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The Rundown: Cubs Boost Rotation, Manfred Champions Golden Idea, Red Sox Sign Chapman

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterDecember 3, 2024

I don’t know how you spent your Thanksgiving weekend, but I have been bogged down by seven days of holiday decorating mixed in with several home improvement projects. It’s good to be writing about baseball once again. Nothing makes the time off any better than baseball trades, football games, lots of music, and, for me, jury duty yesterday and today. Well, maybe not that last part.

Let’s go with The Last Waltz while marching onward with today’s column. As Martin Scorcese says at the top of the legendary film, “Play Loud.” Are we done with leftovers yet?

Cubs News & Notes

Odds & Sods

The potential rule change is not credited to The Onion, though it might be time to get that publication a uniform patch. I would have liked it better if he called it the “Golden Batter.” I’d have an endless supply of jokes for the rest of my life.

Imagine Pat Hughes commenting “And the Wrigley Field crowd gives a warm welcome to today’s golden batter, sponsored by Midas Mufflers, home of the golden guarantee. Trust the Midas touch!”

Central Intelligence

Tuesday Stove

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with reliever Aroldis Chapman. The deal, which is pending a physical, reportedly guarantees Chapman $10.75 million.

The Rangers announced on Monday that they agreed to a contract with Kyle Higashioka. The catcher will earn $12.5 million over two years with a $7 million option for 2027 that includes a $1 million buyout.

Several teams — including the Mets — are interested in signing reliever Clay Holmes and transitioning the righty to the rotation.

Tyler Glasnow would start the 2025 season as a No. 5 starter ($) if the Dodgers sign Roki Sasaki. Los Angeles would break baseball if they additionally landed outfielder Juan Soto, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post.

Arenado dropped a subtle hint that he might be playing for the Dodgers in 2025.

Soto is not expected to leave money on the table to play with any team, though he may prefer not to play in Canada for the Blue Jays.

There is a widespread belief that Toronto will emerge as the highest bidder for Soto’s services.

R.J. Andersen of CBS Sports discusses the downside of signing each of the top 10 free agents.

Extra Innings

Ian Happ is featured in this week’s Cubs’ Mixtape.

They Said It

  • “The Cubs are not trying to move Bellinger as they believe he will be better next season. However, that’s not going to stop them from listening to interested teams. Bellinger will make $27.5 million in 2025 and has a $25 million player option in 2026 with a $5 million buyout.” – Jim Bowden
  • “All we’re hearing out of Chicago, the North Side, is ‘We’re not gonna be involved in any of the big free agents.’ They’re trying to trade Bellinger, I get that. But, where are the Cubs? … The Cubs, playing in a division, that is eminently winnable, I’m sorry Milwaukee is really good, but the Cubs can, obviously, be better than the Brewers… They have the ability, if they spend some money, to become a special team … The Cubs have an opportunity here to maybe seize control of this division, and they’re squandering it.” – Ken Rosenthal

Tuesday Walk-Up Song

We’re barely into December and I’ve already watched three football games played in snowstorms. Winter has been absent for the most part in Milwaukee for the last two years, so what a thrill for me. Florida is under a freeze advisory, though, so stay warm, snowbirds.

Perhaps when baseball expands to 32 teams we can put a team in Alberta and call them the Clippers. Then again, why not let the A’s remain permanently nomadic and call them the Manfred Golden Bats?

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterDecember 3, 2024
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