Cub Tracks turns on burners

Baseball is almost an afterthought right now. But things are bubbling, just below the surface.

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.)

• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): The Cubs were very fortunate to hang onto VP of Scouting Dan Kantrovitz. “... Kantrovitz’s upward mobility in Chicago is very possible.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): What will the Cubs and White Sox do this offseason? Given 2020, anything is possible. “These are unprecedented times we’re living in ...”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): 7 Cubs numbers you need to know to understand offseason plans. “... mile markers for the Cubs’ road map for the offseason ...”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Offseason checklist: Cubs’ needs and moves. “There’s a lot to work with going forward,” Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said at the end of the season.
• ESPN*: Jeff Passan’s MLB offseason preview: Answering 20 uniquely 2020 hot stove questions. “... the good ol’ who’s-getting-traded prompt ...”
• Tyler Smith (Cubs Insider*): Cubs could benefit from general lack of spending by other teams this winter. “... some players might end up being in their price range when they wouldn’t have under normal circumstances.”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Projecting the Cubs 2021 Opening Day roster. “It’s a projection of where the Cubs stand currently and highlights what they need to address over the MLB offseason.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Looking ahead with Javier Báez and a spectacular class of free-agent shortstops. “Báez probably should revisit those extension talks with the Cubs this winter ...”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Báez has another tattoo in mind after winning Gold Glove. “I’m pretty sure I will somehow and somewhere. I don’t have much space now.”
• Tim Dierkes (MLB Trade Rumors*): Looking for a match in a Kris Bryant trade. “... the teams best-suited to trade for Bryant are the Blue Jays, Nationals, Braves, Dodgers, and Astros.”
• Cubs birthdays: Charlie Newman, Bryan LaHair.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.