It’s completely unknown how far the Cubs went in talks with Ohtani, if at all. Ohtani’s camp did a tremendous job keeping his free agency preferences under wraps.

Still, a $700 million contract is a tough deal to offer for any franchise. Here’s a look at the most money the Cubs have plunked down for a player.

Largest contracts in Cubs history by total value

1. Jason Heyward: $184 million (eight years)

2. Dansby Swanson: $177 million (seven years)

3. Jon Lester: $155 million (six years)

4. Alfonso Soriano: $136 million (eight years)

5. Yu Darvish: $126 million (six years)

6. Seiya Suzuki: $99.6 million* (five years)

7. Carlos Zambrano: $91.5 million (five-year extension)

*Suzuki’s contract will pay him $85 million. His deal is worth $99.6 million total when including the posting fee that the Cubs paid his NPB club in Japan.

Others include:

— Aramis Ramirez: Five-year, $75 million extension in 2006

— Sammy Sosa: Four-year, $72 million extension in 2001

— Marcus Stroman: Three-year, $71 million free agent deal

— Jameson Taillon: Four-year, $68 million free agent deal

Largest average annual salaries in Cubs history

1. Jon Lester: $25.8 million

2. Dansby Swanson: $25.3 million

3. Marcus Stroman: $23.7 million

4. Jason Heyward: $23 million

5. Yu Darvish: $21 million

6. Kris Bryant* $19.5 million

7. Kris Bryant** $18.6 million

8. Carlos Zambrano: $18.3 million

9. Sammy Sosa: $18 million (extension signed in 2001)

*Bryant and the Cubs came to terms to avoid arbitration entering the 2021 season.

**Bryant and the Cubs came to terms to avoid arbitration entering the 2020 season. However, MLB salaries were ultimately prorated in the shortened 60-game campaign.

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Ohtani, who signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers on Saturday, won’t have to move far to play for his new club after spending the first six years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels.

Next season, the Dodgers will kick off their season in South Korea against the Padres, but then they’ll head home for seven games against the Cardinals and Giants.

Their first true road series of the season will start on April 5, when Ohtani and the Dodgers will visit Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs.

According to Baseball Reference, Wrigley Field is one of two MLB ballparks where Ohtani has yet to play in his MLB career, with the other being Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.

In three games against the Cubs, Ohtani is 3-for-11 with one home run and one RBI. He has a career .429 on-base percentage against the North Siders.

Ohtani won’t be pitching for the Dodgers during that early-season series, as he’ll be off the mound throughout 2024 after undergoing surgery on his pitching elbow.

Fans who miss Ohtani at the Friendly Confines will also get a chance to see him on Chicago’s South Side when the Dodgers take on the White Sox June 24-26.

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The Cubs, who had reportedly been involved in the Ohtani sweepstakes, now must shift their focus elsewhere, with plenty of needs and an open checkbook as free agency continues.

In all likelihood, the team will target starting pitching help after the departure of Marcus Stroman, but they’ll also need to address concerns in their corner infield spots and in center field, among other needs.

Here are some of the players the Cubs could potentially seek out as the Ohtani sweepstakes ends.

Cody Bellinger

Contrary to the rest of the blue-chip free agents, the Cubs and Bellinger have a pre-existing relationship. His agent, Scott Boras, has repeatedly said that Bellinger would be open to returning to the Cubs, but that he would also explore all other options too.

“Our platform is Cody’s let us know that he’s listening to everyone involved, and there are no exclusions,” Boras told the media at the MLB Winter Meetings.

Bellinger rejuvenated his career with the Cubs last season, hitting .307 with 26 home runs and 97 runs driven in. He was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year, and was instrumental in the team increasing their win total to 83.

The Yankees were expected to be heavy favorites on Bellinger, but now that they traded for All-Star outfielder Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo, Bellinger likely isn’t on their radar any more.

Bellinger also offers flexibility, as he is able to play center field and first base as a plus-defender in addition to his left-handed power at the plate.

Should the Cubs be inclined to call up youngster Pete Crow-Armstrong permanently, the Cubs could easily stick Bellinger at first. Not to mention, Christopher Morel offers a solid plug in the outfield if needed.

