Cub Tracks links up

Sunday, and the breakfast buffet doesn’t include a surfeit or a plethora. That’s a shame as both words mean a lot to me, but it is what it is. There are some rather toothsome offerings on hand if you can get past my little yolks.

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).

• Doug Glanville (NBC Sports Chicago*): Glanville offseason journal: The loss of Valbuena and Castillo. “We know each other, even when we don’t. So it hurts deeply.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs, Epstein expect active Winter Meetings. ”It seems like there’s plenty of trade talk and still a lot of good free agents out there, and a couple of moves that have already occurred. That’s only going to set the stage for increased activity in the next week or so. You guys will be busy,” Epstein said.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Yu Darvish’s injury, surgery, recovery, and a possible bright side. “I remain very hopeful for his near-term future with the Cubs, and I don’t plan to forget – even for ten seconds – that he’s “currently a rotation option” any time soon.”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider): Cubs system position-by-position, pt 3: Lots of options at 2B. “A platoon would allow Ben Zobrist time to rest and for David Bote to adjust back to the league...”
• Sheryl Ring (Fangraphs): The human side of the Cubs’ Addison Russell decision. “...if I was going to be saved, I would have to save myself.”
• Dan Santaromita (NBC Sports Chicago*): Could the Cubs use Kyle Schwarber to land Corey Kluber? “Bradford Doolittle and David Schoenfield took the bait and speculated on trades they would like to see.”
• Dan Santaromita (NBC Sports Chicago*): Dan Plesac predicts Cubs will sign Bryce Harper. “I think the Cubs are going to be in on Harper, I really do,” Plesac said.

Food for thought: