Latest Cubs Talk

Cubs sign oft-injured former closer to low-risk deal

If Rangers sign Castellanos, it could lead them to Bryant deal

Cubs gearing up for 'trading season'

Fireworks aren’t the only things going off on the Fourth of July this year.

During Thursday’s Cubs-Pirates game, Cubs manager Joe Maddon got ejected in one of the strangest altercations in recent memory. Maddon found himself in an argument not only with home plate umpire Joe West, but Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.

Based on the game’s television broadcast, Maddon appeared to be upset with Hurdle. Pirates starting pitcher Jordan Lyles, a right-hander, had thrown many pitches up and in to right-handed Cubs hitters at that point in the game. The latest pitch hit the knob of Javier Baez’s bat on a 3-2 count.

Jordan Lyles has thrown a ton of pitches up and in today. The latest hit the knob of Javier Baez's bat, quite possibly what set Joe Maddon off. pic.twitter.com/wTrhjlOHl1

— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) July 4, 2019

The ball that hit Baez's bat pic.twitter.com/bG40DYDCO6

— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) July 4, 2019

Baez was demonstrative towards Lyles after the pitch, though it’s hard to make out what he said. The same goes for Maddon, who was visibly upset from the Cubs’ dugout. Maddon made his way out onto the field, though home plate umpire Joe West tossed the Cubs manager almost immediately after.

West seemed to misunderstand whom Maddon was directing his feelings to from the Cubs’ dugout. In fact, Maddon tried to get past West to reach Hurdle, hitting the B button to use a nifty spin move.

SPIN MOVE!!!! pic.twitter.com/8dHg2lS8C1

— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) July 4, 2019

Maddon didn’t get by West, though it took several Cubs and two umpires total to restrain him. Baez’s at-bat ended with a strikeout, but the up and in pitches didn’t end there. Lyles exited the game in the fifth inning, and reliever Clay Holmes hit David Bote in the head on the second batter he faced.

Bote stayed in the game after a long discussion with the Cubs trainer, picking up an RBI, as the Cubs had the bases loaded. West gave both teams warnings, though no one else was ejected for the two incidents. The end result was the Cubs scoring five times in the top of the fifth inning, extending their lead to 9-3. 

The Cubs have been stuck in a prolonged slump, holding a 4-13 road recording since May 27, entering Thursday's action. Perhaps Maddon sticking up for his squad is exactly what the team needs to turn things around for the better.

Update: Here's what Maddon had to say postgame

Joe Maddon - with an empty glass of red wine on his desk - said Pirates tendency to go up and in has gotten out of hand. Said he “can’t wait” to face Pirates in Chicago next week.

— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) July 4, 2019

Maddon: "I love their players. It's a good team. It's a real good team. And they're good guys. I like the guys on this team but if they keep pitching like that, a lot of these guys are not going to like their pitching staff." #Pirates

— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) July 4, 2019

Latest Cubs Talk

Cubs sign oft-injured former closer to low-risk deal

If Rangers sign Castellanos, it could lead them to Bryant deal

Cubs gearing up for 'trading season'

Brandon Morrow hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since July 2018, but he’ll get a shot at making a comeback next season.

Morrow is set to sign a minor league deal with the Cubs, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. It’s worth $1 million if he makes the Cubs' roster and could reach $2.25 million if Morrow makes 65 big-league appearances. 

The #Cubs are bringing back reliever Brandon Morrow, agreeing to a minor league contract that will pay him $1 million in #MLB with $1.25 million in incentives

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 13, 2019

Brandon Morrow is coming off a 2-year, $21 million contract with the #Cubs but they didn't exercise his $12 million option last month and made him a free agent. Now, he'll earn $1 million if he makes the big-league roster and a total of $2.25 million if he pitches in 65 games.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 13, 2019

Morrow hasn’t pitched since July 15, 2018, missing the second half of that season with right biceps inflammation. He underwent a debridement procedure on his right elbow last offseason, which was supposed to keep him out for the first month of the 2019 season. But Morrow suffered several setbacks and never pitched in 2019. 

Morrow’s agent, Joel Wolfe, told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times last month that the right-hander feels a sense of loyalty to the Cubs after they stuck by him through thick and thin. He said Morrow was open to a minor league deal.

When he last pitched, Morrow was one of the most dominant closers in baseball. He posted a 1.47 ERA in 35 games in 2018, converting 22 of 24 save tries. He provided the Cubs with a power arm in the back of the bullpen, striking out 31 batters in 30 2/3 innings compared to nine walks.

For the Cubs, Morrow is a low-risk addition with high-reward potential. He told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers that his arm feels great. If he’s healthy, he could be a major contributor to the Cubs' bullpen.

Cubs and Brandon Morrow agree on a minor league deal, per source. Says his arm is feeling great. Hasn't pitched since before the all-star break in 2018.

— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) December 13, 2019

This time, the Cubs won’t place such high expectations on the 35-year-old. They expect closer Craig Kimbrel to bounce back in 2020 with a normal offseason ahead of him. Kimbrel signed a three-year, $43 million deal with the Cubs last June and struggled mightily, posting a 6.53 ERA in 23 games.

If healthy, Morrow could prove to be a lethal weapon in front of Kimbrel. If he can’t stay healthy, it’s not like the Cubs are investing a lot of money in him, as they did two offseasons ago when Morrow signed a two-year, $21 million deal.

Simply put: if Morrow pans out, great. If he can’t stay healthy, the Cubs can move on without losing a large investment.

Latest Cubs Talk

Cubs sign oft-injured former closer to low-risk deal

If Rangers sign Castellanos, it could lead them to Bryant deal

Cubs gearing up for 'trading season'

After losing out on free agent third baseman Anthony Rendon, the Texas Rangers have spoken to agent Scott Boras about Cubs free agent outfielder Nicholas Castellanos, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Castellanos played third with the Detroit Tigers from 2014-17, but considering he posted a -64 Defensive Runs Saved mark in four seasons, he won’t be moving back there. Interestingly, however, Castellanos is willing to consider playing first base, according to Grant.

The Cubs — who are reportedly still pursuing Castellanos — obviously would be affected if the 27-year-old signs with Texas, as they'll lose one of their most productive players from 2019. But besides that, Castellanos landing with the Rangers would impact the Kris Bryant trade market.

The Rangers are looking for a consolation plan at third base after missing out on Rendon. They have a three-year offer on the table for Donaldson, according to Grant, and signing him would cost them only money. The same cannot be said about acquiring a third baseman via trade, like Kris Bryant, who would cost several assets.

But if Donaldson doesn’t sign with the Rangers, they might be more inclined to pursue Bryant. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said at the Winter Meetings they’ll address third base this offseason, and the Cubs' third baseman would be the best option left. That is, unless Texas calls the Rockies about Nolan Arenado.

Daniels also indicated that the Rangers are unlikely to trade for a player with only a few years of team control left (like Bryant) without making other major additions.

“There are some trade options [that] would have quite frankly made more sense in our mind if we had landed the free agents at the top of our list,” Daniels said. “I don’t love the idea of half measures. I don’t love the idea of taking a chunk out of the system if it doesn’t really make sense. Trading for somebody with a year or two of control makes more sense if the club is a little more filled out.”

So if the Rangers land Castellanos, a pursuit of Bryant could follow. But the same might also be true if they sign Donaldson, thanks to Bryant’s positional versatility.