Busch embracing athleticism at first base
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
How will the Cubs' starting rotation shake out?
MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs did not feel like giving the Rangers an early preview of left-hander Justin Steele on Sunday afternoon. He will be facing the World Series champions soon enough on Opening Day, so he headed down to the Minor League fields and logged five innings against some
1 player from each team making a big impression this spring
As we near the end of Spring Training, and with Opening Day right around the corner, it's time to check in on which players around baseball have made the biggest impression on each club during Cactus League and Grapefruit League play. With the help of all 30 MLB.com beat writers,
Injuries & Moves: Mervis optioned; Happ returns to lineup
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Projecting the Cubs' Opening Day roster
MESA, Ariz. -- There is more to constructing an Opening Day roster than simply thinking about the best team for the first game of the year. Cubs manager Craig Counsell has reiterated that the group he assembles at the start will also be related to the finish. “Obviously, we want
These 12 teams won the MLB offseason
The Dodgers and Padres will play games that count in the 2024 Seoul Series this week, while prominent free agents are still available, while 28 teams are still in their camps in Florida and Arizona. So, the regular season, Hot Stove season and Spring Training season are ALL HAPPENING AT
Rojas raring to pursue dream of becoming Cubs' shortstop
MESA, Ariz. -- While rain pounded a tarp covering the Sloan Park diamond on Friday afternoon, a group of Cubs prospects headed to the ballpark’s concourse to sign autographs. If the weather was not going to play along with the inaugural Spring Breakout showcase, at least fans could walk away
After finishing strong in '23, Suzuki aims to be 'that bat' in '24
MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs do not believe what Seiya Suzuki did in the batter’s box over the season’s final two months last year was an aberration. There is hope that the outfielder finally realized his potential down the stretch of his second year of Major League acclimation. The Cubs
Amaya earning trust as Cubs' catcher of the future
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
3 questions facing Cubs after Taillon's injury
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Cubs came into this spring with an increased confidence in their rotation depth. Between the established arms in place, the big offseason signing of Shota Imanaga and a group of younger players on the rise, Chicago feels it has the pieces to help withstand setbacks. That
Loaded Cubs farm has new director, similar vibe to past glory
MESA, Ariz. -- For the past few years, Jason Kanzler’s world of baseball instruction was much smaller. Working for the Astros, he had moved from Minor League hitting coordinator to being on the Major League staff, helping that Houston lineup win the 2022 World Series. When he took the gig
1 under-the-radar Spring Breakout prospect for each club
Spring Breakout begins Thursday with a pair of the showcase event's 16 games set to kick things off. Headlined by the best and brightest prospects in the game, Spring Breakout will feature no shortage of household names: 72 of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects and 575 of the 900 players
Here are the prospects with the best tools in Spring Breakout
Spring Breakout will make for a fun weekend, with 16 games pitting many of the best prospects in one organization against many of the best in another. It's essentially 16 Futures Games at Spring Training sites, featuring 72 of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects and 575 of the 900 players
1 position battle to watch for each team
With the first few rounds of cuts behind us, clubs are getting a clearer picture of what their rosters are going to look like to open the 2024 season. Even so, every team still has at least one key question mark -- a role that remains, for all intents and
'It's quite the honor': Steele reflects on arduous path to Opening Day nod
MESA, Ariz. -- Justin Steele was summoned to the office of Cubs manager Craig Counsell on Friday afternoon. The time had arrived for Counsell to deliver the news that the left-hander -- coming off his stellar showing last season -- would be getting the ball as the Cubs’ Opening Day
Ranking the 10 best Spring Breakout rosters
The 2024 MLB Pipeline preseason Farm System Rankings were published Friday night, giving fans an idea of how the young talent of each organization lines up. Supporters for all 30 clubs will get a closer look at the next generation of stars this week during MLB's inaugural Spring Breakout --
Every team's projected 2024 home run leader
Spring Training is in full swing as we gear up for the 2024 regular season. That means it's a good time to look at projections for how things might turn out this year, and as usual, home runs are at the forefront of that discussion. Courtesy of FanGraphs’ Steamer projections,
PCA headed to Triple-A ... for now
MESA, Ariz. -- Once the Cubs put the finishing touches on the contract that brought star center fielder Cody Bellinger back into the fold earlier this spring, the writing was on the wall for top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. Barring the unexpected, the rookie was ticketed for Triple-A Iowa to start
See where Chicago lands on 2024 farm system rankings
We rank farm systems twice a year, and while we spend a lot of time breaking them down, evaluating the talents of 5,000 players across 30 different organizations is a fairly impossible task. We often joke that one team congratulates us on placing them perfectly, while the other 29 lament
Shaw showing ‘exceptional’ work ethic in first MLB camp
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. MESA, Ariz. -- Matt Shaw quickly ranged to his right, snagged the chopper off the bat of Kansas City’s Tyler Gentry and then threw
Why Cubs 'want mistakes' as Morel gets hang of 3B
MESA, Ariz. -- Christopher Morel has enjoyed the structure of his daily workouts this spring. Since Cubs manager Craig Counsell made it clear early in camp that Morel was going to focus exclusively on third base to start Spring Training, the young fielder has appreciated the mental focus that plan
Here are the Cubs' 2024 Top 30 prospects
In the middle of the previous decade, the Cubs assembled one of the most impressive collections of position prospects, ranking as baseball's best farm system in 2015 before ending their 108-year World Series championship drought the following season. Their system currently is the strongest it has been since then and
Wicks finds value in facing Padres' top sluggers
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jordan Wicks knows the priority is to focus on his own stuff, but sluggers digging in at the plate are still sluggers, even in early March. The left-handed Wicks made another bid to snare that Opening Day rotation’s fifth spot by allowing just one run over his
Seiya's title goals aren't too big for Cubs. Just look at the roster
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.