Cub Tracks doesn’t rule it out

What the Frick? Hawk Harrelson beat out Pat Hughes. That’s a criminal act, to my way of thinking. Gamethread word Hawk Harrelson, and let a duck snort up the remains like Mark Blankfield snorted the wasabi.

KB is traded, or isn’t he? One sometimes wonders if the issue is more that he’s the team’s Player Rep and has some plans in that area. Yeah, I’m just natcherly suspicious. But still I persist in wondering, Dr. Jekyll.

All this and the Rule 5 Draft. Welcome to Thursday.

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.

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer indicated the team isn’t likely to complete a significant deal before the end of the meetings on Thursday: “I’d lean no but that can change quickly. It’s still early in the week. We’re not at halftime yet, so to speak.” Hoyer confirmed the need for the free agent market to get moving before the trade market can heat up. — Jesse Rogers.

• Jason Lloyd and Tom Reed (The Athletic {$}): Some of baseball’s biggest stars are ready to change the game’s free-agency system. “I don’t think it should be seven years of team control,” said Francisco Lindor.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Joe Girardi knew he wasn’t Cubs’ favorite for manager, failed in effort ‘to change their mind’. “They had kind of groomed David Ross, but I was still interested.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): David Ross will stress communication and team bonding — ‘you complain together’ — in his 1st year as Cubs manager. “I will mix up some things early on,” Ross said. Sahadev Sharma {$} says Ross is in it to win it. Evan Altman goes for shock value.
• Andy Koval (WGN-9*): Winter Meetings: 5 bargain free agents that could impact Cubs. “If there’s an opportunity to strike and help ensure a better future, we have to do that,” Theo Epstein said.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Follow the money (or lack thereof): Another ominous sign for this Cubs winter. “We’re in the early stages of the offseason,” Epstein said.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Reassessing the Yu Darvish deal that might have to carry the Cubs in 2020. “The way Darvish pitched the second half of this year, any number would be a bargain,” Epstein said.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs are still exploring contract extensions with their arbitration-eligible players — but they’re not saying who. “Of course, we’re having (discussions),” said Jed Hoyer.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Agent: Cubs aren’t working on Anthony Rizzo extension. “The Cubs have informed us that they will not be offering Anthony an extension at this time,” Rizzo’s agent, Marc Pollack, said from the winter meetings. Brett Taylor offers his thoughts. The Cubs are working on others, says Tony Andracki.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): No momentum yet on potential Cubs-Ben Zobrist reunion. “... Zobrist has yet to come up with his own tough answers.”
• David Haugh (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Trading Kris Bryant would be a mistake for the Chicago Cubs. “All Bryant ever did since the Cubs selected him with the No. 2 pick in 2013 was show up and shut up, doing a little bit of everything while demanding nothing.” Steve Greenberg adds his unique voice. Sahadev Sharma {$} says it’s complicated. Gordon Wittenmyer does the limbo. He also makes it real.
• Bob Goldsborough (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood buys Winnetka mansion for nearly $4 million. “Buying and selling real estate has become something of a second career for Wood.”
• Cubs birthdays: Tom Daly, Bob Carpenter.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.