Cub Tracks keeps in touch

Well, free agency is here, and so is the silly season. Some names are off the market already, and some names have been added to the hat and then thrown at the wall, higgledy-piggledy, hoping something will stick. If you see Anthony in a spaghetti metaphor somewhere in here, I don’t blame you. But seriously, the man HAS to stay - he’s a prince. Release Zoltar instead. AND the LiMu Emu. Liberty bibberty.

The Phillies are spending money, Hanover Fiste. I’m not gonna post any Addison Russell reactions. There’s nothing new to be said.

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.

The Chicago Cubs have been, according to various executives, “aggressive,” “manic,” “motivated” and “obvious” in their desire to trade someone. Or someones. The Cubs are going to make a move. They’re just not sure what yet. — Jeff Passan

• Kenny Kelly (Beyond the Box Score): The Cubs hired Craig Driver to fix Willson Contreras’s framing. “From 2018-2019, Driver was the bullpen catcher and receiving coach for the Philadelphia Phillies where he helped transform Jorge Alfaro and then J.T. Realmuto.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): New free agent Blake Treinen might be the most attractive high-upside reliever on the market. “... Treinen’s upside is difficult to ignore (even if his downside is is very real).”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs face minimal risks in exploring the non-tender free-agent market. Treinen, Kevin Gausman, Taijuan Walker are mentioned.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Let’s take a look at 3 fringy non-tendered pitchers Cubs could target. Jimmy Nelson, Yimi Garcia, Ryan Buchter.
• Michael Ernst (Cubs Den*): A look at the Cubs’ current infield depth. In-depth, including non-40-man-roster players.
• Jeff Passan (ESPN*): Mookie Betts. Francisco Lindor. Nolan Arenado? Players who will (or should) be in MLB offseason trade talks. I don’t think Anthony Rizzo will be moved. Or traded.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Another type of century-old issue for the Cubs: consistency in center field. “... the combination of stability and production has eluded the Cubs at the position for some time.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs reportedly have ‘Ongoing Interest’ in reunion with Nicholas Castellanos. Jon Paul Morosi said so. “... it could just be a matter of the Cubs maintaining tabs on Castellanos.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs free agent focus: Yasiel Puig. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that I don’t think Puig will be under the Cubs’ tree any time soon. Likewise for Didi Gregorious.
• Fran Spielman (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Wrigley plaza rules extended to give Cubs, Tunney time to figure out how to relax them. “Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) has said he’s open to allowing liquor sales on the plaza and letting the plaza stay open longer than one hour after Cubs games.”
• Cubs birthdays: Patsy Tebeau, Dick Cogan, Gus Mancuso, Bobby Mattick, Cliff Floyd, Mike Mahoney.

Today in baseball history:

• 1973 - Veteran third baseman Ron Santo thwarts the Cubs’ plan to trade him when he becomes the first player to invoke the new 10 and 5 rule. The team wanted to send their 33-year-old infielder to the Angels for two pitchers, but his 10+ years in the major leagues with 5+ being in Chicago gave him the right to veto the deal. (nationalpastime.com)
• 1988 - the Cubs and Rangers complete a nine-player swap, with Chicago giving up OF Rafael Palmeiro, P Jamie Moyer and P Drew Hall in exchange for IF Curtis Wilkerson and pitchers Mitch Williams, Paul Kilgus, and Steve Wilson, and a pair of minor leaguers to be named. (BBRef)
• 1996 - The new collective bargaining agreement is unanimously approved by the player association executive committee. The affirmative vote of the CBA clears the path for interleague play and guarantees there will be no work stoppages for at least five years. (nationalpastime.com)
• 2011 - Ron Santo is elected to the Hall of Fame posthumously by the Golden Era Committee, receiving 15 of its possible 16 votes. The former Cubs’ third baseman compiled a .277 lifetime batting average, won five Gold Gloves. and was a member of nine All-Star teams during his 15-year tenure in Chicago, including a season on the South Side with the White Sox. (nationalpastime.com)
• 2014 - Theo Epstein: Cards don’t need ‘gift’.

Food for thought: