Cub Tracks is serious about spending

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.

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• RJ Anderson (CBS Sports*): Top 50 MLB free agents: Aaron Judge, Jacob deGrom, Trea Turner lead list, plus landing spots for each player. YMMV.
• Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Breaking down the Cubs’ roster now that the real offseason is finally here. “... here’s a look at where things stand with a group that should look substantially different by the time pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Arizona.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): 6 signs Cubs are serious about spending, competing in ‘23. “Part of that is the simple need to back up their big talk...”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): What would a Chicago Cubs trade offer for Shohei Ohtani look like? A lot! “... here’s what Sahadev Sharma {$} offered up for Ohtani: LHP Justin Steele, OF Brennen Davis, OF Owen Caissie, SS Cristian Hernandez, LHP Jordan Wicks, and RHP Nazier Mulé.”
• Jesse Borek (MLB.com*): Cubs’ Matt Mervis named Fall Stars Game MVP. “I’m hoping to be in big league Spring Training with a lot more people here, and hopefully I can make them cheer, too,” Mervis said earlier this fall. More Mervis from Lance Brozdowski.
• Alexander Patt (Cubbies Crib*): Offseason could determine Nick Madrigal’s uncertain future. “Cubs will have to see how Nick Madrigal fits into the big picture... ‘
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs prospect Owen Caissie: How four days off in April helped turn around his 2022 season. “When you’re in a bad slump, you think you can’t play baseball,” Caissie said.
• MLB.com*: 40-man or Rule 5: Every ranked prospect who needs to be protected. “All 30 teams have until 6 p.m. on Nov. 15 to make decisions about their 40-man rosters.”
• Julian Saldierna (WGN Radio*): Chicago Cubs history with William Bike, author of ‘The Forgotten 1970 Chicago Cubs: Go and Glow’. [AUDIO].
• Kristie Rieken (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Dusty Baker finally gets elusive World Series title as manager. “Had this happened years ago, I might not even be here,” Baker said.

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