Latest news and updates about the Cubs
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths. “Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire. Ernie in the Hall, The Penguin comes to Chicago, Dexter Fowler* arrives, and other stories for the […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | about 6 hours ago | 0 reads
Last weekend, the Cubs and Bears came together to provide Chicago with one of the most memorable and consequential sports nights for this city in a long time. One week and one day later, and it’s all on the Bears. I am nervous. I am excited. And I am ready to Bear Down. You’ve got a must-read of the day , today, from Patrick Mooney, who got the inside scoop on how the deal with Alex Bregman came together last weekend during the Bears game. From the sound of it, Bregman was VERY clo...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 1 day ago | 0 reads
In the past, the Cubs Convention used to have a session with President of Business Operations Crane Kenney. That, along with a session with Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts, have been eliminated from the convention agenda. Kenney did have a wide-ranging conversation with Meghan Montemurro of the Tribune, and in her article she wrote that the […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 1 day ago | 0 reads
Matt Shaw says he has spent a good deal of time in the outfield in college and he’s up for the challenge of being a supersub. I’m not going to discourage him. Nico Hoerner opined that it was a good thing to have a quality player as a sub, and that time off isn’t a […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 1 day ago | 0 reads
Day 2 of the 2026 Cubs Convention started out the same way it always does, with Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer and General Manager Carter Hawkins taking the stage, followed by a session with Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Both sessions were moderated by Cubs play-by-play man Boog Sciambi. But the one thing that […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 2 days ago | 0 reads
The 2026 Cubs Convention is providing WAY too many opportunities for content. I’ve already got two blogs out this morning ( Jon Lester’s comments + the Cubs Hall of Fame announcement ), and I have AT LEAST three more to go after this one … and that’s excluding anything that comes out of the convention today! My keyboard might start on fire from the friction. So, let’s just get right to it. I posted the clips last night, but here are some more visuals from the 2016 Chicago Cubs...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 2 days ago | 0 reads
BCB’s Sara Sanchez will have a wrap of some of the key Cubs Convention sessions later today or tomorrow. For those of you not attending the convention but following the live coverage on Marquee Sports Network (and the channel is streaming all the sessions), this is an open thread for you to discuss what’s happening […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 2 days ago | 0 reads
Welcome back to the 2025-26 edition of Smash or Pass, in which we examine potential free agent and trade targets to determine whether the Red Sox should pursue them and what it would take to land them. Today we look at a Gold Glove infielder. Who is he and where does he come from? He’s Nico […]
From Over the Monster | 2 days ago | 0 reads
It was a heck of a hot stove week, with two pairs of transactions seemingly moving in unison. The Cubs swiped Alex Bregman from the Red Sox, which prompted Boston to pivot to a five-year deal with Ranger Suarez. A couple nights later, the Dodgers did what they do and signed Kyle Tucker, which appeared […]
From Pinstripe Alley | 2 days ago | 0 reads
Chicago Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts announced at Friday night’s Cubs Convention Opening Ceremony that former Cubs catcher Jody Davis and pitcher Jon Lester will be inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame this year. Also, former broadcaster Vince Lloyd will be inducted into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame and given a “Lifetime Achievement […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 3 days ago | 0 reads
Tonight marked the beginning of the 2026 Chicago Cubs Convention, which includes the always rowdy (and reportedly oversold, this year!) Opening Ceremonies. It also marks the tenth anniversary of the 2016 World Series, which means it’s reunion time! As promised, the Cubs brought back as many (non-active) members of the 2016 World Series team, reintroducing them back to the city that loves them most. The 2016 World Series Champions! It’s good to have you home, boys. The 2016 ...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 3 days ago | 0 reads
Episode 45 of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast is officially live! In this week’s episode, Brett and I talk about the coinciding exit/arrival of Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman. We also discuss the Cubs’ internal evolution on deferrals, and what else might happen before the end of the offseason. After the break, in our transaction corner, Brett and I get back into the Nico Hoerner/Matt Shaw trade rumors, with a little extra mention of the Red Sox pitchers. It was a really fun episode, t...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 3 days ago | 0 reads
The makeshift 2021 Cubs, after a bad run for most of August, won 10 of 13 late that month and early September, then went on another long losing jag, losing 10 of 13 entering a doubleheader date with the Cardinals on Sept. 24. In 2021, as was the case in 2020, doubleheader games were limited […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 3 days ago | 0 reads
