The Cubs celebrated winning the NL Central Division on Friday afternoon following the incredible come from behind win in 10 innings over the Brewers. The Cubs and Brewers play game three of four on Saturday (3:05pm CDT) with Jake Arrieta opposing Zach Davies. With checking off Division Champions from the regular season to-do list, the Cubs shifted the focus to securing the best record in the National League. The Cubs are 94-53 on the season, six games ahead of the Nationals. So a day after … [Read more...]
Cubs Give Twins Permission to Interview Jason McLeod
Jed Hoyer confirmed the reports Monday that the Twins are interested in Jason McLeod. And Hoyer said the Cubs were asked for and granted permission to the Twins to interview McLeod. Hoyer is confident McLeod will talk to the Twins. Hoyer does not know when but he’s “expecting that to happen.” The Twins are looking to setup a front office similar to the Cubs where there is a President of Baseball Operation and General Manager. According to Comcast SportsNet, McLeod is expected to interview … [Read more...]
Twins Reportedly Looking at Cubs to Fill Front Office Vacancies
Multiple reports in recent days have linked the Twins to several Cubs front office executives in their search to fill their GM vacancy and possibly hire a President of Baseball Operations. Jed Hoyer, assistant GMs Shiraz Rehman and Randy Bush and Jason McLeod are reportedly of interest to the Twins. Former Blue Jays GM and current Dodgers executive Alex Anthopoulos removed his name from consideration on Friday. Jon Paul Morosi reported the Twins are “looking closely at the Cubs operation … [Read more...]
Cubs Prospect Willson Contreras Extends Hitting Streaks
Cubs catching prospect Willson Contreras extended his hitting streaks Saturday night in Iowa’s 4-0 victory over the Memphis Redbirds. The I-Cubs won their eighth straight game for the first time since 2007. Contreras not only stayed hot offensively but he guided Jake Buchanan, Carl Edwards Jr. and Spencer Patton to a four-hit shutout. The three hurlers struck out 11 and issued only one walk. Willson Contreras reached base twice and came within a sensational catch by the Redbirds shortstop … [Read more...]
Cubs Reportedly Could Try Again to Acquire Tyson Ross
There are several starting pitchers the Cubs have been connected rather heavily to since last summer. And Tuesday afternoon in Peoria, Joe Maddon’s team beat up one of the front office’s targets. The Cubs knocked Tyson Ross out of the exhibition game with one out in the first inning. The Cubs put five runs on the board and forced Ross to throw over 30 pitches. Ross had to finish getting his pitch count up in the bullpen after Andy Green took him out. Tyson Ross is one of a group of … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Addison Russell Just Wants to Win and Other Cubs Spring Training News
Countdown to Cubs Cactus League Opener: 4 Days Addison Russell is the Cubs shortstop and at just 22 years old, he is the anchor of an infield that includes three All-Stars and three of the top 100 players in baseball. Russell will be on a big league diamond for the first time on Opening Day when the Cubs begin the season in Anaheim against the Angels. Russell showed last season he can provide Gold Glove defense at two positions and this year his offense should start catching up with his … [Read more...]
Jason McLeod Talks Cubs Prospects on MLB Network Radio
Jason McLeod, the Cubs Senior Vice President of Player Development and Amateur Scouting, joined Mike Ferrin and Jim Duquette during Monday’s Power Alley (MLB Network Radio) to talk about the organization and top prospects. Jason McLeod went into detail about Gleyber Torres, Willson Contreras, Billy McKinney or ‘Billy Baseball’ as the Cubs call him, Duane Underwood Jr., Dylan Cease, Justin Steele, Carson Sands, Oscar De La Cruz and Jeimer Candelario during an informative interview on the … [Read more...]
How the Front Office Built the Cubs 40-Man Roster
FanGraphs posted an interesting report on how each team built their current 40-man roster. August Fagerstrom examined all 30 rosters and broke the player acquisitions into six categories: Amateur Draft, Free Agent, Trade, International, Waivers and Rule 5 Draft. And provided the projected WAR for the categories based on Steamer projections. The Cubs drafted eight of the players on the 40-man roster, nine were added via free agent signings, one on a waiver claim, one Rule 5 Draft pick and four … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: The Reason Jason Heyward Wears No. 22, Albert Almora Jr. and Other Cubs News
Some players gladly take the number they are issued when they are called up to the big leagues or when a trade lands them with a new team. And there are players, like Jason Heyward, that has a reason for the number he wears. Shortly after the news hit the wire the Cubs agreed to terms with Jason Heyward, Addison Russell welcomed his new teammate on Twitter and gave him his familiar No. 22, the number Russell wore during his rookie season. Heyward has worn No. 22 since he made his big … [Read more...]
Farm Director Jaron Madison Runs Down Cubs System with Myrtle Beach’s Scott Kornberg
Scott Kornberg, Myrtle Beach’s new play-by-play broadcaster, caught up with Cubs farm director Jaron Madison during the Convention. Jaron Madison talked about more in the Cubs’ system than the prospects during his informative conversation with Scott Kornberg. On the Cubs coming off a 97-win season spurred by young players such as Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber, why do you think they’ve been able to be so successful so early in their careers in the Major Leagues? “I think the biggest … [Read more...]