CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Michael Rucker - Could start year in minors Rucker could be squeezed out of the MLB bullpen to begin the regular season, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

Impact With veteran relievers Brad Boxberger and Michael Fulmer signed by the Cubs in the offseason, as well as Tyler Duffey on a minor-league deal, Rucker could get squeezed from the Opening Day bullpen and start the year with Triple-A Iowa. Rucker did pitch reasonably well in 2022 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 54.2 innings for Chicago, so he could certainly get extended run in the majors at some point in 2023.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Adrian Sampson, Hayden Wesneski look to win fifth starter role, improve in different ways Sampson and Wesneski are honing certain pitches to give themselves the best shot as they compete for the final spot in the Cubs' rotation.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Cubs have options at hot corner in '23 MESA, Ariz. -- It may have only been a live batting practice workout Sunday, but Edwin Ríos wasted little time in showing precisely why the...

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • MLB.COM

Swanson scores again as US beats Japan 1-0 at SheBelieves

Mallory Swanson scored in the 45th minute, and the United States shut out Japan 1-0 Sunday to remain undefeated in the SheBelieves Cup

FEBRUARY 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paul Sullivan: Trey Mancini, a cancer survivor, is one of several new veterans who brings championship pedigree to Cubs MESA, Ariz. — When the Cubs open the 2023 season March 30 at Wrigley Field, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Nico Hoerner might be the only positi...

FEBRUARY 19, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Edwin Rios Reflects on His Time With The Dodgers on Social Media As he joins a new team, Rios shared a message on his Twitter, thanking the Dodgers.

FEBRUARY 19, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

As Kyle Hendricks gears up for his 1st bullpen since his shoulder injury, the battle for the Chicago Cubs' No. 5 starter begins The Chicago Cubs are embracing an open competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation as the organization boasts better starting pitching de...

FEBRUARY 19, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Hard-working Hoerner proving himself a model Cub MESA, Ariz. -- Pete Crow-Armstrong has only been in the Cubs' system for one full season, but the outfielder prospect already knows where to...

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • MLB.COM

Adrian Sampson - In contention to start Sampson is competing for the Opening Day fifth starter role in camp, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Cubs have a rotation role available at the start of the year while Kyle Hendricks returns from a shoulder injury. Sampson, Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad are seen as the top candidates. Sampson owns a 3.03 ERA in 139.2 innings for the Cubs over the last two seasons, but that figure comes with a 4.28 FIP and a low 17.6 percent strikeout rate.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Javier Assad - Competing for rotation role Assad will compete for a rotation spot this spring, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Assad recorded a 3.11 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance as a rookie last season, but both his 18.1 percent strikeout rate and 12.0 percent walk rate were unimpressive. He's in contention for the spot which will be temporarily vacant due to Kyle Hendricks' shoulder injury alongside Hayden Wesneski and Adrian Sampson.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Adbert Alzolay - Not in starting mix Azolay is exclusively seen as a reliever this spring, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Injuries wiped out most of Alzolay's 2022 campaign, limiting him to just 13.1 innings of relief. He looked great in that small sample, posting a 3.38 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 19:2 K:BB. It's possible he's considered for a starting job later in the season, but his more likely path to fantasy relevance could be by moving to the back end of an unproven bullpen, though he also has just one major-league save to his name.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Keegan Thompson - Not seen as starter Thompson is viewed as a reliever and is not part of the competition for the Cubs' final rotation spot, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Kyle Hendricks' shoulder injury will open up a starting role to begin the year, but Thompson isn't a candidate to fill it. Hayden Wesneski, Javier Assad and Adrian Sampson are the frontrunners. Thompson made 17 starts and 12 relief appearances last season, finishing with a 3.76 ERA.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hayden Wesneski - In mix for fifth spot Wesneski is in contention to break camp as the Cubs' fifth starter, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact The spot may be only be a temporary one until Kyle Hendricks returns from his shoulder injury, and there are a long number of other candidates for the role, but it's still encouraging news for those expecting Wesneski to take a big jump this season. After coming over at the deadline in the Scott Effross trade, Wesneski cruised to a 2.18 ERA and 33:7 K:BB in 33 innings in his first taste of the majors. If he does indeed get the chance to take a few turns in the rotation to start the year, it's possible he pitches too well to give up the role.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Hendricks - Scheduled to throw Friday Hendricks (shoulder) will throw a light bullpen session Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Hendricks' timeline remains unclear, and his upcoming bullpen was described as "touch-and-feel," but it's nonetheless a positive to see him advancing in his throwing progression. He's a month behind schedule, though he's about five days ahead of reports from mid-January, which held that he was targeting March 1 for his return to mound work. It's likely Hendricks misses the start of the season, but a move to the 60-day injured list doesn't seem to be planned as of yet.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Baseball quiz: 'Come on down!' This week’s quiz pays homage to ‘The Price is Right’ with a game of over-under about the Cubs and White Sox.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • SUNTIMES.COM

Signing Edwin Rios gives Cubs another option at third base The Cubs signed free-agent Edwin Rios on Friday and the former Dodger is expected to compete for playing time at third base.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • DAILYHERALD.COM

Taillon debuts 'sweeper,' new swing-and-miss weapon MESA, Ariz. -- Jameson Taillon did not want to wait until Spring Training to begin his new pitch project with the Cubs. Over a video call af...

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • MLB.COM

Edwin Ríos - Inks one-year deal with CHC Rios signed a one-year major-league contract Friday with the Cubs, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact The deal is worth $1 million. Rios was non-tendered by the Dodgers back in November after logging only 92 plate appearances at the big-league level in 2022. He's shown impressive raw power at times, but the 28-year-old corner infielder will lug a career .219 batting average and .299 on-base percentage down to Cubs camp in Arizona. He'll likely serve as a bench bat that sees most of his playing time at third base, first base and DH.

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ethan Roberts - Placed on 60-day IL Roberts (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Cubs on Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact This clears a spot on the 40-man roster, which needed an opening after the Cubs signed Edwin Rios on Friday to a one-year deal. Roberts is going to miss the overwhelming majority of 2023 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and there's a decent chance he won't be able to pitch this season.

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brennen Davis - Over last year's back issues Davis said Friday that he's over the back issues that plagued him last year, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Davis even stated a desire to crack the Cubs' Opening Day roster, though that seems highly unlikely to actually happen. The 23-year-old outfield prospect struggled to a .180/.299/.298 slash line over just 214 minor-league plate appearances in 2022 and then had to bow out of the Arizona Fall League after only five games. He'll almost certainly be ticketed for Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2023 campaign, and his .260/.375/.494 slash line across three levels in 2021 offers a glimpse at his upside if he is fully healthy again.

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rolen to enter Hall of Fame with Cards cap, McGriff no logo

Scott Rolen will have a St. Louis Cardinals cap on his Hall of Fame plaque and Fred McGriff will not have a team logo

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ex-Yankees pitcher excited by changes to underperforming pitch Chicago Cubs pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Wednesday.

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • NJ.COM

Codi Heuer - Could start year on 60-day IL Heuer (elbow) might begin the season on the 60-day injured list, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network on Wednesday.

Impact Heuer is coming up on the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John surgery, so him getting a late start to the season was expected. The right-hander doesn't figure to be ready to join the Cubs' bullpen until at least June or so and even after returning the team will be careful with his workload.

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Armed with a new slider grip, Jameson Taillon looks to take his repertoire to the next level with the Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon has been working since the offseason to harness a new sweeping slider to help him generate more st...

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

AP sources: Cole Hamels gets minor league deal with Padres

Two people with knowledge of the deal say left-hander Cole Hamels has agreed to a minor league contract with his hometown San Diego Padres that will pay him $2 million if he reache...

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS