Cub Tracks’ nine is the end of the line

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.

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• Peter Marzano (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs announce 10 cuts from major league spring training camp. “The Cubs’ Friday transactions have reduced their spring training roster from 66 to 56 players...”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs’ architects hastening rebuild with pre-fab pieces. “... the front office brought in players who were able to slot into the lineup and clubhouse without missing a beat.”
• Ryan Gilbert (670 The Score*): Cubs’ Marcus Stroman on embracing players’ personalities, MLB’s inconsistent equipment fines. Baseball isn’t Boring podcast.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Gomes expects new-look Cubs to ‘come ready to win’. “Come ready to perform in any way you can and help build a selfless team, an egoless team.’”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): 23 for ’23: What is the Cubs’ plan for Matt Mervis? “... there’s certainly a chance Mervis forces the issue with continued production...”
• Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery*): Don’t forget about Miles Mastrobuoni possibly making Cubs roster. “... maybe it’s the outfield where Mastrobuoni can become more valuable for this team.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Sun-Times*): Cubs’ Cody Bellinger trying to get groove back at plate. “Bellinger is seeing progress after a couple of rough seasons, and manager David Ross and hitting coach Dustin Kelly are, too.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Crow-Armstrong put on a show in center. “He loves running them down out there,” Manager David Ross told reporters on a recent morning this week in Arizona. More, for Pete’s sake, from Meghan Montemurro.
• Jordan Shusterman (Fox Sports*): Crow-Armstrong, Mervis manifesting longtime dreams by climbing through Cubs’ system. “... the two prospects have developed a strong friendship...”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Sun-Times*): Cubs still offering no timetable for injured Seiya Suzuki’s return. “Ross’ silence on Suzuki’s recovery from a strained left oblique fuels talk of a long recovery.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Alexander Canario COULD begin baseball activities soon. “The first checkpoint is apparently getting very close.” Andy Martinez reports.

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