A Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005
After free agents and DFA’d guys were deleted from the Cubs’ 40-man roster last month, just 31 players remained. That seemed like a small number. So far this offseason, just three other players have been added back to that 40-man roster, leaving it at 34. I thought that still sounded pretty small, so I decided […]
about 1 month ago | 0 reads
Matt Shaw is in the news again, That’s all I’m going to say. Chase Strumpf is calling it a career. Framber Valdez and Pete Fairbanks are in the air. The next real event is the Cubs Convention, Friday, January 16, through Sunday, January 18, 2026. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the grooviest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad to see you. Come on in out of the cold. We’ve got a fire going in here. There’s no cover charge. There are still a few tables available. Bring your own beverage. […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
Before Miguel Montero became a Cubs postseason legend with his NLCS grand slam against the Dodgers and key hit in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, he pitched one inning for the Cubs. In 2016. In that great season. Yes, the Cubs needed a position player in a blowout. The […]
about 1 month ago | 0 reads
It’s a holiday week so you’d figure any deals made by teams, notably the Chicago Cubs, would be minor. And that’s what we have today: Christian Bethancourt is 34 and played in 24 games for the 2024 Cubs. In those games, covering 59 plate appearances, he batted .281/.305/.509 with three home runs and 15 RBI. […]
about 1 month ago | 0 reads
FanDuel Sports Networks are the RSNs that were once branded Bally Sports Networks, and prior to that were part of the Fox Sports Network group. They’ve gone through quite a bit of churn and change over the last few years as media companies have lurched from linear TV to streaming and several mergers have happened. […]
about 1 month ago | 0 reads
With the Cubs having added some players to the 40-man roster (which now stands at 34) since our first payroll look this offseason, I thought it was time for another article updating things as they stand as we head into the holiday weeks, where not much action is likely to happen. Before we get to […]
about 1 month ago | 0 reads
Happy Monday, friends. We’re fast approaching Christmas, which means we’ll likely see a slower week of activity around ye olde hot stove, as things get quiet before picking up again in the new year. We’ve still got some little news bites to keep you busy to start the week, as we mull over the White […]
about 1 month ago | 0 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. Comiskey buys a team, Bobby Bonds, Ryan Freel, and more. RIP Ryan*. Today in baseball […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
Here’s one more from BCB reader Clark Addison. As I have noted in some previous sleuthing photos, this has to be from 2005 or 2006, one of the two seasons this century where the Cubs removed names from the back of home jerseys. The key to the year is No. 5. In 2005, that number […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
“I want you to know that I am going to remain a loyal Cubs fan,” said Archbishop-elect Ronald Hicks, who will head the Archdiocese of New York after leading the Diocese of Joliet. “However, I am going to start rooting for the New York sports teams. And I already love your pizza. I love it […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
Here’s yet another one from BCB reader Clark Addison, and I cropped the photo at the top of the post to take away one significant clue. Can you figure out which game this is from just the Cubs waiting to greet the walk-off home run hitter at the plate? (It’s obvious it’s a walk-off home […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Michael King is off the board, having signed a multiple-out deal to return to the Padres. Munetaka Murikami has to sign by Monday or go back to NPB. Tatsuya Imai’s posting window expires January 2. So there’s hope for some developments soon. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
The Cubs bullpen was a strength for the Cubs in 2025 but with Andrew Kittredge returning to the Baltimore Orioles, Drew Pomeranz signing with the Los Angeles Angels and Brad Keller inking a two-year deal with the Phillies, the late innings of Cubs games will look a lot different in 2026. The Cubs have been […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Last month, I wrote about Chris Denorfia’s walk-off home run, a blast that still stands as the only one in MLB history to win a scoreless game in extra innings. Before he did that, though, the versatile Denorfia became another Cubs position player to take the mound. It happened Aug. 19, 2015 at Wrigley Field […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller was one of the names most mentioned in trade rumors around last summer’s deadline. Along with basically every top starting pitcher rumored to be dealt last July, Keller stayed right where he was, in the Pirates rotation. Keller has been, if nothing else, a durable starter. He has made at least […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Good morning.
about 1 month 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. Today we feature financial skullduggery and other such fare, just the thing for a holiday […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
This was not an expected signing by the Chicago Cubs baseball team: Hmm, I said. This is not a player I’m familiar with, and probably, neither are you. Tyler Austin was the Yankees’ 13th round pick out of high school in Georgia in 2013. He made his MLB debut in 2016 and played parts of […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Tokyo travelogue: Street scenes in Shinjuku Tokyo travelogue: Sunday at the Imperial Palace grounds, Ueno Park and Akihabara Japan travelogue: A day trip to Kyoto Japan travelogue: Hakone and Mt. Fuji Tokyo travelogue: Tea ceremony and Tokyo Tower A Tokyo travelogue, and Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome A few thoughts about traveling to Japan to see the Cubs play
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Before he was Cubs manager for four years, before he was a World Series hero, before he was “Grandpa Rossy,” David Ross was just another Cubs backup catcher. Well, not “just” another one. He had been signed at the recommendation of Jon Lester, who the Cubs signed to a long-term deal before 2015, as Lester […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Thanks again to BCB reader JayWent for this article suggestion. Kris Bubic has talent — he was a No. 1 pick (40th overall) in 2018 out of Stanford. If that date and school sounds familiar, it should, because Nico Hoerner was the Cubs’ No. 1 pick out of Stanford that year, thus Bubic and Hoerner […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Brad Keller and Luke Weaver signed identical-money deals, with the Phillies and Mets, respectively, sources indicate. Pedro Strop is selling his former home, Bowden is bullish on Bregman to Chicago. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
It’s Wednesday evening here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you decided to stop by. Come on in out of the cold. We can check your hat and coat for you. There are still a couple tables available. They’re all […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is going to look very familiar, as it just ran last month as part of my “walkoff heroes” series. I’m running it again because, well, John Baker was one of the Cubs position player pitchers in the divisional play era, and he does have a singular distinction: In that era, of […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads