter pitch selection. “A lot of it is what you swing at pitch-wise. So having a better understanding of not just what I make contact with, but what I drive. And if you can put more balls in play in that bucket throughout the season, then I like my chances to slug more, whether it’s home runs or extra-base hits in general.”

Diving deeper into Hoerner’s comments, he is saying that he first needs to understand what the analytics say in terms of what pitches he drives hardest and does the most damage with. Then, he needs to consistently attack those pitches over the course of a full season. By taking this approach across a large sample of at-bats, he expects his power numbers to rise.

So what type of pitches does Hoerner do the most damage against?

According to Baseball Savant, Hoerner generates his most power against offspeed pitches. Last year, he slugged .473 in those at-bats, and the year before, .490. Of the offspeed pitches, Hoerner has mashed changeups the past two years, slugging .509 in 2025 and .467 in 2024. By comparison, over the past two years breaking balls produced only .311–.346 slugging percentage, while fastballs were slightly better, ranging from .383 to .404.

This makes offspeed pitches the clear target for Hoerner’s approach. By identifying these offerings early in the count and attacking them consistently, he can maximize his chances of driving the ball for extra bases and boosting his overall slugging. Essentially, dialing in on the pitch that plays to his strengths gives him a concrete path to more power throughout the season.

The post Cubs’ Nico Hoerner reworking his approach to unlock more power appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs acquired Tyler Austin this past offseason for the explicit purpose of being the designated right-handed-hitting relief for first baseman Michael Busch. Before the spring even got into full swing, however, Austin went down with a knee injury requiring surgery and months of recovery.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd speaks on Opening Day gig as contract uncertainty looms

The bad news has sent the Cubs scrambling for a backup at first base.

Catcher Miguel Amaya has been getting some reps there. Matt Shaw recently made his career debut at first. There’s been talk of rookie DH and backup catcher Moises Ballesteros getting some playing time at the position. Even veteran non-roster spring training invitee Michael Conforto has been mentioned as a possible first base backup. Jonathon Long, the Cubs’ top first base prospect, is also a possibility, but the feeling seems to be that Chicago would prefer to see him back in Triple-A Iowa where he can develop further as an every day player.

Realistically, the Cubs don’t absolutely need a high-end backup to Busch. The team seems ok with letting him see more left-handed pitching. But injuries do happen and even a fully locked-in Busch would benefit from the occasional day off.

A last-minute roster addition?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Rival scout labels Cubs rookie a future “RBI machine”

Chris Landers of Fansided recently speculated that the Cubs could find the ideal first base backup in the form of veteran Wilmer Flores, who remains a free agent and is reportedly dead set on holding out for a major league contract.

The 34-year-old veteran was mostly used as a DH last year with the San Francisco Giants, but also played 208 innings at first base and 9 innings at third. He hit .241 with 16 home runs in 419 at bats in 2015.

Per Landers:

“Speaking of righty bench bats: The Cubs figure to be back in the market for one, after offseason acquisition Tyler Austin — penciled in as the righty counterpart to Michael Busch at first base and/or Moises Ballesteros at DH — underwent knee surgery that will keep him out until at least the summer. Chicago can try to just get by until then, but they could also look at Flores, who intends to continue his career after six seasons in San Francisco.

Flores is a limited player at this point in his career, but one thing he’s always been able to do is crush left-handed pitching. If Chicago needs someone to fill the Justin Turner role on the cheap until Austin returns, Jed Hoyer could do a lot worse.”

Does it make sense?

The 13-year major league veteran could be a viable roster option who might come at a very reasonable price. Last season, Flores made $3.5 million and he stands to make less than that this coming year if/when he’s picked up by somebody. The general feeling is that he’s too good of a hitter to not be signed eventually.

Adding Flores could push utility man Shaw back to more familiar positions. It could also eliminate the need for a fourth outfielder as Shaw could get some time in that spot, especially with Flores being able to play some third base in a pinch.

If brought in this late, he probably wouldn’t be able to start the reason with the rest of the team. But maybe a May Cubs debut for Flores could be in the cards.

It’s certainly something worth considering ahead of big 2026.

The post Chicago Cubs encouraged to sign still-available free agent slugger appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs took a gamble on Matthew Boyd prior to the 2025 season, signing the oft-injured lefty to a two-year, $29 million deal– and the bet definitely paid off.

More News: Chicago Cubs named one of the teams under the most pressure in 2026

The Cubs front office made their move based on just about two months of 2024 data following his Tommy John surgery in 2023 and other assorted physical setbacks dating back to 2020. The veteran starter came into the 2025 season without having pitched more than 100 innings since 2019.

Prior to last season, Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy talked about the general expectations of Boyd in 2025– they’d be happy with just 120 innings of solid baseball from him.

Well, Boyd far exceeded those expectations and posted a 3.21 ERA in 179.2 innings pitched over 31 starts and performed his way into becoming the rotation’s ace.

He was rewarded for that stellar season by getting the Opening Day starter nod from manager Craig Counsell.

“You earn these things,” Counsell told reporters. “And Matthew has earned this with how he’s pitched last year and since coming back from an injury. He had a great season last year. He’s a very important player for us, and we’re excited to give him the ball on Opening Day.”

Boyd speaks on Opening Day gig

More News: Chicago Cubs: Opening Day starter assignment spotlights rotation questions

Boyd, meanwhile, keeps being Boyd. Touched by the gesture of getting the 2026 opener gig, the honor weighs more heavily on him as his roots are steeped in Cubs lore, passed to him by his beloved late grandfather who was a hardcore Cubs fan.

“You don’t know if the opportunity is ever going to present itself again,” Boyd said of the Opening Day designation. “So it’s an honor. I mean, 162 games is a long season. It’s really cool to be out there to start it out.”

“Opening Day is special,” Boyd added, “but Opening Day at Wrigley is really something that is truly special. And I understand how much it means to Chicago fans.”

From the end of the line to a new beginning

For a guy who was virtually on the way out of major league baseball or, at the very least, in extreme doubt over his physical ability to pitch again, the gig has to be especially satisfying. What could have been the end of the line ended up being the start of a new beginning.

“If I don’t believe it, who else will?” Boyd said of his mindset prior to the start of last season. “I knew my best was ahead of me. What I didn’t know is if I’d get the opportunity to show it.”

Now, what’s ahead for Boyd is a 2026 where the Cubs are expected to win the NL Central Division and make a deep playoff run. There’s also a crucial career decision awaiting him. Boyd and the Cubs have mutual options at the end of the season and that could mean that the 35-year-old might be pitching elsewhere next year.

For now, though, Opening Day– and then a long, grueling season– await.

The post Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd speaks on Opening Day gig as contract uncertainty looms appeared first on ChiCitySports.

On March 12, the Chicago Cubs announced another wave of “roster cuts”, or trimming of the number of players in big league camp during Spring Training. James Triantos, Pedro Ramirez, and Jaxon Wiggins highlighted players “cut” in the previous wave, and this time around three players from the 40-man roster were involved. 

Chicago Cubs latest roster cuts features three players from 40-man being optioned

Players on the 40-man roster optioned to Triple-A Iowa include outfielder Justin Dean and left-handers Luke Little and Ryan Rolison.

Dean joined the Cubs in January, after being acquired off waivers from the San Francisco Giants, although he ended the 2025 season on the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The speedy outfielder is just 4-27 this spring, which equates to a .148 batting average. Dean first made his MLB debut last season, and may remain a depth option for Chicago during the 2026 season.

Meanwhile, Little and Rolison are both returners from last year’s Cubs team. Little spent most of 2025 in the minor leagues and received just two games of big league action. Rolison got plenty of chances last year, 31 games and 42.1 innings, but had an ERA of 7.02.

The post Cubs latest roster cuts features 3 players from 40-man being optioned appeared first on ChiCitySports.

When the Chicago Cubs signed third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, trade rumors immediately began swirling around Nico Hoerner due to the fact that Hoerner is slated to hit free agency next offseason.

The idea made sense. Sign Bregman, trade Hoerner for a monster package and shift Matt Shaw over to second base. But is it possible the Cubs could make a different move entirely?

While jettisoning Hoerner definitely makes the most sense from a financial perspective, it would obviously inhibit Chicago’s chances of winning a World Series this year. So maybe trading Shaw is actually the right play?

A former top prospect, Shaw brings a ton of potential and a whole lot of versatility to the table, so he definitely has value.

On that note, Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib has suggested an intriguing potential destination for Shaw: the Atlanta Braves.

Could the Chicago Cubs trade Matt Shaw to the Atlanta Braves?

The Braves just watched as Jurickson Profar was hit with his second PED suspension, resulting in the All-Star utility man being banned for the entire 2026 campaign. This obviously puts Atlanta in a difficult spot with the season opener just two weeks away, but perhaps the Cubs could have the antidote.

“If the Braves, like the Cubs, believe that Shaw is capable of handling the outfield, he could be an intriguing platoon partner for Mike Yastrzemski in left field,” Campbell wrote. “Shaw could also see time as the Braves’ designated hitter, considering their current option is a non-roster invite in Dominic Smith.”

A former first-round pick, Shaw made his big-league debut in 2025 and slashed .226/.295/.394 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI over 437 plate appearances, but it’s important to note that he posted a .915 OPS in the minor leagues. So clearly, Shaw has a high ceiling.

Even after a disappointing showing in his first major-league season, Shaw still has plenty of trade value, and with the Braves being desperate, they might be willing to surrender a nice return to Chicago in exchange for the 24-year-old.

“To be clear, a Shaw trade with the Braves should be viewed as unlikely, but it speaks to the type of creativity that would be involved if the Cubs were to move their former first-rounder. Especially if it was to a team rich in pitching prospects,” Campbell added.

Of course, this still wouldn’t solve the Cubs’ emerging financial problem when it comes to Hoerner, and considering they would likely be getting prospects in return, it likely wouldn’t do much to move the needle for them in 2026, either.

The post Cubs connected to new trade possibility following jarring suspension appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs, over the last few years, have not been big spenders in free agency. Instead, they have relied on developing their own talent in hopes that they take them to the levels of competition at which they want to be. For the most part, they have been successful.

However, they have also made some splashes in free agency here and there, supplementing their homegrown talent with proven veterans. This past winter, for example, the Cubs signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year $175 million contract.

A few years ago, they inked shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year $177 million contract, which ties him to Chicago through the the 2029 season.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said to have the worst contract on the team

In three seasons with the Cubs, Swanson has hit .243/.313/.408 and has averaged about 21 home runs and 74 RBI per year. He also won a Gold Glove and made the NL All-Star team in his first season with the club.

Despite the overall success, though, Bleacher Report believes he has the worst contract on the team:

“Considering Dansby Swanson always posts and has 31 defensive runs saved in three seasons with the Cubs, this contract is far from a disaster.

“Still, Swanson hit .265 with a .775 OPS over his final three seasons with the Braves, which, when coupled with his tremendous defense, earned him a seven-year deal with the Cubs in free agency. But since joining the Cubs, Swanson’s offensive production has declined, as he’s hit .243 with a .721 OPS.

“It could be worse, the Cubs could have signed Xander Bogaerts during the much ballyhooed free-agent shortstop class of 2022-23, which also included Trea Turner and Carlos Correa. But when Chicago inked Swanson to this contract, they definitely expected he would perform more offensively.””

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs All-Star to return to camp from WBC
• Cubs’ Matt Shaw expands his versatility this spring
• Cubs’ Ian Happ named best dual threat LF in MLB

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs worst contract for the 2026 MLB season revealed appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs, on Thursday, named Matthew Boyd their Opening Day starter. It was the safe, reasonable choice to make considering Boyd’s 2025.

More News: Chicago Cubs named one of the teams under the most pressure in 2026

The veteran lefty came to the Cubs as a bit of a free agent gamble last season, coming off a long history of injury and Tommy John surgery in mid-2023. Originally targeted for 110-120 innings as a back-end-of rotation starter, Boyd exceeded all expectations and performed his way into being the ace of the staff with a 3.21 ERA in 179.2 innings over 31 starts.

So, yes, Boyd was the logical choice for Opening Day.

That designation, though, probably paints a clearer picture for the rest of the rotation order.

Boyd on Opening Day, and then what?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Rival scout labels Cubs rookie a future “RBI machine”

The Cubs would probably want a power right-hander coming after the more nuanced lefty. That means probably Cade Horton, but it could also mean newcomer Edward Cabrera. Then, maybe, another nuanced lefty in Shota Imanaga. After that, either Horton or Cabrera, whoever didn’t land the no. 2 spot in the rotation. That would leave Jameson Taillon as the no. 5 starter.

A probable rotation might look like this (although, obviously, the order could easily be all scrambled up behind Boyd):

Matthew Boyd
Cade Horton
Shota Imanaga
Edward Cabrera
Jameson Taillon

Things get a bit more complicated, however, when Justin Steele returns after being on the shelf, recovering from elbow surgery last April. Upon his comeback (expected before mid-season), someone will have to be booted from their rotation spot. Who gets the boot will be determined, obviously, by who has been the least effective at the time of Steele’s return.

