Cub Tracks and the hole truth

As long as the Hot Stove is going, and we’re spending the Cubs’ money, let’s get some brunch happening. Joe’s reportedly has blue plate specials on hitting coaches...

I’m for the buffet, and keep the coffee coming. Here at Joe’s, we can nosh and keep track of the various current narratives from our place at the corner booth. Come join us! As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

Cubs News and Notes:

Current 40-man roster, updated daily. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are conspicuously absent.

“You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.” — Jim Bouton.

The Cubs may need to get creative on the trade front if they want to try to bolster the bullpen while simultaneously saving money, but in reality, the reliever pool in free agency is so very deep this year that there absolutely will be quality, cost-effective deals to be had. I’m not convinced the Cubs need to go all out in the top tier of the reliever group, but I think eschewing free agency entirely in a reliever class like this would be a mistake. — Brett Taylor.

• ESPN: Cole Hamels talks to Waddle and Silvy [AUDIO].
• Jeff Burdick (Cubs Insider): Was Drew Smyly trade a salary dump or stroke of genius? “...why would the Cubs give up an insurance policy like Smyly when they could later want him back if a starter falls to injury?”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs’ Javier Baez and White Sox’s Adam Engel learn Gold Glove Award fate Sunday. The Rawlings Gold Glove Awards will be announced tonight.
• Mark Simon (The Athletic {$}): Báez, DJ LeMahieu or Kolten Wong? Sizing up each of the NL second base Gold Glove finalists. It comes out all Wong.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs and White Sox assess veteran help at general managers meetings. “...executives accelerate their plans starting Monday at Carlsbad, Calif.”
• Moshe Wilensky (Cubs Insider): Cubs not pursuing Harper would be irresponsible given massive revenues. “In exchange for paying the highest costs in baseball, Cubs fans have the right to expect a commensurate payroll.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Bryce is right for Cubs? Not so fast. “...the Cubs are signaling this could be a creatively financed, more constrained winter.”
• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Winning isn’t cheap, and the Cubs shouldn’t be frugal heading into free agency. “...it doesn’t look there’s a pot of gold waiting for Epstein in the Cubs’ beer garden.”
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Cubs retain coach Brandon Hyde, reportedly lose Andy Haines. “...assistant hitting coach Andy Haines is reportedly headed to the Brewers as their hitting coach.”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.