Cub Tracks flies coach

The Cubs certainly are active behind the headlines. Andy Green, as you’ve no doubt read, is the new bench coach. Chris Young is already on board. The Cubs and Padres have been sympatico during the Epstein Era, with lots of player and off-field personnel switching sides over the years. Let’s not forget who’s on first, to start with.

I know, I know, stop with the ‘jokes’ and get on with the links. What can I say?

Let’s not trade Willy (right, Sara? I like Vic fine but I don’t want to give him 500 at-bats and nobody on the market excites me very much. Yasmani Grandal? Yeah frame, but yeah, old. Jeff Passan started it (see below). Other rumors are gathering steam as the hot stove gets lit up. The times are ripe for speculation.

Here are my five predictions:

1. Pedro Strop will re-sign.
2. Nicholas Castellanos will not be a Chicago Cub.
3. Albert Almora Jr. will be wearing a different uniform in 2020.
4. Nico Hoerner will start at second base most of the time.
5. Ben Zobrist will not retire.

So there you go.

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.

• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Focus shifts to roster as Cubs winter of change continues at GM meetings in Arizona. “Trades are expected to be the Cubs’ primary means of roster building...”
• Craig Edwards (Fangraphs): Are the Cubs really going to ignore their window for contention? “On paper, the Cubs have the best team in the division.”
• Sean Holland (Cubs Insider*): 2019 Chicago Cubs season review: Bullpen issues persisted despite several corrective measures. “... Cubs relievers were actually quite effective in low- and medium-leverage situations.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Bullpen decisions loom for Cubs entering 2020. Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek and Brandon Kintzler, for ‘starters’.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): ‘Multiple teams’ believe Cubs catcher Willson Contreras will be available for trade this winter. “Being available in trade talks doesn’t mean Contreras will be dealt.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Now is not the time for the Cubs to trade Kyle Schwarber. “... Schwarber was one of the best hitters in the league...”
• Larry Hawley (WGN9): Bruce Miles reflects on two decades of covering the Cubs on Sports Feed. “He talked with Jarrett Payton and Josh Frydman about the players and the moments that defined his era with the team.”
• Cubs birthdays: Harvey Hendrick, Walt Lanfranconi, Tony Barnette, Rowan Wick. Also notable: Whitey Herzog (HoF), Bob Gibson (HoF)

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.