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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, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor.
Spring training looms ever closer. Roster-juggling is IN.
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Corey and I are joined by @OutOfTheVines for the Friday @CHGO_Cubs show!
— Brendan Miller (@brendan_cubs) January 27, 2023
- Top 100 prospect list
- Daniel Palencia's 94mph SL
- Jeremiah Estrada's closer potential
- Kevin Alcantara's stardom
- Jordan Wicks' CH
- Greg's new park-adjusted stathttps://t.co/ciG3aqLOKr
The Cubs aren't done just yet: https://t.co/p8Thqr7SUt
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) January 27, 2023
- Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Injury updates and timelines for a quartet of Cubs prospects. Davis and Amaya are ready to go; Canario and Howard will be a minute.
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs sign former Twins RHP Tyler Duffey to Minors deal. “Duffey has appeared in 295 games with 37 starts and had a really excellent run from 2019-21.”
- Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times*): Cubs add catching depth, sign Luis Torrens to minor-league deal with spring-training invite. “Torrens’ offensive production slipped this past season, but since being non-tendered by the Mariners in November, he has put together a strong showing in the Venezuelan Winter League.”
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Okay, let’s play the lineup game with the 2023 Chicago Cubs. “... the Cubs actually have pretty clear starters at most positions.” Sahadev Sharma and Eno Sarris do likewise {$}.
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Trey Mancini ready for ‘magical’ move to Wrigley. “The new Cubs first baseman said only Fenway Park in Boston has given him a similar feeling.” Michael Cerami asks why Mancini will raise the floor of the Cubs’ offense.
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Do Matt Mervis or Brennen Davis have a shot at making opening day on a crowded Chicago Cubs roster? “Davis has a better opportunity than Mervis to make it to opening day but also has to be considered a long shot at best.”
- Maria Torres (The Athletic {$}): How Dansby Swanson utilized mental wellness coaching to blossom as a leader. “All he wanted to do was establish a sense of camaraderie. By the end of it, teammates were singing his praises.”
- Ryan Taylor (NBC Sports Chicago*): MLB Network names Dansby Swanson sixth best SS. For Cubs fans, however, it’s hard not to see who finished in the top-three spots.
- Alexander Patt (Cubbies Crib*): Nico Hoerner’s solid track record at second. “... there is no reason to fear Hoerner will struggle...”
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Seiya Suzuki could be one of the hardest hitters to project this season. “It is most likely that Suzuki’s 2023 season will fall somewhere in between his 80/20 projections...”
Food for Thought:
10 body parts that are useless in humans (or maybe not) https://t.co/5g0MAFmRxh
— Live Science (@LiveScience) January 27, 2023
Vulcan Point: The Island In A Lake On An Island In A Lake On An Islandhttps://t.co/xrJ07omMnf
— IFLScience (@IFLScience) January 27, 2023
Flying saucers to mind control: 24 declassified military & CIA secrets https://t.co/XQk43GTfPb
— Live Science (@LiveScience) January 27, 2023
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the opinions of writers whose work is linked to in this series of articles. Thanks for reading.