Cub Tracks sees the future, and it is blue

Welcome to the future, Alvin Toffler. Does it look they way you wanted it to?

Here in the Cub Tracks continuum, we are meh about it all. Flying cars were mentioned at some point. I’m afraid we can’t do that, Dave.

We can leave our carbon footprints in the sands of time, though. Imagine that sedimentary layer, dug up by some Morlock paleontologist, buried like my lede... it doesn’t augur well. But we remain hopeful in the face of ever-increasing odds, and practice the oneiric arts nightly.

No second albums were harmed during the commission of this article. 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.

• Will Leitch (MLB.com*): The Cubs’ trade bait power rankings. “The Cubs, seemingly having been convinced that their run of dominance with their World Series-winning core ended by missing the playoffs last season, are about to shake things up even more than they already have.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Serving multiple masters might see Cubs miss on even bargain free agents who fit needs. “If we add in the guaranteed MLB deals the Cubs have inked this week to those they had agreed to since the start of free agency, they’ve signed precisely… zero guaranteed deals.” Altman also has some thoughts regarding Nolan Arenado.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Breaking down Jon Lester’s 2019 and what’s to come. “No one is harder on Jon Lester than Jon Lester.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): What’s on the Cubs’ 2020 calendar? Here are 8 things to watch for, including a Kris Bryant decision. “... the Cubs threaten to put things in reverse...”
• Bruce Levine (670 The Score*): Cubs could kick Bryant trade decision down road. “If the Cubs are playing well, they could make a run with their current team...” Brett Taylor opines as well. The Cubs Talk podcast is all about Bryant.
• Cubs birthdays: Al Bridwell, Alex Metzler, Ted Lilly, Kris Bryant. Infonugget: The next time you see Michael Lorenzen pitch to KB, remember that they were born the same day. The very same day.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.