If you haven’t heard, it’s a very competitive market, particularly in Chicago, where there are rumours that the New Ice Age frozen the season ticket holder list and might negatively impact profitability.

Thus, I anticipate taking some sort of action in the near future that will be rather costly. How close? Magic 8-Ball declines to comment. Ask Bob Nightengale, perhaps?

Cubs Insider* Evan Altman: Next week could reinterpret “Con” in CubsCon. There is a noticeable degree of unrest among the locals, who perceive this inactivity as a betrayal of confidence or a duty.

Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Despite their lack of effort during the winter, the Cubs have hope for 2024. “The front office doesn’t seem to be panicking about the current free agent and trade landscape; instead, it seems committed to its strategy.” Brett Taylor provides the interpretation.
Chicago Tribune*’s Paul Sullivan {$}): Anxious fans are not strangers to waiting for the Chicago Cubs. “It’s not precisely the strategy Cubs supporters had in mind following Ross’ unexpected firing and Craig Counsell’s hiring.”

According to MLB Insider, the Cubs will soon be the “most aggressive team” in free agency, according to James Neveau (NBC Sports Chicago*). It’s Nightengale, Bob. Every time, it’s Bob Nightengale. During the next five weeks, “The Cubs…will be baseball’s most aggressive team,” he declared. “They are just beginning their offseason.”
Cubs Insider* Evan Altman: A graph showing the Cubs’ salary ranks since 2010 could be crucial to their competitiveness. “I can only write about Jed Hoyer’s apparent preference for value over improvement so much.”

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer stated, “Writing out your five guys in the rotation, it just feels like those days have gone away,” during the December Winter Meetings. “As a team and an industry, you just don’t do that anymore.” Jordan Bastian.

MLB.com*’s Jordan Bastian: How can the Cubs solve the rotation puzzle? “As of right now, it appears that Chicago only has three rotation locks: veteran righty Kyle Hendricks, right-hander Jameson Taillon, and left-hander Justin Steele.”

Mark Powell (Fansided*): Cody Bellinger’s chances of winning the game with the Cubs are slim. “The offers, especially from the Chicago Cubs, will get worse the longer Cody Bellinger waits for a new contract.”

Joseph S. Pete (NWI.com*): Owner of Float Sixty and coach of the Chicago Cubs scouting squad, he developed a sizable sports complex in Crown Point complete with a baseball simulator, bubble dome, and bar. After years of planning, Bobby and Gloria Morris, the owners of Float Sixty, have established a sizable athletic training facility in Crown Point.