Cub Tracks rolls the dice

Here’s today’s Cubs News and Notes. As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

• Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times* {$}): Joe Maddon on big 2019 change with Cubs, Rays’ need for a stadium and more. “Maddon, 65 in February, said he definitely plans to keep managing beyond this season.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): As Joe Maddon plans to coach more and talk less, could Chris Denorfia be the next addition to Cubs’ staff? “Denorfia rejoined the Cubs this year as a special assistant to Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, gaining exposure to the entire baseball operations department.”
• Josh Cole (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): 2019 player profile: Jose Quintana. “...this rotation will be heavily dependent on game-to-game stability, something that was once Quintana’s calling card.”
• Bill Thompson (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): 2019 player profile: Duane Underwood Jr. “The worst case scenario is he remains in Iowa all year and continues to improve.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Jed Hoyer reiterates that Cubs’ offensive focus is on current players. “It’s unreasonable to imagine the plausible good without also acknowledging the plausible bad.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs face Friday deadline to tender contract to Addison Russell. “Russell’s status will be further defined Friday night.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Keeping Kyle Schwarber’s production in perspective in pivotal offseason. “Hopefully it’s just a random thing that happened and he’ll get back to where he has been,” said Hoyer.
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): Albert Almora Jr struggled more than any other Cub in the second half. “I don’t think any of us would be surprised if his name comes up in hot-stove rumors this offseason.”
• Cam Ellis (NBC Sports Chicago*): There’s no real excuse for the Cubs not to go after Bryce Harper. “...rolling the dice on health and fortune isn’t how you fix a problem. Signing Bryce Harper is.”
• ESPN*: Mets hire Riggleman as Callaway’s bench coach. Former Cubs manager back on the field.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.