Cub Tracks draws a blank

It’s like there was important national news or something. Anyway the cupboard is pretty bare right now, but there are some things to speculate upon.

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.)

• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): MLB free agency is going to be a long, grueling process. “Many teams will be financially conscious because revenues next season are unknown. So don’t expect free agency to move quickly.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sport Chicago*): Early Cubs 2021 roster projection: Which core pieces could be on the move. “ JU56XNHzgA lot can happen between now and Opening Day.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Could the Chicago Cubs expand their trade possibilities? A look at what Willson Contreras, Kyle Hendricks, Ian Happ and Yu Darvish might net them. “... the Cubs could align themselves better for the future.”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): How do Yankees’ affiliate changes, MiLB league movement foretell shifts in Cubs’ system? “It was a bit of a head-turner to see them shift the upper parts of their system so dramatically.”
• Dustin Riese (Cub HQ*): Jurickson Profar could be nice option for Cubs bench. “... he could turn into a Ben Zobrist-type player ... “
• Connor Byrne (MLB Trade Rumors*): KBO’s Eric Jokisch considering MLB return. “An 11th-round pick of the Cubs in 2010, Jokisch spent most of his stateside time in the minors ...”
• Dion Martarano (Palatine Journal and Topics): Zach Borenstein helps out as Coach during offseason. “Borenstein started 2019 with the Chicago Cubs Triple-A club, the Iowa Cubs.”
• Cubs birthdays: Dwight Smith, Jeff Blauser, Henry Rodriguez, Darwin Barney. Also notable: Bucky Harris HOF.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading!