Cub Tracks flashes the stuff

Welcome to today’s edition of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor.

Trade talk, preparations for trades, roster filling in general, these are the things the scribes write about while the players that didn’t make the Series golf. A couple of venues hadn’t yet filed anything at press time (before Duane dinner), so they’re not included.

I have to say, I applaud the Sun-Times, who have made their online content available for free. I wish everyone would. I also wish they’d use Dial.

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• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): How the Cubs’ pitching depth helps them still have faith in prospects like Caleb Kilian. “He flashed the stuff, briefly, but it was clear that he was not ready to actually use the stuff he’d developed.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs hiring brains and brawn: new Baseball Scientist and Strength Coach. Dr. Mike Sonne and Nathan Garza have joined the organization. Ben Silver (SI) has more.
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib*): Can the Cubs possibly out-muscle the Dodgers in free agency? “With a ton of high-dollar contracts coming off the books, the Dodgers will once again be players in the deep end of the free agent pool...”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why Kyle Hendricks biggest name for Cubs in free agency. “... they can’t count on a reliable timeline until he starts throwing.”
• Jordan Miller (Cubs Insider*): Cubs Prospect All-Season Team: Darius Hill looks right in Left Field. “Hill has done nothing but hit since he was selected in the 20th round of the 2019 draft.”
• Chris Kirschner (The Athletic {$}): Where is Aaron Judge getting his ‘pot of gold’? Landing spots if he ditches the Yankees. “If he doesn’t re-sign with the Yankees, here are six possible destinations for Judge...”
• NBC Sports Chicago*: Albert Pujols used ‘grandfathered’ illegal bat for 12 years. “The model bat used by Albert Pujols was deemed illegal by Major League Baseball in 2010.”

Remember?

Food for Thought:

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