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#Post#: 523501--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Playtwo Date: January 17, 2026, 10:26 am
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To me, the strongest argument against trading Shaw (in terms of
this year's team) is to provide insurance in case of injuries to
our infielders. He provides insurance for Bregman, Hoerner, and
(indirectly) Swanson.
#Post#: 523515--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Reb Date: January 17, 2026, 1:17 pm
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[quote author=Playtwo link=topic=663.msg523501#msg523501
date=1768667165]
To me, the strongest argument against trading Shaw (in terms of
this year's team) is to provide insurance in case of injuries to
our infielders. He provides insurance for Bregman, Hoerner, and
(indirectly) Swanson.
[/quote]
If Cubs traded Shaw, would have to bring in a utility guy for
infield—for sure. Luis Rengifro still a FA, for one example.
#Post#: 523522--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 17, 2026, 5:26 pm
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HTML https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/01/16/why-cubs-saw-edward-cabrera-answer-long-quest-starting-pitching-jed-hoyer-tommy-hottovy
‘‘He’s been a guy that has been a favorite of some of our
pitching infrastructure guys for a long time,’’ president of
baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Friday. ‘‘Obviously, great
stuff. Feels like he’s a guy that could be just kind of
scratching the surface of what he can do. He’s a guy where the
analytics matched up, the age matched up, the service time
matched up and the fact that there’s some guys that had
conviction on him for a long time.’’
‘‘One thing that I think they saw last year with him and that we
recognize is just trusting that your stuff can play,’’ Hottovy
said when asked about Cabrera’s improved walk rate. Cabrera’s
most-used pitch is his changeup, and he had been pairing that
with a 97 mph four-seam fastball. Last offseason, however, he
said he worked on his sinker, which overtook his four-seamer in
usage. ‘‘It helped me a lot,’’ Cabrera said through an
interpreter. ‘‘It helped me combine the other pitches that I had
and helped me stay in the game more.’’ The way Hottovy
described it, of the two fastballs, the sinker was the one
Cabrera was more comfortable throwing for strikes. Making it a
foundational pitch paid dividends.
#Post#: 523530--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Reb Date: January 17, 2026, 8:07 pm
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REPORTER: “Could you benefit from maybe taking a couple of extra
days here or there, when there’s a guy like Matt Shaw around as
a … capable fill-in?”
NICO HOERNER: Uhm, no, not really. I don’t think so (laughter).
#Post#: 523540--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Ron Date: January 18, 2026, 10:44 am
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This is a fun extended interview with Pete Crow-Armstrong. He
certainly comes off a very straightforward, no artifice. Hard to
imagine someone easier to root for.
HTML https://www.facebook.com/reel/4266523473675118
#Post#: 523542--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Playtwo Date: January 18, 2026, 11:58 am
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Thanks for the link, Ron. I enjoyed the interview. PCA didn't
allude to this, but I get the impression that the team is not
all that sorry that Tucker is gone. Just an impression.
#Post#: 523551--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Ron Date: January 18, 2026, 4:53 pm
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[quote author=Playtwo link=topic=663.msg523542#msg523542
date=1768759127]
Thanks for the link, Ron. I enjoyed the interview. PCA didn't
allude to this, but I get the impression that the team is not
all that sorry that Tucker is gone. Just an impression.
[/quote]
From comments during the season, Cub players certainly seemed to
have a great appreciation for his talent and the model he
presented for approaching his ABs. I don't doubt they would have
been happy to have him back, though I suspect they understood
how unlikely that was. But there was never any indication that
I know of that he was seen as a team leader or great clubhouse
presence - in stark contrast to Bregman who has a reputation for
those qualities.
#Post#: 523552--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Reb Date: January 18, 2026, 5:07 pm
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BOO
‪Meghan Montemurro‬
‪@mmontemurro.bsky.social‬
Expect to see fewer Cubs spring training games on Marquee this
year.
President of business operations Crane Kenney told Tribune it’ll
“probably” be less than double digits for 32-game spring slate
and definitely fewer than past ST.
#Post#: 523699--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Reb Date: January 19, 2026, 1:25 pm
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Heyman:
Miguel Andujar, off big 2025 season (.318 BA, .822 OPS), is
drawing significant interest. Rangers, Padres, Cardinals, Reds,
Cubs, A’s among many in play.
#Post#: 523700--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 19, 2026, 1:41 pm
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Kinda fun to have kinda completed a ready-to-go roster, but to
still have both time and available budget to be adding further.
Andujar, Gallen, Hoyer still has $$ to be adding further.
Doesn't have to, but can kinda be looking for any value pickups
he can find. If he likes a deal with Gallen, he's got cash
left. If he likes a deal with Andujar, budget isn't stopping
him. Same for some other hypothetical outfielder to replace
Alcantara.
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