Aaron Civale has been a bullpen find for the Cubs: a 1.77 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 36.2 innings over 18 appearances since a July 18 trade with the A's, where he struggled as a starter (5.42 ERA). Jed Hoyer's second Civale acquisition looks sharp. ⚾
Injuries defined the Cubs' 2026, and the offseason outlook is taking shape. Tyler Austin, Hunter Harvey and Trent Thornton aren't expected back in 2027. Justin Steele finished healthy and should return to the rotation whenever the season starts. 🩹
Sonny Gray is reportedly on the Cubs' free-agent radar again, with one writer pitching the 37-year-old as a veteran rotation option. Elsewhere, Counsell's tenure and the bullpen are under review. Nothing is done yet. 🔍
Cubs face a 40-man crunch: four pitching prospects need protection from the Rule 5 draft by Nov. 17. Open spots from expected free-agent departures help, and Jaxon Wiggins looks like a near-lock to be added. The draft itself may hinge on the CBA. 🔒
Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee is reportedly no longer in the mix for the Mets' open hitting staff role, per SNY's Chelsea Janes. New York is instead adding Mariano Duncan to its coaching staff, so Mallee stays on the Cubs' radar. ⚾
Eugenio Suárez could be a cheap, short-term DH fit if Seiya Suzuki leaves in free agency, giving Craig Counsell more pop. He hit 26 homers with a 104 OPS+ for the Reds in 2026, and a modest deal would keep the focus on pitching. 💣
The Cubs quietly signed Venezuelan right-hander Eliehiker Perdomo, born Jan. 29, 2009, to a minor-league contract, per MiLB.com's transactions log. Chicago's offseason business is under way while the Brewers lead the Rays 2-0 in the World Series. 📝
Former Cubs skipper Joe Maddon is being teased by the Rays for a Game 3 World Series appearance in Tampa Bay, likely in attendance rather than managing. The Brewers are two wins from a sweep, so Tampa is reaching for nostalgia. 🕶️
Carson Kelly's 2026: .258/.336/.376, 10 HR, 1.9 bWAR. A $7.5M mutual option for 2027 looms, and one writer argues the Cubs should keep him, since Miguel Amaya and Owen Ayers may not be ready to run the catching job alone. 🧢
A CJ Abrams trade with the Nationals is only a speculative idea for the Cubs' outfield, and the article calls Chicago a highly unlikely match. If Happ and/or Suzuki leave, Abrams (33 HR, 34 SB, 5.1 bWAR) could move to the outfield, but Washington's asking price would be astronomical.
Ian Happ, a pending free agent, joined Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ryan Rolison at a Texas football game. It's no guarantee he re-signs, but it hints at clubhouse ties, and the Cubs have until the December 1 lockout to work something out. 🤠
Cubs history, Oct. 26: Ferguson Jenkins won the 1971 National League Cy Young Award. In 2016, Jake Arrieta no-hit the Indians through five innings in a 5-1 Game 2 World Series win, with Kyle Schwarber driving in two. ⚾
Cubs history has plenty of heartbreak, and a ranking of 25 of its biggest disappointments still stings. Entries include decades of postseason futility after 1945, Craig Counsell's 83-79 2024 finish one game short, and the Rafael Palmeiro trade. 💔
Scott Boras is urging teams to sign free agents before the Dec. 2 lockout, and the Cubs, reportedly an expected bidder for Tarik Skubal, are positioned to act. Boras' recent deals with Hoyer (Bellinger, Bregman) suggest a workable relationship. 🔒
Nico Hoerner slid to .263 and an 84 OPS+ in 2026, yet his .297 xBA and elite contact marks hold steady. Craig Counsell says luck hits him hardest because he puts the ball in play so much. BABIP swings (.313 to .275) look like the culprit. 🎲
Jackson Cluff, a 29-year-old shortstop who joined the Cubs on a minor-league deal in mid-August after the Mets released him, has retired. He hit .148 in 18 games for Triple-A Iowa and never reached the majors in an eight-year pro career.
Teruaki Sato's Triple Crown season in Japan (39 HR, .991 OPS) makes him tempting, but the Cubs reportedly lack a clean fit. Bregman holds third and Busch first, so Sato would only fit in right if Suzuki leaves, and re-signing Suzuki looks like the safer play.
Cubs second-rounder Caden Sorrell looks like an early win from the 2026 class: .295/.347/.523, 131 wRC+, five homers and eight steals in 22 Single-A games. MLB Pipeline ranks him seventh in the system, behind three outfielders, which could make him interesting in trade talks. 🌽
Offseason chatter is already heating up: Mason Miller, Brandon Woodruff, Tarik Skubal and an NPB arm are all floated as possible Cubs targets. Nothing is confirmed, and the proposed Miller deal reportedly carries a steep farm-system cost. 🔍
The Cubs are reportedly listed among potential suitors for Tarik Skubal, with over $100M coming off the books. But a deal projected above $300M would top their $200M ceiling, and Jed Hoyer's history suggests long odds against the Dodgers and Mets. 🎯
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