The Rundown: Improved Bullpen Key to Success, Cubs Connected to Burnes, Flaherty, Eovaldi, and Crochet, Soto Nearing Decision

Many analysts agree that the Cubs are an improved bullpen shy of earning a playoff spot and I agree with that sentiment. Jed Hoyer’s most impactful acquisition of the offseason has been Eli Morgan, but Phil Bickford could surprise and new starter Matthew Boyd may push Ben Brown from potentially great starter to lockdown reliever. Chicago is also well-positioned to seek Mason Miller in trade.

It may not be new personnel that Hoyer needs, however. The Cubs won the World Series in 2016 while the bullpen was situated along the third base line. The team moved the pen beneath the left field bleachers starting in 2017 and Chicago has yet to return to the grand stage. There is no way to quantify whether and how the lengthened walk to the pitcher’s mound hurts Cubs relievers, but it shouldn’t be discounted, either. Perhaps Hoyer should instead invest some money in a 1970s-era bullpen cart and use his payroll budget to sign Max Fried and Anthony Santander. Matt Thaiss could then double as bullpen catcher and livery chauffeur. Problem solved.

Here’s some Monday morning music to rev your engines while you browse the prose below.

Cubs News & Notes

• The Cubs are looking to improve in any fashion, but won’t be aggressive in any particular direction. My head hurts.
• The fine folks over at the Bergen Record (New Jersey) believe the Cubs are the favorites to sign Jack Flaherty and Nathan Eovaldi. Give me Shane Bieber and Walker Buehler instead, though I do think Flaherty is a nice fit for Chicago’s staff.
• Hoyer may be more inclined to work the trade market than participate in free agency given his prospect depth.
• The Cubs are reportedly still connected to starter Corbin Burnes, though I don’t see it unless they trade Cody Bellinger.
• This trade proposal seems like a big win for Hoyer: Miller and Shane Langeliers from the Athletics to the Cubs for Moises Ballesteros, Pedro Ramírez, and Brandon Birdsell. Can we get Oakland to also add Brent Rooker?

Odds & Sods

Shohei Ohtani is a true unicorn. You can hate the Dodgers for signing him, but we may never see another like him in our lifetimes.

Pitch Design 101: Shohei developing his 100 mph Sinker.

It's that easy for him. 🤣

What pitch will he "borrow" next year? pic.twitter.com/hrJILseKb4

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) December 4, 2024

Central Intelligence

• Milwaukee: Ex-White Sox hurler Michael Soroka would provide a big boost to the Brewers bullpen.
• St. Louis: The Cardinals will be among the most active teams in trade talks at next week’s Winter Meetings.
• Cincinnati: Closer Alex Díaz would be an ideal trade candidate if the Reds are looking to make a significant upgrade to their rotation or outfield.
• Pittsburgh: The Pirates are reportedly targeting outfielder Tyler O’Neill in free agency.

Asking for a Friend

Which current Cub would you nominate for Golden Bat? I’d give it to Isaac Paredes and promote Matt Shaw to third base. Perhaps we can bring Nick Madrigal back or coax Thad Bosley out of retirement. Mike Trout gives the Angels the ultimate golden at-bat.

Wednesday Stove

Juan Soto is eliminating potential suitors, so one should expect him to sign before or during the Winter Meetings. I didn’t have the Red Sox as a finalist, but I have heard Soto is very tight with David Ortíz and Pedro Martínez, so Boston may jump to the top of the pack if they make the first cut. The other four known finalists are the Blue Jays, Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers. Hoyer will continue to wait for Soto’s market to crater.

The Royals are a very strong dark horse ($) in the race to acquire the superstar right fielder, per ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle.

The bidding for Soto has eclipsed the $600 million mark according to several sources.

The Dodgers and Blake Snell agreed to defer $66 million of the two-time Cy Young Award winner’s $182 million deal. Snell also received a $52 million signing bonus, but that is factored into AAV on a non-deferred basis.

Strikeouts are trending down across baseball because batters are using more of a contact approach with two strikes. In other words, curb any potential regression talk when it comes to Burnes.

White Sox veterans Andrew Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn are drawing trade interest from several clubs.

According to a report from the Kyodo News, corner infielder Munetaka Murakami announced that 2025 will be his final season in Nippon Professional Baseball, after which he will look to sign with an MLB team.

Extra Innings

What would it take to convince the White Sox to trade Garrett Crochet to the Cubs? The White Sox want a package of prospects or a mix of prospects and cost-controlled players. I’ve come up with a couple of ideas, and I’d love to hear yours in the comments section.

• Cade Horton, James Triantos, Jack Neely, and Paredes.
• Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, and Nico Hoerner. Sorry, Nico.
• Shaw, Triantos, Paredes, and Michael Busch. Then sign Pete Alonso.
• Cam Smith, Jefferson Rojas, Birdsell, and Paredes.
• Bellinger, Birdsell, and $50 million, but the ChiSox would have to include Luís Robert Jr. Rob Manfred might object, however.
• Abstain. Crochet’s upside is probably along the lines of Chris Sale, but the injury risk is equally significant.

. @MLB trade market update:

The Cubs and Reds are among the viable candidates to acquire White Sox ace Garrett Crochet.

Of note, the Cubs and White Sox have made 4 trades since 2017, beginning with the José Quintana deal. @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 4, 2024

They Said It

• “I don’t know if it’s just a Japanese baseball teaching — it might be the same here — but over there, they say a high amount of walks lead to runs. And so for me, it’s not necessarily that giving up a walk is bad. It’s just once that happens, I want to switch my mindset to prevent the run. So I think for me, not putting so much pressure on the walk and making it a negative thing, but if it does happen, shifting my mind to, ‘OK, let’s keep the guy on first and keep [him] from scoring.'” – Shōta Imanaga

Wednesday Walk-Up Song

Hoyer, at this year’s Winter Meetings.