The Rundown: Cactus League Commences Today, Counsell Move Not About Personal Gain, MLB Front Offices Much More Frugal This Year
Cubs baseball returned today, but a lot of the excitement that is usually attached to the first Cactus League game is missing. Things have been a little off since Chicago’s North Side Baseballers broke for camp.
- There was an alarming, adult-themed faux pas with the original 2024 slogan.
- Tom Ricketts admitted the budget is capped without additional revenue streams.
- Jed Hoyer snuck out and signed David Peralta and Dominic Smith to minor league deals before returning his checkbook to Ricketts.
- Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson are calling themselves “Nickel & Dimes” which should be the team’s slogan.
- The new MLB uniforms are a bit[s] revealing and the jerseys seem primed to be sponsored. I vote for Spanx or Commando sheer shapewear, but The Weiner’s Circle, as suggested by our own Evan Altman, is hilariously appropriate.
- The Dodgers opened the exhibition schedule by trashing the Padres 14-1 without Shohei Ohtani. We may as well fit them for rings this weekend.
- The Boras Four remain unsigned and whispers of collusion are popping up on the socials.
- Some woman on Twitter believes Cody Bellinger has already signed with the Cubs; that’s a heck of a scoop if she’s correct.
- Bob Nightengale of USA Today believes the Cubs are the only team with any interest in Bellinger and that Hoyer won’t bid against himself.
Yes, all of that has stripped the spring training opener of its traditional pomp and circumstance. The saving grace of today’s game is that there will be fewer reruns on MLB Network and that the hot stove season has officially ended for anybody not repped by Boras Corp.
The Cubs will debut their new digs in today’s game against the White Sox. Perhaps live baseball is the distraction this fanbase needs, though I’m not sure I want to witness those see-through dungarees on my 4K television. Still, there are several compelling reasons to follow the Cubs this spring. I’ll pick three today and add to the discussion in future columns.
- Is Pete Crow-Armstrong ready to be an everyday center fielder? The rookie struggled last September and he enters the 2024 season without a hit, but there’s no denying his glove. It’s important to remember that Crow-Armstrong briefly struggled each time he advanced a level through the farm system. He had just 19 PAs last season and, though he looked overmatched, you can bet he’ll use that as a developmental catalyst this season.
- What will life be without Bellinger if it comes to that? 2024 marks the year Chicago’s highly-rated farm system begins to bear fruit. Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya, Jordan Wicks, Daniel Palencia, and Alexander Canario gave us a small taste at the end of last year of what’s to come. We’re likely to see Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, Brennen Davis, and possibly Kevin Alcántara this season. Shōta Imanaga is considered a rookie, too. The Cubs also acquired the organization’s No. 3 prospect, Michael Busch, from the Dodgers and he has already been penciled in as the team’s Opening Day first baseman. The Cubs will miss Bellinger, but at least he’s not blocking the first wave of Chicago’s prospects.
- How will Craig Counsell differ from David Ross? Chicago’s new manager is known as the bullpen whisperer, and poor ‘pen management arguably cost the Cubs a playoff spot in 2023. Ross also made some questionable lineup decisions and benched Canario and Nelson Velázquez after each hit game-impacting grand slams. Some analysts believe Counsell alone is worth eight wins to this club. Is that enough to compensate for the potential loss of Bellinger? We’ll see.
Cubs News & Notes
- Cubs fans got a glimpse this week of Imanaga’s filthy fastball/breaking ball combination.
- Hoerner is hoping to add a little more power to his game.
- Cubs prospects stole the show during live batting practice on the backfields. Outfielder Owen Caissie homered off Kyle Hendricks, then hit a ball to the right-center gap off Héctor Neris. Canario and Davis also hit home runs.
- Counsell’s move from the Brewers to the Cubs was never about personal financial gain, but fairness for all MLB managers. I’m not sure Ross feels that way.
- The Cubs, Cardinals, and Reds are among five teams poised for a postseason run after missing the playoffs last year.
- Nightengale gave the Cubs a D+ for their offseason efforts. The signings of Counsell, Imanaga, and Neris, as well as the trade for Busch, say the team deserves a much higher grade.
Odds & Sods
My headlines are never this good and my name feels kind of ordinary now.
What a headline pic.twitter.com/Uh5mFjtD4f
— Phill (@MeekPhill_) February 23, 2024
Central Intelligence
- Milwaukee: The Brewers are giving outfielder Sal Frelick an opportunity to be their starting third baseman.
- Cincinnati: The Reds and utilityman Tony Kemp have agreed on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
- Pittsburgh: Mitch Keller has agreed to a five-year extension that will pay him $77 million. His deal is the second largest in Pirates history behind Bryan Reynolds‘ eight-year, $106.75 million extension signed in 2023.
- St. Louis: Former Cardinals legend Albert Pujols will make his managerial debut this October with Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League.
Spring Training News & Notes
MLB front offices are being much more frugal this year, spending $2.6 billion on 118 free agents, so far. Last year teams spent $3.9 billion on 151 players.
The Marlins and free agent shortstop Tim Anderson are in agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract.
The Tigers added to their infield on Thursday, announcing the signing of Gio Urshela to a one-year, $1.5 million guarantee.
The Yankees’ interest in Blake Snell has seen a slight softening according to a report from John Heyman.
A photo of Casey Schmitt took the MLB pants issue to an astounding new low.
MLBPA president Tony Clark wants the league to fix the issue before the start of the regular season.
The league says the uniforms were designed with performance in mind. Feel free to make your own jokes.
Clark also said the union will fight to protect the right to heavily-deferred deals like the one Ohtani signed.
Major League Baseball wants Arizona lawmakers to exempt minor league players from the state’s minimum wage during spring training.
Dylan Cease would like teams to stop tanking.
The A’s, who have perfected tanking, have the league’s lowest over/under win projection since 1990.
MLB Network released its full 30 Clubs/15 Days schedule. The segment featuring the Cubs airs on March 6.
Eric Hosmer has officially retired.
Extra Innings
Imanaga always has a grin on his face like he knows something we don’t.
Fit for the first gameday 🎥 pic.twitter.com/txvQQqRwkr
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 23, 2024
They Said It
- “It’s important to remember how quickly [Morel] moved through the higher levels of the minor leagues. He’s a player who is still developing in a lot of ways, but also producing at a high level in the big leagues, which is a pretty great place to be.” – Hoerner
- “It’s kind of thinking about Pete [Crow-Armstrong] as a player and situations that he could get put into this year. When you have a defender like Pete when you get into the game, you’re not taking him out of games, right? So, you just think about situations that could come up late in the games where we’re always looking for the best offensive matchup, but there’s matchups where you’re not going to take. So, the bunt against tough matchups could be a real thing and a play that we — although I would tell you, I don’t love giving up an out — maybe this is the best situation for us to advance a base here on a difficult matchup for Pete.” – Counsell
Friday Walk-Up Song
This is incredible, though the video quality is subpar. I’m predicting a Talking Heads reunion and tour in 2025.
