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.

It appeared that the Maxx Crosby situation had been settled when the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to trade the star defensive end to the Baltimore Ravens, effectively ending the Chicago Bears‘ chances of landing him.

However, the Ravens have since backed out of the trade, which has re-opened the door for the Bears to swoop in and snatch Crosby.

But is it really advisable for Chicago to do that at this point? The Bears were apparently willing to surrender a pair of first-round picks to bag Crosby, but with concerns emerging regarding Crosby’s knee, the Raiders have probably lost some leverage (even if they are maintaining their asking price for now).

There are certainly other viable pass-rushing targets available for Chicago, both via free agency and trade. And of course, the Bears could always take their chances in the NFL Draft, which is slated to be rather deep at edge rusher.

One possibility for Chicago? New York Giants star Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The Chicago Bears should try to trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux

Thibodeaux has been floated as an option for the Bears since the end of the season, and it still makes perfect sense.

Yes, the 25-year-old is coming off of a rough year in which he logged just 2.5 sacks in 10 games, but he has displayed his potential in the past. During his second NFL season in 2023, for example, Thibodeaux racked up 50 tackles, 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

The Giants drafted Abdul Carter last spring and also have Brian Burns on the roster, so with Thibodeaux entering the final year of his deal, it doesn’t make much sense for them to keep him. Surely, New York would be willing to part with Thibodeaux in exchange for a Day 2 pick, and Chicago might be willing to pay that price.

The Bears could send the 89th overall pick to the Giants in exchange for Thibodeaux, which would give Chicago a very talented player alongside of Montez Sweat at a much more affordable price than Crosby.

Obviously, going from Crosby to Thibodeaux is a pretty steep dropoff, but it’s not like Thibodeaux is a bum.

The Bears should absolutely be on the phone with Big Blue trying to complete a deal here.

The post Bears could swing much cheaper trade amid Maxx Crosby drama appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have definitely been active in free agency, but they haven’t made any significant splashes, which is certainly disappointing for a fanbase that was initially expecting the team to swing a trade for Maxx Crosby.

After failing to land Crosby, the Bears still have a need at edge rusher, and while it’s possible they may roll with Austin Booker as their No. 2 pass rusher alongside of Montez Sweat next season (or simply punt to the NFL Draft), there is still time for Chicago to add some depth at the position.

Fortunately, numerous intriguing edge rushers remain available in free agency, and while Trey Hendrickson probably won’t be taking his talents to the Windy City, there are some affordable — bur productive — options left.

Anthony Miller of Bear Goggles On has cited a very interesting potential target in that regard: Jadeveon Clowney.

The Chicago Bears could sign Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney has never really lived up to the initial expectations placed upon him when the Houston Texans selected him with the No. 1 overall pick back in 2014, but he has still carved out a very solid NFL career.

This past season, for example, Clowney registered 41 tackles and 8.5 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys, marking the fifth time in his professional tenure that he has logged eight or more sacks. He would also come rather cheap for the Bears.

“With his predicted price only being over $5 million, the Bears would be crazy to not consider signing him at that price,” Miller wrote.

Chicago currently has a tick over $10 million in cap space, so there is definitely enough room for the club to sign Clowney. And considering how effective he has been even in his older age (he turned 33 years old in February), it seems like a slam-dunk move for the Bears.

Clowney played in 44 percent of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps in 2025, so he could fill part-time role in Chicago’s edge rusher rotation. And if the Bears want even more insurance, they could then select another pass rusher in the middle to later rounds of the draft next month.

No, Clowney isn’t a superstar, but he is an impact player, and Chicago should absolutely be on the phone with his agent trying to bring him aboard.

The post Bears connected to move for former No. 1 pick in potential free agent coup appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears missed out on swinging a trade for star pass rusher Maxx Crosby this past week, as the Las Vegas Raiders sent Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for a pair of first-round draft picks.

The Bears were viewed by many as favorites to land Crosby for quite some time, but apparently, Chicago was never that interested, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that while the Bears “monitored the situation,” they never really made a strong push to land him.

Naturally, Bears fans were aggravated over that fact. Chicago just captured the NFC North division title and won a playoff game, so the hope was that the Bears would acquire Crosby to take that next step into Super Bowl contention.

Instead, Chicago decided to stand pat, ultimately choosing to hold on to its draft capital.

Given the steep price for Crosby, the Bears’ decision is wholly understandable, and it can only mean one thing heading into 2026.

The Chicago Bears had a clear reason for avoiding Maxx Crosby

We know that Chicago needs help with its pass rush, as only two Bears players registered five sacks or more in 2025: Montez Sweat (10) and Gervon Dexter (six).

However, there is one player on Chicago’s roster who seems to be a clear breakout candidate for the front seven next season: Austin Booker.

Booker missed some time due to injury in 2025, but he managed 35 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits in just 10 games. He flashed significant potential this past year, and it stands to reason that Ryan Poles and Bears brass are hopeful that he will raise his game to the next level in 2026.

Plus, this NFL Draft class is very deep at the edge rusher position, so Chicago can always pluck one in the draft next month.

You can surely understand why the Bears — who also have salary cap issues, mind you — did not want to part with two first-round draft choices in exchange for Crosby, who, by the way, is recovering from knee surgery.

Booker could turn into a double-digit sack player next fall, and Chicago may very well draft its next stud at the end of April.

It’s easy to be frustrated over the Bears’ choice to steer clear of Crosby, but Chicago fans may end up relieved when the dust settles.

The post Chicago Bears’ strange Maxx Crosby report can only mean one thing appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears completed a blockbuster trade with the Buffalo Bills earlier this week, sending wide receiver D.J. Moore and a fifth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for a second-rounder.

It was quite the return for a Bears squad that had been very disappointed with Moore’s production over the last couple of seasons, and now, they’ll have another early-round draft choice to add another piece to a roster that won the NFC North this past season.

But perhaps Chicago isn’t done wheeling and dealing.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon has linked the Bears to yet another major trade with Buffalo, tabbing Chicago as a top landing spot for tackle Dion Dawkins.

Considering the Bears have a need at left tackle, acquiring Dawkins would make sense, but is it too little, too late for Chicago to land the five-time Pro Bowler?

Should the Chicago Bears steer clear of Dion Dawkins?

Dawkins has long been one of the best tackles in football, but Gagnon noted that the 31-year-old has shown some signs of decline.

“Remember how the Bill Belichick-era Patriots famously knew exactly when to cut bait on so-called staples? This might be that time for Buffalo and Dawkins, who gave up a career-high 42 pressures and posted the worst Pro Football Focus pass-blocking efficiency grade of his career in 2025,” Gagnon wrote.

But how bad was Dawkins really?

He still posted an 81.5 pass-blocking grade as a whole this past season, and his 73.9 overall PFF grade was very respectable.

The biggest issue when it comes to Dawkins is his $24.4 million cap hit for 2026. The Bears have a difficult financial situation as it is, so absorbing Dawkins would prove difficult. The veteran has two years remaining on his deal, and his cap hit jumps to $25 million in 2027.

Chicago might be better off just finding a one-year stopgap at left tackle while it waits for Ozzy Trapilo to get healthy. Or maybe the Bears can simply draft someone if they don’t think Trapilo is the long-term answer to protect Caleb Williams’ blind side.

All things considered, trading for Dawkins is probably not the way to go for Chicago.

The post Chicago Bears linked to yet another major trade with Buffalo Bills appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are widely viewed as one of the top potential destinations for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, and Crosby himself may want to play for the defending NFC North champions.

But would the Bears be making a mistake in trading for the five-time Pro Bowler?

The Raiders are apparently seeking a Micah Parsons type of package in return for Crosby, meaning they would like a pair of first-round draft picks in a deal. Some have wondered whether or not Crosby — who racked up 73 tackles and 10 sacks in 15 games this past season — is worth a similar haul.

Additionally, some new concerns have emerged regarding Crosby thanks to a report from Michael Silver of The Athletic, and Chicago may want to take heed.

Apparently, Crosby doesn’t have much respect for quarterbacks in practice.

Should the Chicago Bears avoid a Maxx Crosby trade?

Silver revealed that Crosby has actually been very difficult to corral.

“As Crosby blossomed into one of the league’s best players, [Jon] Gruden’s full-time successors in Las Vegas — Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll — found themselves powerless to contain him,” Silver wrote.

Based on the rest of Silver’s revelation, Caleb Williams and the Bears might be a bit wary of bringing Crosby into the fold.

“Crosby, several witnesses say, would frequently violate one of football’s most sacred practice rules by making contact with red-jersey-clad quarterbacks — and get away with it,” Silver added.

And Crosby’s reasoning for breaking the rules? One witness exposed a pretty harsh quote from the star pass rusher.

 “His attitude was, ‘If you don’t want me to do it, then block me.’ And nobody was in position to challenge that,” the source said.

On one hand, you have to appreciate Crosby’s aggression and work ethic. But on the other side of the coin, you don’t want to have to worry about your quarterback getting injured in practice, and you also don’t want any of your players not adhering to the coaching staff.

Will this stop Chicago from pursuing a trade for Crosby? Certainly not, but head coach Ben Johnson should immediately be prepared to lay down the law if the Bears do ultimately acquire the former fourth-round pick.

The post Bears, Caleb Williams might be wary of Maxx Crosby trade after scathing report appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Things seem to be looking pretty for the Chicago Bears right now, as they just won the NFC North division title and captured a playoff victory.

Caleb Williams appears to have a very bright future in front of him, and Ben Johnson is one of the top head coaches in all of football. But are things not quite as rosy for the Bears as most fans might believe?

Chicago has been tabbed as the favorite to land Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, which is certainly exciting. But there are reasons to be concerned about whether or not acquiring Crosby would actually be in the team’s best long-term interest.

The Bears don’t have the friendliest salary cap situation, and they would probably have to surrender a pair of first-round draft picks to pry Crosby away from the Raiders.

Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic feels such a deal could be dangerous for Chicago.

The Chicago Bears have more problems than you may believe

While there are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about the Bears’ chances in 2026 (especially if they bag Crosby), Fishbain has thrown up some caution flags regarding the team’s roster construction.

“Those are not the most reliable players at this juncture, which is why edge rusher is high on any Bears wish list for the offseason, not to mention a force from the interior … oh, and a weakside linebacker, two safeties, maybe help at corner, a left tackle … you see where I’m going?” Fishbain wrote.

Throw center into the mix too now that Drew Dalman announced his sudden retirement.

Chicago is currently $7.5 million over the salary cap, and Crosby carries a $35.8 million cap hit for 2026. He is under contract through 2029 thanks to the three-year, $106.5 million extension he signed with Las Vegas last March, so if the Bears land the five-time Pro Bowler, they’ll be in it for the long haul, for better or for worse.

“But they will really need him to be a long-term star, while finding a way to still be above average across the board, to make sure that this isn’t just a home run for 2026,” Fishbain added.

Assuming Crosby is healthy (he underwent knee surgery over the winter), there is no question that the 28-year-old will make Chicago better next season. But given all of the other holes plaguing the roster, swinging a deal for the superstar pass rusher is definitely risky.

The post Chicago Bears insider exposes deeper problems than fans may think appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs made some very notable additions this offseason, acquiring pitcher Edward Cabrera via trade and signing third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency.

The Cubs are expected to contend for a World Series this year, and while the Los Angeles Dodgers are the obvious favorites, Chicago is talented enough to make a run, especially considering the depth of its starting rotation.

Because the Cubs’ pitching staff is so deep, Chicago could ultimately move one of its pitchers in a trade, and Javier Assad has been tabbed as someone who could get dealt.

Assad has been solid for the Cubs since entering the big leagues in 2022, but because his stuff isn’t too overpowering, it looks like he’ll be on the outside looking in when it comes to Chicago’s five-man rotation heading into 2026.

In fact, Nick Deeds of MLB Trade Rumors feels that Assad could be a trade target for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Could the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies match up on a trade?

The Phillies are looking to add some pitching depth of their own after losing Ranger Suarez to free agency and with Zack Wheeler still recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome, and Deeds feels they could comprise a good match for Assad.

“Looking around the league, there’s certainly a handful of teams with an excess of optionable starters who could fit the Phillies needs,” Deeds wrote. “The Cubs (Javier Assad), Dodgers (Landon Knack), Tigers (Keider Montero) and Giants (Hayden Birdsong) are among the teams with optionable starters who have notable big league experience but are likely to be squeezed out of the club’s rotation entering the year.”

Assad owns a lifetime 3.43 ERA over 78 career outings and 54 starts, allowing 3o4 hits while registering 271 strikeouts over 331 innings of work.

Again, the right-hander’s stuff is not going to wow anyone, but he has been very reliable due much in part to his ability to keep the ball int he yard. Assad owns a career 1.1 HR/9, and his knack for inducing ground balls makes up for his rather ugly 1.99 K/BB.

The 28-year-old probably wouldn’t fetch much in a trade, but if the Cubs can squeeze a decent prospect out of the Phillies for Assad, it’s something they may want to consider.

The post Cubs, Phillies linked to intriguing trade involving 3.43 ERA pitcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have been tabbed as one of the top potential trade destinations for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, and a report surfaced on Monday that a deal could happen as soon as this week.

The Bears are in dire need of pass-rushing help, so Crosby seems like a natural fit. After all, the 28-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowler with four double-digit sack campaigns under his belt, including 10 sacks to go along with 73 tackles and 20 quarterback hits in 15 games this past season.

But the price to acquire Crosby would be exorbitant, and Lou Scataglia of Bear Goggles On feels that Chicago might be making a mistake if it swung a trade for the superstar.

“Firstly, the asking price could be two first-round picks. In today’s NFL, the way to sustain success is to draft and develop,” Scataglia wrote. “Some of the best teams in the NFL today are built through the NFL Draft, so parting with, potentially, two first-round picks would strip the front office’s ability to find blue-chip talent.”

The Dallas Cowboys received two first-round picks in exchange for Micah Parsons just before the start of last season, so Crosby would probably fetch a similar price.

That’s not the only reason why Scataglia thinks landing Crosby would be a mistake, either.

Would the Chicago Bears be making a mistake trading for Maxx Crosby?

For Scataglia, the con of trading for Crosby would be two-fold. It’s not just the cost in terms of draft capital; it’s also what it would do to the Bears’ finances.

“Secondly, Chicago’s cap situation isn’t that great, as they are currently over the cap by about $6.5 million,” Scataglia added. “Unfortunately, the Bears simply aren’t flush with cap space like a team should be with a quarterback on his rookie deal.”

Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Raiders last March, a deal that will take him through 2029. He carries a $35.8 million cap hit for 2026. The hit dips to $29.8 million in 2027, and there is an out in his contract after that season.

Clearly, Crosby would be expensive in every single aspect, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. And let’s be honest: the Bears have now ascended to contender status, so in order to take that next step, they might have to pay a handsome price.

We’ll see if Chicago ultimately swings a deal for Crosby in the coming days or weeks.

The post Chicago Bears hit with shocking Maxx Crosby warning amid trade buzz appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are expected to be busy this offseason after winning the NFC North and advancing to the Divisional Round of the playoffs this past year.

The Bears definitely need some help on the defensive side of the ball, where they ranked 29th in the NFL in 2025. They especially need help with their pass rush, which is why they have been linked to a trade for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby since before the season even ended.

Crosby obviously won’t come cheap. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and is under contract through 2029 thanks to a three-year, $106.5 million extension he signed with the Raiders. But with Las Vegas once again in rebuilding mode, he might be available in the right deal.

Anthony Miller of Bear Goggles On envisions a scenario in which Chicago would land Crosby, and it involves a massive NFL Draft move.

Chicago Bears predicted to land Maxx Crosby in huge NFL Draft trade

Miller has proposed a trade in which the Bears would send the 25th overall pick and their 2027 first-round selection to Las Vegas in exchange for Crosby.

“The Bears have been linked to Crosby for most of the offseason and could make a play to get him, despite the Raiders being reluctant to move him,” Miller wrote. “After having just 35 sacks last year, Crosby is more than worth the two first-round picks for him as he has been a five-time Pro Bowler and has racked up 69.5 sacks in seven seasons.”

A package that includes two first-round draft choices could be enough to make the Raiders budge, especially considering that was what the Dallas Cowboys received from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for Micah Parsons just before the 2025 campaign.

Crosby racked up 73 tackles, 10 sacks, an interception, a couple of forced fumbles and six passes defended in 2025. It should be noted that the 28-year-old missed the final two games of the season due to a knee injury and underwent surgery because of it, but he is expected to be ready for training camp.

The Bears are in dire need of a dominant defender along their front seven, and Crosby would be just what the doctor ordered.

The post Bears connected to gargantuan trade that would shake up the NFL Draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears definitely need some help along the interior of their defensive line. Grady Jarrett was a massive disappointment during his debut campaign in Chicago, and Gervon Dexter could be on the move via trade.

The Bears’ defense as a whole was problematic this past season, finishing 29th in the NFL. With Chicago knocking on the door in the NFC thanks much in part to an explosive offense, it’s time general manager Ryan Poles did what was necessary to fix things on the other side of the ball.

Unfortunately, the Bears have a complicated financial situation, so they probably won’t be able to spend a ton of money in free agency. That means they will likely have to rely on the NFL Draft to fill their most prominent holes.

On that note, Anthony Miller of Bear Goggles On has identified a potential solution for Chicago up the middle: Florida Gators star Caleb Banks.

Chicago Bears predicted to draft Caleb Banks

In a three-round mock draft, Miller predicted the Bears to select Banks with the 25th overall pick, even after the mammoth 6-foot-6, 330-pound defender cut his Scouting Combine workout short due to uncomfortable cleats.

“Banks demonstrated his athletic abilities at Florida, but a foot injury cost him all but three games last season. He tested well at the NFL Combine as he had the second-longest broad jump with 9’6″,” Miller wrote. “Chicago needs help at defensive tackle with Grady Jarrett underperforming horribly in 2025, and Dexter might now be traded. Banks easily comes in as a Day 1 starter that [Dennis] Allen can develop into a great starter for the next few years.”

Banks is definitely an intriguing player and is probably one of the most classic examples of a boom-or-bust prospect.

The 22-year-old spent his first two collegiate campaigns at Louisville before transferring to Florida in 2023. His sample size of production is rather small, with the vast majority of it coming in 2024 when he registered 21 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

The fact that Banks underwent foot surgery this past season is certainly concerning, especially for a man of his size.

That being said, there is no doubt that Banks’ potential is tantalizing, and the Bears could potentially land a star if they take him in the first round this April.

The post Chicago Bears linked to mammoth 6-foot-6 defender amid trade talks appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are certainly open for business this offseason. Not only are they shopping some of their own players, but they are also on the hunt for some significant additions.

More particularly, the Bears are looking to add an edge rusher, which is why they have been repeatedly linked to trades for both Maxx Crosby and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Considering Chicago totaled just 35 sacks in 2025, it makes complete sense.

However, the Bears have now received some really tough news on the trade market.

The New York Jets just traded edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, setting the tone for the edge rusher market heading onto March. The Titans paid a hefty price for Johnson, surrendering one of the NFL’s best nose tackles.

That means Chicago will have to pay up if it wants to acquire a star pass rusher of its own.

Will the Chicago Bears still try to trade for an edge rusher?

Johnson is not an elite defender by any stretch. He’s a good player for sure, but he isn’t Crosby. He’s probably more similar to Thibodeaux. But now, Tennessee just established a pretty significant price for other edges by landing him.

Are the Bears willing to pay a significant cost to acquire a pass rusher via trade? Or will they just fall back on the NFL Draft?

The good news is that this year’s draft class is loaded with talent at the edge rusher position, so Chicago can just select one of the many talented players on the board this April. That probably is the most likely route at this point.

Neither the Las Vegas Raiders nor the New York Giants are going to just give Crosby or Thibodeaux — respectively — away. Especially not after seeing what the Jets just secured for Johnson.

The Bears won the NFC North and captured a playoff victory this past season. They aren’t far away from contending for a Super Bowl, and finding another player who can get to the quarterback alongside of Montez Sweat is one of the final pieces they need.

But Chicago may not want to go for broke in a trade.

The post Chicago Bears just received brutal news on the trade market appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears should definitely look to revamp their defense this offseason after finishing 29th in the NFL in that category during the 2025 campaign.

While the Bears have some good pieces on paper, it hasn’t really meshed, and while injuries have played a role, it also may be time for Chicago to admit that it needs to make some changes.

On Wednesday, the Bears gave linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade, which comes in the midst of rumors that Chicago could cut the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker in order to save around $15 million.

Whether or not Ryan Poles will actually be able to extract anything of actual value out of Edmunds remains to be seen. He carries a $17.4 million cap hit for 2026, so teams may prefer to just wait and see if the get released rather than a surrender a draft pick and take that financial hit.

Nevertheless, some clubs might express interest in Edmunds, and Mike Luciano of Bear Goggles On has named the Seattle Seahawks as a potential trade partner.

Could the Chicago Bears trade Tremaine Edmunds to the Seattle Seahawks?

The Seahawks just captured a Super Bowl title largely on the strength of their defense, so Edmunds would certainly represent a pretty good fit in Seattle. There is also a previous connection for Edmunds in the Pacific Northwest.

“The defending champions not only could use one more inside linebacker, but their assistant head coach is Leslie Frazier, who served as Edmunds’ defensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills,” Luciano wrote. “Frazier knows as well as anyone how to get the most out of a player like Edmunds.”

While Edmunds has enjoyed a very solid three-year run in Chicago, he actually made both of his Pro Bowls in Buffalo. So reuniting with Frazier would almost surely be something in which Edmunds would be interested.

The 27-year-old racked up 112 tackles, a sack, four interceptions and nine passes defended in 13 games this past season. While his numbers look good, he struggled in pass coverage, posting a 52.1 grade in that category at Pro Football Focus.

That being said, Edmunds is still terrific against the run and remains an asset to a contending team like the Seahawks.

The post Chicago Bears connected to Pro Bowl trade with Super Bowl champions appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears definitely need to improve their pass rush this offseason, as they totaled just 35 sacks this past year. The good news for the Bears is that the edge rusher class this offseason is loaded with talent, and at every avenue.

Chicago can exploit a loaded free-agent market for a pass rusher. It can trade for one. It can select one in a deep NFL draft class.

Let’s focus on a potential trade for a second: what about New York Giants star Kayvon Thibodeaux?

ESPN has listed Thibodeaux among its top 15 trade candidates heading into the spring, tabbing him at a 70 percent chance to get dealt. What’s more, it listed the Bears as one of the top three possible landing spots for the 25-year-old.

But would it be worth the risk for Chicago?

Should the Chicago Bears trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux?

Thibodeaux registered just 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits in 10 games this past season, so there is reason for trepidation when it comes to acquiring him.

“Thibodeaux’s motor can run hot and cold, which makes him a difficult player to trust on a down-to-down basis,” wrote ESPN’s Ben Solak. “But a contract year could light a fire under Thibodeaux, who generates quick pressures with hand usage and a killer first step.”

Not only is Thibodeaux a bit inconsistent, but he also has a fairly checkered injury history.

The former first-round pick missed 12 games between 2024 and 2025. A hand injury sidelined him for five contests in the former campaign, and this past season, Thibodeaux missed the final seven games as a result of a shoulder issue.

On the flip side, Thibodeaux racked up 50 tackles, 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles during his last healthy campaign in 2023, displaying just how good he can actually be.

The Bears currently have Montez Sweat and no other reliable players in their edge-rusher rotation. Austin Booker showed significant potential in 2025, but he has yet to prove he can produce over the course of a full season. Meanwhile, Dayo Odeyingbo is recovering from a torn Achilles.

Chicago might have to part with a third-round pick in order to pry Thibodeaux away from the Giants, which is scary considering the University of Oregon product has just one year left on his contract. But the potential reward of adding Thibodeaux may outweigh the risks.

The post Bears named top trade spot for star pass rusher with glaring red flags appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears definitely need to address their defense this offseason after ranking just 29th in the NFL in yards allowed this past year, and in a free-agent class teeming with talented veterans on the defensive side of the ball, the Bears should be able to find some answers.

Chicago is currently $4.1 million over the salary cap, but it could open up a decent chunk of money with roster cuts and contract restructures.

One of the Bears’ potential cap casualties could be linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, as the team would stand to save $15 million by releasing him. But if Chicago does plan on cutting the two-time Pro Bowler, it will obviously need to find a replacement.

On that note, Greg Auman of Fox Sports has identified a potential off-ball linebacker for the Bears to add, naming Demario Davis as a candidate.

Chicago Bears linked to Demario Davis

Davis has spent the last eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints, establishing himself as one of the best linebackers in the business. However, he has not exactly been doing a whole lot of winning in recent years, or really throughout his career in general.

“Davis deserves to finish with a contender — 227 career regular-season games, but only five in the playoffs, and two wins at that,” Auman wrote. “He’s had six straight seasons with at least 1,000 defensive snaps, a model of durability at a demanding position.”

The Bears just won the NFC North and won a playoff game, so perhaps they could represent an intriguing destination for the 37-year-old.

Davis proved in 2025 that he still has plenty left in the tank, having racked up 143 tackles while playing in all 17 games. He made back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023 and also earned five consecutive All-Pro selections between 2019 and 2023.

The former third-round pick has finished with well over 100 tackles in nine straight campaigns, and for much of his career, he has also been a terrific pass rusher.

Davis would not only bolster Chicago’s defense on the field, but he would provide the team with an outstanding veteran presence in the locker room.

Should the Bears cut Edmunds, Davis would represent a fantastic replacement.

The post Bears predicted to land perennial All-Pro for massive Super Bowl boost appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Last offseason, the Chicago Bears signed defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, hoping that the wily veteran would bolster their interior. Instead, Jarrett proved to be a massive disappointment.

After inking a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Bears, Jarrett managed just 39 tackles, one tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits in 14 games this past season, finishing with a paltry 44.5 run defense grade at Pro Football Focus.

Perhaps the 32-year-old is simply past his prime at this stage, as he provided very little help next to Gervon Dexter up front.

In fact, neither Chicago defensive tackle was any good against the run in 2025, a big reason why the Bears ranked just 27th in run defense.

General manager Ryan Poles will surely be searching for a legitimate run stuffer this offseason, and Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport has identified whom he feels would be a “dream target” for Chicago this spring: Georgia Bulldogs star Christen Miller.

Chicago Bears linked to Christen Miller in NFL Draft

Miller is projected to be a second-round pick in the NFL Draft this April, and Davenport thinks the 6-foot-4, 305-pound defender would be the perfect fit in the Windy City.

“Miller’s numbers weren’t great in college, and at 6’4″ and 310 pounds, he’s a bit undersized to play nose tackle. But he has an intriguing blend of speed and athleticism and has played all over the defensive front,” Davenport wrote. “After a disappointing 2025 from tackle Grady Jarrett, Miller would be a welcome addition—especially after the Jarrett signing produced less-than-ideal results last year.”

Miller spent four seasons at Georgia and is coming off of a 2025 campaign in which he logged 23 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but he has been widely regarded for his ability to stuff the run.

In fact, Miller earned an 88.1 run defense grade at Pro Football Focus this past year, so while he may not be as massive as someone like former Bears All-Pro Ted Washington, he certainly has proven he can be a force in the trenches.

Chicago owns the 57th overall pick in the second round of the draft. If Miller is still on the board at that spot, the Bears may want to pull the trigger.

The post Chicago Bears connected to ‘dream target’ to replace $44 million bust appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears could definitely stand to upgrade their defense this offseason, as the Bears ranked just 29th in yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed this past year.

It didn’t stop Chicago from winning the NFC North and making a playoff run, but it’s absolutely something the Bears need to improve in the coming months, especially in such a tough division.

Unfortunately, Chicago does not exactly have the best financial situation, as the Bears are currently $4.1 million over the salary cap, and while they can make some moves to clear some money, it’s not like they are ever going to be loaded with cap space this spring.

That’s what makes the recent news that defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson could be on the move that much more disappointing.

During a recent appearance on a live stream with Raud, Gardner-Johnson was asked if he would consider returning to the Philadelphia Eagles, and he wasted no time stating that he is more than open to a reunion.

The Chicago Bears could lose C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Gardner-Johnson was a revelation for the Bears in 2025. He joined the team in late October after being released by the Baltimore Ravens (he was also cut by the Houston Texans earlier in the year), and in 10 games with Chicago, he registered 51 tackles, three sacks, a couple of interceptions and four passes defended.

The 28-year-old is being projected to land a one-year, $2.3 million contract in free agency (via Spotrac), which is infinitely affordable. But for a Bears team that much watch every dime it spends, it could prove problematic. Plus, there is a great chance Gardner-Johnson lands more than that on the open market.

While Gardner-Johnson’s attitude has been a problem at previous stops, he has proven to be a productive player, having played a pivotal role on the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning squad in 2024 when he racked up 59 tackles, six interceptions (including a pick-six) and 12 passes defended.

Considering he is still relatively young, it stands to reason that Gardner-Johnson could net a multi-year deal next month, which is where things could get sticky for a Bears team that would surely like him back.

Remember: Chicago is also probably losing Jaquan Brisker, and All-Pro safety Kevin Byard is hitting free agency, as well.

The post Chicago Bears could lose critical defender over a measly $2.3 million appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are definitely one of the best teams in baseball on paper thanks to a strong offseason in which they swung a trade for pitcher Edward Cabrera and signed Alex Bregman in free agency.

Yes, the Cubs lost Kyle Tucker (and to the Los Angeles Dodgers, of all teams), but the rest of their roster is undeniably impressive.

As a result, it will be tough for some fringe players to actually make Chicago’s roster, and that includes pitcher Ben Brown.

Brown made 25 appearances and 15 starts last season, going 5-8 with a 5.92 ERA while allowing 121 hits and racking up 121 strikeouts over 106.1 innings of work. The strikeout numbers were impressive, but the overall results were obviously more than questionable.

The 26-year-old is now in a tough spot with the Cubs given their starting rotation depth, but Brandon Glick of Cubbies Crib has pitched a potential solution for Brown: moving to the bullpen.

The Chicago Cubs should make Ben Brown a full-time reliever

For some reason, Chicago is insisting on attempting to make Brown a starter when it seems pretty clear that he has the stuff to become a very good reliever.

“The problem is (and remains) that he only has two offerings. Brown would make for a fine reliever with his combination of velocity and big breaker, but the Cubs remain committed to keeping him stretched out for the rotation,” Glick wrote. “That’s a tall ask for someone who can’t really make it through the order multiple times without showing every trick up his sleeve.”

Relievers typically have only a couple of key pitches that they employ, and in Brown’s case, it certainly works for him when it comes to fanning hitters. He also has pretty good control, owning a lifetime 2.8 BB/9 through two big-league campaigns. He also owns a very respectable 3.63 K/BB ratio.

So why is Chicago being stubborn in trying to give Brown a spot in the rotation?

The right-hander posted a 6.30 ERA as a starter in 2025. Sure, his 4.99 ERA out of the bullpen wasn’t sparkling, but his 4.44 K/BB ratio as a relief pitcher indicates that there is potential for Brown to actually become an integral cog late in games.

The Cubs should absolutely abandon the idea of Brown as a starter and convert him into a reliever. We’ll see if they actually make the right move.

The post Chicago Cubs flamethrower urged to make major change to save his job appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears may be forced to cut linebacker Tremaine Edmunds this offseason, as the Bears have a disastrous salary cap situation and releasing Edmunds would save them a hefty $15 million.

Edmunds’ numbers in 2025 looked great, as he racked up 112 tackles, a sack, four interceptions and nine passes defended in 13 games. But a deeper look under the hood reveals that the 27-year-old may not have been as effective as his surface statistics indicate.

Edmunds posted a paltry 52.1 coverage grade at Pro Football Focus this past season, and in a pass-heavy NFL, that is very problematic for a linebacker. We know Edmunds is great against the run, but he carries a $17.5 million cap hit for 2026, the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract. That’s a significant blow for a player who appears to be declining.

Of course, if Chicago did part ways with Edmunds, it would have to replace him, and while the Bears could look to the NFL Draft, Joshua Queipo of Bear Goggles On has identified a more experienced option: Devin Bush.

Could the Chicago Bears sign Devin Bush?

Bush is headed toward free agency following a breakout campaign with the Cleveland Browns, and Queipo feels that he could be the best possible option.

“Devin Bush would cost more than [Alex] Anzalone, but still provide cash and cap savings for the Bears over keeping Edmunds,” Queipo wrote. “Bush was arguably the best linebacker in the NFL last year and offers the Bears’ defense fantastic upside.”

Bush racked up 125 tackles, a couple of sacks, three interceptions (including two pick-sixes), a pair of forced fumbles and eight passes defended this past season. What’s more, he managed an 80.4 coverage grade, ranking fourth out of 88 qualifying linebackers. On top of that, he registered an 87.6 overall grade.

The 27-year-old was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 10th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft and spent his first four seasons with the Steelers, enjoying an impressive rookie campaign but fading afterward. Bush then took a one-year detour with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Browns in 2024.

Defense was a major issue for the Bears in 2025, so bringing a fresh, elite face like Bush aboard would definitely go a long way.

The post Chicago Bears linked to breakout star to replace Tremaine Edmunds appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are definitely one of the best teams in baseball on paper thanks to a strong offseason in which they swung a trade for pitcher Edward Cabrera and signed Alex Bregman in free agency.

Yes, the Cubs lost Kyle Tucker (and to the Los Angeles Dodgers, of all teams), but the rest of their roster is undeniably impressive.

As a result, it will be tough for some fringe players to actually make Chicago’s roster, and that includes pitcher Ben Brown.

Brown made 25 appearances and 15 starts last season, going 5-8 with a 5.92 ERA while allowing 121 hits and racking up 121 strikeouts over 106.1 innings of work. The strikeout numbers were impressive, but the overall results were obviously more than questionable.

The 26-year-old is now in a tough spot with the Cubs given their starting rotation depth, but Brandon Glick of Cubbies Crib has pitched a potential solution for Brown: moving to the bullpen.

The Chicago Cubs should make Ben Brown a full-time reliever

For some reason, Chicago is insisting on attempting to make Brown a starter when it seems pretty clear that he has the stuff to become a very good reliever.

“The problem is (and remains) that he only has two offerings. Brown would make for a fine reliever with his combination of velocity and big breaker, but the Cubs remain committed to keeping him stretched out for the rotation,” Glick wrote. “That’s a tall ask for someone who can’t really make it through the order multiple times without showing every trick up his sleeve.”

Relievers typically have only a couple of key pitches that they employ, and in Brown’s case, it certainly works for him when it comes to fanning hitters. He also has pretty good control, owning a lifetime 2.8 BB/9 through two big-league campaigns. He also owns a very respectable 3.63 K/BB ratio.

So why is Chicago being stubborn in trying to give Brown a spot in the rotation?

The right-hander posted a 6.30 ERA as a starter in 2025. Sure, his 4.99 ERA out of the bullpen wasn’t sparkling, but his 4.44 K/BB ratio as a relief pitcher indicates that there is potential for Brown to actually become an integral cog late in games.

The Cubs should absolutely abandon the idea of Brown as a starter and convert him into a reliever. We’ll see if they actually make the right move.

The post Chicago Cubs flamethrower urged to make major change to save his job appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner is preparing to enter his final year of club control with the Chicago Cubs before hitting the free-agent market, where his contract could end up tipping the scales.

The Cubs have not been known for spending much money in general in recent years, and after signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, some feel that Hoerner is a sure-fire goner after 2026, especially with Matt Shaw possessing the ability to shift to second base.

Hoerner’s name has even surfaced in trade speculation throughout the offseason, although it would not make a ton of sense for Chicago to move him now with the Cubs angling toward World Series contention.

But is there any chance of Hoerner staying in the Windy City long term?

Well, the odds of the 28-year-old remaining in Chicago may have just dipped tremendously thanks to New York Yankees star Jazz Chisholm.

Nico Hoerner may have just been priced out of the Chicago Cubs’ range

In case you didn’t hear, Chisholm stated over the weekend that he is aiming to land an eight-to-10 year contract worth $35 million annually. So essentially, Chisholm wants a $350 million deal, which is enough to make your head spin.

If Chisholm is able to get that type of money, then imagine what Hoerner — who led all second basemen with 4.3 WAR in 2025 — will secure?

Now, of course, just because Chisholm says he wants $350 million doesn’t mean he will actually land it. Most have him pegged around $200 million on his free-agent deal, but maybe he knows something that we don’t?

Chisholm hit 31 home runs to go along with an .813 OPS last season, also stealing 31 bases. His numbers were impressive. If he posts even better stats in 2026, then his price will certainly increase, and while he still probably won’t get $350 million, his contract might surprise some people.

Then there’s Hoerner, a two-time Gold Glover winner who slashed .297/.345/.394 with seven homers and 61 RBI last year. He doesn’t have Chisholm’s power, but he is the far better contact hitter, and defensively, the difference between the two players is night and day.

Re-signing Hoerner was already going to be difficult for the Cubs, but if Chisholm ends up having that type of market, retaining Hoerner may have just become near impossible for Chicago.

The post Nico Hoerner’s future with the Cubs just received a devastating update appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears definitely have some work to do heading into the offseason when it comes to their financial situation, as they are currently $4.1 million over the salary cap with free agency looming in about three weeks.

Of course, there are ways to clear cap space. Restructuring contracts is one method, but another avenue involves cutting or trading players.

For the Bears, one of their most obvious trade candidates is tight end Cole Kmet, who began falling out of favor once Caleb Williams took the reins at quarterback in 2024. His role was then reduced even further this past season following Chicago’s decision to draft Colston Loveland.

Yes, two tight-end sets definitely work, but the Bears may wish to dump Loveland now in order to save $8.5 million (as long as they trade him before March 15).

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox has pitched an idea for Chicago in that regard, linking the Bears to a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Chicago Bears could trade Cole Kmet this offseason

More specifically, Knox has proposed that the Bears should trade Kmet to the Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.

“Chicago faces a projected cap deficit of $10.7 million and could save $8.4 million in cap space by trading Kmet before March 15,” Knox wrote. “While Kmet’s role might not justify his price point to the Bears, the 26-year-old should interest plenty of other tight-end-needy teams.”

Moving Kmet for a Day 3 pick may seem like a rather skimpy price, but he caught just 30 passes for 347 yards and a couple of touchdowns in 2025 and still has two years remaining on the four-year, $50 million extension he signed with Chicago in July 2023.

Kmet was originally selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and began establishing himself as a critical weapon as soon as his second season, snaring 60 balls for 612 yards. His best season came in 2023, when he hauled in 73 receptions for 719 yards and six scores.

The Notre Dame alum’s production has plummeted since then, and with Loveland now clearly the No. 1 tight end in the Windy City, a split might be best for all parties involved.

The post Chicago Bears linked to $50 million trade with NFC contender appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are definitely in need of pass-rushing help this offseason, as Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter were their only truly reliable players in that department this past year.

Perhaps Austin Booker will flourish more with a full 17-game campaign under his belt, but the jury is still out on him, and the Bears really do not have much depth behind him. Especially not after Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles halfway through 2025.

While Las Vegas Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby has regularly been pitched as a potential trade target for Chicago, it seems a bit unrealistic. However, another much more feasible edge rusher could emerge on the trade front: New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.

With the Giants having both Brian Burns and Abdul Carter on the edge, Thibodeaux seems like a prime trade candidate, especially with just one year left on his contract. But would the Bears make a push for the former first-round pick?

Could the Chicago Bears swing a trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux?

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine has tabbed Thibodeaux as one of Chicago’s top three trade targets this offseason.

“If taking on Crosby’s massive contract would be an issue then a player like Kayvon Thibodeaux would also be a good target. Brian Burns and Abdul Carter are the clear 1-2 punch in New York,” Ballentine wrote.

Thibodeaux entered the NFL back in 2022 and showed immediate potential, registering 49 tackles, four sacks, a couple of forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries during his rookie campaign. He then appeared to break out with 50 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 2023.

Since then, however, Thibodeaux’s time in New York has been severely hindered by injuries. He missed five games due to a wrist issue in 2024, and this past season, he was sidelined for the final seven contests of the campaign as a result of a shoulder injury.

The 25-year-old also totaled just eight sacks over the last couple of seasons, so the Giants may be prepared to move on from him.

But what would be the cost? The Bears may have to part with a third-round pick in exchange for Thibodeaux, which may seem relatively steep given his production the past two years. However, the University of Oregon product obviously has talent, and Chicago is in dire need of another pass rusher.

It might be worth it for the Bears to part with a Day 2 selection pry Thibodeaux away from the Big Apple.

The post Chicago Bears linked to major trade for former first-round pass rusher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears were one of the most exciting teams in the NFL this season thanks much in part to their dynamic offense led by quarterback Caleb Williams, but defensively, it was another story for the Bears.

Chicago finished 29th in the league in yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed in 2025, so changes certainly need to be made on that side of the ball.

While the Bears could definitely stand to add another pass rusher, they could also use some work in the secondary. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson is a cut candidate after a disappointing campaign, and safety Jaquan Brisker has probably played his last game in the Windy City.

Chicago does not have a ton of financial flexibility, so it probably won’t be able to land anyone of significance in free agency. The Bears could, however, get creative on the trade market, and Anthony Miller of Bear Goggles On has pitched a very enticing trade candidate for the club: Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III.

Could the Chicago Bears pull off a trade for Jessie Bates III?

Miller acknowledges that a potential Bates trade may be a bit of a stretch, but with former Bears executive Ian Cunningham now the Falcons general manager, perhaps he and Ryan Poles could connect on a deal.

“Bates is a stellar defender the Falcons love to have in their secondary, but they might be thinking about the future and bringing in younger talent,” Miller wrote. “If Chicago can get Bates back there with [Kevin] Byard, this could be an elite safety room.”

Miller’s proposal has Chicago sending a third-round pick back to Atlanta.

Bates racked up 98 tackles, three interceptions and six passes defended in 2025, earning a Second-Team All-Pro selection.

The 28-year-old was originally selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and spent the first five years of his career with the Bengals, notching Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2020. He signed with the Falcons in 2023 and rattled off 132 tackles, six picks, three forced fumbles and 11 passes defended, making his first Pro Bowl while achieving Second-Team All-Pro recognition yet again.

Bates has also been incredibly durable, having played in all 17 games three straight seasons. He is entering the final year of his contract and is slated to earn a shade over $14 million in 2026.

There is no doubt that acquiring Bates would be a monumental addition for the Bears’ defense.

The post Bears connected to new All-Pro trade that would change their entire defense appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The future of Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner was immediately called into question following the team’s decision to sign Alex Bregman in free agency, considering that Matt Shaw has now been relegated to a super utility role.

Could the Cubs trade Hoerner and move Shaw to second base?

It’s a possibility, especially when you take into account the fact that Hoerner has just one year remaining on his contract and would cost a small fortune in free agency. The 28-year-old posted a 4.8 WAR in 2025, which led all second basemen.

However, the chances of Chicago — which is clearly trying to contend for a World Series next season — actually moving Hoerner now seem relatively slim.

Not only is Hoerner integral to the Cubs’ success, but Patrick Mooney of The Athletic has revealed that the trade cost for the two-time Gold Glover would be extravagant.

The Chicago Cubs’ asking price for Nico Hoerner is wild

So, what exactly would Chicago expect in return in a potential Hoerner trade?

“To acquire Hoerner, the Cubs would need something close to a Kyle Tucker-like return,” Mooney wrote. “In that deal, the Houston Astros acquired a 25-year-old infielder with three years of control coming off an All-Star season, an MLB pitcher with upside and an ascending top prospect. That’s how much the Cubs value Hoerner.”

The chances of Chicago landing that type of haul in exchange for Hoerner are highly improbable. Not that Hoerner isn’t a terrific player, because he is. But he is not quite on the same level as Tucker, who was viewed by many as one of the best players in baseball at the time the Cubs acquired him.

“It’s very unlikely another team would value Hoerner that highly, but it can’t be ruled out,” Mooney added.

Hoerner slashed .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs and 61 RBI over 649 plate appearances this past season and hit .419 in the playoffs when most of the Cubs’ lineup — including Tucker — was struggling to get on base.

The former first-round pick owns a lifetime .282/.340/.384 slash line and has always been a tremendous defensive player, so he absolutely has incredible value. But Hoerner is probably more valuable to Chicago than he is to any other club at this point.

Perhaps the Cubs would revisit a Hoerner move at the trade deadline, but for now, he will likely remain in the Windy City.

The post Chicago Cubs’ astronomical trade demands for Nico Hoerner revealed appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears were just eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, so now, they will be heading into an offseason full of tough decisions.

The Bears unfortunately do not have a whole lot wiggle room under the salary cap right now, so they will have to make some difficult roster cuts in order to clear some space. Could that mean parting ways with one of their best players?

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson — who signed a four-year, $76 million contract extension with Chicago in March 2024 — has been floated as a potential cap casualty for the Bears, and Mike Payton of A to Z Sports feels that the two-time Pro Bowler could land with one of the worst teams imaginable: the Detroit Lions.

“Johnson is coming off a bad year and an injury, so the Bears are likely to cut bait. The Lions need cornerback depth, and if Johnson can get back to the player he was before 2025, he can help the Lions get some more revenge on the Bears in 2026,” Payton wrote. “The fact that he’s 27 means the Lions might be able to get a couple of years out of him.”

That could end up being disastrous for Chicago.

Will the Chicago Bears cut Jaylon Johnson?

The Bears certainly aren’t guaranteed to cut ties with Johnson, but knowing their unenviable financial situation, it’s something they may strongly consider.

It could end up coming back to haunt Chicago, as Johnson is a terrific player when healthy. He made back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 2023 and 2024, even notching Second-Team All-Pro honors in the former campaign after racking up 36 tackles, four interceptions and 10 passes defended.

However, staying on the field has always been difficult for the former second-round pick.

Johnson has played just one full season throughout his six-year NFL career, which came in 2024. Otherwise, he has averaged just 12.8 games per year, which simply isn’t going to work for the money he is making.

The University of Utah product appeared in just seven contests this season due to a groin injury, and he managed just a 58.2 coverage grade at Pro Football Focus during his actual playing time.

But given that Johnson is still young, there is a chance he goes on to have a huge year next season, and if that ends up being with the Lions, it would hurt that much more for the Bears.

