Sahadev Sharma

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — This isn’t the first time Jed Hoyer has been a part of a front office that fired its current manager in favor of a free-agent who they felt was the best field general in the game. Eight years ago, Rick Renteria was let go in favor of Joe Maddon. It was perhaps the biggest indicator that the Cubs were finally shifting from rebuild to contention. Advertisement But as integral as Maddon’s hiring may have been, it was the moves that followed that winter that set them up for the…

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — team president Jed Hoyer has always admired Craig Counsell from afar. From his vantage point, the manager had no weaknesses. Hoyer watched as Counsell continually maximized a roster that never seemed to be the best in the division in terms of on-paper talent, yet kept winning. Advertisement Hoyer saw Counsell as someone who excelled with in-game moves, consistently held his clubhouse together and handled the media with aplomb. This was, in the Cubs’ view, the best manager i…

In 145 days, the will open their 149th National League season on the road against the defending World Series champs. The were not one of the traditional powers or trendy organizations the Cubs measured themselves against during their rebuilds. The Rangers once threw an A-ball pitcher named into the Ryan Dempster trade and didn’t win another playoff round until this October. Advertisement Signing and for $500 million combined — right after a 102-loss season and just before ’s lockout — is no…

By Sahadev Sharma, Patrick Mooney and Keith Law Veteran starter opted out of the final year of his contract with the , a league source confirmed. The New York Post first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know: Stroman’s player option for the 2024 season was worth $21 million. The right-hander went 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA over 136 2/3 innings pitched for Chicago during the 2023 campaign, but was derailed by injuries in the second half. Stroman, 32, earned his second career All-Star nod as…

The are planning to add John Mallee, their lead hitting coach during the 2016 World Series run, to the major-league coaching staff next season. The idea is to incorporate Mallee’s experience and expertise rather than replace a staff member, according to league sources, as the Cubs try to get back to the playoffs. Advertisement Mallee is a Chicago guy who graduated from Mount Carmel High School and gradually climbed the coaching ladder, reaching an apex when the Cubs ended a 108-year championshi…

With free agency kicking off five days after the World Series ends, the biggest question for the is how they approach . It’s hard to know what team president Jed Hoyer will do, as he’s never faced a situation quite like this as the No. 1 decision-maker. The team is clearly inside a competitive window, and with the right moves, they can enter 2024 as obvious contenders. Advertisement Will Hoyer give Bellinger the massive contract his agent Scott Boras is sure to command? Is Bellinger worth that…

Craig Breslow undeniably left the pitching development program in better shape than he found it. That practical experience of creating an operational plan, hiring staff and managing the rollout became the finishing piece to his resume. As he to become the for the , he could point to tangible results. Advertisement The Cubs also won’t be unveiling a banner at the Wrigley Field opener next year for having a farm system with the highest average fastball velocity among minor-league pitchers at fu…

What’s the best way to build a contender? Every front office likely has its own theories. The type of owner, the team’s market and individual philosophies will impact these opinions. But the four remaining playoff teams show that there are a variety of ways to attack team-building. The and boast star hitters and top-of-the-rotation arms largely due to spending aggressively in free agency. The and were primarily built through shrewd trades and their farm systems. While each team has acquired…

By the middle of July, many had deemed the dead and buried. By the end of the month, the team had resurrected its playoff chances and fended off a deadline sell-off. Yet at the same time, one player the Cubs had hoped would be one of their core producers was sinking to a level he’d never seen before. Advertisement For over two months, was a mess at the plate. There were points where various nagging ailments impeded him, but eventually it became clear it was more than that. He looked lost at th…

At least two new coaches will be added to the staff for the 2024 season. Sources confirmed that bullpen coach Chris Young and game strategy/catching coach Craig Driver will not have their contracts renewed for next year. Young has a diverse background as a minor-league pitcher, a scout with multiple organizations and even served as pitching coach with the for one year. During his four seasons with the Cubs, he was lauded for his work with relievers and had a good working relationship with pitc…