Cub Tracks cashes reality check

Well, the Cubs have made a couple of moves recently, so let’s add just a note of optimism to the prevailing theme of doom and despair. A grace note, perhaps, a motif to make the overall work all the better. Not a full modulation, but maybe a little melisma to sustain us over the bridge.

Perhaps it will eventually be a full chorus to drown out the boo-birds. Perhaps. I won’t go that far, myself. Things have been decidedly minor-key if not downright en diabolus musica, and really we shouldn’t expect anything radically different until after the CBA is renegotiated, since that’s what all of this is about.

I don’t think either side sees 2022 as a go, and all transactions are done with that in mind. Some of the back-line has moved to the front, and we’ll have to see if Mike Foltynewicz Chris Archer, Jake Arrieta, Carlos Rodon, Jeff Samardzija, Trevor Williams, or Rick Porcello sign with the Cubs. Maybe Kolten Wong?

Here’s Cub Tracks News and Notes, your every-other-day-except-on-weekends escape from the humdrum. 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. In the text body. It doesn’t work in the headlines.)

• Nick Selbe (Sports Illustrated*): Is anyone trying to win the NL Central? “... the Cubs are not the only team that has lost a lot without restocking.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): REPORT: Cubs ownership recently increased budget for player payroll in 2021. “... it’s possible the Cubs developed enough confidence in Tier X of the budget projections to release another tranche of spending dollars to Jed Hoyer.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): If Cubs are buying, here are 10 potential free agent pitching targets. All of the above plus a few.
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider*): New Cubs pitcher Kohl Stewart has legit stuff, could blossom with minor adjustments. The Tyler Chatwood argument. Tony Andracki has a few words.
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Angels reportedly still have interest in trading for Willson Contreras. “... I think we should keep our eyes peeled as Spring Training nears...”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Joc Pederson, Cubs agree on deal (report). Corroboration department.
• Jared Wyllys (Forbes* {$}): Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ keeps busy With podcast, charity efforts. “I think players are hungry to connect with the fans,” Happ said.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Chicago Cubs lineup projection: Where Pederson fits in. “The expectation is that Jason Heyward, Happ and Pederson will fill the outfield from right to left.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Get excited about these 5 Cubs prospects. “As the Cubs plan for the 2021 season, they hope things on the developmental front will return closer to normal in the coming months.”
• Chicago Sun-Times* {$}: Cubs have highest fan cost in MLB, according to survey. “... fans ... will have to dig deep whenever the gates at Wrigley Field reopen.”
• Tony Gill (NBC Sports Chicago*): Podcast: Women in baseball roundtable on sports media. “The group discusses the Porter scandal and share stories of their experiences in a male-dominated field.”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.