The post Chicago Bears could lose $76 million Pro Bowler in gut-wrenching fashion appeared first on ChiCitySports.

When the Chicago Cubs acquired Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros last winter, the general expectation was that it would probably be a one-year stay for Tucker in the Windy City.

Ultimately, it was, as Tucker just signed a four-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cubs never appeared to be under any type of serious consideration to re-sign the four-time All-Star.

That Chicago was not willing to spend $60 million annually on a player was not surprising. But why were the Cubs, who play in one of the largest markets in baseball, not even a remote threat to retain their best player?

Well, perhaps things were never quite simpatico between Tucker and Chicago, which the Cubbies may have made fairly clear by omitting Tucker from their 2025 highlight reel at Cubs Convention. But what exactly happened to potentially cause Tucker’s relationship with Chicago to sour?

Did Kyle Tucker have a beef with the Chicago Cubs?

We’ve actually heard this multiple times this winter.

First, Joey Christopoulos of CHGO Sports insinuated that Tucker may have had an issue with the Cubs stemming from the way they handled his calf injury late in the year, claiming that “mistrust” may have formed between Tucker and Chicago brass.

Then, on Friday, Matt Spiegel of 670 The Score revealed that Tucker didn’t have a very strong bond with the Cubs and that he never really felt attached to the team.

Maybe Tucker just never really wanted to be in Chi-Town to begin with. Or perhaps the Cubs did something to cause the relationship to deteriorate. Whatever the case may be, Tucker clearly had no interest in returning to Chicago, and he went as far to join one of the club’s top rivals in the National League.

The Cubs certainly did not come up empty-handed this winter, swinging a trade for Edward Cabrera and signing Alex Bregman. But things obviously would have looked a heck of a lot nicer if they would have been able to re-sign Tucker, as well.

But evidently, they never had much of a chance to do so.

The post Kyle Tucker apparently may have had a beef with the Chicago Cubs appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have been surprisingly busy over the last several weeks, swinging a trade to acquire pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins while also signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year contract.

However, the Bregman addition may have ramifications.

The three-time All-Star will be making $35 million annually, which further complicates the chances of the Cubs re-signing Nico Hoerner next winter. Plus, Chicago’s infield is now a bit crowded, as Matt Shaw will now have to move into a super utility role.

That is, of course, unless Chicago trades Hoerner, and the possibility of that occurring may have just increased considerably.

Why? Because Bo Bichette just inked a three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets, which has unquestionably caused Hoerner’s price to rise.

Will the Chicago Cubs trade Nico Hoerner?

We know Cubs owner Tom Ricketts is rather frugal as it is. That’s why Chicago’s decision to hand Bregman $175 million was a surprise to many. But will he open up his wallet again to retain one of the best middle infielders in baseball?

Hoerner led all second basemen with a 4.8 WAR in 2025, slashing .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs and 61 RBI. He also captured his second Gold Glove award, making him an incredibly valuable commodity.

So why would Chicago let him go? Well, the 28-year-old hits free agency after next season, and he is sure to command a rather hefty contract. One that the Cubs may not be able — or willing — to afford. Especially now that Bichette may have just reset the market for middle infielders.

Of course, the lingering lockout next December also plays a huge factor here, so Chicago may want to just trade Hoerner now, recoup all of the assets and be done with it. But at the same time, the Cubbies are clearly trying to contend based on the fact that they landed both Cabrera and Bregman.

Any Hoerner trade have to feature a massive return. If the Cubs did receive a substantial offer from another club, they may be tempted to pull the trigger, particularly after just watching Bichette land $42 million annually.

Will Chicago trade Hoerner this winter? Probably not, but the chances of the Cubs doing so between now and the July trade deadline have spiked.

The post Cubs’ chances of trading Nico Hoerner just increased exponentially appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have certainly been one of the biggest winners of the MLB offseason, as they swung a trade to land pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins and also signed third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency.

Yes, they did just watch as Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it didn’t look like they ever had a real chance of re-signing Tucker anyway.

But are the Cubs done making moves?

Some feel that another big trade could be coming for Chicago, especially with its infield now a bit crowded after the Bregman acquisition. And with second baseman Nico Hoerner preparing to enter the final year of his contract, he has been deemed a prime trade candidate.

Mark Powell of FanSided has proposed a trade in which the Cubs would send Hoerner to the Boston Red Sox and reap quite the talented strikeout artist in return.

Chicago Cubs could land a dynamic pitcher from the Boston Red Sox

Powell has Chicago sending Hoerner to the Red Sox in exchange for three prospects: pitchers Payton Tolle and Sadbiel Delzine as well as second baseman Henry Godbout.

While Godbout is an impressive talent in his own right and Delzine is an intriguing 18-year-old out of Venezuela, none of the prospects are quite as enticing as Tolle, who even made his big-league debut in Boston last season.

Tolle made seven appearances and three starts with the Red Sox in 2025, logging a 6.61 ERA while allowing 18 hits and totaling 19 strikeouts over 16.1 innings. That’s a small sample size, so we can’t judge Tolle based off of that.

He did, however, rack up 133 punchouts across 91.2 frames on the minor-league level in 2025, good for an average of 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Considering that the Cubs have very limited pitching depth in their organization, it’s hard not to be tantalized by those numbers.

The question is, would Chicago actually want to move Hoerner?

Should the Chicago Cubs actually trade Nico Hoerner?

Hoerner was one of the Cubs’ best players in 2025, slashing .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs and 61 RBI over 649 plate appearances while playing tremendous defense. In fact, his 4.8 WAR led all second basemen.

He has been very consistent since entering the majors in 2019, owning a lifetime .723 OPS while bagging a couple of Gold Gloves. The problem is whether or not Chicago will pay him past 2026, especially after signing Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract.

We know that owner Tom Ricketts is rather stingy as it is, so it stands to reason that next season could be Hoerner’s last in the Windy City.

That being said, by going out and landing Cabrera and Bregman, the Cubs signaled that they are trying to win now, so why would they move Hoerner at this point? They would be better off keeping Hoerner, moving Matt Shaw into a super utility role and then re-evaluating at the trade deadline.

The post Cubs-Red Sox trade proposal ships dynamic strikeout artist to Chicago appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have shockingly struck big twice this month, first swinging a trade for pitcher Edward Cabrera and then signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract in free agency.

Could the Cubs have yet another move up their sleeves?

Well, second baseman Nico Hoerner has been the subject of trade speculation following Chicago’s decision to sign Bregman, as there is currently no room for Matt Shaw in the starting lineup. The most likely scenario is that Shaw takes on a super utility role, but with Hoerner entering his final year before free agency, we cannot entirely rule out a trade.

Horner would certainly have no shortage of suitors, as the two-time Gold Glover slashed .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs and 61 RBI over 649 plate appearances in 2025 while playing sparkling defense, which the pair of Gold Glove award would suggest.

But could the Cubs do something as unthinkable as trade Hoerner to the Los Angeles Dodgers? Brandon Glick of Cubbies Crib feels it’s a possibility.

Could the Chicago Cubs swing a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Why on earth would a National League contender want to help the Dodgers get better?

Well, Glick actually thinks Los Angeles could represent a strong trade partner for Chicago due to all of the depth it possesses in its farm system.

“Hoerner’s glove and bat would represent a massive upgrade for them at the position, and they have so much talent on both sides of the ball to entice the Cubs with,” Glick wrote. “Heck, their farm system ranks among the best in the sport, even after two straight World Series runs.”

Glick cited how the Cubs were able to pry first baseman Michael Busch away from the Dodgers back in January 2024 and that it may be smart to revisit that well, but Chicago wasn’t trading an All-Star-caliber player to Los Angeles in return back at that time.

Hoerner has never made an All-Star team himself, but there is no doubt that he is one of the best middle infielders in baseball. In fact, the 28-year-old led all second basemen with a 4.8 WAR this past season. Imagine sending him to a Dodgers team that has already won back-to-back championships?

It’s hard to envision the Cubs doing this, as they are attempting to dethrone Los Angeles.

Chances are, Hoerner will stay put unless some club comes knocking with a tremendous offer … and it almost certainly won’t be the Dodgers.

The post Chicago Cubs linked to unthinkable trade with Los Angeles Dodgers appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs landed third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million contract on Saturday night, a rather jarring signing considering the Cubs have not exactly spent a ton of money in recent offseasons.

But while most Chicago fans are celebrating the move, which followed the team’s trade for pitcher Edward Cabrera, there are some who are not so enamored with the Cubs’ decision.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield, for example, gave Chicago a C-plus grade for the Bregman addition and isn’t so sure the Cubs made the right move in giving him $35 million annually.

“There is an argument that Alex Bregman’s name recognition exceeds his actual on-field value,” Schoenfield wrote. “… He hasn’t been one of the top 10 players in the league in any single season across the past six campaigns. This deal gives a lot of money for a player of this level who is entering his age-32 season.”

Schoenfield went on to question how much better the Cubs have actually gotten by adding Bregman, even though he also qualified his entire assessment by saying that every major-league team would have to have Bregman on its roster.

My question is, what was Chicago supposed to do?

Chicago Cubs’ move for Alex Bregman was the right one

It’s true that Bregman isn’t quite as elite as he once was. He made back-to-back All-Star appearances with the Houston Astros in 2018 and 2019, finishing top five in AL MVP voting both years. He even finished second during the latter campaign.

But between 2020 and 2024, Bregman did not make a single trip to the midsummer classic. He finally earned a third All-Star selection with the Boston Red Sox last season, but even then, his numbers weren’t eye-popping, as he slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI over 495 plate appearances (he missed some time due to injury).

Regardless, the Cubs badly needed another bat after losing Kyle Tucker, and Bregman was one of the top position players available.

While Bregman may not be Tucker, he absolutely makes Chicago better. Without him, the Cubs would sorely be lacking in terms of offensive pop, which Bregman certainly brings to the table. It should also be noted that the 31-year-old remains a terrific defender at the hot corner.

It’s fair to criticize the AAV, but if Chicago didn’t sign Bregman, then everyone would be lambasting the Cubs for being cheap.

Hats off to Tom Ricketts and Jed Hoyer for pulling the trigger.

The post Cubs’ Alex Bregman signing raises red flags you wouldn’t expect appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have already struck once this winter, landing pitcher Edward Cabrera in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins. But are they primed to make another move?

While Cabrera was a much-needed addition to the starting rotation, the Cubs still need to add another bat. It’s looking like Kyle Tucker is a goner in free agency, which leaves a massive hole in Chicago’s lineup.

We have already heard throughout the offseason that third baseman Alex Bregman is a potential target for the Cubs, and recently, another interesting — and familiar — name surfaced: outfielder Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger spent two seasons in Chicago between 2023 and 2024 before being traded to the New York Yankees last winter. Now, the 30-year-old is on the open market, and the Cubs have checked in on the former NL MVP.

However, Chicago’s interest may be short lived.

Chicago Cubs receive crushing news on Cody Bellinger

The Cubs do have some money to spend, as Cabrera will only cost them $3.75 million in 2026. But do they really want to spend $36-37 million on Bellinger?

Apparently, that is what Bellinger and agent Scott Boras are demanding in free agency, and over seven years, to boot. It seems wildly unlikely that Chicago will match that price, especially given how tight Tom Ricketts has been with the budget in recent years.

Bellinger is a good player, but he is not quite worth that much.

This past season, the lefty slugger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI over 656 plate appearances for the Yankees while playing stellar corner outfield defense. But he didn’t even make an All-Star team, and he hasn’t played in a midsummer classic since 2019, his MVP season.

Since that MVP campaign, Bellinger has really only had two very good seasons, and given his injury history, he would be a considerable risk at $30 million annually over five years; let alone $36-37 million across seven.

At this point, the Cubs seem more likely to turn their attention to Bregman, although based on Bellinger’s asking price, you now have to seriously worry about how much Bregman would cost, as well.

We’ll see if Chicago is able to make a significant move for a bat in the coming weeks.

The post Cubs receive crushing news in pursuit of top free agent slugger appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have largely been getting shut out in the transfer portal, and with teams starting to load up on the top players, it’s starting to become very concerning for Marcus Freeman and Co.

However, there is still time for Notre Dame to save face in the portal, and there is one player in particular the Fighting Irish should be heavily pursuing: former Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Quincy Porter.

Porter entered the transfer portal earlier in the week, and not surprisingly, Notre Dame was instantly pitched as a potential landing spot for the former five-star recruit. Remember: the Fighting Irish were one of the top destinations for Nick Marsh, too, only to watch him sign with Indiana.

It’s time for Freeman to put the pedal to the metal and add Porter to salvage what has been a nightmarish to start to the offseason in South Bend.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish must add Quincy Porter in the transfer portal

Porter appeared to have a bright future at Ohio State, but with the Buckeyes bringing in fellow five-star commit Chris Henry Jr. to play alongside of Jeremiah Smith in 2026, Porter decided he no longer wanted to remain patient in Columbus after logging just four catches for 59 yards this season.

Notre Dame certainly needs Porter’s more than Ohio State. That’s for sure.

Top wide receiver Malachi Fields is entering the NFL Draft, and while Jordan Faison appear to be returning, the Fighting Irish seriously lack depth behind him.

Yes, four-star receiver Micah Gilbert should receive more playing time next fall, and Notre Dame is importing five wide outs — including three four-star prospects — in its 2026 recruiting class. But there is no question that the Fighting Irish could use another body.

Porter was the fourth-ranked wide receiver and the 31st-ranked player nationally in the class of 2025, via 247 Sports.

At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds and with tremendous athletic ability, the Oradell, N.J. native could ultimately become a stud before long.

With the Fighting Irish already having budding star CJ Carr under center, a match between Porter and South Bend seems like a perfect fit.

The post Notre Dame can salvage transfer portal nightmare by adding this player appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze was a full participant in practice on Thursday and no longer has an injury designation heading into his team’s Wild Card Round playoff matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.

Odunze had previously been sidelined for five straight games due to a foot injury and did not play in either of the Bears’ two regular-season meetings against the Packers. But he appears to be on track to take the field this weekend, and he has sent a strong message ahead of return.

“I can definitely provide an asset to this offense,” Odunze said. “It’s tough being out for five weeks and having to be on the sideline and have all that happen and go through that, the ups and downs of the season and not being able to contribute. As long as I have the option to be out there and contribute, I’m going to give it my all. I believe I can make a difference.”

Whether or not Odunze will be even close to 100 percent remains to be seen, but his mere presence on the field should pay dividends for a Chicago offense that had been humming when Odunze was healthy earlier in the season.

How effective will Rome Odunze be for the Chicago Bears?

In 12 games this season, Odunze caught 44 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns, averaging a robust 15 yards per catch.

The former first-round pick has been the Bears’ top wide receiver this year, especially with D.J. Moore having the least productive campaign of his career. However, it seems doubtful that he will be full gait against Green Bay.

Perhaps Odunze can serve as somewhat of a decoy, allowing fellow receivers like Moore and Luther Burden III to take center stage. Having him on the gridiron is certainly better than him being absent, but it will be interesting to see just how healthy he actually is.

Even though the Bears are home, many are picking the more experienced Packers — who are also banged up — to win this game.

We’ll see if Odunze and the rest of his Chicago teammates can continue to prove their doubters wrong against their hated NFC North rivals on Saturday evening.

The post Bears WR Rome Odunze sends defiant message before Packers showdown appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs swung a trade to land pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins in a move that should absolutely make them a better team next season.

However, this isn’t exactly an example of the Cubs spending, as Cabrera is slated to make just $3.7 million in 2026. In fact, that is surely one of the reasons why Chicago was so motivated to swing a deal for the right-hander to begin with.

But now what?

The Cubs still need to add another bat, and they have been linked fairly consistently to Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette in recent weeks. They apparently even checked in on Cody Bellinger, and Kyle Tucker remains available. His demands may be dropping, too.

But is it possible that Chicago doesn’t make another truly impactful addition in free agency? Based on Tom Ricketts’ recent history, sure, and that will frustrate Cubs fans to no end, especially when you consider what their future payroll situation looks like.

Chicago Cubs fans should be prepared to get irritated

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic urged Chicago to pursue another bat in a recent piece, questioning whether or not the Cubs can truly make a run with their lineup as currently constructed.

Chicago certainly has room to add a hitter, as the Cubs are still about $32 million under the luxury tax threshold. And when you look at their payroll for the following years, well, let’s just say that there is no excuse for Ricketts not to spend.

“Their future commitments – $39 million in 2027, $30 million in ‘28 and $26 million in ‘29 – are in the same range as the Cleveland Guardians, a team not exactly known for its spending,” Rosenthal wrote.

So why aren’t the Cubs being more aggressive again? Why is Tucker generally viewed as a sure-fire goner this winter?

Chicago is a huge, bustling city. Yet, the Cubs have not operated like a large-market franchise for years now. Yes, they traded for Tucker last winter, but it doesn’t mean all that much when you let him walk after just one season, especially considering what the Cubbies surrendered to acquire him.

Cabrera was a fine addition. No question. But now, Chicago needs to bolster its offense by signing a top bat. If the Cubs don’t do that, it will be rather difficult to take them seriously.

The post Chicago Cubs’ latest payroll update will aggravate fans even more appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are preparing to face the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs this Saturday, and while a playoff run is definitely the top priority for the Bears, they are almost certainly monitoring potential offseason moves, as well.

Chicago definitely has some holes to address this coming spring, and Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox feels the Bears could pilfer an NFC North rival to fill one of them.

In a recent piece where Knox listed the top 50 free agents slated to be available in March, he ranked Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker sixth and then tabbed Chicago as a potential destination for the 25-year-old.

“This past season, Walker was responsible for five sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s a far cry from the 12 sacks [Dan] Moore allowed in 2024 before getting his payday from the Tennessee Titans,” Knox wrote. “Set to turn 26 in February, Walker should be the top target of any team seeking a long-term left tackle in free agency.”

Knox is projecting Walker to land a four-year, $85 million contract.

The question is, do the Bears actually need Walker?

Chicago Bears may already have their franchise left tackle

Last April, Chicago selected Ozzy Trapilo in the second round of the NFL Draft with the intention of him possibly replacing Braxton Jones down the line.

Midway through the 2025 campaign, Trapilo did just that, supplanting Jones as the Bears’ starting left tackle. While he wasn’t exactly dominant, he was good enough to display that he could be Chicago’s left tackle of the future, managing a 70.0 overall grade at Pro Football Focus.

The Bears’ offensive line has been terrific as a whole this season, so with Chicago not having the most enviable salary cap situation heading into the offseason, it may not want to splurge so heavily on a tackle like Walker, who isn’t even a Pro Bowler.

Walker joined the Packers as a seventh-round pick back in 2022 and has certainly been solid, but how about this for a kicker: he registered a 64.6 overall grade at PFF in 2025, which was considerably worse than Jones. He also tallied a 55.4 run-blocking grade, which ranked 71st out of 89 qualifying offensive tackles.

Perhaps spending $85 million on Walker would not be the wisest move for the Bears.

The post Bears could steal Packers star in potential $85 million move appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs finally struck on Wednesday, acquiring pitcher Edward Cabrera in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins.

The Cubs shipped three prospects to the Marlins in the deal, most notably parting ways with outfielder Owen Caissie, who was expected to compete for legitimate playing time in Chicago this past season.

As a result, Seiya Suzuki is the Cubs’ de facto starting right fielder, something the team would probably like to avoid given his defensive deficiencies. It’s pretty clear that Suzuki is best-suited as ad designated hitter, which makes you wonder if Chicago will now be looking to add another outfielder.

Is it possible that the Cubs could somehow reunite with Kyle Tucker, who remains unsigned in free agency as we progress into the middle of January?

Based on a recent report, the door may be open.

Chicago Cubs could still re-sign Kyle Tucker

Bob Nightengale of USA Today recently revealed that Tucker may have to settle for a short-term deal in free agency as a result of his market slowing to a crawl.

“The Tucker market is the biggest mystery. He was projected to earn a contract in the $400 million neighborhood but could have to instead take a higher AAV on a short-term contract and hit the market again after two consecutive injury-plagued second halves,” Nightengale wrote.

Let’s say no team is willing to offer Tucker the massive contract he initially anticipated heading into the offseason. Could the Cubs jump back in and offer him a one or two-year deal at around $40-50 million annually?

Of course, this will depend on Tom Ricketts. The Cubs owner has been widely criticized for his refusal to spend significant money in recent years, and based on the way Chicago has approached this winter, it doesn’t look like that has changed.

But you can’t help but wonder if trading Caissie for Cabrera — who is slated to earn just $3.7 million in 2026 — has altered the Cubs’ strategy.

Tucker could potentially be open to a Windy City return if the price is right, and let’s be honest: Chicago has a World Series-caliber roster with the four-time All-Star aboard.

The longer Tucker remains available, the greater the chance that the Cubs try and swoop in to retain him.

The post Cubs could achieve shocking reunion with Kyle Tucker after latest report appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have been linked to a variety of players this offseason, ranging from Tatsuya Imai to Edward Cabrera to Alex Bregman.

Imai ultimately signed with the Houston Astros, the Miami Marlins’ asking price for Cabrera is probably too high and while Bregman is still available, it doesn’t seem like the Cubs are being overly aggressive in their pursuit of the All-Star third baseman.

So what exactly will Chicago do this winter, if anything?

Well, one thing is for sure: the Cubs need some pitching depth, and while Cabrera may prove too costly, there are certainly some other candidates for Chicago to target, such as Washington Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore.

But could another less popular name surface as a potential target for the Cubbies?

Paul Niemiec of North Side Baseball thinks so, floating San Diego Padres hurler Nick Pivetta as a possibility.

Could the Chicago Cubs swing a trade for Nick Pivetta?

Pivetta is interesting, to say the least.

The 32-year-old went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA while allowing 129 hits and racking up 190 strikeouts over 181.2 innings of work in 2025. He was so impressive, as a matter of fact, that he finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting.

Pivetta also has an interesting contract situation. He will earn $20.5 million in 2026 and has three years remaining on his deal overall, but his pact includes opt outs after 2026 and 2027.

“Though the Padres are still trying to compete, they’ve made it known they’re willing to sell high on Pivetta in order to add some MLB-ready talent,” Niemiec wrote. “He does have an opt-out after this season, so if he pitches well again, this will likely turn into a rental deal. The best case for the Cubs would be a situation where Pivetta remains an ace-level pitcher for this season, helps them make a deep playoff run, and opts out, leaving the Cubs free of paying $32 million over the last two years of the deal.”

While Chicago would be stuck paying his $20.5 million salary for 2026, Pivetta could serve as a potential one-year rental, especially if he pitches nearly as well as he did last season.

Of course, there are concerns with the right-hander, as he had never even logged a sub-4.00 ERA in eight big-league campaigns prior to 2025. Pivetta has been a solid pitcher for several years and has averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings over the course of his big-league tenure, but there is definitely reason to believe he won’t replicate his 2025 showing.

That being said, the veteran would still represent a great depth piece for the Cubs and probably wouldn’t cost too much in terms of prospect capital.

The post Cubs connected to intriguing new trade target amid rampant rumors appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are preparing to face the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs on Saturday night, and as if this being a postseason game isn’t dramatic enough, the fact that it features arguably the greatest rivalry in the sport only adds fuel to the fire.

The Bears and Packers split their regular-season meetings, but Chicago ended up finishing atop the NFC North division, and that was thanks much in part to its fourth-quarter rally against Green Bay at Soldier Field late last month.

The Bears are aiming to win their fist playoff game since January 2011, but legendary Packers safety LeRoy Butler seems to believe Chicago is out luck.

In fact, the Hall of Famer provided some pretty serious bulletin-board material to the Bears before the matchup.

“I really think the Chicago Bears are a tired team, they’re just worn out,” Butler said. “… Packers will win 28-14.”

Are the Chicago Bears really worn out?

Butler’s reasoning for saying the Bears are a “worn out” team is because of the fact that they had to expend so much energy with their fourth-quarter comebacks.

He may have a point there, but Chicago is a young ballclub that shouldn’t be too weary heading into the postseason. If anything, the Bears’ lack of experience could end up being a significant factor, as Caleb Williams is in just his second NFL season and went just 5-12 during his rookie campaign in 2024.

On the other side of the coin, though, Chicago has displayed the ability to win in high-leverage situations, so that should absolutely help them in January.

The Bears and Packers are both banged up, so injuries may play a role here, too. But Chicago may be getting back wide receiver Rome Odunze for the first time in over a month, and defensive back Kyler Gordon was just designated to return from injured reserve.

We’ll see if Butler’s comments ultimately prove correct. He certainly isn’t the only person picking Green Bay to win this game.

“There’s no answer for Jayden Reed and Christian Watson,” Butler added.

The Bears can definitely pin these comments on their bulletin board this week.

The post Packers legend provides Bears with flagrant bulletin board material appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have yet to make any truly significant moves this offseason, which has drawn the ire of Cubs fans who are growing tired of the front office becoming so stagnant.

While Chicago is a huge city, the Cubs have certainly not operated like a large-market franchise in recent years, so when they don’t make any major additions, the fan base is more frustrated than surprised.

And perhaps Chicago fans should be prepared to get frustrated again.

It’s no secret that the Cubs could use another starting pitcher, especially with such little pitching depth in their farm system and with a chunk of their rotation slated to hit free agency after 2026. But Chicago missed on Tatsuya Imai, and its trade market is slowed to a crawl.

Why? Because the Cubs seem to be unwilling to budge on their top prospects.

Chicago Cubs are hitting a roadblock in trade discussions

Chicago has been floated as a potential trade destination for Miami Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera as well as Washington Nationals hurler MacKenzie Gore. Other names have been mentioned, as well, both those seem to be the top two most likely targets.

But do the Cubs even have a chance to land either arm?

Not if they aren’t willing to pay the price, and Jordan Bastian of MLB.com questions whether or not Chicago would actually be amendable to parting with top young players like Matt Shaw, Owen Caissie or Moises Ballesteros in a trade.

“Chicago could perhaps thread the needle and solve both goals by exploring the trade market (Marlins righty Edward Cabrera comes with three years of control via arbitration, for example),” Bastian wrote. “That would hypothetically require being more open-minded to trading away a young player such as Shaw, Caissie or catcher Moises Ballesteros. The Cubs were unwilling to do that at the Trade Deadline last summer, when they looked into impact arms on the market.”

The problem is that in order for Chicago to land any talented young pitcher with multiple years of club control remaining, it will have to get aggressive and be willing to dig into its farm system.

The Cubs won 92 games in 2025 and absolutely had a World Series-caliber roster. They are in win-now mode, and most of their top prospects are position players. Cashing in some of those for a pitcher would not be the worst idea in the world, and given Chicago’s current pitching situation, it might actually be advisable.

The post Cubs hit major snag in trade talks for one frustrating reason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are preparing to face the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs this Saturday, marking the third time they will see their hated NFC North rivals in just over a month.

The Bears and Packers split their two regular-season meetings, and now, Chicago will be aiming to win its first playoff game since January 2011.

Heading into the much-anticipated matchup, the Bears have made a rather significant announcement concerning their injury report, revealing that offensive tackle Braxton Jones and cornerback Kyler Gordon have been designated to return.

Jones has been on the injured reserve list since Week 8 due to a knee issue while Gordon has been sidelined as a result of a groin injury he suffered in Week 15.

Both players could ultimately play pivotal roles against Green Bay on Saturday, especially given the other injuries Chicago is nursing.

Chicago Bears are banged up heading into the playoffs

Jones could potentially start in place of rookie left tackle Ozzy Trapilo versus the Packers. Trapilo was sidelined for the Bears’ Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions due to a knee/quad injury. Meanwhile, Gordon seems likely to replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who sustained a concussion during Chicago’s regular-season finale.

Jones was the starting left tackle going into 2025, but ultimately lost his job to Trapilo. So if the 26-year-old does have to play this weekend, he at least has plenty of experience and should be able to hold his own against an injury-plagued Green Bay defense.

Meanwhile, Gordon went into 2025 as the Bears’ starting nickelback but has appeared in just three contests as a result of a couple of different IR stints. Chicago signed Gardner-Johnson back in late October to replace Gordon in the slot, and the former Philadelphia Eagles champion has done a tremendous job.

But with Gardner-Johnson in concussion protocol, it’s looking rather unlikely that he will be able to take the field in the Wild Card Round.

Of course, the Bears are also dealing with Rome Odunze’s foot injury, which has kept him sidelined for over a month. Odunze could return this Saturday, but his status remains up in the air.

The Packers themselves are also having to fight through major injuries, so no one will be feeling sorry for Chicago.

The post Bears reveal huge announcement before facing Packers in playoffs appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are currently preparing for their Wild Card Round playoff matchup against the Green Bay Packers, so that is at the forefront of their minds. But we would be kidding ourselves to think that they are not at least monitoring potential offseason scenarios.

One potential target for the Bears after the campaign concludes could be Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who appears to be at odds with the Raiders after the team sat him the final two games due to a knee issue.

But while Crosby may be disenchanted with Las Vegas, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Raiders are open to moving him … or does it?

Las Vegas general manager John Spytek spoke to reporters on Monday and was asked about whether or not Crosby was untradeable, and he replied by saying that the five-time Pro Bowler “didn’t love the idea” of not playing the last two weeks and finished things off with a cryptic response.

“I love Maxx. He embodies what a Raider is,” Spytek said. “I’ve been pretty up front with that from the day I sat up here a year ago and I continue to believe that.”

In other words, Crosby is not untouchable.

Could the Chicago Bears swing a trade for Maxx Crosby?

The Bears could definitely stand to add another pass rusher. Montez Sweat led the team with 10 sacks this season, but otherwise, Chicago struggled to find consistent production from its pass rush. Austin Booker certainly showed positive signs, but he only played for half the year.

If the Raiders do ultimately place Crosby on the trade block, you can bet that the Bears will definitely be one of the first teams on the phone.

The question is, would Chicago be willing to surrender what it would take to bring the 28-year-old to the Windy City?

Las Vegas would ask for at least one first-round pick in return for Crosby and potentially more considering that the former fourth-round pick is under contract through 2029. The Dallas Cowboys landed a pair of first-rounders for Micah Parsons, so the Raiders may seek a similar price.

The Bears also have a rather delicate cap situation right now, so they may hesitate to acquire a player making $35.5 million in average annual value.

That being said, with Chicago moving up the ranks of contenders in the NFL, Crosby may be jus the better the Bears need to put themselves over the top.

The post Bears’ blockbuster trade chances may have just increased tremendously appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Recently, the Chicago Cubs were floated as a potential destination for Cody Bellinger, who spent two seasons with the Cubs in 2023 and 2024 and largely rebuilt his value after a rough few years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Now, Bellinger is a free agent after a strong 2025 campaign with the New York Yankees, and due to his versatility, he is one of the top players available on the market.

But do the Cubs actually have a legitimate chance of reuniting with Bellinger? Or is Chicago apparently checking in with Bellinger nothing more than a formality?

Well, based on the fact that the Cubs don’t really spend money these days, probably. Yes, Chicago has been linked to Alex Bregman this winter, as well, but I tend to buy the Cubbies’ interest in Bregman more because the need they have for a bat at third base.

Does Bellinger really fill a distinct need for Chicago? Unless the Cubs absolutely do not want Seiya Suzuki playing the outfield, then no, so I find it hard to believe that Jed Hoyer would spend whatever is left of the budget Tom Ricketts provided him on Bellinger.

Not only that, but the Cubs’ Bellinger connection has already received some bad news.

The Chicago Cubs probably aren’t landing Cody Bellinger

The Yankees have widely been viewed as the favorites to re-sign Bellinger, and they recently made him a second offer.

Not only that, but New York has also engaged the Miami Marlins in trade talks for pitcher Edward Cabrera, a deal in which the Yankees could ultimately send Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones to the Marlins. Would New York really jettison Dominguez or Jones if it didn’t expect Bellinger to return in left field next season?

Bellinger seemed to love his time in the Bronx, and it’s important to remember that he spent time in the Yankees dugout as a kid when his father, Clay Bellinger, played for New York in the late ’90s or early 2000s.

There appears to be strong mutual interest in a reunion between Bellinger and the Yanks, so where do the Cubs fit in here?

Is it possible Chicago is just being used as leverage? Or maybe the Cubs just placed a call to the former NL MVP to gauge his price?

More than likely, Bellinger will not be returning to the Windy City.

The post Cubs’ surprising Cody Bellinger connection already slapped with bad news appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish entered the transfer portal with very high hopes and had their sights set on multiple impact players who could help shape their national championship destiny heading into 2026.

Two of those names were wide receiver Nick Marsh and cornerback Jontez Williams, both of whom would have filled significant needs for Notre Dame. Instead, the Fighting Irish watched as Marsh committed to Indiana and Williams took his talents to USC in a pair of crushing blows.

So what is the issue for Notre Dame? Was it a lack of money? Did the Fighting Irish cheap out? Did Marsh and Williams simply not like what they heard?

Actually, it may have been none of those factors.

Ryan Roberts of A to Z Sports zeroed in on what actually could have been the primary reason in the Fighting Irish losing both top players: scheduling.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish messed up big time here

Notre Dame had visits scheduled with both Marsh and Williams on Monday, hoping to get the last meeting to try and sway the two stars. The problem? Neither Marsh nor Williams even made it to South Bend, as they both committed before the Fighting Irish even had the chance to woo them.

Roberts went on to say that Notre Dame seems to be using high-school tactics in its attempt to nab some of the top players available in the portal.

“Here is the problem: This isn’t high school recruiting,” Roberts wrote. “The transfer portal world is just so different. With such an abbreviated recruiting process, schools are better served by getting prospective players on campus first and trying to close while they are still there. In most cases, they will only have one chance to pitch. Notre Dame wasn’t on the table, made its pitch, and lost.”

Roberts makes a good point.

When it comes to high-school recruiting, you have a much longer period of time to land prospects. But when it comes to the transfer portal, we are talking about a matter of weeks and sometimes even days, which Notre Dame just experienced with Marsh and Roberts.

The transfer portal opened Jan. 2. Two of the Fighting Irish’s top targets were off the board by Jan. 5.

There is still time for Notre Dame to make moves, but it may need to alter its strategy.

The post Notre Dame accused of using ‘high school’ tactics amid transfer portal disaster appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have done a whole lot of nothing this MLB offseason when it comes to making impactful moves, and while we have heard them connected to some big names, nothing appears to be in the process of happening.

But will the Cubs continue to remain dormant throughout the winter?

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic feels it’s a possibility, noting that while they may end up on the right side of the Tatsuya Imai decision, he doesn’t anticipate that they will make any other significant additions to compensate for whiffing on the Japanese star.

“The industry-wide skepticism of Imai might very well be warranted. The Cubs, though, still need a starting pitcher (Zac Gallen?). And a top-flight bat to replace [Kyle] Tucker ([Alex] Bregman?). Based on their recent history, it’s probably best to bet the under,” Rosenthal wrote.

So, essentially, Chicago will continue sitting on its hands for the remainder of the season.

The Cubs won 92 games and made it to the NLDS this past year, where they ultimately fell to the Milwaukee Brewers in five games. Their roster had the framework of a World Series contender, so you would think the front office would make more of an effort, right?

Chicago Cubs fans may end up very unhappy this winter

For an organization that plays in such a large city and clearly has money to spend, it certainly does not operate like a big-market franchise.

Heck, even the Pittsburgh Pirates have been more aggressive than Chicago this winter, which tells you everything you need to know about the state of the Cubs with Tom Ricketts at the helm.

There is only so much Chicago fans can blame president Jed Hoyer if Ricketts does not provide him with much of a budget. After all, Hoyer did swing a blockbuster trade for Kyle Tucker last offseason, but based on Ricketts’ tight spending, it doesn’t look like the Cubs stand a chance of bringing him back in free agency.

Chicago did finally break its curse with a World Series title in 2016, so that takes some of the sting out of this, but you also get the feeling that the Cubs are wasting a brilliant opportunity to actually give the Los Angeles Dodgers a run for their money here.

The Cubbies have a strong roster and a farm system teeming with top position players. Why not go out and make a couple of more moves to put yourself over the top?

It’s looking like another frigid winter in the Windy City.

The post Cubs fans will be seething over this latest offseason update appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caleb Williams couldn’t quite get to 4,000 yards, but he did manage to set the Chicago Bears‘ single-season record for passing yards, finishing with 3,942 this year.

But how many more yards could Williams have had?

Well, Bears pass-catchers definitely left a considerable amount of yardage on the field for the second-year quarterback. In fact, Williams led the NFL in passing yards lost due to drops this season, finishing with 404 in that category.

Williams finished just 58 yards away from 4,000. Remove that much yardage from those 404 yards, and Williams still would have finished second in the league behind Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in that dreadful statistic.

Nice job, receivers.

Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams had a brilliant second half

Williams definitely got off to a slow start this season and was very inconsistent during the first half of the year, but he put together a scintillating run starting with Chicago’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 2.

From that point moving forward, the former No. 1 overall pick totaled 18 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions, one of which came during the Bears’ regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

On the 2025 campaign overall, Williams amassed 27 touchdowns and seven picks while completing 58.1 percent of his throws and posting a 90.1 passer rating. He also rushed for 388 yards and three scores.

Obviously, the completion percentage could stand to improve, and there are still some aspects to Williams’ game that could use some tweaking. But there is no doubt that the 24-year-old displayed significant progress down the stretch, and that was with No. 1 receiver Rome Odunze missing the final five games of the season.

Can Caleb Williams do it in the playoffs?

Now, the question is whether or not Williams — who showed a flare for the dramatic this year — can produce in the playoffs.

The Bears will be facing the hated rival Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round this Saturday, marking the third time Chicago will see the Packers within the last six weeks. The Bears lost the initial matchup in Green Bay back on Dec. 7 but then rallied to beat the Packers at home two weeks later.

Chicago will be hosting the matchup at Soldier Field after having won the NFC North division crown, but this will be a difficult game for Williams and Co.

We’ll see if Williams can get it done when it really counts.

The post Proof that Chicago Bears receivers screwed Caleb Williams this season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears still clinched the No. 2 seed in the NFC on Sunday, but they didn’t do it the way they wanted.

Instead of the Bears nailing down the 2-seed with a win, they had to rely on a Philadelphia Eagles loss, as Chicago fell to the Detroit Lions by a score of 19-16 in its regular-season finale.

The Bears fell behind 16-0 in the affair and rallied to tie the game in the second half, much like Chicago has been doing throughout the campaign. This time, though, the Bears were unable to close the deal, and safety Jaquan Brisker was left feeling frustrated afterward.

In fact, he appeared to throw some shade at the coaching staff.

“We were playing a whole bunch of man today,” Brisker told reporters. “No help in the middle. Lot of picks and rubs. Really, they schemed us up, and we had to do a better job covering. They just got us in the right call. They just out schemed us, just being honest.”

You can’t help but feel that was a shot at defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who is in his first year with the Bears.

The Chicago Bears’ defense has been a problem all season

It seems rather odd to complain about Chicago’s defense on a day where it only surrendered 19 points. However, the Bears coughed up 433 total yards to a Lions team that was playing for nothing other than bragging rights on Sunday.

Chicago finished the year ranked 29th in defense, and while injuries certainly played a role, there is also no question that the Bears’ defense underperformed in 2025.

Brisker himself had a rough season. While he registered 93 tackles, a sack, an interception and eight passes defended, he struggled in coverage all year, notching a 46.4 coverage grade at Pro Football Focus. That placed him 86th among 98 qualifying safeties.

The 26-year-old is in his fourth season with Chicago and is slated to hit free agency this offseason. Based on shoddy he has been in coverage last couple of years, it seems rather likely that the Bears — who are strapped for cash — will allow Brisker to walk in the spring.

Chicago will host the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs next Saturday.

The post Bears star throws shade at coaching staff after frustrating loss to Lions appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish entered the transfer portal knowing they would have to make some major additions, and while defensive tackle seems to be the team’s most glaring hole, they could also use another wide receiver, especially with Malachi Fields departing.

Notre Dame’s top target? Former Michigan State Spartans receiver Nick Marsh, who is the seventh-ranked wide receiver in the portal (and that feels a bit low).

Of course, Marsh is in high demand, so the Fighting Irish will be facing stiff competition for his services.

LSU and Indiana seem to be the top two contenders for Marsh outside of Notre Dame, and Ryan Roberts of A to Z Sports has provided an update in that regard. And it’s an update that will have Fighting Irish fans pumped.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish could be the favorites to land Nick Marsh

For as much as Indiana needs another wide receiver, Roberts has reported that the Hoosiers seem to be third in the running for Marsh even after his visit to Indy, which means this could be a two-horse race between Notre Dame and LSU.

Robert seems to believe the Fighting Irish could have the edge.

“I’m told that Notre Dame will be very aggressive for Marsh, and that includes from a money perspective,” Roberts wrote. “Marsh will demand a substantial amount of money. The staff understands this and will remain competitive as final offers come in. This is a Notre Dame-LSU battle right now, but the Irish have a very real chance. Hitting that official visit out of the park this week will be the key.”

Marsh spent two seasons at Michigan State and is coming off of a 2025 campaign in which he hauled in 59 receptions for 662 yards and six touchdowns. He posted similar numbers during his freshman year, finishing with 41 catches for 649 yards and three scores.

Keep in mind that the 6-foot-3 weapon achieved those stats with a rather shaky quarterback situation, as Aidan Chiles has been a pretty significant disappointment in Lansing.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, has budding star CJ Carr under center. A Carr-Marsh duo could be lethal, and with LSU still sorting out its own circumstances at signal-caller, the Fighting Irish could hold a pretty significant advantage here.

We’ll see if Marsh ultimately takes his talents to South Bend.

The post Notre Dame fans will be in a frenzy after newest transfer portal update appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls are definitely expected to be sellers by the NBA trade deadline, and one of their top trade chips is guard Coby White.

The problem is that while White has developed into an impressive scorer and is still just 25 years old, his trade value may not be what the Bulls had hoped, and it’s due to a combination of factors.

Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times has revealed the primary issues with White’s trade stock, noting that the calf injury that has persisted for the former first-round pick since August has been a major variable.

White is in the final year of his contract and was obviously hoping to bolster his value for his next deal, but he has played in just 16 games this season and is averaging 19.2 points and 4.7 assists a night on 44.5/32.4/79.6 shooting splits.

So not only is White being viewed as a half-year rental around the league, but he hasn’t even played that well.

Will the Chicago Bulls be able to land anything in return for Coby White?

That begs the question: will the Bulls actually be able to receive anything of value in exchange for White?

You would think that a young player who registered 20.4 points per game on impressive efficiency last season would have a rather robust trade market, but that does not appear to be the case. If anything, White’s trade value has dropped significantly.

Additionally, White has never been known as much of a defender, so the fact that his offensive production has declined so considerably this year is a major red flag.

The University of North Carolina product was initially expected to land a multi-year contract worth in the neighborhood of $30 million annually next summer, but now, it’s looking like White may struggle to come close to that number.

White entered the NBA in 2019 and had an up and down first few seasons, floating back and forth between the starting lineup and the bench. He finally established himself as a starter during the 2023-24 campaign when he logged 19.1 points per game and has been in Chicago’s starting five ever since.

Surely, a contender could use White, but whether or not any team would be willing to give up anything of real value remains to be seen.

The post Chicago Bulls slammed with brutal NBA trade deadline news appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have yet to strike this offseason, even though we have heard them mentioned in rumors for a bunch of big-name players over the last several weeks.

But could that be changing?

Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald has reported that the Cubs are one of several teams talking to the Miami Marlins about pitcher Edward Cabrera, who is one of the top pitchers potentially available on the trade market this winter.

This isn’t the first time we have heard of Chicago’s interest in Cabrera, as the Cubs were also tabbed as a possible destination earlier in the offseason.

Chicago is loaded with prospects in its farm system, and with the Marlins needing bats, the Cubs may be able to put together an enticing offer for Miami. However, there are definitely some risks involved for the Cubbies.

Edward Cabrera would be a major risk for the Chicago Cubs

No one will deny that Cabrera has great stuff. He touches 100 mph with his fastball and utilizes nasty breaking pitches, which has allowed him to average 10 strikeouts per nine innings over the course of his five-year big-league career.

But Cabrera also comes with some obvious red flags that should scare the Cubs.

The former top prospect entered the big leagues with the Marlins in 2021, but never pitched 100 innings until 2025. He has dealt with a litany of injury issues throughout his career, and while nothing has been serious enough to warrant surgery, his durability is a bit of a concern, nonetheless.

Even last season, when Cabrera tossed a career-high 137.2 innings, he missed some time due to an elbow issue.

The 27-year-old logged a 3.53 ERA while allowing 121 hits and registering 150 strikeouts. He also managed a career-best 3.1 BB/9, well below his lifetime average of 4.5 walks per nine innings.

Cabrera is under club control through 2028, so Chicago would almost certainly have to pay a substantial price to pry him away from South Beach. The benefit, though, is that Cabrera is slated to make just $3.7 million next season, so that would also leave the Cubs some money to sign a bat, as well.

The right-hander owns a career 4.07 ERA and 1.309 WHIP. The New York Yankees and New York Mets are also said to be in on Cabrera.

The post REPORT: Cubs pursuing trade for rising star with striking red flags appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are said to be on the hunt for starting pitching, but you would never know it from their lack of activity on the market.

Perhaps the Cubs aren’t supremely interested in any of the free-agent hurlers available, which could indicate that a trade may be on the horizon.

There are a handful of arms rumored to be on the block this winter, and while Milwaukee Brewers star Freddy Peralta would almost certainly be off limits to Chicago, there are some pivots the Cubs can make.

One potential option is Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore, who is said to be available with two years of club control remaining.

In fact, Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib has proposed a trade in which the Cubs would land Gore for three players, two of which are top five prospects in Chicago’s system.

Would the Chicago Cubs trade this much for MacKenzie Gore?

Misener’s proposal has the Cubs sending pitcher Ben Brown, catcher Moises Ballesteros and outfielder Kevin Alcantara to the Nationals in exchange for Gore, who made his first All-Star appearance this past season.

But would Chicago really surrender that much talent for a mostly unproven pitcher?

While Gore did make it to the Midsummer Classic in 2025, he logged a 4.17 ERA and 1.353 WHIP. Yes, he averaged a robust 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings, but his control issues (3.6 BB/9) were a bit problematic, especially down the stretch when the 26-year-old posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.703 WHIP over his final 11 starts.

Ballesteros — who looked impressive in 20 games with the Cubs’ big-league squad this past year — is the second-ranked prospect in Chicago’s system. Alcantara, meanwhile, is No. 5.

That is an awful lot to give up for a pitcher with a lifetime 4.19 ERA and 1.401 WHIP over four major-league campaigns.

The Cubs definitely need a pitcher. That much is true, and Gore would be an intriguing target based on his potential. But perhaps Chicago would be able to pry the left-hander away from Washington without having to cough up a pair of its top five young talents?

Unfortunately for the Cubs, Gore is one of the best options available. The Nationals know this, so they have leverage here.

The post Cubs’ huge trade proposal ships multiple top prospects for All-Star pitcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish definitely need to add a defensive tackle in the transfer portal, and some are actually expecting them to make multiple additions at the position.

Well, Notre Dame has already scheduled visits with two interior defenders, one of which is former UCF lineman Horace Lockett.

Why is this so significant? Because Lockett — who played in just four games in 2025 before tearing a pectoral muscle — is 6-foot-6 and weighs in at a gargantuan 355 pounds, making him just the run stuffer that the Fighting Irish need up the middle.

Lockett actually began his collegiate career at Georgia Tech in 2022 and spent three seasons with the Yellow Jackets, barely receiving any playing time. He transferred to UCF in December 2024 and logged 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack during his limited time on the field with the Knights this past season.

Horace Lockett could be just what the Notre Dame Fighting Irish need

The retirement of defensive tackle Donovan Hinish has certainly put Notre Dame in a difficult spot when it comes to defensive tackle.

The Fighting Irish’s depth at the position is incredibly scarce, so in order to ensure that they are sound in the trenches, they will almost have to add at least two defensive tackles to their roster via the transfer portal.

Although his statistical sample size is rather bare, it’s hard to think of a better option than Lockett based on his size alone.

A former three-star prospect, Lockett is the 33rd-ranked defensive lineman in the transfer portal this winter, which feels a bit low given his potential. Had he not suffered a season-ending injury so early in 2025, he may have enjoyed a breakout campaign.

But because of Lockett’s lack of overall production, the jury is still largely out on the Atlanta native.

Lockett has one year of eligibility remaining, and it would certainly be nice for Notre Dame to add him for the chance of a national championship run in 2026. He also has visits lined up with Nebraska, Ohio State, Ole Miss and South Carolina.

The Fighting Irish lost their first two games of 2025 before reeling off 10 straight victories, but were ultimately left out of the College Football Playoff. They also declined a bowl invitation.

The post Notre Dame closing in on popular 355-pound behemoth in transfer portal appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears‘ defense has been a source of contention all season long, and one of the most prominent issues with the unit has been its pass rush.

The Bears have amassed a grand total of just 32 sacks on the year, and while that number likely would have been better had Austin Booker not been sidelined for the first half, it’s obvious that Chicago needs reinforcements, especially after Dayo Odeyingbo’s Achilles injury.

The problem is that the Bears don’t have much cap room heading into the offseason, so they likely won’t be able to rectify this issue in free agency. Chicago will have to turn to the NFL Draft, but luckily, this upcoming class is deep at edge rusher.

Bleacher Report published a piece detailing every NFL team’s biggest draft needs, and for the Bears, edge rusher was not surprisingly near the top of the list. As for B/R’s suggestion for Chicago? Michigan Wolverines star Derrick Moore.

Derrick Moore would be a great pickup for the Chicago Bears

Moore is projected to be a Day 2 pick in this year’s NFL Draft and just completed a 2025 campaign in which he racked up 30 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and a couple of forced fumbles.

The 23-year-old arrived at Michigan in 2022 and won a national championship as soon as his sophomore season, finishing with 34 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and a defensive touchdown throughout the run.

Overall, Moore has accumulated 21 sacks during his collegiate tenure, utilizing his tremendous explosiveness to beat tackles off the edge. There is no question that Moore possesses the all-around repertoire to develop into a strong pass rusher on the professional level, so the Bears should seriously consider him this April.

Montez Sweat leads Chicago with 9.5 sacks this season. The Bears were hoping that Odeyingbo would help solve their pass-rushing issues, but the $48 million free-agent signing managed just one sack in eight games before going down for the year.

Chicago could expect a breakout campaign from Booker in 2026, but it would definitely benefit the Bears to add another pass rusher to provide some insurance, especially considering that Sweat, while good, has not been as dominant as Chicago hoped since it acquired him in a midseason trade with the Washington Commanders back in 2023.

The post Bears connected to 21-sack champion in major offseason prediction appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs still need to add another pitcher this offseason, and after whiffing on Tatsuya Imai, their options are now even slimmer.

Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Zac Gallen are the top pitchers remaining in free agency, and while Gallen seems like a prime bounce-back candidate, none of the options are overly appealing due to the price point.

Of course, the Cubs could always explore the trade market, as they are armed with a bevy of top position players in their farm system that they could swap out for an extra arm. There may also be some rather intriguing pitchers available via trade.

But Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib offered up a suggestion that doesn’t make a ton of sense: Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez.

Could the Chicago Cubs swing a trade for Pablo Lopez?

Let me preface this by saying that Lopez is definitely a good pitcher. Since entering the big leagues with the Miami Marlins in 2018, he owns a lifetime 3.81 ERA, 3.61 FIP and 1.175 WHIP. He has also averaged a very solid 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

But Lopez isn’t exactly the frontline ace the Cubs need, and he may also be a bit too expensive for their taste.

Lopez has two years remaining on the four-year, $73.5 million extension he signed with the Twins and is slated to earn $21.75 million in both 2026 and 2027. Considering Chicago wouldn’t surpass the Houston Astros’ three-year, $63 million offer for Imai, it seems hard to imagine he Cubs would feel comfortable paying Lopez even more while also surrendering some top trade chips in the process.

Additionally, Lopez — who has historically been very durable — dealt with a couple of concerning injuries last season, suffering shoulder strain in June and then sustaining a forearm strain upon returning in September. He logged an impressive 2.74 ERA across 14 starts, but there is no doubt that the health issues are a bit worrisome.

Given how conservative Chicago’s front office has been in recent years, Lopez does not seem like the type of player it would target, even if the 29-year-old would absolutely help its rotation.

Now, Joe Ryan would be another story, but Minnesota does not appear open to moving him.

The post Cubs linked to $73.5 million trade that doesn’t make much sense appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Last year, it was painfully obvious that the Chicago Bears needed offensive line help, as quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times. In order to get the offense moving and to preserve Williams’ career, changes needed to be made.

The Bears proceeded to overhaul their offensive line during the offseason and now have four new starters in the trenches, but there is one holdover who continues to do a tremendous job: right tackle Darnell Wright.

Wright owns an 82.3 overall grade at Pro Football Focus in 2025, which ranks 10th among all offensive tackles. He has been particularly staunch against the run, coming in with an 85.7 grade (that ranks sixth among all tackles).

The former first-round pick becomes eligible for a contract extension after the season, and Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron is expecting something to get done.

Chicago Bears predicted to sign Darnell Wright to a contract extension

In his mock offseason, Infante has the Bears signing Wright to a three-year, $66.5 million contract extension, a deal that would keep him in Chicago through 2029.

“First and foremost, I wanted to get ahead of Darnell Wright’s impending free agency in 2027 and sign him to a contract extension,” Infante wrote. “They will presumably pick up his fifth-year option, but considering he’s arguably their most valuable long-term asset along the offensive line, it’s smart to extend him before he gets even more expensive.”

Great offensive linemen are hard to come by in this league, and Wright appears to be on the path to stardom.

Given that the Bears appear to have their franchise quarterback in Williams, it’s definitely wise to establish as much talent around him as possible for the long haul, and that especially includes providing him with superb protection up front.

You can already see what the improvements in the trenches have done for Williams this season, as the second-year quarterback has broken out during the second half of 2025.

Locking up Wright now is not only smart financially, but it would ensure that Chicago has one side of the offensive line fortified for years to come.

The post Bears predicted to make critical $67M move to help Caleb Williams appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have already zeroed in on wide receiver Nick Marsh in the transfer portal, but bolstering the receiving corps is far from the only move Notre Dame needs to make in the coming weeks.

In spite of ending the 2025 college football season on a 10-game winning streak, Notre Dame has some very obvious holes on the roster, and perhaps the most glaring need of all is in the trenches.

More specifically, the Fighting Irish need help at defensive tackle and defensive end, and they are already making a push for now-former Penn State defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam. But is Gilliam the only player Notre Dame will try to add at the position? Or will the Fighting Irish attempt to double down?

Nick Shepkowski of On SI feels that Marcus Freeman and Co. will be very aggressive, particularly in trying to bag interior defenders.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish expected to add multiple defensive tackles in transfer portal

Shepkowski has identified defensive tackle as Notre Dame’s most prominent need this offseason, and he is anticipating that the Fighting Irish will pursue multiple players at the position in the coming days/weeks.

“This already shorthanded group took a massive hit when veteran captain Donovan Hinish announced his retirement earlier this offseason,” Shepkowski wrote. “Notre Dame was already behind where it needs to be at this position compared to some of the regularly elite defenses, and Hinish’s retirement only hurt that more. Expect the Irish to add at least two interior defensive linemen, if not three, during this portal opportunity.”

Of course, that’s easier said than done.

The Fighting Irish will be battling a host of top-tier teams for the best interior defensive linemen in this year’s portal, and they are already facing stiff competition for Gilliam, who is also slated to meet with Indiana and Texas A&M.

Gilliam is the third-ranked defensive tackle in the portal, via 247 Sports.

The post Notre Dame expected to make multiple transfer portal additions at vital position appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is in the middle of a breakout season, particularly over the last several weeks. Over the last three games, Williams has thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions, and over his last nine outings, he has tossed 16 touchdowns and just two picks in total.

Something has clicked for Williams, and that’s even without top wide receiver Rome Odunze in recent weeks.

Part of that is because struggling receiver D.J. Moore has finally woken up, having logged three touchdown catches in the past three contests. Five of his six scores this season have come over the last six games, but it still hasn’t been a great campaign for the 28-year-old.

Moore’s issues have led to speculation that the Bears could trade him this coming offseason, which is a depressing thought given how dominant he was during his debut campaign in Chicago back in 2023.

In fact, Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron is predicting that Chicago will send Moore to the Tennessee Titans.

Chicago Bears send D.J. Moore to Tennessee Titans in mock trade

Infante has the Bears trading Moore to the Titans in exchange for a conditional fourth-round draft pick that would become a third-rounder if Moore hits 1,000 yards in 2026.

While Chicago does have Odunze and Luther Burden III at the position, moving Moore a year-and-a-half after signing him to a four-year, $110 million contract extension would be a gut punch.

The Bears initially acquired Moore in the blockbuster deal that sent the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in March 2023. Ironically enough, Chicago also ended up reaping a No. 1 overall selection in that deal, as the Panthers’ sent their 2024 first-rounder to the Bears. That pick ended up yielding Williams.

Moore hauled in 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns during his first season in Chi-Town, somehow missing out on the Pro Bowl. His production then took a major hit in 2024, as he caught 98 passes for 966 yards and six scores.

Fast forward to 2025, and the University of Maryland product has snared just 49 balls for 671 yards while reaching the end zone six times in what has been the worst season of his NFL tenure.

It seems rather clear that Williams and Moore have not formed a great rapport, which could very well lead to Moore’s exit this spring.

The post Bears connected to depressing WR trade amid Caleb Williams breakout appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have not done anything of real significance this offseason, and they just missed out on Tatsuya Imai. However, with the free-agent market potentially starting to move, the Cubs might get active here in the coming days.

We have heard the Cubs connected to shortstop Bo Bichette in free agency, but in order for them to add him, they would probably have to trade second baseman Nico Hoerner. They could then slide Bichette over to second base and keep Dansby Swanson at shortstop.

Whether or not that would actually represent an upgrade for Chicago is debatable. Hoerner is far superior to Bichette defensively, and while Bichette definitely possesses the better bat, it’s not like Hoerner is a complete slouch at the plate.

But in the midst of the Bichette rumors, Hoerner trade speculation has grown, and Jackson Roberts of On SI has pitched an idea in which the Cubs would send Hoerner to the Boston Red Sox.

Could the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox strike a deal?

If the Cubs do decide to move Hoerner, there would certainly be no shortage of potential suitors for the 28-year-old, but would the Red Sox make sense?

Roberts thinks so.

“Another team that hasn’t had a good second baseman in far too long, dating back to the pre-injury days of Dustin Pedroia,” Roberts wrote. “Boston is the other main team that has been active in the markets for [Brendan] Donovan and [Ketel] Marte, so it wouldn’t shock anyone if they were in on Hoerner.”

The Red Sox used Romy Gonzalez and former top prospect Kristian Campbell at second base in 2025, but based on their decision to pursue both Donovan and Marte, it appears that they are seeking more stability at the position.

Hoerner slashed .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs, 29 doubles and 61 RBI over 649 plate appearances this past season. He also stole 29 bases.

You would figure that Hoerner would largely benefit from the Green Monster in left field at Fenway Park, so he could become a doubles machine in Boston.

Of course, whether or not Chicago would actually move Hoerner is another story entirely. He has just one year of club control remaining, but he has been a lynchpin for the Cubs for years running. Trading him at this point would probably be a mistake unless the Cubbies can reap a massive haul in return.

The post Cubs linked to major trade with Red Sox amid Bo Bichette rumors appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish could definitely stand to add another wide receiver in the transfer portal this offseason, especially with top weapon Malachi Fields heading into the NFL Draft.

Well, the good news is that Notre Dame already seems to be getting busy on that front with the portal opening on Friday, as Steve Wiltfong of On 3 has reported that the Fighting Irish are one of the top two teams to watch for Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh.

Marsh is the second-ranked wide receiver in the transfer portal behind Auburn’s Cam Coleman, who was a late addition.

The 6-foot-3 playmaker spent the first two years of his collegiate career with the Spartans and immediately flashed tremendous potential right off the bat, catching 41 passes for 649 yards and three touchdowns during his freshman campaign.

Marsh then followed that up by hauling in 59 receptions for 662 yards and six scores.

Nick Marsh would be the perfect addition for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame already has one of the top up and coming quarterbacks in the country in CJ Carr, who threw for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions during his redshirt freshman season in 2025.

Now imagine adding Marsh into the mix?

While Marsh’s numbers may not completely jump off the page, it’s important to keep in mind that he had been dealing with a pedestrian quarterback situation at Michigan State, as Aidan Chiles has been a major disappointment for the Spartans.

Marsh is probably a more gifted receiver than Fields, who put together a spectacular year alongside of Carr this season. So you can understand why the Fighting Irish are apparently heavily pursuing Marsh.

Notre Dame went 10-2 this season, ending its year with 10 straight wins. It did not make the College Football Playoff and subsequently declined to play in a bowl game, so the Fighting Irish’s entire focus is on 2026.

We’ll see if Notre Dame can bag Marsh to generate significant excitement in South Bend.

The post REPORT: Notre Dame Fighting Irish favorites to land top WR in transfer portal appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Last year, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times, and while part of the problem was Williams holding on to the ball for too long, it was also blatantly obvious that the offensive line needed a massive overhaul.

Well, the Bears did just that, going out and swinging trade Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson while signing Drew Dalman in free agency. They also selected Ozzy Trapilo in the second round of the NFL Draft.

The end result has been spectacular, as Williams has been sacked on just 23 occasions in 2025 and Chicago’s rushing attack has broken out.

One of the biggest reasons for the turnaround has been Jackson, the right guard who has posted a 74.3 overall grade at Pro Football Focus this season. The reason? Jackson is finally staying healthy after playing in just four games with the Los Angeles Rams last season and having not played a full season since 2021.

Thanks to Jackson’s durability, he is earning himself a nice contract bonus just ahead of the NFL playoffs.

Chicago Bears star Jonah Jackson is getting a late Christmas present

Jackson was initially set to make $12.5 million in base salary this year, but because he has played in all 16 games (he is ironically questionable for this Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions due to an illness), he is getting a considerable bump in pay, per Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune.

“Right guard Jonah Jackson will have his 2026 base salary increased by $2.5 million from $12.5 million to $15 million,” Biggs wrote. “Jackson played in only four games last season for the Los Angeles Rams and missed five games in 2023 for the Detroit Lions. So the Bears put some money on the table for him if he could be durable this season.”

Jackson was originally selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft and spent his first four seasons in Detroit, making the Pro Bowl in 2021. He then signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Rams in March 2024, but was traded to the Bears after just one season.

It was a risky move for Chicago based on the fact that Jackson had been struggling to stay healthy for years, but it has clearly paid off.

The Bears are NFC North champions and can lock up the No. 2 seed in the conference this weekend.

The post Bears star’s contract gets major adjustment before NFL playoffs appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs missed out on Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who decided to sign a relatively cheap three-year, $63 million contract with the Houston Astros, a deal that contains opt outs after each of the first two years.

The fact that the Cubs couldn’t surpass that offer is beyond concerning, because it doesn’t exactly bode well for the remainder of their offseason.

Clearly, Chicago is still hesitant to spend money. The Cubs have not done anything of significance this offseason, and while it’s easy to blame president Jed Hoyer, the finger should truly be pointed at owner Tom Ricketts, who isn’t giving Hoyer the budget he needs to build a World Series contender.

The problem is that Chicago is teetering on the brink of disaster if it doesn’t add another starting pitcher this offseason.

The Chicago Cubs’ starting pitching depth is scary

The Cubs have a lot of good pitchers in their starting rotation. When healthy, Justin Steele is a stud. Shota Imanaga was brilliant in 2024. Matthew Boyd was a pleasant surprise this past season, Cade Horton had a terrific rookie showing and Jameson Taillon — like Steele, when healthy — was reliable.

But as Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation points out, Chicago is facing a potential mass exodus of starting pitchers after 2026, and there are no easy solutions in sight.

“Consider, too, the contract situations of the guys currently in the big league rotation,” Taylor wrote. “Justin Steele has two years of arbitration left. Shota Imanaga is a free agent after this season. Jameson Taillon is a free agent after this season. Matthew Boyd is a free agent after this season. Now combine those two things: virtually no obvious near-term front-half starting pitcher types percolating up over the next year (outside of, hopefully, Jaxon Wiggins), and virtually all of the big league rotation set for free agency over the next year or two.”

Outside of Wiggins and maybe Brandon Birdsell, the Cubs’ farm system is largely bereft of pitching talent. So if Chicago is unable to land any other arms this winter, it is setting itself up for catastrophe if there are injuries to the starting rotation in 2026. And what about the years beyond that?

The Chicago Cubs must answer after losing out on Tatsuya Imai

Losing out on Imai wouldn’t be such a huge deal if there were actually other enticing options on the free-agent market, but the fact is there really are none.

Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez are names, sure, but Valdez is 32 years old and had a 3.66 ERA last season. Suarez, meanwhile, has a checkered injury history and is really more of a good No. 2 (or very high-end No. 3) than an ace. The issue is he might get paid like one.

So then what?

Well, the Cubs can explore the trade market, where pitchers like Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore and even Pablo Lopez or Joe Ryan (unlikely, but possible) could be available. Yes, there is plenty of risk with most of those guys, too, but at least Cabrera, Gore and Ryan are cheap in terms of money. They would cost a ton of prospects in a trade, though.

Maybe Chicago could sign Zac Gallen, who should come cheaper than Valdez and Suarez and seems like a good candidate for a bounce back in the spring. But again, cost could become a sticking point there for the Cubbies.

I’m sure the Cubs realize the danger in which they currently find themselves, but they need to hedge their bets by actually finding a solution.

The post Cubs’ Tatsuya Imai fallout is worse than you think for one terrifying reason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs missed out on Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, as the 27-year-old signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Houston Astros on New Year’s Day.

So what’s next?

The Cubs could still afford to add a frontline starter to a deep rotation in need of a true ace, but the problem is that the free-agent market for starting pitchers is rather thin. Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez will probably be too expensive for what they provide, and once you get past those two, there is a significant dropoff.

Or is there?

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com has identified the next potential move for Chicago after failing to land Imai, and it’s for a pitcher with a pretty fine pedigree: Zac Gallen.

“Zac Gallen might be a better fit if the Cubs are intent on adding to the rotation, while Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt and Zack Littell also remain available in free agency,” Feinsand wrote.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projected Gallen to land a four-year, $76 million contract in his free-agent predictions earlier this offseason.

Is Zac Gallen worth the risk for the Chicago Cubs?

At his peak, Gallen has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.

The right-hander finished fifth in NL Cy Young award voting in 2022 after logging a 2.54 ERA while allowing just 121 hits and registering 192 strikeouts over 184 innings of work, pacing the National League with a sparkling 0.913 WHIP.

Gallen then placed third in Cy Young voting the following year after pitching to the tune of a 3.47 ERA, racking up 220 punchouts across 210 frames.

The problem is that the last couple of seasons, the 30-year-old has exhibited significant signs of decline, particularly in 2025 when he posted an alarming 4.83 ERA to go along with a 1.260 WHIP.

While Gallen’s velocity is still there, he has suddenly begun experiencing control issues, as evidenced by the fact that his K/BB ratio dipped to 2.65 this past season.

It’s not like Gallen is ancient, though. He doesn’t turn 31 until August, and his stuff hasn’t demonstrated any type of major dropoff. So perhaps whatever has been ailing Gallen since the last two years (more specifically in 2025) is fixable.

The Cubs already have a fine rotation headlined by Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, but they are in need of a true ace. Does Gallen still represent that at this point of his career? Unless Chicago wants to pursue a trade for a starter, it may not have much of a choice.

And if Gallen is really only going to be landing $19 million annually in free agency, he may be worth the plunge, and he may not even get that much based on the deal Imai just received.

The post Cubs’ next move could be $76 million strike after major free agent miss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

A couple of years ago, Jaquan Brisker appeared to be a rising star for the Chicago Bears. He was a tackling machine, decent in coverage and was always up for a good quote. But now, with Brisker in the final year of his rookie deal with the Bears, things have drastically changed.

Brisker is still strong against the run and he remains very vocal with the media (in the best way possible). However, his struggles in coverage are becoming impossible to ignore.

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz highlighted this in a recent piece in which he broke down each contending team’s biggest weakness heading into the playoffs.

“The Chicago defense has not been as strong as the Denver defense overall, but the Bears have the same weakness: defending against opposing slot receivers,” Schatz wrote. “… However, according to my coverage DVOA metric, the issue is not the main slot defender, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who joined the team in Week 9. The problem is when opponents can get their slot receivers onto other defenders — primarily cornerback Nick McCloud, safety Jaquan Brisker and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.”

The numbers support this, too, as Brisker owns a paltry 46.4 coverage grade this season, by far the worst mark of his four-year NFL career.

The Chicago Bears will almost certainly part ways with Jaquan Brisker

The Bears don’t have much projected cap space as it is heading into the offseason, so they need to be careful with how they spend their money.

Taking that into consideration, it’s looking more and more like Brisker will sign elsewhere in free agency this spring, as Chicago has to do something about a defense that ranks 28th in the league.

Not only that, but Brisker has a concussion history, making him a rather risky bet on a lucrative multi-year deal regardless of his coverage issues. But when you combine all of the facts, you’ll understand why we may be seeing the former second-round pick play out his final days in the Windy City.

It’s a shame, too, considering Brisker burst on to the scene with 105 tackles, four sacks and an interception during his rookie campaign in 2022. He wasn’t terrible in coverage then, either. But things have taken a turn for the worse for the 26-year-old.

Look for the Bears to attack the safety position in the NFL Draft, especially with Kevin Byard being 32 years old and headed toward free agency, as well.

The post Bears’ fading star is sadly playing his way out of Chicago appeared first on ChiCitySports.

So apparently, the Chicago Cubs are interested in free-agent shortstop Bo Bichette, one of the top bats available on the market as we head into the new year.

Bichette’s offense is unquestioned. He slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI over 628 plate appearances this past season and owns a lifetime .806 OPS. In fact, aside from the complete anomaly that was Bichette’s 2024 campaign, he has posted an OPS well north of .800 each year since entering the big leagues in 2019.

And yet, it would be a major mistake for the Cubs to sign him.

Why? Because while Bichette is one of the best offensive shortstops in baseball, he is also one of the league’s worst defenders. He is also slated to earn in the neighborhood of $200 million on his upcoming contract, which is a heck of a lot to pay for such a bad defensive player. And for as good as he is at the plate, it’s not like he’s Shohei Ohtani.

The Chicago Cubs should avoid Bo Bichette

Chicago already boasts one of the best middle infields in baseball with Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson. Hoerner has heard his name floated in trade speculation throughout the winter, so you figure that if the Cubs do make a serious push for Bichette, Hoerner would then be on the chopping block.

Bichette would then shift to second base, and while that is an easier position than shortstop, it’s hard to imagine that Bichette would suddenly become a good — or even adequate — defender.

This is not one of Chicago’s biggest needs. Yes, the Cubs need another bat, especially after likely losing Kyle Tucker, but Hoerner himself hit .297 with a .345 OBP in 2025. He doesn’t possess the pop of Bichette, but he is no slouch at the dish.

The Cubs could stand to upgrade at third base, which is why Alex Bregman has been a potential candidate for them all offseason. And with Tucker probably walking, bringing in an outfielder would be nice, as well.

But acquiring Bichette? It just feels like a relatively lateral move for Chicago considering it would come at the expense of Hoerner.

Unless the Cubs are getting Ketel Marte, there is absolutely no need to move on from Hoerner … especially when you are losing that much defense in the process.

The post Chicago Cubs heading toward crippling $200 million mistake appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Could the Chicago Bears actually swing a trade for Las Vegas Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby this offseason? Everyone knows the Bears need another pass rusher, and Crosby could ultimately be the best one available in the coming months.

Of course, should the Raiders place Crosby on the trade block, there would be no shortage of suitors for the five-time Pro Bowler, who isn’t exactly at peace with Las Vegas after the team decided to shut him down for the final two games of the season.

One of the top potential landing spots for Crosby is the San Francisco 49ers, a typically aggressive franchise that will probably be pursuing another pass rusher this spring. However, it might not be Crosby, as Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard has revealed that the 49ers might not be too keen on swinging big on the edge rusher.

“But when I’ve checked with 49ers people lately, they’ve noted that they’ve won while getting younger and cheaper over the last year and they’d like to stay with that,” Kawakami wrote. “Also, 49ers management didn’t love the result when they went all-in and over budget a few years ago for Javon Hargrave, and there is definite reluctance to do something so similar now.”

This could open the door for the Bears to swoop in.

The Chicago Bears should jump on Maxx Crosby

If the 49ers are really out of the running for Crosby already, Chicago should waste no time in moving in for a strike. That’s if Crosby becomes available, of course.

The Bears have been searching for a top-flight pass rusher ever since trading Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022. They did acquire Montez Sweat midway through the 2023 campaign, but outside of Sweat’s contributions, sacks have been hard to come by in the Windy City. At least for the Bears.

Crosby has logged four double-digit sack seasons since entering the NFL in 2019 and racked up 73 tackles, 10 sacks, an interception, six passes defended an a pair of forced fumbles in 15 games this year. He topped out at 14.5 sacks in 2023.

Putting Crosby alongside of Sweat and Austin Booker would suddenly give Chicago one of the league’s best pass rushes, and even though it would cost the Bears dearly in terms of draft capital, it’s clear that the rebuild is over in Chi-Town.

Crosby is still just 28 years old and is under contract through 2029. The Bears could add him now and contend for Super Bowls for years to come with the Eastern Michigan product in the trenches.

The post Bears fans should be buzzing over latest Maxx Crosby trade update appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears attempted to shore up their pass rush last offseason by signing former Indianapolis Colts edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million contract in free agency.

At the time, it looked like a good move. Odeyingbo was just two seasons removed from racking up eight sacks, and even after logging just three sacks in 2024, he still managed to post 17 quarterback hits, indicating that he was still wreaking havoc in opponents’ backfields.

Well, Odeyingbo managed just one sack and four quarterback hits in eight games during his debut campaign with the Bears before tearing his Achilles, and now, the career of the 26-year-old could be in jeopardy. Odeyingbo does not have an out in his contract until after next season, but Chicago should already start searching for his replacement.

Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron combed through some potential options for the Bears in free agency this coming offseason, and one name in particular stood out: Odafe Oweh.

Could the Chicago Bears sign Odafe Oweh to bolster their defense?

Oweh is slated to hit free agency after 2025 and has registered 34 tackles, seven sacks and 17 quarterback hits in 16 games between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers this season (he was traded from the Ravens to the Chargers earlier in the year).

The former first-round pick broke out with 39 tackles, 10 sacks and 23 quarterback hits last year and has long been an analytical darling, owning a 77.5 pass-rushing grade at Pro Football Focus this season. Even back in 2023 when Oweh had totaled just five sacks, his PFF pass-rushing grade was still at 78.5.

Now, it should be noted that the Bears aren’t projected to have a ton of cap room this offseason, so signing Oweh — who should be one of the top edge rushers available — could prove difficult. If we are being perfectly honest, Chicago seems more likely to hit the NFL Draft for an Odeyingbo replacement rather than splurging in free agency.

But if the Bears are able to clear some more money with roster cuts (which is bound to happen), perhaps they can open up enough space to pursue Oweh.

The post Chicago Bears connected to PFF darling to replace $48 million bust appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong finally broke out this past season, smashing 31 home runs while playing otherworldly defense en route to his first All-Star appearance and a Gold Glove.

With Crow-Armstrong preparing to enter his third full big-league campaign, a contract extension seems almost imminent, especially considering the Cubs attempted to extend him last year but were turned down because the former top prospect decided to bet on himself.

It proved to be a wise decision for Crow-Armstrong, who significantly increased his value after a very disappointing rookie campaign in 2024.

The general consensus is that Chicago will revisit extension talks with the 23-year-old soon, and it could happen as promptly as spring training. But would the Cubs be making a mistake to lock up Crow-Armstrong at this point?

Chicago Cubs are facing serious risk with a Pete Crow-Armstrong extension

We know that Crow-Armstrong plays brilliant defense. He is one of the best outfielders in baseball, registering a plus-15 DRS and plus-21 OAA in 2025. But what about his offense?

Yes, the former New York Mets prospect — who was traded to Chicago in the deal that sent Javier Baez to the Mets back in 2021 — flashed serious power and drove in 95 runs this past year, but his .247/.281/.481 slash line was mostly uninspiring.

Outside of the power numbers, Crow-Armstrong showed serious deficiencies at the plate, and it should also be noted that his power absolutely plummeted during the second half of the season when he posted a .372 SLG.

What’s odd about the Sherman Oaks, Ca. native is that he posted a decent walk rate in the minor leagues, getting on base at a .368 clip. But it should also be noted that Crow-Armstrong managed just a .299 OBP in 26 games at Triple-A Iowa in 2024.

Crow-Armstrong is definitely a free swinger, having totaled 155 strikeouts and just 29 walks this past season. Those are very concerning signs for a young hitter, and he also fanned 12 times in 29 playoff plate appearances in 2025 (while posting a .399 OPS).

There should be no rush to extend Pete Crow-Armstrong

So why the rush to extend him?

Crow-Armstrong is under team control through 2030. I understand the temptation to buy out his arbitration years now, but what if the Cubs hand him a massive contract only to watch him fall flat in 2026? He was far too inconsistent in 2025 to merit a lucrative long-term contract just yet.

The youngster definitely provides value based on his defense alone, but Chicago wouldn’t just be paying him for defense. He turned down $90 million before last season. Crow-Armstrong is looking to get paid, and he simply has not shown enough at the dish just yet to warrant such an expensive deal.

Cubs fans definitely grew to like Crow-Armstrong over the last nine months, but there should be considerable trepidation about their team potentially handing the former first-round pick an enormous contract extension before next season even begins.

The post Cubs’ seemingly imminent contract extension should concern Chicago fans appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Remember when the Chicago Bulls got off to that 5-0 start? Yeah, that now feels like eons ago as the Bulls are just 15-17 and are widely viewed as sellers with the NBA trade deadline looming in just over a month.

Coby White is viewed as a prime trade candidate for Chicago, and Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter are also viewed as potential trade chips.

But could the Bulls be aiming to actually buy on any players ahead of the deadline?

Orlando Silva of Pippen Ain’t Easy thinks so, naming Portland Trail Blazers big man Robert Williams III as a possible trade target for Chicago.

“The Bulls could make a swing for a player who could walk away after the season if the fit isn’t the best. He is 28, seven years younger than Nikola Vucevic, with better rim-running and rim-protecting skills than the Montenegrin player,” Silva wrote. “Williams won’t make the Bulls championship contenders, but for a team with so many issues on defense, adding a player of his defensive caliber could go a long way.”

But would Chicago actually surrender anything of value for a player slated to hit free agency at the end of the season?

Robert Williams III would be a risky pickup for the Chicago Bulls

There was a time when Williams was a budding stud during his days with the Boston Celtics. Back during the 2021-22 campaign, Williams finished seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting and was named to Second-Team All-Defense after registering 10 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over 29.6 minutes per game.

The problem is that Williams is rarely healthy.

Over the last three seasons, the Texas A&M product has played in a grand total of 47 contests, with nearly half of them (21 to be exact) coming this year. Since entering the league in 2018, Williams has played in 60 games just once.

He signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Celtics in August 2021 but was traded to the Blazers in October 2023 in the deal that sent Jrue Holiday to Boston.

The Bulls could definitely stand to upgrade defensively, but the idea of giving up assets for the oft-injured Williams — who will likely walk in the summer — just doesn’t seem like a wise move for a rebuilding team.

The post Bulls linked to $48 million trade involving former DPOY candidate appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for a potential playoff run, and that is thanks much in part to the efforts of running back D’Andre Swift, who has enjoyed a brilliant campaign this season.

Now in his second year with the Bears after signing a three-year, $24 million contract in March 2024, Swift has racked up 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns on 4.9 yards per carry while also catching 33 passes for 291 yards and a score.

Heading into 2025, Swift was viewed as a potential trade candidate because of his disappointing debut showing in Chicago last season, but there is no question that the 27-year-old has righted the ship over the last several months.

But could the Bears still be searching for a replacement?

Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network thinks so, predicting Chicago to select Wake Forest halfback Demond Claiborne in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.

Would the Chicago Bears look to replace D’Andre Swift this offseason?

That the Bears are being linked to Claiborne may seem a bit odd given the fact that Swift is still under contract for one more year, and Chicago also has impressive rookie running back Kyle Monangai in the fold, as well.

However, Swift is hitting free agency after next season, so perhaps the Bears will look to get ahead of his potential departure by adding another halfback now?

Claiborne would certainly comprise an intriguing addition.

The 22-year-old rushed for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per attempt in 2025, concluding what has been a rather impressive four-year run with the Demon Deacons.

Claiborne arrived at Wake Forest in 2022 and began receiving significant playing time the next season, registering 586 yards and three scores on the ground in 2023. Then, in 2024, the speedster broke out with 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns on 4.6 yards per attempt. He also hauled in 23 receptions for 254 yards and a pair of scores.

Chicago will definitely want to ensure it always has a nice crop of weapons for Caleb Williams, so maybe it really would make sense to bring in another running back this offseason.

The post Chicago Bears oddly linked to explosive D’Andre Swift replacement appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have been tabbed as one of the top potential destinations for third baseman Alex Bregman, but it’s now looking more and more like Bregman will ultimately sign elsewhere.

Why? Because much of the Cubs’ pursuit of Bregman hinged on the Boston Red Sox passing on the opportunity to re-sign the All-Star slugger, and with the Red Sox having been smack dab in the middle of trade discussions for Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, there was hope that Bregman could head to Chicago.

But this week, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen revealed that his team will be wrapping up Marte trade talks in the very near future and that no team has come close to offering Arizona an acceptable trade package, via Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.

That indicates Marte is staying put, which likely means that Boston will simply re-sign Bregman.

Are the Chicago Cubs entirely out of the running for Alex Bregman?

While we can never rule anything out entirely, the chances of the Cubs actually being able to outcompete the Red Sox for Bregman seem relatively slim.

Bregman signed with Boston in 2025 and enjoyed a strong season in Beantown, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI over 495 plate appearances (he missed time due to injury) while also playing great defense at the hot corner.

The three-time All-Star’s deal included an opt out after the first year, so Bregman decided to test the market. The general consensus all along, however, has been that the Red Sox are the favorites to land him.

We know Chicago’s M.O. by now: it doesn’t spend big money. At least not in recent offseasons.

Would the Cubs really be willing to outbid the Red Sox for Bregman? It just doesn’t seem all that likely.

Stranger things have happened, of course, but you kind of get the feeling that Bregman will re-up with Boston now that Marte appears to be off the table.

The post Cubs’ Alex Bregman chances land distressing update thanks to failed trade attempt appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are entering their regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions as the No. 2 seed in the NFC thanks to their tiebreaker over the Philadelphia Eagles, who they beat on Black Friday last month.

The Bears have already clinched the NFC North division title and are merely awaiting their Wild Card Round opponent, and now, it looks like that may have been decided.

Why? Because the Eagles are expected to rest quarterback Jalen Hurts and other starters during their Week 18 matchup with the Washington Commanders, which sets the stage for a Philadelphia loss this Sunday, via Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Meanwhile, Chicago appears dead set on playing all of its starters.

If the Bears do in fact maintain the No. 2 seed, they will face none other than the Green Bay Packers in their playoff opener.

Could the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers twice in a few weeks?

Chicago just beat the Packers back on Dec. 20, rallying from a late 10-point deficit to win an overtime thriller.

Green Bay has thoroughly owned the Bears for quite some time, although Chicago has now pulled off wins against the Packers in back-to-back campaigns. But can the Bears actually defeat Green Bay again during Wild Card weekend?

The Packers are banged up, most notably without star edge rusher Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL. That being said, Chicago isn’t exactly the healthiest team in the league right now, either. The Bears are particularly hurting in their receiving corps, as Rome Odunze is nursing a stress fracture in his foot and Luther Burden III just suffered a hamstring injury.

Chicago will have the advantage of playing at home, and there is no question that the Bears have been playing far superior football to the Packers in recent weeks.

But in a clash of these two hated NFC North rivals, anything can happen.

The post Bears’ playoff opponent may have just been decided, and it’s a doozy appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have not been all that active this offseason, and it is beginning to wear thin on the fan base. Sure, we have heard the Cubs connected to big names like Tatsuya Imai and Alex Bregman, but nothing has happened just yet.

Because Chicago has a recent history of not spending, some are wondering if the Cubs will cheap out again in free agency, and the possibility does exist.

However, just because Chicago goes the bargain route doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t make impactful additions, and MLB insider Robert Murray has linked the Cubs to a very interesting — and affordable — pitcher currently available on the open market: Walker Buehler.

“And the Chicago Cubs could also make sense as a team for Buehler,” Murray wrote. “They are hardly connected to any big names in free agency (with the exception of Alex Bregman). It appears they want to add value with upside, and the work they did with pitchers, most notably Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz, was noticed by folks around the league. Could Buehler be their next veteran project?”

Murray went on to say that the Cubs were just a speculative guess on his part, but they could make some sense as a destination based on their track record.

Would the Chicago Cubs go the cheap route again?

Here’s the thing with Buehler: he hasn’t been good in four years.

The 31-year-old spent most of this past season with the Boston Red Sox and also made a few appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies, logging a 4.93 ERA and 1.516 WHIP over 26 outings and 24 starts.

Buehler was a terrific pitcher during his early days with the Los Angeles Dodgers, earning a pair of All-Star selections. Then, in 2022, injuries struck, and he has not been the same arm ever since. Yes, he was a member of two Dodgers World Series championships in 2020 and 2024, and he did pitch well in both of those playoff runs, but at this point, it’s clear that the right-hander is a reclamation project.

Buehler is an intriguing potential addition, but he’s not someone the Cubs really need.

Chicago is already flush with solid hurlers in its starting rotation. What it needs is an ace, and Buehler is certainly not that at this point of his career.

If the Cubs do miss out on Imai and don’t pursue other top pitchers like Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, then perhaps Buehler could be a fallback plan, but it would be a frustrating one, to say the least.

The post Cubs linked to intriguing but cheap move for two-time World Series champion appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have been tabbed as one of the top potential destinations for third baseman Alex Bregman, but it’s now looking more and more like Bregman will ultimately sign elsewhere.

Why? Because much of the Cubs’ pursuit of Bregman hinged on the Boston Red Sox passing on the opportunity to re-sign the All-Star slugger, and with the Red Sox having been smack dab in the middle of trade discussions for Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, there was hope that Bregman could head to Chicago.

But this week, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen revealed that his team will be wrapping up Marte trade talks in the very near future and that no team has come close to offering Arizona an acceptable trade package, via Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.

That indicates Marte is staying put, which likely means that Boston will simply re-sign Bregman.

Are the Chicago Cubs entirely out of the running for Alex Bregman?

While we can never rule anything out entirely, the chances of the Cubs actually being able to outcompete the Red Sox for Bregman seem relatively slim.

Bregman signed with Boston in 2025 and enjoyed a strong season in Beantown, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI over 495 plate appearances (he missed time due to injury) while also playing great defense at the hot corner.

The three-time All-Star’s deal included an opt out after the first year, so Bregman decided to test the market. The general consensus all along, however, has been that the Red Sox are the favorites to land him.

We know Chicago’s M.O. by now: it doesn’t spend big money. At least not in recent offseasons.

Would the Cubs really be willing to outbid the Red Sox for Bregman? It just doesn’t seem all that likely.

Stranger things have happened, of course, but you kind of get the feeling that Bregman will re-up with Boston now that Marte appears to be off the table.

The post Cubs’ Alex Bregman chances land distressing update thanks to failed trade attempt appeared first on ChiCitySports.

While the Chicago Bears have already clinched the NFC North and are 11-5 heading into their regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions, one thing is for sure: their defense has remained a significant problem throughout the year.

The Bears rank 28th in the NFL in defense and have managed just 32 sacks on the campaign, which places them toward the bottom of the league.

Montez Sweat leads Chicago with 9.5 sacks and Gervon Dexter is at No. 2 with five, but the Bears’ pass-rushing depth is a major question mark (although Austin Booker has had a great second half since returning from injury).

As a result, Chicago may target an edge rusher in the NFL Draft this spring, and Matt Rooney of Bleacher Nation has already tabbed Illinois Fighting Illini star Gabe Jacas as a potential fit for the Bears.

Gabe Jacas is a major sleeper for the Chicago Bears

We haven’t really heard Jacas’ name mentioned a whole lot, which is why Rooney feels that the pick may be a reach at No. 28. But he loves Jacas’ potential.

“As of now, he’s still a bit of a first-round reach, but I’ve been saying the past few weeks, and I mean it, that I think he’s going to rise up draft boards due to his measurables and athleticism,” Rooney wrote. “… The Bears desperately need help getting to the quarterback, and I think this is a fit, especially with Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen, who likes bigger-framed players at EDGE.”

Jacas racked up 43 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three force fumbles this year and has accumulated 183 tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss and 27 sacks since arriving at Illinois in 2022. He made an impact for the Fighting Illini right off the bat, logging four sacks during his freshman campaign.

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound defender has freakish strength and terrific athleticism, possessing the ability to both play upright and down on the line. Adding Jacas to a pass-rushing group that already includes Sweat, Booker and Dexter could suddenly turn a weakness into a strength for the Bears, so it would not be surprising if they considered him in the first round.

Of course, given the amount of talent at edge rusher in this year’s draft class, Jacas would probably have to put forth a very strong effort at the Scouting Combine to establish himself as a Day 1 pick. There is no denying his production, though.

The post Bears linked to sleeper move for 27-sack defender that would raise eyebrows appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have yet to make any major moves this offseason, and fans are understandably getting frustrated. That’s especially considering the conflicting reports out there regarding free-agent targets like Tatsuya Imai and Alex Bregman.

But there is one player some have linked to the Cubs somewhat regularly this winter even though there has been no confirmed reports that Chicago is actually interested: two-time All-Star pitcher Framber Valdez.

Valdez is arguably the top pitcher remaining on the open market, unless you feel that Imai — who is entirely unproven on the major-league level — takes the cake.

However, Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib doesn’t feel that Valdez actually makes any sense for the Cubs.

Is he correct?

Framber Valdez would be a risky addition for the Chicago Cubs

Campbell rattled off multiple reasons why Valdez would not comprise a good fit for Chicago, starting with his age (he is 32 years old) and also mentioning the cross-up incident he had with catcher Cesar Salazar during his time with the Houston Astros this past season.

The biggest factor Campbell cites, though, is Valdez’s actual pitching style.

“The clear reason why the Cubs won’t be signing Valdez is that he doesn’t fit the profile of the starting pitcher they are looking for,” Campbell wrote. “While Valdez had a respectable strikeout rate of 23.3% last season, his success is predicated on forcing weak contact. The Cubs are looking for a pitcher who earns his reputation by missing bats.”

Valdez registered 187 strikeouts over 192 innings of work in 2025 and owns a lifetime mark of 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. That’s respectable, but it certainly isn’t elite, and he has only averaged nine or more punchouts per nine innings twice in his big-league career.

It should also be noted that the left-hander tallied a 3.66 ERA this past year, which marked a career-worst. His peripherals were mostly fine, but it’s entirely possible that Valdez is in decline.

Considering Valdez is someone who is expected to earn north of $150 million on a lengthy contract, you can understand why Chicago might not be all that interested.

The post Cubs hit with bucket of cold water regarding potential All-Star addition appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs definitely need an ace in their starting rotation, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have excessive dept in their pitching staff.

The Cubs are actually pretty loaded with good arms, so much so that someone will probably have to be the odd man out in 2026, especially if Chicago adds a big-name pitcher this winter. Could that unlucky pitcher be the ever-reliable Javier Assad?

Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib thinks so, questioning if Assad — who missed the vast majority of this past season due to an oblique injury — may be falling out of favor with Cubs brass.

“Unlike [Ben] Brown’s ability to miss bats, the Cubs may not believe in Javier Assad’s pitching profile anymore,” Campbell wrote. “That is likely one of the reasons why he was kept off the team’s playoff roster. Assad has minor league options remaining, and for that reason, he still has value to the Cubs. But another addition to the major league pitching staff will push him even further down the totem pole.”

Well, it’s also possible that Assad was left off the playoff roster because he only made seven starts in 2025, but it also stands to reason that Assad’s 5.6 K/9 rate over 37 innings of work was also rather unseemly for Chicago.

Could the Chicago Cubs trade Javier Assad?

Assad hit the big leagues back in 2022 and has been a dependable hurler for the Cubbies ever since, tallying a 3.43 ERA over 78 appearances and 54 starts.

Yes, his peripherals aren’t great. He owns a lifetime 4.46 FIP, 1.329 WHIP and 1.99 K/BB ratio. However, regardless of how questionable his other numbers look, you can’t argue with results, and Assad has been mostly impressive for the Cubs since entering the majors.

He is still just 28 years old and would definitely have value in trade talks, so perhaps Chicago could actually move him and get something decent in return for the right-hander.

An area in which Assad truly excels is inducing ground balls, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that the sinker is his top pitch. It’s also why he is able to hang around in spite of not racking up strikeouts (career 7.4 K/9).

The Cubs may have to be careful what they wish for here, as Assad has been a reliable piece for several years running. But if they can find an intriguing trade package for him, they may decide to move him before the 2026 campaign.

The post Top Cubs player could surprisingly be on the chopping block appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have yet to make any significant moves this offseason, and fans are understandably getting frustrated. But could the Cubs make a splash in the coming days?

Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto is reportedly now in the United States and has until Jan. 4 to sign with an MLB team before his posting time expires. The San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels have been labeled as potential landing spots, but perhaps Chicago could join the picture?

After all, the Cubs have expressed interest in fellow third baseman Alex Bregman, so Okamoto could comprise a nice consolation prize, right?

Not so fast.

Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation has thrown cold water on the idea of Chicago pursuing Okamoto, noting that the 29-year-old doesn’t seem like a fit in the Windy City.

The Chicago Cubs don’t make much sense for Kazuma Okamoto

Taylor clearly thinks Okamoto is a talented player with a lot going for him, but he also feels that there are a “number of complications” involved in the Cubs potentially signing him.

He notes that Okamoto is only a decent defender at the hot corner, where Matt Shaw has truly excelled. And while Shaw’s bat has yet to really take off, Chicago loves his potential at the plate. Taylor also feels that Bregman would simply be the superior option at the position and that the Cubs simply do not have enough money to land Okamoto while also bagging a starting pitcher.

There is no question that Okamoto is a tantalizing player.

The 29-year-old slashed .322/.411/.581 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI over 314 plate appearances in 2025, a season that was abbreviated by injury. He is also three seasons removed from smashing 41 homers, and he owns a lifetime .856 OPS while cracking the .900 mark several times.

But Okamoto is entirely unproven on the major-league level, and he could prove too costly for a Cubs squad that has been rather careful with its finances over the last several years.

Chances are, Okamoto will take his talents elsewhere.

The post Cubs facing serious ‘complications’ in pursuit of prized free agent appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, and while they had already clinched the NFC North regardless, they are still playing for seeding.

The Bears are currently the No. 2 seed in the conference, and while they can’t get the 1-seed at this point, they may very well want to stave off the Philadelphia Eagles to hold serve in their current position.

So with there still technically being something to play for against the Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale, head coach Ben Johnson has made his intentions clear.

“We’re playing to win this week,” Johnson told reporters.

Given Johnson’s competitive nature in and of itself, this should not come as too much of a surprise. Plus, the Lions thumped Chicago by a score of 52-21 back in Week 3, so the Bears may have revenge on their minds here.

How much does Week 18 matter for the Chicago Bears?

Make no mistake about it: Johnson and the Bears care about Week 18.

Not only is a No. 2 seed on the line, but so are bragging rights against a hated NFC North rival, not to mention the fact that Chicago certainly does not want to enter the playoffs riding a two-game losing streak.

Brock Purdy and the 49ers absolutely lit up the Bears’ defense this past Sunday, so Chicago would surely like to get itself back on track, especially considering how inexperienced the team is as a whole.

Now, would the Bears keep their starters on the field if the game turns into a blowout? Probably not. Avoiding injury is still the most important factor, and Chicago can’t be foolish. But it would have been very surprising if Johnson decided to mail it in this coming weekend.

The Bears just captured their first division title since 2018 and are aiming to win their first playoff game since January 2011.

The post Bears’ Ben Johnson reveals clear intentions for season finale against Lions appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have yet to do much of anything this offseason, and most Cubs fans probably aren’t too surprised by their lack of activity.

Chicago has been linked to multiple big names in free agency, such as pitcher Tatsuya Imai and third baseman Alex Bregman, but as of now, it doesn’t appear that anything is close on that front for the Cubs.

So is it possible that Chicago emerge empty-handed as far as landing legitimate talent this winter?

Based on this assessment by Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter, that could very well be the case.

In a piece where Reuter outlined each team’s biggest need or the remainder of the offseason, he listed the Cubs’ infield depth as their most prominent issue and then connected them to a target that won’t excite anyone: Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Could the Chicago Cubs sign Isiah Kiner-Falefa and call it a day?

Not only did Reuter list Kiner-Falefa as a potential target for Chicago, but he went as far to say that it could be final move of the winter.

“With the relief corps restocked and the rotation filled after Shota Imanaga accepted his qualifying offer, shoring up the bench with a versatile infielder might be the final piece of the offseason puzzle,” Reuter wrote.

Yes, Kiner-Falefa is versatile in the fact that he can play a variety of different positions at a high level defensively. That’s all well and good. But his bat has been subpar throughout his entire MLB career.

The 30-year-old slashed .262/.297/.334 with two home runs and 40 RBI over 459 plate appearances between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays in 2025 and owns a lifetime .262/.311/.349 slash line. He has never posted an OPS of .700 or better, topping out at .699 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign and hovering in the mid .600s throughout the rest of his time in the big leagues.

At least he is consistent.

There would be nothing wrong with adding Kiner-Falefa as a utility guy off the bench, but as a final move? Yeah, Cubs fans would be irate if that occurred.

The post Cubs linked to ‘final’ offseason move that will cause Chicago fans to revolt appeared first on ChiCitySports.

When the Chicago Cubs swung a blockbuster trade to acquire Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros last offseason, just about everyone assumed Tucker would be a one-year affair. The four-time All-Star was slated to hit free agency after the 2025 campaign, and given the Cubs’ rather frugal spending habits in recent years, Tucker re-signing with Chicago seemed unlikely.

But is there actually a path to a reunion between the two sides?

Paul Hembekides of ESPN did not go as far to name the Cubs as a potential landing spot for Tucker, but he did say that every big-market team in baseball — which includes the Cubbies — should make a serious play for Tucker if some very unique circumstances emerge.

With Tucker’s market looking very slow at the moment, Hembekides wondered if Tucker could potentially seek a short-term deal that would allow him to cash in for one or two years before hitting the free-agent market again.

The Chicago Cubs should pursue Kyle Tucker in this situation

Hembekides pitched two different Tucker scenarios that could appeal to Chicago.

One involves Tucker signing a one-plus-one deal, where the star outfielder would sign a two-year contract with a player option for 2027. The deal would offer Tucker $104 million in total, which would pay him $52 million annually. It would make the former first-round pick the second-highest paid player in baseball from an AAV perspective and would make sense for Tucker if he can’t land the long-term $400 million pact he is seeking.

The second setup would consist of Tucker inking a two-plus-two deal. It would be a four-year, $172 million contract with a player option after the second season and would feature $43 million in average annual value.

Given that the Cubs were absolutely serious contenders with Tucker this past season, they should absolutely pursue a reunion with the 29-year-old if this situation arises.

Is Kyle Tucker in trouble?

Perhaps there aren’t any teams that view Tucker as a $400 million player. Or maybe the market is just taking shape.

Whatever the case may be, things have been awfully quiet on the Tucker front, which could open the door for Chicago to re-enter the picture and possibly come to terms with Tucker on a rather distinctive contract.

Is it incredibly likely? No, because it would still involve Tom Ricketts shelling out a substantial amount of cash, even if it would only be on a short-term basis. But we cannot entirely rule out a Tucker-Cubs partnership under the right circumstances.

The post Cubs’ clever path to potential Kyle Tucker reunion revealed appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have a very solid starting rotation, but they could certainly use another arm. This is why the Cubs have been tabbed as frontrunners for Tatsuya Imai and have also been connected to trades for Miami Marlins pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera.

But could Chicago pull off a surprising move that no one saw coming?

Rich Eberwein of Cubbies Crib thinks so, linking the Cubs to former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen in free agency.

“A lot of people are wary of throwing money at Zac Gallen after his 2025 season, where he posted a 4.83 ERA. However, this came after three straight years of being a frontline starter for the Arizona Diamondbacks,” Eberwein wrote. “Gallen also made up for the high ERA with 175 strikeouts and 192 innings pitched. He was one of nine starting pitchers in MLB to surpass 190 innings last year.”

Gallen’s market has been moving at a snail’s pace, but you have to figure it will pick up soon, perhaps once bigger names like Imai, Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez are off the board.

Would Zac Gallen be a good fit for the Chicago Cubs?

Gallen had a tough year in 2025. It wasn’t like he was unlucky, either. He posted a 4.50 ERA, and his 2.65 K/BB ratio was the worst mark of his big-league career.

But perhaps the right-hander could comprise a potential bounce-back candidate for 2026?

Gallen is only 30 years old, so it’s not like he is ancient and falling off a cliff. Plus, his fastball velocity was still there in 2025, and he is just three seasons removed from finishing third in NL Cy Young award voting when he pitched to the tune of a 3.47 ERA while allowing 188 hits and racking up 220 strikeouts over 210 innings of work in 2023.

Gallen suddenly experienced an uptick in control issues the last couple of seasons, but that is almost surely fixable. This is a hurler who registered a 2.54 ERA and 0.913 WHIP back in 2022, so we know the stuff is there.

Zac Gallen’s price tag could be the only issue

The University of North Carolina product has also been very durable, making over 30 starts in three of his past four seasons. Given all of the injuries the Cubs experienced in their starting rotation in 2025, they could certainly use that reliability.

The issue with Gallen is his price tag, which is probably rather high at the moment. And keep in mind: he is a Scott Boras client.

But if Gallen’s price dips, look for Chicago to make a play for him … assuming the Cubs didn’t add any other starting pitchers before then.

The post Cubs linked to surprising move for former Cy Young frontrunner appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have been labeled one of the most likely landing spots for Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, but based on the Cubs’ recent history when it comes to signing free agents, fans are understandably prepared for the worst.

Chicago hasn’t exactly been an aggressive free-agent spender over the last several years, which makes the idea of signing Imai to a $150-200 million contract seem a bit farfetched.

But is it possible the Cubs have had another plan all along?

MLB insider Bruce Levine feels it’s a possibility, reporting on 670 the Score that Chicago has been exploring trades for Miami Marlins pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera as an alternative to Imai, given that neither arm would cost nearly as much from a financial perspective.

Levine notes that the Cubs would then be able to use the money it they didn’t use to sign Imai to land someone like Alex Bregman.

Could the Chicago Cubs be planning a blockbuster trade?

Last winter, Chicago made one of the splashiest moves in baseball, acquiring Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros. While landing Alcantara or Cabrera wouldn’t be quite on that level, it would at least be a significant move that would bolster the Cubs’ World Series hopes in 2026.

That’s especially if the Cubbies coupled that with a Bregman signing.

Bregman is still out on the open market, and while most have expected him to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox, it’s looking more and more like the star third baseman is seriously considering bolting elsewhere.

Of course, Bregman is a Scott Boras client, and Boras is no stranger to allowing his clients to remain available for extended periods of time. Cubs fans know this better than anyone else, as Cody Bellinger re-signed with Chicago in February during his previous free agent journey back during the 2023-24 offseason.

The Cubs could certainly use another bat with the departure of Tucker, so Bregman definitely makes sense.

Now, it should be noted that the Marlins do not appear open to trading Alcantara, but they are listening on Cabrera. The price would be steep in terms of prospect capital, but a winter haul of Cabrera and Bregman would certainly be impressive for Chicago.

The post REPORT: Cubs pursuing splashy trade as alternative to Tatsuya Imai appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are widely viewed as one of the top potential landing spots for Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who is considered by most to be the top starting pitcher remaining on the free-agent market.

Of course, the Cubs are not known for spending money these days. Owner Tom Ricketts has been incessantly criticized by the fan base in recent years for not opening his wallet, so why would he shift gears for a completely unproven commodity like Imai?

Well, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic has provided some context in that regard, revealing that he feels that the Cubs would be much more likely to pursue Imai if the contract numbers don’t get out of control.

“I certainly do think if you’re not getting to those crazy numbers ($150-200 million) that the Cubs are interested,” Sharma said on North Side Territory.

Sharma added that he doesn’t think Imai will land the type of deal that some are expecting, which should absolutely put Chicago in play.

Is Tatsuya Imai worth the risk for the Chicago Cubs?

As with any player coming over from an entirely different league, Imai is a risk.

Yes, he was terrific in Japan, most recently pitching to the tune of a 1.92 ERA while allowing 101 hits and registering 178 strikeouts over 163.2 innings of work in 2025. Since his professional career began in 2017, Imai has posted a 3.07 ERA and a 1.266 WHIP.

Whether or not those numbers will translate to the majors is another story, and the Cubs don’t need another good starter; they need an ace.

Can Imai actually represent that for Chicago?

It remains to be seen, and this is one time where you can understand the Cubs having some degree of caution when it comes to handing out a massive long-term contract.

Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez are also options for Chicago in free agency, although both arms could be out of the Cubs’ price range. That’s especially considering that both Valdes and Suarez are on the wrong side of 30.

The post Chicago Cubs’ Tatsuya Imai pursuit comes with ‘crazy’ caveat appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have a very solid starting rotation, but the problem is that they really do not have a proven ace.

Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele are terrific pitchers, and Cade Horton has exhibited tremendous potential, but they don’t have a Yoshinobu Yamamoto or a Paul Skenes headlining their staff.

That’s why the Cubs have been mentioned as one of the top potential landing spots for Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, but even in the case of Imai, he has proven absolutely nothing on the major-league level yet.

So could Chicago turn elsewhere for a frontline arm? Could the Cubs make a potential trade?

Well, Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic was recently floated as a possibility for the Cubbies, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic isn’t entirely convinced that he would represent the best best option for the North Siders.

Chicago Cubs warned to avoid a trade for Kris Bubic

In a recent mailbag, Sharma was asked about whether or not the Cubs could potentially pursue a trade for Bubic, but while Sharma didn’t think he would be a bad addition, he also didn’t seem in love with the idea of adding the 28-year-old.

“Bubic alone is a quality pitcher. He had a really solid 20 starts for the Kansas City Royals last summer, and he had been identified as a pitcher who could break out. Now he has. But is he what the Cubs really need?” Sharma wrote. “… Ideally, the Cubs are looking for a little more. He’s coming off a shoulder injury as well. How is that going to impact him going forward?”

Bubic went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA while allowing 98 hits and registering 116 strikeouts over 116.1 innings of work in 2025 before bowing out for the season in July due to a rotator cuff injury. He also logged a sparkling 2.89 FIP and a solid 1.178 WHIP, earning himself his first career All-Star appearance.

A former first-round pick, Bubic is definitely a late bloomer. He broke into the big leagues in 2020 and struggled over his first three campaigns. He then underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 before pitching exclusively out of the bullpen in 2024.

Kris Bubic probably isn’t the answer for the Cubs

The Stanford product owns a lifetime 4.14 ERA and 1.404 WHIP while averaging 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Those numbers really aren’t impressive enough to warrant a substantial trade package, especially given his injury history and the fact that he has just one year of club control remaining.

Sharma is right: the Cubs should probably look elsewhere for starting pitching help, even if Bubic may have finally broken through this past season.

The post Cubs warned to avoid potential game-changing trade for 2.55 ERA pitcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are one of the truly marquee franchises in all off baseball, but you would never know it based on the way they have operated in recent years.

The Cubs have been incessantly criticized by the fan base for their lack of spending, a recurring theme that has plagued Chicago for the better part of the last decade and has prevented the club from rediscovering the World Series glory it finally experienced in 2016.

Yes, the Cubs went out and traded for Kyle Tucker last winter, but they did that with the understanding that the four-time All-Star would probably walk after the season, and it’s looking more and more like Tucker will be departing the Windy City in the coming weeks or months.

But will Chicago do anything of significance this offseason?

Jake Elman of FanSided has fired a stern Rob Manfred-related warning to the Cubs to get them moving.

Rob Manfred definitely wants the Chicago Cubs to spend

While Manfred can’t actively step in and demand the Cubbies to spend money, you can bet that he wants Chicago to dole out some big bucks.

“For the Cubs, though, they should be keeping busy throughout the offseason. Rob Manfred awarded the Cubs an upcoming All-Star Game, and the Cubs are one of those teams that tend to always draw attention and eyeballs,” Elman wrote. “Although they no longer have to worry about the pressures of breaking a 108-year title drought, the fact that the Cubs went over a century without a championship will follow them forever.”

Chicago draws ratings. It’s that simple. The Cubs were America’s lovable losers before finally breaking through in 2016, and while they finally ended the Curse of the Billy Goat nearly a decade ago, they still can’t manage to shake their prior reputation.

Oddly enough, that helps Chicago. As Elman said, it gets people watching, and fans want to see a good product coming out of Chi-Town. But the Cubs will have difficulty giving the people what they want if they don’t spend.

“To be clear, none of this is to say that Major League Baseball should be begging the baseball overlords for the Cubs to win their first World Series title since 2016,” Elman added. “At the same time, we should collectively want organizations like the Cubs that have the budget and have things seemingly trending upward to be aggressive, whether it’s by signing a free agent or making an impactful trade.”

There is no question that the MLB wants the Cubbies at — or at least near — the top, so Manfred is surely hoping Tom Ricketts loosens his purse strings this winter.

The post Cubs receive stern Rob Manfred warning before cheaping out again appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs were recently reported to be one of two finalists for Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai in MLB free agency, with the other squad being the New York Yankees.

However, the Cubs may have just jumped in front based on the most recent development.

During an episode of Yankees Hot Stove, Yankees insider Jack Curry said he did not seem overly optimistic that New York would sign Imai, saying he wasn’t sure “there’s going to be a connection with the Yankees.”

New York has been very careful with its spending this winter and has yet to make any significant moves, so it would not be the least bit surprising if the Yanks are balking at Imai’s price tag, which is said to be in the $200 million range.

Enter Chicago, who could be in position to make a splash.

The Chicago Cubs need an ace, and Tatsuya Imai could the answer

The Cubs rarely sign big-ticket free agents these days. Yes, they swung a blockbuster trade for Kyle Tucker last offseason, but most assumed that the four-time All-Star would depart the Windy City after one year, and that appears to be the end result.

S0 it would certainly be exciting if Chicago were to land Imai, one of the top pitchers on the free-agent market.

The Cubs have a strong rotation headlined by arms like Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele and Cade Horton, but they do not currently have a proven ace in their rotation. While the jury is still very much out on Imai in that department, there is no denying his vast potential.

Imai pitched to the tune of a 1.92 ERA with the Saitama Sebou Lions last season, allowing just 101 hits while racking up 178 strikeouts over 163.2 innings of work. The right-hander owns a lifetime 3.07 ERA since beginning his professional career in 2017.

Still just 27 years old, Imai would have the chance to lead Chicago’s rotation for years to come.

We’ll see if the Cubbies can get a deal done for the phenom.

The post Cubs should be over the moon after latest Tatsuya Imai report appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are not exactly one of the top teams in baseball when it comes to offseason destinations, this even though they play in such a large market.

Let’s face it: the White Sox live in the shadow of the Cubs, which is pretty ironic considering the Cubs haven’t exactly been spending money themselves in recent years.

Nevertheless, the White Sox are trying to rebound after an absolutely brutal stretch the last several seasons, and apparently, ESPN’s David Schoenfield feels that Chicago will actually make a major splash this winter.

In a recent piece where Schoenfield predicted landing spots for some of the top remaining free agents, he tabbed the White Sox for Japanese corner infielder Munetaka Murakami.

“The White Sox have money to spend — their current estimated payroll is just $68 million and that includes $20 million for Luis Robert Jr., who might be traded,” Schoenfield wrote. “They have a desperate need for power and Murakami fits at either third or first, depending on where Miguel Vargas ends up. This would be a nice roll of the dice for a White Sox team that looks to be on the rise.”

Schoenfield is projecting that Murakami will bag a five-year, $80 million contract.

The catch is that Murakami has to sign by Dec. 22, so if Chicago is going to do this, it needs to act quickly.

Could the Chicago White Sox actually stun baseball with this move?

I don’t think anyone had the White Sox landing a marquee free agent on their bingo card heading into the hot stove, so it would be one bucket of ice water if Chicago were able to pry Murakami away from teams like the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners.

Murakami began his professional career with the Yakult Sparrows in 2018 and has spent his entire tenure in Japan with the club. He missed extensive time with an oblique injury this past season, but still managed to slash .286/.392/.659 with 24 home runs and 52 RBI over 610 plate appearances.

The “Japanese Babe Ruth,” or so he is called, also smashed 56 homers back in 2022 and has homered 265 times across 1,003 games, so he has certainly flashed prodigious power. Of course, whether or not that actually translates to the MLB remains to be seen, but there is no doubting that he is an enticing slugger.

Still just 25 years old, Murakami could prove to be an integral piece in Chicago for years to come.

We’ll see if the White Sox can get it done.

The post White Sox predicted to beat the buzzer with eye-popping offseason move appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs haven’t done much of anything this winter, and as expected, the fan base is getting frustrated. But perhaps the Cubs are simply lurking and waiting for the right opportunity to pounce?

ESPN’s David Schoenfield is still expecting the Cubs to make a major splash and is predicting them to sign pitcher Framber Valdez on a six-year, $168 million contract.

“The Cubs need a top-of-the-rotation starter, a guy they feel more confident handing the ball to in a playoff game than they did with Matthew Boyd or Shota Imanaga,” Schoenfield wrote. “They also have the payroll flexibility to do it, sitting about $22 million below last season’s total.”

Valdez is the top remaining pitcher on the market following Dylan Cease’s decision to join the Toronto Blue Jays on a seven-year, $210 million deal, and some would argue that the left-hander was the best arm available even before Cease signed.

But is Valdez really the right choice for Chicago?

Framber Valdez would be a major risk for the Chicago Cubs

Look, I get it: the Cubs haven’t spent money in quite some time, so when a two-time All-Star pitcher is available, fans want them to jump at the opportunity. But would it really be wise for Chicago to hand Valdez $28 million annually?

There is no doubt that Valdez is a good pitcher, but he also showed some signs of decline with the Houston Astros in 2025. He posted a 3.66 ERA, his worst mark since becoming a full-time starter back in 2021. His 1.245 WHIP was also his highest in four years.

And while Valdez has averaged 191.8 innings over the last four seasons, it’s worth noting that he missed some time due to an elbow issue in 2024.

It would be really risky to hand the 32-year-old Valdez a lucrative contract over six years. Yes, he has proven to be a frontline starter in Houston, but it’s also hard to ignore the potential concerns.

We’ll see if the Cubs decide to make a move for the veteran.

The post Cubs predicted to make surprising $168 million splash with two-time All-Star appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears will be facing the Green Bay Packers in a rematch on Saturday, and Caleb Williams is certainly hoping to put forth a better performance than he did at Lambeau Field a couple of weeks ago.

However, given the circumstances, that might be difficult.

The Bears could be without two of their top wide receivers this weekend, as both Rome Odunze (foot) and Luther Burden III (ankle) could be sidelined. Neither practiced on Tuesday, and Odunze could ultimately be out for the remainder of the regular season.

That leaves Williams with D.J. Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus and not much else at the position. That will obviously make life exceedingly more challenging for the second-year quarterback who has been up and down as it is in 2025.

Can Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams overcome the obstacles?

This is the biggest game of Williams’ NFL career to date. The NFC North is very much on the line here. If the Bears win, they will improve to 11-4 and take a rather commanding lead over the Packers, who would fall to 9-5-1 with a loss.

However, if Green Bay beats Chicago, the Packers will not only leapfrog the Bears in the standings, but they will complete the season sweep and own the tiebreaker.

To be fair, Chicago wasn’t supposed to be this good, this fast. Not after that 5-12 debacle last year. But the fact of the matter is that the Bears are here, and fans in the Windy City are starving for any modicum of success. Remember: this is a franchise that has not won a playoff game since January 2011 and has only made two trips to the postseason since.

Couple all of that with the fact that Williams is down his No. 1 and 3 receivers, and you should be able to grasp the immense amount of pressure he is facing.

Williams went just 19-for-35 with 186 yards against Green Bay in Week 14, and while Odunze was sidelined for that game, too, he at least had Burden, who had vaulted himself over Zaccheaus on the depth chart by that point.

It will either be a statement or a nightmare

On the positive side, Williams has the chance to deliver a massive statement here. The former No. 1 overall pick has a large faction of doubters, and based on his rather spotty production over his first couple of seasons, the criticism is warranted.

But Williams can flip the script with a strong outing that leads to a pivotal divisional victory.

It should also be mentioned that while the Bears could be without both Odunze and Burden, the Packers will be sans Micah Parsons (who is now out for the year with a torn ACL) and are dealing with a plethora of other injury issues up and down their roster.

So, generally speaking, this Packers team will not be the same one Chicago saw in Green Bay two Sundays ago. This is absolutely a weaker iteration of that squad, and this time, the Bears are playing host.

However, if Williams lays another egg with all of the adversity surrounding him? You can bet the naysayers will be back out in full force, and even head coach Ben Johnson — who has expressed frustration with Williams throughout the season — may be agitated.

We’ll see if Williams can announce his arrival this Saturday.

The post Caleb Williams’ worst nightmare could be unfolding for Bears appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Blackhawks actually got off to a solid start this NHL season and sat a respectable 10-5-4 after winning five out of six between Nov. 5 and Nov. 18.

Since then, however, the Blackhawks have lost 10 of their last 13 games, eight of which came in regulation. They are now 13-13-6 and are on the outskirts of playoff contention in the Western Conference, and with Chicago having one of the youngest teams in the league, it may be time for the team to unload some veterans.

The Blackhawks have multiple players who could be dealt between now and the March 6 trade deadline, and long-time defenseman Connor Murphy is definitely one of the prime candidates to be jettisoned in the coming weeks and months.

Murphy has spent the last nine seasons in Chicago, and while he was a very valuable member of the squad in his early days, it may be time for the Blackhawks to move on from the 32-year-old. But which teams could potentially make a run at Murphy?

The Chicago Blackhawks have been linked to a trade with the Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings seem primed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016, so you can bet they will be trying to buy some pieces before the deadline.

There is no question that the Red Wings lack depth and could stand to add another defenseman, so it should come as no surprise that Michael DeRosa of The Hockey News has listed Detroit as a potential trade partner for Chicago if Murphy becomes available.

“The Red Wings could use more help on the right side of their defense, so it would make a lot of sense for them to pursue Murphy,” DeRosa wrote. “He would give them an upgrade for the right side of their bottom pairing.”

It would certainly sting to move a player who has been with the franchise for so long, but let’s be hones: the Blackhawks are in rebuilding mode, and it wouldn’t make much sense to hold on to Murphy, who is slated to hit free agency at the end of the season.

Chicago has made the playoffs just once in the last nine campaigns, which comes on the heels of the Blackhawks capturing three Stanley Cup championships between 2010 and 2015. Those glory days are long gone, and for Chicago to rekindle them, it will have to continue making smart moves.

The good news is that the Blackhawks seem to be trending in a positive direction.

The post Blackhawks linked to depressing Red Wings trade amid recent slide appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears made it a point to address their offensive line last offseason after watching quarterback Caleb Williams get sacked 68 times in 2024.

The Bears added veterans Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman while also selecting Ozzy Trapilo in the 2025 NFL Draft, and while the unit has certainly been better as a whole this season, left tackle in particular — where Trapilo is currently stationed — has been a bit of a question mark (although Trapilo has shown flashes).

For that reason, Ryan Fowler of Bear Goggles On is projecting the Bears to nab Utah Utes offensive tackle Caleb Lomo in the first round of the draft this coming April.

“Lomu is one of the premier tackle prospects in the class, bringing size, athleticism, and a physical demeanor that fits what the Bears have been building up front, and with established veterans like Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson inside, plus Darnell Wright entrenched at right tackle, adding Lomu at left tackle could elevate this unit into one of the best offensive lines in football,” Fowler wrote.

Lomo is a menacing physical presence at 6-foot-6, 305 pounds and also possesses tremendous athleticism, so he would definitely comprise an intriguing pick for a Bears squad that needs to provide Williams with as much help as possible.

Should the Chicago Bears take an offensive lineman in the first round?

Of course, the question is whether or not the Bears should actually take an offensive lineman in Round 1 when they have other more glaring issues to address.

For example, Chicago could use another pass rusher, as the team ranks in the bottom half of the league with just 29 sacks in 2025.

Perhaps Austin Booker — who has logged three sacks in seven games this year — can finally break out in his third season next fall, but it would be nice for the Bears to have some more insurance behind Montez Sweat.

Chicago could afford to add some help in the secondary, as well.

All of that being said, having a franchise left tackle is paramount, and if the Bears have the opportunity to achieve that this spring, they should probably follow that path, especially with Williams still on his rookie contract.

The question is whether or not Chicago would be giving up on Trapilo too soon.

The post Bears already predicted to dump intriguing rookie for 6-foot-6 behemoth appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs have been waiting for their team to make a big free-agent splash for years now, and while the Cubs swung a trade to acquire Kyle Tucker last winter, just about everyone assumed Tucker would be a one-and-done in Chicago.

It’s looking more and more like Tucker will be signing elsewhere, as the Cubs have not even been floated as a potential destination for the four-time All-Star. However, Chicago has been in on one of the other top free agents on the market: third baseman Alex Bregman.

The Cubs currently have Matt Shaw manning the hot corner, but they would almost certainly move him to make room for Bregman. There has also been speculation that the Cubbies could trade second baseman Nico Hoerner, which may lead to Chicago jettisoning Hoerner, putting Shaw at second and then slotting Bregman over at third.

But will the Cubs actually be able to beat out the Boston Red Sox, with whom Bregman spent 2025?

It initially looked like the Red Sox were the sure-fire favorites to retain Bregman, but things may be changing.

Are the Chicago Cubs now the favorites to land Alex Bregman?

Much like Chicago, Boston has not been a free-spending franchise in recent years in spite of playing in such a large market. And much like Cubs fans, Red Sox fans have become increasingly frustrated with the lack of activity.

Well, Jared Carrabis of Underdog has revealed some intel on the Bregman situation, and he doesn’t seem to feel that the 31-year-old will be returning to Beantown.

“I don’t feel super great about Bregman coming back, but these things are always subject to change,” Carrabis posted on X. “[Xander] Bogaerts was pretty much a done deal to return until the Padres swooped in with a crazy offer. These situations are fluid. But, yeah. Doesn’t sound promising at the moment.”

The Cubs and Red Sox have long been viewed as the two top potential landing spots for Bregman, although the Arizona Diamondbacks have apparently thrown their hats into the ring, as well.

However, Bregman to Arizona just doesn’t seem all that probable, especially considering that there have been strong rumors that the Diamondbacks are trying to trade Ketel Marte. Moving a veteran in Marte and then turning around and signing an aging Bregman would send weird signals.

Chicago, on the other hand, is trying to win now, and if the Cubs do ultimately lose Tucker in free agency, landing Bregman would be a nice consolation prize.

Perhaps the Cubbies really are the favorites to bag the three-time All-Star, who slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 114 games this past season.

The post Did the Cubs just become the favorites to sign Alex Bregman? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs not only lost out on the NL Central to the Milwaukee Brewers, but they also fell to the Brewers in four games in the NLDS.

On paper, the Cubs looked like the superior team heading into the season, but things just did not work out that way for Chicago. Milwaukee was then stomped by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, and it’s hard to imagine that the Cubbies would have beaten the Dodgers anyway, but losing to a division rival still stings.

To make matters worse, Brewers manager Pat Murphy just fired a shot at the Cubs, hearkening back to when Chicago complained that Milwaukee was manipulating its roof to shade its dugout during that playoff series.

When asked by reporters what he would change about the game of baseball if he became MLB commissioner for a day, Murphy couldn’t help but throw shade at the Cubs.

“Shadows? Eliminate shadows,” Murphy said.

Can the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers next season?

The Cubs, by all accounts, should be better than the Brewers. They play in a much larger market and should (key word: should) be willing to spend more money to ensure that their roster is championship-caliber.

Of course, Chicago hasn’t exactly done that in recent years.

There was a time when the Cubs used to spend with the best of them, and it was a big reason why they were able to capture a World Series title in 2016. Yes, much of their talent was homegrown that season, but they also made sure to make significant additions — like Jon Lester, for example — when need be.

Fast forward to now, and things are vastly different.

Chicago was mostly silent at the trade deadline this past summer, which absolutely sabotaged the team in the long run. The Cubs have also been rather quiet in free agency this winter, and it doesn’t even look like they’ll have a chance to re-sign Kyle Tucker.

Perhaps Chicago will surprise everyone and land Alex Bregman, but if the Cubs did a whole lot of nothing this winter, would anyone really be surprised?

The post Brewers’ Pat Murphy throws shade at Cubs in brutal insult to injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Last year, the Chicago White Sox traded star pitcher Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox and reaped quite a return, and one of the gems of the haul was catcher Kyle Teel.

A former top prospect in Boston, Teel went on to make his big-league debut for the White Sox in 2025, bursting on to the scene in June and slashing .273/.375/.411 with eight home runs and 35 RBI over 297 plate appearances.

Known more for his offense, Teel also flashed some pretty impressive defensive chops at times, particularly with his pitch framing.

Given that Chicago is in rebuilding mode, you would think Teel would be an integral part of the team moving forward, and yet, there have been reports that the Red Sox approached the White Sox about potentially re-acquiring Teel.

But fret not, fans of the Pale Hose; it doesn’t look like Teel is going anywhere.

The White Sox have shut down the Red Sox in Kyle Teel trade discussions

Just because the Red Sox have expressed interest in trading for Teel does not mean the White Sox are going to oblige.

Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic have revealed that Chicago has absolutely “no interest” in trading Teel and have “shut down every inquiry” for the 23-year-old backstop.

Wise decision by the White Sox.

Teel was the 32nd-ranked prospect in baseball by MLB.com entering 2025 and slashed .295/.394/.492 in 50 games at Triple-A Charlotte before being promoted to the show this past season.

The Ridgewood, N.J. native was originally select by Boston with the 14th overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft and slashed .300/.401/.456 with 23 homers and 130 RBI throughout 188 games in the minor leagues between the Red Sox and the White Sox.

Teel is expected to be a critical part of Chicago’s roster next season and is under team control through 2031. The mere idea of trading him is silly.

The post White Sox reveal crystal clear stance on nonsensical trade talks appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs entered the 2025 MLB campaign with one of the most loaded rosters in baseball, and it was thanks much in part to their trade for Kyle Tucker the preceding offseason.

The catch? Tucker was an impeding free agent, and he clearly had no intention of signing an extension. The 28-year-old wanted to test the open market, and that is exactly what he is doing right now.

While the Cubs are a big-market franchise with a rich history, they certainly haven’t been operating like one in recent years, which is why just about everyone has assumed that Tucker was a one-and-done in Chicago.

On top of that, Joey Christopoulos of CHGO Sports feels that the Cubs may have ruined any chance they had of retaining Tucker based on the way they handled his calf injury this past season.

What exactly happened between the Chicago Cubs and Kyle Tucker?

No one really knows for sure what went on between the Cubs and Tucker down the stretch of 2025, when the star outfielder injured his calf and was forced to miss time in September.

Tucker hit the 10-day injured list, but Christopoulous theorizes that Tucker may have wanted to get his calf checked out prior to returning.

“I guarantee you Kyle was like, ‘I want to go to Florida to check out my calf,'” Christopoulous said on the CHGO Cubs podcast. “And the Cubs were like, ‘Hey, can you give us 48 hours to just work with our people?’ And it’s just this back and forth, on and on, and the relationship and the communication got out of whack.”

Christopoulous feels that a lack of trust formed for Tucker as a result of the issue.

“They tried to give it to him, to build this trust, but I think mistrust was grown from this lack of communication,” he added.

Tucker got off to a scintillating start his first few months in Chicago, but a hand fracture he suffered in late June tanked his production the rest of the way. The calf injury late in the season didn’t help, either. The end result was the four-time All-Star posting a modest .266/.377/.464 slash line with 22 home runs and 73 RBI.

Does it really matter anyway?

We will probably never know the extent of any damage that may have been caused in the relationship between the Cubs and Tucker, but to be quite frank, it may have never mattered to begin with.

When Chicago acquired Tucker last winter, the general consensus was that he would be a one-year rental for the Cubbies with the hope that he could potentially lead them to a World Series. The Cubs did win 92 games and they did advance to the NLDS, but they fell to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Now, Tucker is available in free agency, and Chicago hasn’t even been mentioned as a potential destination for the former No. 5 overall pick.

The Cubs simply don’t spend that type of money anymore, so Tucker may have been a goner regardless of what transpired during the regular season.

The post Cubs may have permanently damaged chances with top free agent appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. is an obvious trade candidate after the White Sox decided to pick up his $20 million option for 2026, but will they actually be able to find a home for him?

Right now, it’s looking quite difficult because of Robert’s salary.

The White Sox engaged in trade discussions with the New York Mets regarding Robert, but Jon Heyman of The New York Post has reported that talks stalled because the Mets wanted Chicago to pay down some of Robert’s $20 million price for next season.

As of right now, the White Sox do not appear to have any interest in doing that, which could make it rather challenging to move Robert this winter.

How motivated are the White Sox to trade Luis Robert Jr.?

There was a time when Robert was one of the top up and coming outfielders in all of baseball. Back in 2023, he made the All-Star team after smashing 38 home runs to go along with an .857 OPS, and he also played tremendous outfield defense.

However, the last couple of years, Robert’s value has plummeted.

The 28-year-old slashed .224/.278/.379 with 14 homers and 35 RBI in 2024, and this past season, his numbers were nearly identical, as he slashed .223/.297/.364 with 14 long balls and 53 RBI. His defense in center field has remained impressive, but also not exactly what it was in 2023.

Robert has two years of club control remaining, as he has another $20 million team option for 2027. So essentially, the Mets — or any other interested team — could view him as a rental.

When you consider Robert’s declining production and couple that with the fact that he is owed a substantial amount of money next season, the White Sox will either have to lower their demands or give in and pay some of his salary.

Whether or not they are actually willing to do that remains to be seen.

The post Report: White Sox hit frustrating roadblock in All-Star trade talks appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls got off to a 5-0 start this season, but clearly, it was a mirage. Since then, they have gone just 5-14 and are back in NBA purgatory: not good enough to make a playoff run, but also not bad enough to land a top pick in the NBA Draft.

As such, the Bulls are widely expected to sell off some pieces between now and the February trade deadline, and guard Coby White appears to be their chief trade chip.

But unfortunately for Chicago, White’s trade value already appears to be falling off a cliff.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, for example, have expressed interest in White, but because the 25-year-old is headed toward free agency this summer, his price point has dipped “precipitously,” per Sam Amick of The Athletic.

It’s not just White’s contract that is an issue, either.

Coby White may have already ruined the Chicago Bulls’ trade deadline plans

White had a breakout campaign last year, averaging 20.4 points per game while posting a true-shooting percentage of 60.1 percent. This season, however, has been a different story for the former first-round pick.

Through mid-December, White is registering a career-high 21.9 points a night, but on miserable 42.7/29.8/80.0 shooting splits in eight games (he missed considerable time due to a calf injury) White’s significant dip in three-point percentage is very alarming, and while he is taking 8.1 free throws per game, his conversion rate at the charity stripe has also fallen by over 10 percent.

What exactly is going on? Is White feeling the immense pressure of a contract year? Were his last couple of seasons of strong play just a fluke?

Couldn’t be lower

Whatever the case may be, White’s trade value couldn’t possibly be any lower at the moment. Teams are never eager to surrender a pool of assets for an impending free agent. Throw in White’s declining efficiency on top of that, and it’s a perfect storm of bad news for the Bulls.

Is there a chance Chicago ends up re-signing White in free agency? Possibly, but he is due to earn quite a hefty pay day, and if the Bulls do retain him, it could end up hurting them in the long run.

Expect Chicago to aggressively shop White over the next couple of months, but whether or not it is actually able to get a decent return is another story.

The post Bulls’ NBA trade deadline plans are already being sabotaged appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have yet to make any major moves this offseason, but they appear to be in the running for one of the best free agents available in third baseman Alex Bregman.

Here’s the problem: Bregman is a Scott Boras client, and anyone who has been paying attention to baseball for any length of time knows how this works. Boras is the top agent in the sport — and maybe in North American sports in general — for a reason. He knows exactly how to toy with the market, and that’s exactly what he appears to be doing with Bregman.

The Boston Red Sox — with whom Bregman spent the 2025 campaign — are widely viewed as the Cubs’ top competition to sign the All-Star slugger, but now, Boras has thrown a third team into the ring: the Seattle Mariners.

Is the Chicago Cubs’ pursuit of Alex Bregman going to end in heartache?

Boras has identified the Mariners as a potential fit for Bregman, noting that Bregman would have “a willingness to consider” Seattle.

To be perfectly honest, the Mariners do make sense as a destination for the three-time All-Star. They acquired Eugenio Suarez back at the trade deadline, but he is now a free agent. Jorge Polanco was a candidate to start at the hot corner for Seattle, but he just signed with the New York Mets.

Adam Jude of The Seattle Times has claimed that the Mariners are not going to pursue Bregman, but that could change as we get deeper into the offseason.

Meanwhile, Chicago currently has Matt Shaw at third base. A former top prospect, Shaw struggled at the plate during his rookie campaign in 2025, slashing .226/.295/.394 over 437 plate appearances. He did, however, flash some serious leather at the hot corner, managing a plus-12 DRS.

But the Cubs need more offense, especially considering Kyle Tucker seems bound to bolt this winter.

Taking that into consideration, Bregman would be a terrific addition for Chicago and could either make Shaw or second baseman Nico Hoerner trade bait, as Shaw could then slide over to second base.

However, as long as Boras is running the show, the Cubs — who don’t like spending money these days to begin with — will have a difficult time landing him.

The post Cubs’ Alex Bregman pursuit just became that much more frustrating appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman has become somewhat of a hot name on the coaching carousel, even though there is zero indication that he plans on leaving South Bend any time soon.

In fact, Freeman has been floated as a potential head-coaching target for the New York Giants, who recently fired Brian Daboll. But would Freeman actually make sense in New York? Joe DeLeone of A to Z Sports isn’t so sure it would be a match.

“On the flip side of this, Freeman should not see the Giants as the right situation for him,” DeLeone wrote. “Freeman has the potential to become a high-level NFL coach after gaining more experience as a college head coach. However, the disarray of the Giants organization isn’t a situation a coach who’s never coached in the NFL should want to take on.”

DeLeone added that he also doesn’t think New York should even want Freeman and should instead go for a coach with actual NFL experience.

Will Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman bolt for the NFL?

Freeman has developed quite the reputation on the collegiate level thanks to his brilliant work at Notre dame. He led the Fighting Irish to a National Championship Game appearance last year and led them to 10 straight wins following an 0-2 start this season.

Notre Dame was snubbed of a College Football Playoff appearance and has chose not to participate in a bowl game, a choice that has been viewed rather unfavorably by some. Nevertheless, you can understand why the Fighting Irish are miffed.

Freeman has gone 43-12 since taking over at Notre Dame and has posted three straight double-digit win campaigns, so you can understand why his name is beginning to gain momentum in NFL circles. But given the poor success rather of college coaches in the NFL, you can see why Freeman is being warned to avoid certain jobs.

The Giants actually do comprise a rather enticing destination. They have a potential franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, other intriguing weapons and could potentially land a top-five pick in the NFL Draft this year. But they have made just two playoff appearances since 2012, and because it’s New York, Freeman would be under intense pressure.

It’s probably wiser for Freeman to get a few more notches under his belt on the NCAA level before making the jump to the pros.

The post Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman warned to avoid one specific coaching job appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are 9-4 and are smack dab in the middle of a playoff run, so the last thing they are worried about at the current point in time is deciding their potential trade partners during the offseason. But it’s never too early to discuss it.

Right now, the Bears have one very notable trade candidate on their roster: wide receiver D.J. Moore.

Moore logged just one catch for minus-4 yards in Chicago’s Week 14 loss to the Green Bay Packers in his latest rough performance of the season. He has managed a grand total of 39 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns on the year, which is unacceptable production for a player of his caliber.

It seems fairly obvious that the 28-year-old doesn’t quite mesh with Caleb Williams. The season before Williams arrived joined the Bears, Moore snared 96 balls for 1,364 yards and eight scores. That also happened to be Moore’s debut campaign in the Windy City after coming over in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers the year prior.

But during Williams’ first season with the Bears in 2024, Moore’s production plummeted. He still caught 98 passes, but only for 966 yards and six touchdowns.

Moore signed a four-year, $110 million extension with Chicago in July 2024, but it may be time for a change.

The Chicago Bears may need to trade D.J. Moore

Moore is under contract with the Bears through 2029, but based on his declining production, it seems very hard to believe that he will finish out his deal with the team.

Speculation is swirling that Chicago could move Moore during the offseason, and while his contract pays him an average annual salary of $27.5 million, there should definitely plenty of interested clubs, and one potential destination really stands out: the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills don’t have a No. 1 receiver and haven’t had one ever since jettisoning Stefon Diggs. This has made life difficult for Josh Allen, and while Moore may not be an upper echelon ace, he is still far better than what Buffalo currently has on its roster.

The Bills have been very up and down in 2025 thanks much in part to their lack of options in the aerial attack, so Moore would make perfect sense for them. It would not be the least bit surprising to see the Bears discuss a Moore trade with Buffalo after the season.

Now, it should be noted that Chicago may not stand to reap a massive return for Moore because of his contract and the fact that his efficiency has fallen off a cliff. But a squad like the Bills could view Moore as a player who simply needs a change of scenery.

With the Bears having Rome Odunze and a potential emerging star in Luther Burden III at the position, expect them to entertain a Moore trade in the spring.

The post Caleb Williams’ struggles with one Bears star signal obvious trade is coming appeared first on ChiCitySports.