As the 2025 season ended, the Chicago Cubs’ needs were crystal clear. Sometimes you have to guess and speculate, and get really creative to figure out what a team might want to do. In this case, though, it was all just very obvious: the Cubs needed to rebuild the bullpen, the Cubs needed multiple starting pitchers, including a front-three starting pitcher, and, if possible, the Cubs would probably like to add an impact bat. The Cubs have done exactly those three things this offseason. The...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 3 days ago | 0 reads
A baseball thought before I dive into BN Bears Bullets. Kyle Tucker signing with the Dodgers (mega eye roll, of course) means that the Cubs essentially traded Hayden Wesneski, Cam Smith, and Isaac Paredes for a 90-win regular-season, a playoff series win, Alex Bregman, and a draft pick (that comes Chicago’s way for Tucker signing with Los Angeles). As far as I’m concerned, that looks like a net win for Chicago. OK, we’re on to football things. If you haven’t read Patrick’s Bea...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 3 days ago | 2 reads
After a brief detour in the Chicago White Sox organization, infielder Benjamin Cowles is back in the Chicago Cubs organization. The Cubs claimed the 25-year-old off of waivers, and their 40-man roster is now a full 40. Any additional moves on that front will require maneuvering. Cowles, together with reliever Jack Neely, was the return in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade at the deadline in 2024. He struggled upon arriving at Triple-A in 2025, and was ultimately bumped off the 40-man roster in Se...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 3 days ago | 3 reads
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths. “Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire. , and other stories for the discerning reader. Today in baseball history: Cubs Birthdays: Jim Murray, Dizzy Dean HOF*, Bob […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 3 days ago | 0 reads
Today was International Signing Day, the first day of the 2026 cycle for free agent signings. Because most of these players have come to an informal and non-binding agreement with teams long before today, almost all of the major signings will be formalized today. The Cubs are talking a different approach to free agency this […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 4 days ago | 1 read
It was a foregone conclusion that the Cubs were not going to bring back outfielder Kyle Tucker. For whatever reason, they showed little interest in bringing him back. The Cubs instead pivoted to a major signing of third baseman Alex Bregman, which you know all about by now. But it is a minor surprise that […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 4 days ago | 2 reads
Hey, good for Willi Castro! According to multiple reports, the 28-year-old utility man, acquired by the Cubs at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, is heading to the Colorado Rockies on a very healthy two-year, $12.8 million deal. Willi Castro to the Rockies Willi Castro is heading to Colorado, per multiple reports pic.twitter.com/4Aw8QNmnro — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) January 15, 2026 Castro was an All-Star with the Twins in 2024 and had a nice start to the 2025 seaso...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 4 days ago | 0 reads
This is a transaction you did not expect to read about. The Cubs have made a waiver claim on infielder Ben Cowles. This transaction fills the 40-man roster, for now. Cowles came to the Cubs, along with Jack Neely, in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade July 30, 2024. Neely pitched in six games for the […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 4 days ago | 1 read
After the Cubs’ trade deadline selloff in 2021, the team was left pretty much bereft of talent. The roster resembled a waiver wire list (and, in fact, quite a few had actually come via waivers). They had lost 10 of 12, including being swept by the White Sox, entering the last of a four-game series […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 4 days ago | 0 reads
For the most part, introducing a newly-signed star free agent is simply about the celebration. It’s a definitive moment – completely with the new jersey and cap – to enjoy that this guy is truly part of the Chicago Cubs. So it was today with Alex Bregman, and I’m ready to contemplate all the permutations of what the 2026 Cubs could and will be with Bregman in the fold. That said, if you’re lucky, you also get a little bit of insight from these things. Maybe about the player. Maybe about t...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 4 days ago | 0 reads
At the introductory press conference today , Jed Hoyer mentioned off-hand that new Cub Alex Bregman had told him during the signing process that he’d committed to play in the World Baseball Classic and wanted to make sure that was going to be OK with the Cubs. He added, according to Hoyer, that he would come in those days and make sure he was still connecting with the guys in Spring Training. That’s how important that part is to him. But, of course, it’s also important to represent your n...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession | 4 days ago | 0 reads
Alex Bregman was signed to a five-year, $175 million deal (with $70 million of that money deferred) by the Cubs this week, officially announced by the team on Wednesday. He made some appearances in town on arriving, attending Blackhawks and Bulls games, and the team introduced him at a press conference at Wrigley Field Thursday […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue | 4 days ago | 1 read