Cub Tracks’ fiscal fitness

The “tear it up, tear it down” mentality is prevailing today. Buster Olney is everywhere {$}. Well, that and the Hall of Fame voting. Sammy Sosa, Aramis Ramirez, Dan Haren and LaTroy Hawkins are on the ballot. None is likely to make it in. One has the numbers. Another might.

Here at Cub Tracks News and Notes, we are closing in on our eighth anniversary. 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 on this page as sarcasm font. (In the comments section, use @ before and after your remarks @ to produce sarcasm font.)

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Chicago Cubs are “signaling there will be significant turnover on the roster.” “Theo Epstein, the Chicago Cubs’ head of baseball operations, has acknowledged that the team faces changes this winter. (Olney). Evan Altman reports.
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times*): Analyzing the Cubs’ rotation going into 2021. “The Cubs have a variety of things to address, but they do have a strength they can build upon in 2021 and beyond.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): MLB free agent focus: How Mike Minor fits with Cubs. “... the Cubs will be in the market for starting pitching and depth this winter.”
• Jim Callis (MLB.com*): Here’s the state of the Cubs’ farm system. “... they have struggled mightily to grow their own pitchers.” Todd Johnson adds his wisdom.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Iowa Cubs expected to remain in Cubs organization as Triple-A affiliate. “That expectation was solidified Monday by Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register ...”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Five Cubs greats who aren’t in the Hall. Phil Cavarretta probably should be.
• Cubs birthdays: Tom Dettore, Mitch Williams, Darnell McDonald, Scott Moore. Also notable: Tom Seaver HOF.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.