Cub Tracks goes round and round

Hey! It’s Tuesday, so this must be Berwyn! Oh wait. I missed that stop. Damn. I’ll have to go around the world again, and I’ll be nine days late to spring training. Passepartout! Another round, there’s a good man.

So much for the Jurickson Profar idea. Jackie Bradley Jr., likewise. Josh Hader? I dunno.

Live via the magic of the Cub Tracks continuum, here it is, 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* {$}): Justin Stone, the Cubs’ new director of hitting, is a ‘baseball guy first’ but blends that with biokinetics: ‘You’ve got to have some background in tech’. “On his first day in his new position, Stone submitted a request for about $1 million in technological equipment.”

• Mark Feinsand (MLB.com*): 23 notables who could become FAs tonight. Will bear looking back at today. I had an early deadline today and won’t have time to report on what actually happens after the 8 pm ET contract-filing deadline.
• Jeremy Cluff (Arizona Republic* {$}): Robbie Ray trade speculation includes Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves. “Ray, 28, has a projected salary of $10.8 million for 2020 before becoming a free agent.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs free agent focus: Madison Bumgarner. “... signing longtime Giants starting pitcher Bumgarner would be money well spent.” Marcell Ozuna is here.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs non-tender Addison Russell, ending disappointing tenure. “Russell has not proven himself to be a trustworthy ballplayer.” Tony Andracki adds on. Gordon Wittenmyer piles on. Jesse Rogers says a few syllables.

• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): New list of Cubs’ top 10 prospects is dominated by Class A players. It’s gonna be a bit before that wave hits the shores of Lake Michigan. Todd Johnson elaborates.
• Cubs birthdays: Cozy Dolan, Bennie Tate, Mike Martin, Damon Berryhill, Manny Corpas.

Today in Cubs history:

• 1926 - In a Chicago Tribune article detailing the business side of the team, the Cubs causally reveal Weeghman Park will now be known as Wrigley Field, reflecting the ownership of the club by William Wrigley, Jr. The north side ballpark, originally named after the previous owner of the team Charles H. Weeghman who had built the steel-and-concrete ballpark for the Chicago Whales but moved the Cubs to the new venue after the two teams were merged under his ownership when the Federal League team folded. (National Pastime.)
• 1971 - The Chicago Cubs trade P Jim Colborn and two other players to the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Jose Cardenal. (BBRef)

In 3,274 plate appearances with the Cubs, Cardenal batted .296. His 129 stolen bases is 23rd in team history. His 9.7 WAR is 2nd among Cubs outfielders of the 1970s behind Billy Williams.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.