Where do you even start after a night like that?
There I was, sitting in my basement, stewing as I watched the Chicago Bears enter the fourth quarter with an 18-point deficit against the one team whose seemingly inevitable win could really spoil what was otherwise an incredible season for the franchise … when BANG, the alert hits: The Cubs have signed free agent 3B Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal .
I sprint upstairs to my computer and start typing, grateful the Cubs sa...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 8 days ago
| 0 reads
Good morning, folks… Alex Bregman is reportedly heading to the Chicago Cubs on a 5 year, $175 million deal. David Laurila has his Sunday Notes column up at Fangraphs.
From Lone Star Ball
| 8 days ago
| 2 reads
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, here we are.
Not only did the Cubs make a gigantic splash in free agency last night , signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a (nominal) five-year, $175 million deal exactly when they needed to, but the deal also comes with upwards of $70 million deferred per Ken Rosenthal .
That’s a good thing and a good sign for a number of reasons. Let’s discuss.
Alex Bregman Contract Deferrals
We don’t know the full details of the de...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 8 days ago
| 0 reads
The MLB offseason had ground to a standstill, mainly because of the lack of movement around the top free agents. Well, we finally had a major domino fall, with Alex Bregman inking a five-year, $175-million deal with the Cubs. Chicago didn’t really seem like major players at the top of the free agent market, but […]
From Pinstripe Alley
| 9 days ago
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The Chicago Cubs signed former Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman to a bad contract tonight: five years, $175 million with no opt-outs. The Great Bregman Saga, which has consumed two consecutive offseasons for the Red Sox, is now over. The final line reads: 114 G, 18 HR, .273/.360./462, 3.5 bWAR, $40 million, 1 postseason […]
From Over the Monster
| 9 days ago
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After trading for right-hander Edward Cabrera earlier this week, many observers said it was time for the Cubs to open up their wallet and sign an impact bat. Many of you have been screaming for owner Tom Ricketts to open up his wallet. That’s exactly what the Cubs did tonight. The Cubs have pursued Bregman […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 9 days ago
| 1 read
This morning, Ken Rosenthal joined David Haugh and Bruce Levine on Inside The Clubhouse to discuss where the Cubs go after making their big trade for Edward Cabrera this week.
Haugh got straight to the point, asking Rosenthal if he believes the Cubs are in pursuit or close with any of the four remaining big free agent hitters: Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, or Alex Bregman.
Here’s what Rosenthal had to say:
I would not say close. I have not heard that. They are cert...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 9 days ago
| 0 reads
I am posting this one not because I know the date, because I don’t. It’s impossible to figure out the date this photo was taken because there aren’t enough clues. I know, I know, usually I can find a clue that isn’t totally obvious, but this time… nope. All we know is this: The photo […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 9 days ago
| 0 reads
Nine days ago, as the clock struck midnight, the calendar flipped to 2026. And that means we are officially in the 10-year anniversary of the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series championship. And because of that, the Cubs have invited as many of the (non-active) 2016 World Series roster back to Chicago for the Cubs Convention .
As previously reported, the list of attendees does not include any active players, including Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Aroldis Chapman, Willson Contreras, Javier Bae...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 10 days ago
| 1 read
MLB’s new media landscape has brought NBC back to baseball broadcasting in 2026, and part of that is taking over the Sunday Night Baseball franchise that’s been carried by ESPN for the last 35 years. Friday, NBC announced their entire Sunday night schedule (and some of these games are afternoon contests, as you will see). […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 10 days ago
| 1 read
I would argue that power rankings are of marginal predictive value even in the second half of the MLB season, even if they are nevertheless often too alluring not to check out. I can’t help but wanting to know what national people think of the Chicago Cubs, even if I stand at the ready to dismiss their perspective if I disagree with it (for reasons usually equal parts dispassionate and hopelessly biased).
So, then, MLB power rankings in early January, before the offseason is complete, and...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 10 days ago
| 0 reads
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Now that the Cubs have signed a cost-controlled starting pitcher in Edward Cabrera, who will make just $4.45 […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 10 days ago
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From the start of the offseason, one of the free agent predictions most folks have comfortably made is that Cody Bellinger will be returning to the New York Yankees eventually. He clearly thrived with that team and in that ballpark. He provides a whole lot that they need. And each side seemed to be quite happy with the fit. ( Yankees: the Cubs say you’re welcome for trading you Bellinger for essentially nothing .)
Yet, here we are on January 9, and Cody Bellinger’s free agency is playing ...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 10 days ago
| 0 reads
Whew. Busy week, relatively speaking, for the Cubs. I was hoping this is how things would look in the first full week back from the holidays, but you never know with offseasons in the current era. I guess a lot of the activity was driven by a single Cubs trade , but the Cubs did also claim a pitcher on waivers, and signed another to a minor league deal. A relative bounty of activity in its own right. Plus renewed rumors on the positional side.
Good to see the Cubs got deals done for the...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 11 days ago
| 0 reads
Happy Friday, everyone. It’s been an exciting week for the Cubs, but what else is going on around baseball that’s worth mentioning? Well, the arbitration deadline was last night, and it seems likely we’ll be seeing some hearings come out of it. We’ve got discussions about the Hall of Fame, and if those who participate […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 11 days ago
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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. Happy birthday to Joe Wallis* (who spoiled Tom Seaver’s no-hit bid), The first episode of Home […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 11 days ago
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After trading for right-hander Edward Cabrera yesterday, the first order of business for the Cubs and their new pitcher was deciding how much he was going to earn this upcoming season. Just before the deadline to exchange arbitration contract figures today, the Cubs and Cabrera agreed to a $4.45 million deal for 2026. Cabrera made […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 11 days ago
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2026 Cubs Salary Arbitration Primer
1/8 UPDATE : The Cubs signed LHP Justin Steele (one year - $6.775M), RHP Edward Cabrera (one year - $4.45M), and RHP Javier Assad (one year - $1.8M) to 2026 major league contracts, thus avoiding the possibility of salary arbitration. Because the contracts were signed to avoid the possibility of salary arbitration, the contracts are fully guaranteed. 1/7 UPDATE : The Cubs acquired RHP Edward Cabrera from the Marlins, and he is eligible for sala...
From The Cub Reporter (TCR) | A Chicago Cubs Blog
| 11 days ago
| 13 reads
Episode 44 of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast is officially live!
In this week’s episode, Brett asks me about how I broke yesterday’s big trade. I tried to say as much as I could without spoiling any sources. I probably said too much. After that, we discuss Edward Cabrera, the pitcher, as well as the impact his presence has on the Cubs both this season and beyond.
After the break, in our transaction corner, Brett and I talk about the various free-agent bats still available, specific...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 11 days ago
| 0 reads
Now that the Cubs have finally added their (potential) impact starting pitcher in Edward Cabrera, the obvious question emerges: What’s next for Jed Hoyer and the Cubs?
Seeing as the rotation is deep, the bullpen has been (mostly) remade, Owen Caissie was dealt, and Cabrera is set to earn only ~$3.7M in 2026, an even more obvious answer emerges: GO SPEND SOME MONEY ON A BAT.
In an article at The Athletic earlier this morning (and then later on his podcast), Ken Rosenthal put the same ...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 11 days ago
| 0 reads
This was fun and wild to see, albeit pretty well-caveated when we talk it through.
MLB Pipeline spoke with more than 40 executives from across the sport, polling them on a variety of prospect-related questions. In the second part of the series, one of the questions asked who is the most underrated prospect in baseball.
Know who appeared tied atop that list?
If I tell you it is a Cubs prospect, you’re guessing Jaxon Wiggins, aren’t you?
And if I told you that, yes, Wiggins g...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 11 days ago
| 0 reads
There were only two Cubs who were arbitration-eligible, Justin Steele and Javier Assad, before today’s deadline for players and teams to avoid having to exchange figures for an arb hearing. The trade for Edward Cabrera adds one more player to that list. One of the three has now avoided arbitration: Steele made $6.55 million in […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 11 days ago
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Today is the deadline for arbitration-eligible players to file their request for a 2026 salary, and for teams to file their corresponding number. If it comes to that point at the end of the day, typically the team and the player will proceed to an arbitration hearing next month, where one of those two numbers will be selected.
To avoid that potentially nasty process, teams and players like to sign contracts by today for the upcoming season.
For example, the Cubs have avoided arbitrat...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 11 days ago
| 1 read
The last entry in this series was about Ben Zobrist, who pitched in the final game — in fact, the last inning — of the Cubs’ disastrous 2019 season. No Cubs position players pitched in the abbreviated 2020 season. And that had nothing to do with the length of the season — there were 35 […]
From Bleed Cubbie Blue
| 11 days ago
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There are two sides to every trade, and, for as excited as we are to have Edward Cabrera now in the Chicago Cubs’ organization, we have to say farewell to a trio of prospects who are off to Miami: outfielder Owen Caissie, shortstop Cristian Hernández, and infielder Edgardo De Leon.
On the outgoing side of the trade, Owen Caissie is obviously the headliner, and a prospect about whom opinions out there are pretty well-divided, even though everyone tends to agree on the nature of the playe...
From Bleacher Nation | Chicago Sports News, Rumors, and a Reasonable Level of Obsession
| 11 days ago
| 0 reads