Cub Tracks’ grim tidings

I’m beginning to think that baseball is bad for baseball. Rob Manfred certainly doesn’t help. But he’s a symptom, not the disease. I don’t think this idea is from out of left field, but you never know. Feel free to add your own permutations.

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.

Theo Epstein, on waiting for a decision, regarding Kris Bryant’s grievance hearing: “We’re fairly confident in what the outcome is going to be but the timing is a bit frustrating. It would be nice to know. We’re at the winter meetings and there hasn’t been a ruling. I understand these things take time. It’s not going to be more than a couple weeks away but it would be nice to have that final confirmation.” — Jesse Rogers.

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Andy Green new bench coach as Cubs finalize staff. “The group features a mixture of holdovers to maintain continuity and new voices to help the first-year manager create the type of culture he has in mind for the clubhouse, dugout and field.”
• Dayn Perry (CBS Sports*): MLB Winter Meetings: With Stephen Strasburg off the market, 10 teams that could turn up the hot stove. “While baseball’s winters have proceeded at a glacial pace in recent years, the 2019-20 offseason has been comparatively frenzied thus far.” Tony Andracki addresses this vis a vis Kris Bryant.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Padres looking to add starting catcher and Willson Contreras could be a fit. “The Padres hold one of the top farm systems in baseball...” Gordon Wittenmyer says Contreras might be too valuable to trade.
• Bruce Levine (670 The Score*): Cubs, Sox have interest In Keuchel, Castellanos. “Dallas Keuchel is the latest free agent to receive real interest from the two clubs, sources said... The White Sox are in dire need of a right fielder, and Nick Castellanos remains on their radar.” Dan Santaromita addresses persistent Keuchel rumors. Ken Rosenthal {$} says there’s ‘no chance’ the Cubs will re-sign Castellanos. Evan Altman has more Keuchel.
• Andy Koval (WGN-9*): Report: Cubs talk Bryant trade with Phillies, grievance time an issue. According to Bruce Levine, “nothing is there at the moment”. Brett Taylor has more Bryant.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs outfield target Shogo Akiyama is reportedly at the Winter Meetings. “It’s a good bet that Akiyama will meet with some suitors this week to get an in-person perspective...”
• Bruce Miles (The Athletic {$}): On Addison Russell’s fall and the unknowable athlete. “In the end, Epstein’s decision was made easy by Russell’s on-field performance.”
• Cubs birthdays: Jimmy Johnston, Ed Donnelly, Paul Assenmacher, Rick Wrona, Mel Rojas.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.