The Cubs World Series celebration continues. The victory tour doesn’t figure to end any time soon. And it shouldn’t. All of the players should enjoy the time off celebrating the franchise’s biggest accomplishment.
When it’s time, the players will all get into their off-season routines as Anthony Rizzo guaranteed this week.
Anthony Rizzo added hardware, and Jake Arrieta did too. It was a silver, gold and platinum kind of weekend for the Cubs’ first baseman.
The rumor mill picked up significantly over the weekend, mostly good and one, well not so much.
Jason Hammel said good-bye and thanked the Cubs’ fans for his three years with the team. And Tom Ricketts penned his year-end letter. This one, however, was thankfully a lot different than the other six. The Cubs are The World Series Champions. It Happened!
Here are the headlines from the last three-plus days filled with news, notes, rumors and tons of video …
Cubs Among Teams Interested in Greg Holland
The Cubs were one of at least 20 teams to watch Greg Holland throw last week. Holland dominated at the backend of the Royals’ bullpen before undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2015 season. Holland missed last year and is looking to make a comeback.
The Cubs are interested according to multiple reports. But so are several of the other top teams.
Cubs Minor League Free Agents
The Cubs had 19 minor league players become free agents. The Cubs have already re-signed one, RHP Andury Acevedo. And David Freitas left the Cubs for a better opportunity in the Braves system.
Click on the link for the list of players in the system that became free agents.
Jason Hammel Thanks Cubs Fans will Full-Page Ad in Tribune
Jason Hammel was much better during his two years with the Cubs that most realize. Hammel re-signed with the Cubs after he was used in the trade with Oakland to acquire Addison Russell. Without Hammel these last two seasons, it is very likely the Cubs would not have had the success they did.
Hammel is a class-act and he proved it once again. Hammel took out a full-page ad to thank Cubs’ fans for his three years with the team.
Click on the link to see the ad from the Tribune.
Cubs Have Two Silver Sluggers, Anthony Rizzo and Jake Arrieta
The 2016 Silver Slugger Awards were announced and the Cubs had two players win the top-hitter award for their respective positions.
Anthony Rizzo won the Silver Slugger for NL first basemen and Jake Arrieta took home the award for the top hitting pitcher in the NL. Rizzo and Arrieta are first time winners.
Report includes all of the stats and some video, too.
The Daily CCO: Kyle Schwarber and Ben Zobrist Make the Rounds and Other Cubs News
The Cubs victory tour continued throughout the week. On Thursday, Kyle Schwarber was on Live with Kelly then popped over to the MLB Network.
Ben Zobrist was on Conan the night before. And this report includes video of all three appearances.
Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward signed posters ahead of the Gold Glove Award ceremony … in matching jumpsuits.
The Daily Report includes all of the news, notes, links, lots of AWESOME VIDEO and rumors along with This Day in Cubstory.
Report: Rays Likely to Trade Pitching to Improve Other Areas of Roster
Matt Silverman and the front office are looking at ways to improve the Rays roster. The Rays left the GM Meetings believing they will likely have to deal a starting pitcher or two in order to address other areas.
The Cubs have not been connected to the Rays since winning The Series. There have been a lot of conversations between the two organizations over the last 18 months … even before the non-waiver trade deadline on Aug. 1.
Anthony Rizzo Wins Rawlings Platinum Glove and Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards
Anthony Rizzo should build a bigger trophy case. Rizzo added two more fielding awards to the Gold Glove and Fielding Bible Awards he has already won. Rizzo received the Platinum Glove Award on Friday night and was named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year for First Base.
Report includes all of this year’s winners of Wilson’s awards. And, of course, some video.
Front Office History Points to Cubs Not Spending Big on a Free Agent Closer
The Cubs have been linked heavily to Kenley Jansen while some think there is an outside chance the team re-signs Aroldis Chapman. Jansen would plug a big role at the back of Joe Maddon’s bullpen. But he’s going to be very expensive, both in dollars and length of contract.
Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have not paid a big free agent closer in a long time. And history shows the Cubs will likely do exactly what Epstein and Hoyer have said publicly about spending big on a closer.
For all the details … click on the link and read the report.
The Daily CCO: Tom Ricketts’ Message to Cubs Fans, Dexter Fowler, Anthony Rizzo and Other News
Tom Ricketts sent out his annual letter to Cubs fans. And the Chairman of the Board thanked the fans for all of their patience. The Cubs are World Series Champions and the Ricketts family delivered on one of the promises they made when they bought the team.
Dexter Fowler delivered a must-read first-hand account of Game 7 and talked with The Players’ Tribune about the magnitude of the Cubs winning The Series.
Anthony Rizzo was on Good Morning America … and this report has video to prove it.
Tim Sheridan, the Cubs’ long-time Spring Training PA announcer was attacked during the celebration of the Cubs’ World Series victory.
The Daily Report also includes all of the news, notes, links, rumors and video … plus This Day in Cubs History.
Report: Cardinals to Make an All-Out Play for Dexter Fowler
The Cubs leadoff man, Mr. You Go, We Go, might have a different team next season and beyond. Dexter Fowler is expected to decline the Cubs’ qualifying offer by Monday’s deadline. And many think he will sign a multi-year contract with another team this off-season.
The Cardinals were interested in Fowler last winter. And according to Jim Bowden, the Cardinals are all about signing Fowler this off-season and taking him away from the Cubs.
Multiple Predictions Have Kenley Jansen Landing with Cubs
It’s that time of the year when all of the experts predict where the top free agents will sign. Some predictions are educated guesses. Some are just guesses.
Kenley Jansen figures to break the bank this off-season. And there are those that think he will sign with the Cubs.
The Daily CCO: Sunday Cubs News and Notes
Rumors continued surfacing on which way the front office will go to fill the Cubs needs. Outside of several rumors, it was rather quiet for the first time since the Cubs won The Series.
The deadline on the new CBA is approaching … quickly.
Ryan Kalish elected free agency and David Freitas left the organization. Paul Blackburn is on the move again and went from one AL West team to another.
The Daily includes all of the news, notes and rumors, lots of video and of course, the very popular This Day in Cubstory.
The Cubs, Project Santo and Celebrating the Champs
Pat Hughes’ final call and seeing Kris Bryant throw across the field to Anthony Rizzo will always be special in every way possible. The Cubs could win The Series for the next five years and absolutely nothing will be able to surpass what happened on Nov. 2 in Cleveland.
This report includes lots of fun video and information from Danny Ecker on how the Cubs went about preparing footage for the highlight video celebrating the greatest accomplishment in sports.
Lots of must-see video in this report … click, watch and enjoy.