Cub Tracks bides time

The front page is bedecked with interesting discussions — there’s only so much to talk about so far. Think of this as the best of the rest of.

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.

• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs Q&A: Which big-name player is most likely to be traded? Would they consider a 4-man rotation? “The biggest issue for the Cubs would be getting full value for Bryant...”
• Grey Papke (Larry Brown Sports*): Yu Darvish cracks jokes in aftermath of Christian Yelich tweet. Tire tracks all across his back.
• Tony Andracki (BC Sports Chicago*): Brandon Morrow, Craig Kimbrel and the ‘puzzle’ that is the Cubs bullpen. “... there is no one way to put together a quality relief corps...”
• Bryan Smith (Bleacher Nation): The Cubs’ Rule 5 decisions: Dakota Mekkes and that enormous platoon split. “Righties absolutely cannot square him up.” Todd Johnson addresses 40-man decisions.
• Jared Wyllys (Forbes*): Japanese Outfielder Shogo Akiyama would solve two roster holes for Cubs. “With Akiyama, one or both of Almora and Happ probably becomes expendable...”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Wait, did someone really propose a Kyle Schwarber-Miguel Andujar trade? “... Andujar will only be 25 in March and he’s got plenty of talent.”
• Alex Pavlovic (NBC Sports*): Cubs’ Theo Epstein explains why Scott Harris will succeed with Giants. “He’s got significant intellectual capacity, but he’s very down to Earth, fun to be around,” Epstein said of Harris.
• Bruce Miles (The Athletic {$}): From the eye test to JAWS, here is how I vote for the Hall of Fame. The Sammy Sosa conundrum is addressed.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs manager David Ross will attend Joe Maddon’s fundraiser banquet in Pennsylvania. “Ross has committed to attend the Hazleton Integration Project’s ninth Broad Street Bash on Dec. 13 in Maddon’s hometown of Hazleton, Pa.”
• Cubs birthdays: Billy Sunday, Stu Martin, Manny Jimenez, Dickie Noles, Jeff Hartsock, Jeff Gray. Also notable: Roy Campanella (HoF)

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.