Cub Tracks strikes out

There is no such thing as retreating, merely advancing in the opposite direction. When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Qu’est-ce que c’est?

Run run run run run awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Not that far! Wait for me!

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). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used here as sarcasm font.

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Theo Epstein has said people need to change every 10 years — and his decade in Chicago will be up after 2021. Will he stick around? “I don’t look at the end of my contract,” Epstein said Monday at the general managers meetings. “I look at what’s best for the Cubs.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why Andy Green is such an important part of the Cubs coaching calculus. “Andy is probably one of the most intelligent baseball people I’ve been around,” AJ Preller said.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): What new VP of scouting Dan Kantrovitz brings to the Cubs. “To be able to hire somebody to run our drafts who’s already held that position and run successful drafts in the past, it’s a unique opportunity,” Epstein said.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): ‘There are no untouchables’: How Cubs’ retool will shape offseason across MLB. “Change is not always easy, but it’s necessary,” said Theo Epstein. Gordon Wittenmyer writes of this also.
• Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery*): Padres seem like a perfect trade partner for the Cubs. “... the Padres are poised to take the next step and they have a few holes to fill on their roster.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Could White Sox author nightmare scenario by transplanting multiple Cubs on South Side? “Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams may be thinking about tearing down a Lake View townhome to reassemble it in Beverly.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): How about this trade target for the Cubs? Rockies righty Jon Gray. “Gray could be a pretty good, familiar, high-upside starter to target.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Why Brandon Morrow might return to the Cubs in 2020. “The bullpen’s a priority either way,” Epstein said.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Kris Bryant still a Cub in 2020? It’s complicated. There’s zero issue whatsoever,” claimed Epstein. Bruce Levine doesn’t go Scott free. Tony Andracki looks at the books.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): These Cubs could be involved in trade rumors. 11 in all.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs have big decisions to make with the bullpen and Nico Hoerner. “Addison Russell may be non-tendered, Ben Zobrist may retire and Tony Kemp is seen as a utility player.”
• Laura Messer (Cubs Insider*): Robel García, Oscar De La Cruz have room for improvement in Winter Ball. “A handful of Cubs prospects are currently assigned to winter league teams...”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): “Multiple Players” identify Brewers as among the most egregious electronic sign stealers. “Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich dropped a bomb of a report today {$}...”
• Cubs Birthdays: Jim Brewer, Willie Hernandez, Kent Bottenfield, Xavier Nady. Also notable: Jim Piersall.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.