One also has to consider the fact that the Cubs have a pair of very capable swingmen in Javier Assad and Colin Rea, with Ben Brown also having starter potential. Assad has been having a killer spring so far and Rea performed admirably in the rotation last season, making up for the injury-related absences of Steele, Imanaga, and Taillon.

A Plan B, Plan C?

Some have theorized that Chicago could possibly go with a 6-man rotation for at least part of the season, given their depth and the need/desire to preserve arms for what they hope to be a deep postseason run.

They could also piggyback starters for a stretch of time, maybe pairing two for a single game, utilizing all of their nine potential starters to deliver multi-inning outings and save wear and tear on a staff that does have considerable injury and durability concerns. Although this strategy might end up taxing the bullpen disproportionately, essentially forcing a small handful of dedicated relievers to cover almost all relief innings.

Whatever the Cubs decide, the elephant in the room will always be the staff’s health and durability concerns. Boyd, Horton, and Cabrera have significant history of injury. Taillon and Imanaga spent a good amount of time on the IL last year. And Steele, of course, is coming back from major elbow surgery.

An ace in the hole may be top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins, who some are hoping could be the Cade Horton of 2026, moving up from the minors to win a spot in the Cubs rotation. There’s also hope that lefty Jordan Wicks can get healthy and finally put it all together for a good major league run.

For now, all the Cubs can do is lay down their pieces and play them. Soon enough, everyone will know whether a Plan B or C is necessary.

The post Chicago Cubs: Opening Day starter assignment spotlights rotation questions appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Ever since before Spring Training began, many wondered who the Chicago Cubs would name as their 2026 Opening Day starter. For a while, many thought it would be Cade Horton, who dazzled as a rookie in 2025. After being called up, he went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 23 games (22 starts).

Of course, the preferred choice would have been Justin Steele, but he will not be ready for the start of the regular season as he recovers from injury.

Indeed, there is a future where Horton will probably start multiple Opening Days for Chicago. But that future is not here yet, much to the dismay of fans.

Chicago Cubs fans disappointed Matthew Boyd will pitch on Opening Day

Today, it was reported that Matthew Boyd, who was an All-Star for the first time in his long career last season, is going to be the Opening Day starter.

Matthew Boyd opening day starter for Cubs

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 12, 2026

Last year, Boyd was 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts for Chicago.

Despite his success last year, though, many Cubs fans are not happy:

Yeah, because he looked so good at the WBC

— Ken Barton (@kenthro3000) March 12, 2026

You’re joking

— Justin (@ChiFanJustin) March 12, 2026

Yikes

— Hmmm (Brad) (@CubsEnjoyerBANG) March 12, 2026

Why?

— (@bears_pain) March 12, 2026

Boyd had a good season for the Cubs last year, but struggled in his last outing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He pitched 2.1 innings while giving up five hits and three runs.

This is likely why many fans are dismayed by his selection to start on Opening Day. It should be noted, though, that in two Spring Training appearances, Boyd has pitched 4.2 innings with a 1.93 ERA.

While he struggled in the WBC, he has performed well so far when with the Cubs in Arizona. With Horton  still gaining experience, Boyd is a much safer option to be the Cubs starter for the first game of the season.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs All-Star to return to camp from WBC
• Cubs’ Matt Shaw expands his versatility this spring
• Cubs’ Ian Happ named best dual threat LF in MLB

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs fans not thrilled with choice of 2026 Opening Day starting pitcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have a lot of expectations heading into the 2026 season. After a season of going 83-79 and making the postseason, the team has expectations of winning the NL Central and beyond. With Opening Day getting closer, the team has officially announced who will be getting the start when the games begin to count. Let’s take a closer look at who it will be and what this means for the starting rotation.

The Chicago Cubs announced Matthew Boyd as the 2026 Opening Day starting pitcher

The Cubs have officially announced who will be the starting pitcher when the team hosts the Washington Nationals two weeks from today. Veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd has been announced to get the ball in the team’s first game of the season. This will be the first time he pitches for the Cubs on Opening Day and the fifth consecutive different Opening Day starting pitcher.

Boyd had a solid 2025 season with the Cubs as the veteran went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 179.2 innings over 31 starts. He made one appearance for Team USA out of the bullpen during this year’s World Baseball Classic and allowed three runs in 2.1 innings of work. Boyd is expected to leave the Team USA camp today ahead of the quarterfinals to prepare for Opening Day.

With the team trading for Edward Cabrera this offseason, there were a few options that manager Craig Counsell could have went to begin the season. However, this will be Boyd’s third career Opening Day start, pitching in 2020 and 2021 for the Detroit Tigers. He is expected to get another start or two in Spring Training to stretch himself out a bit more following the World Baseball Classic. It will be intriguing to see how Boyd pitches this season, as he can be a valuable player for Chicago this year.

The post Chicago Cubs announce 2026 Opening Day starting pitcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs will be feeling pressure this season. Unlike the situation heading into last season, where the team was expected to contend, the expectations this year are that they will win, at the very least, the NL Central Division.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Rival scout labels Cubs rookie a future “RBI machine”

Although they lost right fielder Kyle Tucker via free agency, they added three-time All-Star free agent Alex Bregman and traded for emerging powerhouse starter Edward Cabrera. They also restocked a depleted bullpen with four free agent relievers (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey).

With so many key additions and a returning core of talent from last season, the general feeling is that anything short of a division title and a deep playoff run will be seen as a major disappointment.

Cubs under pressure

More News: Chicago Cubs: Ian Happ putting on a brave face ahead of free agency uncertainty

Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated recently acknowledged that pressure by naming the Cubs one of the teams under the most pressure this coming season. While he placed them outside the “World Series or Bust” category, he did put them high atop the “Postseason Run Required” list.

Per Rasmussen:

“The Cubs are in a good spot as they look to win the NL Central for the first time since 2020. Chicago acquired Alex Bregman in the offseason and should be favorites to win the division, especially after the Brewers parted ways with Peralta. The Cubs made it back to the postseason last year, snapping a four-year drought, and fans will be expecting the team to be playing into October again this season.”

Expectations are running high this spring and everyone feels it, from the front office to the coaching to the players themselves, as well as the fans. Actually, the word “expectations” has been a running theme throughout spring training.

“Everybody in this industry wants expectations,” manager Craig Counsell told The Athletic. “You work hard to get expectations. You work really hard to build a roster that has expectations, you work really hard to get on a team that has expectations. That’s what we want. We’re truly excited we have expectations. It’s not easy to get them.”

Causes for concern

And while there are numerous reasons for optimism, there are also some glaring causes for concern.

Several Cubs had career years in 2025, such as Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, and Nico Hoerner. There’s no guarantee that they’ll replicate their successes this season.

There are legitimate durability and health concerns in their deep starting rotation. Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, and Edward Cabrera have a history of injury, while Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga spent considerable time on the IL last year. Returning ace Justin Steele, meanwhile, will be coming back from elbow surgery.

Then, there’s the bullpen, which is always a wildcard on almost every team. Closer Daniel Palencia had 80% of a great season last year as he came up from Triple-A Iowa to win the bullpen shutdown spot. But he faded late in the year, delivering two months of subpar performances which suggested that, maybe, the young arm was bending under the pressure.

On paper, the Cubs would appear to be a better team than they were at this time last season. But that’s certainly no guarantee of equal or greater success.

The pressure will definitely be on.

The post Chicago Cubs named one of the teams under the most pressure in 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs will gain a familiar face in camp, with left-hander Matthew Boyd returning.

More News: Chicago Cubs Matt Shaw expands his versatility this spring

According to New York Post columnist Jon Heyman, Boyd will return to get stretched out as a starter since he didn’t get enough innings in the World Baseball Classic. The 2025 All-Star pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, no walks, and three earned runs.

Boyd made two starts in spring training before joining Team USA, with a 1.93 ERA and seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings. New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes is in the same situation as Boyd and could also return to camp.

Matthew Boyd is expected to return to Cubs camp to be stretched out as starter for season since he wouldn’t get enough innings as a Team USA reliever. Clay Holmes is in a similar spot and may go back to Mets camp. Twins ace Joe Ryan is a candidate to take one USA roster spot.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 12, 2026

Matthew Boyd needs to focus on the season ahead for the Chicago Cubs

Boyd, 35, will likely be counted on to be the Cubs’ ace heading into this season, or the No. 2. The Cubs haven’t announced a starter for Opening Day, and Boyd is one of the candidates for the job. Right-handers Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera are also options for manager Craig Counsell.

Boyd had a breakout campaign in 2025 — 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 21 starts — after having Tommy John surgery in late 2023. The surgery cost Boyd most of the 2024 season, but it led to him signing his contract (two years, $29 million) with the Cubs.

The Cubs have a strong top three in the rotation of Boyd, Horton, and Cabrera. The Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds as the Cubs main rivals for the National League Central. So, hopefully, having a formidable starting rotation paired with a strong offense could help win the Central.

The Cubs will take on the Washington Nationals on March 26. Right-hander Cade Cavalli will be the Nationals Opening Day starter.

The post Chicago Cubs All-Star expected to return to camp from the WBC appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have all nine positions in the field figured out except the bench.

More News: Chicago Cubs‘ Nico Hoerner has lofty goal for the 2026 season

Infielder Matt Shaw is a prime candidate to make the Cubs bench as a super-utility player, and is adding playing first base to his repertoire. Manager Craig Counsell said he knows the Cubs are giving Shaw a “kind of a difficult Spring Training experience”, asking him to play first base.

“Look, we’re giving him kind of a difficult Spring Training experience here,” Counsell said to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. “I respect what he’s doing this spring. It hasn’t been easy, for sure. But, I’d rather make it hard right now and then go into the season with at least some experience at all these things.”

Matt Shaw is embracing the idea of playing first base for the Chicago Cubs, despite never playing there

In Shaw’s entire professional baseball career, college career, and short time in the major leagues, he has never played first base. Primarily a middle infielder, playing 124 games at third base last year, Shaw is excited for the opportunity to get more at-bats by playing first base.

“Definitely, I want to get as many at-bats as I possibly can,” Shaw said. “If that means playing a lot of different positions, then I think it kind of just is what it is. If I can continue to get better at those positions, then I think I’ll be in a good place to, No. 1, get a lot of at-bats, and No. 2, give guys days off if they need it to keep our team healthy going into October.”

The Cubs’ former first-round pick (13th overall) in 2023 feels he’s covering the nuances of playing first well.

“There’s small nuances that I’m learning,” Shaw said. “But overall I feel like I covered all the basics pretty well. It’s small things that I’m learning. Obviously, it’s Day 1 ever at first, but overall I feel really, really good.”

Matt Shaw could be a decent choice to back up Michael Busch if he needs a day off

The Cubs’ primary first baseman last season and going into this season is Michael Busch. Busch had a breakout campaign in 2025, batting .261 with an OPS of .866 and 34 home runs in 155 games. Busch played 151 games at first base and had a value of two defensive runs saved.

The Cubs’ turning to Shaw to maybe play first base is because Tyler Austin will be out for months with a knee injury. Prospect Moises Ballesteros is also a likely candidate to back up Busch. But Ballesteros has high upside, and will need everyday at-bats at Triple-A.

Shaw adding first base to his repertoire will help his chances of getting playing time in 2026. However, he will need to prove he can handle playing a position he’s never played.

The post Chicago Cubs Matt Shaw expands his versatility this spring appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are preparing for a 2026 season that, they hope, will see them compete for a World Series title. While their young talent is widely expected to form the basis for their success, as it did last year, they are also going to rely on the continued contributions of left fielder Ian Happ.

Indeed, Happ has been a fixture in the Cubs lineup for years. However, 2026 is the final year of his contract with Chicago. There is a distinct possibility that this could be his final year in the Windy City.

And if it is, the Cubs will lose a player that has been declared the best dual threat left fielder in baseball.

Chicago Cubs star Ian Happ named the best dual threat left fielder in Major League Baseball

Bleacher Report recently released an article in which they named the best dual threat player at each position. Happ was the only Cubs player to make the list, with the explanation:

The Book on His Batting

“Contrary to Cal Raleigh and Ketel Marte, Ian Happ is not a particularly balanced switch-hitter. There was a 104-point gap between his OPS as a lefty and his OPS as a righty last year.

“Yet after three straight years of 20-odd homers and an OPS+ in the 120 range, there is nonetheless something to be said for Happ’s level. It’s a high floor that is preferable to some of the higher ceilings at the position, such as Jarren Duran’s.”

The Book on His Fielding

“Happ and Steven Kwan are both four-time defending Gold Glove winners in left field. And if anyone’s being honest, Kwan is the better defender of the two.

“Yet beyond being the significantly more productive hitter, Happ gets points for having a more reliable arm than Kwan. He only has three fewer outfield assists since 2022, but also 11 fewer throwing errors.”

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs’ Cade Horton not worried after tough outing
• Cubs’ Ian Happ reveals sole focus as he heads into final contract year
• Cubs surprise roster projection has one surprise name

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs: Ian Happ named best dual threat LF in Major League Baseball appeared first on ChiCitySports.