Cub Tracks gets lit

Light the stove!

The offseason has begun, and now we can officially discuss who’s gonna be where, and for how much. Next episode, I’m going to update the 40-man roster. The offseason timeline will appear here at 9 a.m. CT. BCB will have it all covered for you.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite ‘Fall Star’. The voting ends Wednesday at 2 p.m. CT.

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1. With reference to ongoing commentary: Cub Tracks’ full 40-man as of 10/13.

Cubs News and Notes:

• Michael Ernst (Cubs Den): Chicago Cubs offseason primer. “They’ve raised the bar. Now it is up to the Cubs to scale over it.”
• Derrick Goold (St Loyis Post-Dispatch*): Cards not likely to pursue Trevor Rosenthal, but Cubs and several other teams will. “The contract model Rosenthal is likely to follow was the one Greg Holland received that had a one-year guarantee and an opt-out after 2019.”
• Barry Svrluga, Chelsea Janes (Washington Post via Chicago Tribune* {$}): Where will Bryce Harper play in 2019? The Cubs are leading contenders. “...only a handful of teams will be able to afford a contract that may threaten Giancarlo Stanton’s 13-year, $325-million deal as the most lucrative in the history of American sports.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): A new team has emerged as the odds-on favorite to sign Harper this winter. “Yep, the Philadelphia Phillies now have “EVEN” odds of signing Harper and keeping him in the NL East for the foreseeable future.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Free Agency grabbing headlines, but Kyle Schwarber and other trade candidates could provide greater value. “...adding talent through new contracts isn’t even close to the the most productive means of player acquisition.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): How Jon Lester continues to fight off age to become a ‘metronome’ for Cubs rotation. “...bet against Lester and the Cubs at your own risk.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs face decisions on Cole Hamels and Pedro Strop as free agency starts. “The Cubs and other major-league teams have an exclusive five-day window to negotiate with their own free agents.”
• Daniel Kramer (MLB.com*): Javier Baez wins Fielding Bible Award. “The awards are given to the best defensive player at each position and are determined with a heavy emphasis on statistical analysis.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs’ Baez honored for defensive versatility for 3rd consecutive season. “The last player to win the multi-position award before Baez’s run was Ender Inciarte in 2015.”
• Todd Johnson (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): How close is the Cubs’ 2015 international free agent class to breaking out? “Over the last year and a half, four of them were named at different points in time as the top prospect in the Cubs’ system by varying publications and blogs...”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.