Matt Chapman

The Cubs churned through third basemen frequently last season, with everyone from Nick Madrigal to Patrick Wisdom to Miles Mastrobuoni seeing time at the hot corner.

Now, there’s really only one good option at third base left on the market, as Matt Chapman remains unsigned.

There are some concerns with how he finished the 2023 season after a strong start at the plate, but he’s proven to be durable, averaging nearly 150 games per season, and he is also a plus-defender, giving the Cubs even more quality defense on an infield that already includes Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson.

Tyler Glasnow

The Cubs have been circling a Tyler Glasnow trade throughout the offseason, but their efforts could step up now that Ohtani has signed.

The Cubs are undoubtedly looking to solidify their rotation, thanks to the departure of Stroman and the struggle of Hayden Wesneski to nail down a spot in that mix.

Glasnow is a tremendous strikeout threat, with 162 strikeouts in 120 innings last season, but he’s also slated to make $25 million this season, is set to become a free agent at the end of 2024, and has had some durability concerns in his career.

Rhys Hoskins

Hoskins isn’t at the same level as the preceding three players, but he would be a play to help close the gap at first base with flexibility at the designated hitter spot.

Remember, Matt Mervis will likely compete for some playing time at first base, too.

After missing the entirety of the 2023 season with a knee injury, it’s uncertain what type of contract Hoskins is looking for. Jon Morosi did report, however, that the Cubs and Hoskins have been in touch about a one-year or multi-year deal.

Hoskins spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit 30 home runs and drove in 79 RBIs during the 2022 season, appearing in 156 games. He slashed .246/.332/.462, roughly in line with his career averages in all three categories.

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On Friday, Jon Morosi reported the two-way superstar was “en route” to Toronto. He specified Ohtani has not agreed to a deal with any major league team but would be traveling to Canada.

Shortly thereafter, national MLB reporters Bob Nightengale and Jon Heyman took to debunking Morosi’s report. Both reported Ohtani was currently on the other side of North America at his home in Southern California.

That spiraled into a riveting and entertaining series of Tweets (X) from people confirming where Ohtani *isn’t* to mock national reporters failing on several occasions to successfully report details on Ohtani’s free agency.

Here are some funny ones:

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National writers and pundits have been duking out new — and sometimes contradictory — reports on Ohtani’s meetings … and whereabouts?

Here’s what we know so far:

According to Jon Morosi — one of the more prominent voices in the Ohtani sweepstakes —, a decision on the Japanese star’s end is expected imminently. Morosi wasn’t specific about the timing of the decision but didn’t rule out the possibility of it coming Friday.

Who are the finalists for Ohtani?

That’s the question everyone’s been wondering. Bob Nightengale reported the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays as expected finalists. He mentioned the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels are “hopeful.”

Nightengale also reported the Cubs’ optimism had “significantly waned” for obtaining Ohtani. Although, that report didn’t sit well with Cubs President Jed Hoyer.

“I don’t know where that came from. There’s nothing to report whatsoever,” Hoyer said at the Winter Meetings.

Like Nightengale, Morosi is steadfast on the Blue Jays being finalists. Ben Nicholson-Smith from Sportsnet also reported the Canadian team is a finalist in Ohtani’s decision.

That stumbled into a knee-slapping report on Friday: his whereabouts.

Morosi reported Ohtani was “en route” to Toronto, but has not yet agreed to a deal with any major league team. That left the majority to believe he would sign there anyway, as the Blue Jays have been reported as strong favorites.

Hilariously, Nightengale threw water on the report, saying Ohtani is currently on the other side of North America at his residence in Southern California, not on his way to Toronto. The NY Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed Nightengale’s report of Ohtani’s coordinates.

Boy, this is getting crazy.

This is all to say … who knows? Are the Cubs in? Are they out?

No one seems to know what the two-way superstar is thinking. Ohtani’s camp has done a phenomenal job keeping his decisions and preferences under wraps since the stove began to heat up.

But there don’t appear to be many positive signs about Ohtani coming to the North Side. But that doesn’t mean Cubs fans should tune out this offseason. Surely, the Cubs will be aggressive in landing some blue-chip free agents if they come away without No. 17.

The question is — how will they respond once Ohtani chooses his next destination?

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This time, he’s going in with a lot more gravitas. Last offseason, Bellinger was looking for somewhere he could rejuvenate his career. After winning MVP in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he recorded three straight lackadaisical seasons.

But he found his bounce-back home on the North Side with the Chicago Cubs in 2023. They gifted him a one-year “prove it” deal worth $17.5 million. And, boy, did he prove it. He earned a Silver Slugger and top-ten MVP votes behind a .307 batting average, .881 OPS, 26 home runs and 97 RBIs.

Now, he’s caught the eyes of several suitors for the next chapter of his career, including two former destinations in the Cubs and Dodgers. Would he be interested in reuniting with either club, even the one that cut him loose during his darkest hour?

“Our platform is Cody’s let us know that he’s listening to everyone involved, and there are no exclusions,” Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, told the media at the MLB Winter Meetings.

Bellinger went through serious adversity while playing his final years in Los Angeles. He battled a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery in 2021. And he went through a slew of mechanic adjustments to try and revamp his swing and regain MVP form.

In 144 healthy games in 2022, he failed to produce up to standard. He hit .210 from the plate, despite knocking 19 balls out of the park and driving in 68 runs. He finished with an OPS+ of 81.

With the Cubs, he completely turned things around, showing he hasn’t lost his 2019 form. He provided the most power in the Cubs’ lineup and launched them into the playoff conversation. For that, he’s poised to earn a solid payday this offseason. The question is — who is motivated enough to ink him?

The Yankees, who were once considered among the heavy favorites to sign Bellinger, are on the brink of trading for Padres outfielder Juan Soto. Logically, a trade for Soto would push them out of the conversation for Bellinger, considering they would field an outfield of Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

That brings us back to the Cubs and Dodgers, along with the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays as potential suitors. Remember: all of those teams are in on Shohei Ohtani. The general silence around the Winter Meetings logically suggests Ohtani’s move will dictate the rest of the market and the aforementioned’s collective interest in Bellinger.

If the Cubs come away Ohtani-less on the other side, it would make sense for them to be in on re-signing Bellinger back to the squad. And Boras reminded us just how rare Bellinger’s season was last season, as he makes a solid consolation prize without Ohtani.

“How many people have hard contact rates, that play center field, and do what they do with two strikes and low strike-out levels? And then you’re going to find out ‘Wow that’s a very small group of only about 2 or 3 people,'” Boras said.

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“Yoshinobu Yamamoto has generated so much interest from both New York teams and other big-market franchises that the Cubs are not expected to proceed in those high-stakes negotiations,” Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma wrote.

According to Jim Bowden, Yamamoto’s deal is expected to reach somewhere around $300 million. That deal would place him in the realm of being one of the highest-paid pitchers in all of baseball.

It was once reported the Cubs were among the favorites to land the right-hander. But as the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes drag on, teams are seemingly starting to move onto other free agents. Yamamoto’s contract could be viewed as a daunting path to take, too. He’s never pitched in MLB.

Yamamoto, 25, is one of the hottest commodities on the MLB free agency market this offseason. He’s pitched in Japan on the Forgein level and in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. All-encompassed, he holds a 1.72 ERA over nearly 1,000 innings pitched.

He turned heads during the World Baseball Classic, proving to be one of the best pitchers in the tournament. With tournament champion Team Japan, he pitched 7.1 innings and held a 2.45 ERA. He struck out 12 batters and allowed a blistering .160 batting average to his opponents, putting himself among the league’s best.

The Cubs have been attached to several starting pitchers this offseason. And for good reason. They finished 14th in MLB last season for pitching staff ERA. They’re also seemingly losing Marcus Stroman, who finished with a 3.95 ERA, from their rotation, too.

Counsell & Co. are currently left with Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad.

Of course, they’re in on the Ohtani sweepstakes. From the report, it seems the Cubs are still interested in trading for Glasnow, without the inclusion of Christopher Morel in a hypothetical trade. They also have Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga “on their radar,” according to Mooney and Sharma.

But, to give a pitcher who’s never pitched in the major leagues $300 million screams buyers beware. The Cubs have priorities. But their disinterest in Yamamoto begs the question — what will they do in an Ohtani-less world?

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Those rumors were quickly debunked. Newly minted Cubs manager Craig Counsell took to defending Morel’s production following the rumors.

“He’s put himself in a position where he needs to be in the lineup,” Counsell said at the Winter Meetings. “He needs to be on the field. That’s a good thing. Now, where? That’s what we have to figure out.

“I think to sit here on Dec. 3 and say we’ve gotta have it figured out? Or, that he might be a versatile piece? Like, yeah. I think he’s earned his way into a lineup there’s no question about that.”

Morel, 24, acted as one of the team’s main sources of power last season. He hit 26 home runs in just 388 at-bats last season. Behind Seiya Suzuki, Morel led the team in OPS last season (.821).

If the team parted ways with Morel, they’d have a considerable gap to close in terms of power. Cody Bellinger is also a free agent this offseason. He hit 26 home runs and knocked in 97 runs with the Cubs last season.

Trading Morel for Glasnow would force the Cubs to bet solely on the latter’s health. Glasnow pitched the most innings he’s ever thrown in a single season last year, topping out at a lowly 120 frames. When he’s healthy, he’s impeccable. He struck out 162 batters in those 120 innings last season. But again, health is a concern.

What’s more, the Cubs have Morel under club control for a whopping five seasons to come. To throw that all away for Glasnow, who is slated to make $25 million in 2024 before becoming a free agent the next offseason, doesn’t seem like a strong decision for the Cubs.

The only part the Cubs need to figure out about Morel, as Counsell noticed, is where to place him on defense. The Cubs will likely come out of the MLB offseason with some strong, new players. That’s where maneuvering Morel into the lineup will face its greatest challenge.

But Counsell notes players like Morel are invaluable to a major league roster, nonetheless.

“The players that have defensive versatility are incredibly valuable players.”

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According to Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, catcher Victor Caratini has signed a deal with the Houston Astros.

Caratini, 30, debuted with the Cubs back in 2017 and spent parts of four seasons with the North Siders.

While showing the ability to hit for some power and hold his own at the plate, Caratini has primarily served as a backup catcher in his career, initially to Willson Contreras in Chicago before going on to back up his younger brother William in Milwaukee.

The exception was Caratini’s lone year in San Diego in 2021, when he played a career-high 116 games with the Padres, slashing .227/.309/.323 with just 16 extra-base hits.

Caratini looks to continue to be a backup in Houston, backing up Yainer Diaz and perhaps marking the end of a long partnership between the Astros and fellow Puerto Rican backstop Martin Maldonado.

The terms of Caratini’s contract with the Astros are currently unknown.

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Some reports showed the Cubs “balked” at the $500 million price tag Ohtani comes with in free agency. Others suggest their optimism to land the Japanese star has “significantly waned.”

Insider Jon Heyman affirmed the Cubs haven’t heard “No” from Ohtani’s camp. But, for good measures, he reported a de facto Plan B for the Cubs in the event they miss out on Ohtani.

Additional reports suggest in a non-Ohtani world the Cubs could be in on Japanese pitching star Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Pete Alonso is another name that’s been attached to the Cubs since the start of the offseason.

Jesse Rogers reported he wouldn’t rule out a star outfielder from the Cubs if they miss on Ohtani, either.

“I wouldn’t completely discount [Juan] Soto, I put him back in the mix … if the Cubs strike out on Ohtani,” Rogers said on ESPN 1000.

The Cubs could look to address their opening at first base with Hoskins, who was seemingly outed by the Phillies when they announced Bryce Harper would play there on defense.

Hoskins spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Phillies. He hit 30 home runs and drove in 79 RBI’s during the 2022 season, appearing in 156 games. He slashed .246/.332/.462, roughly in line with his career averages in all three categories.

Third base has long been a need for the Cubs. Nick Madrigal proved surprisingly helpful in most games at the corner. But Chapman would make for a more concrete solution at the position.

He’s a wall at the position, recording 12 defensive runs saved at the position there last season. He hit 17 home runs and finished with a .755 OPS last season, too. He’s exceptionally durable, too, averaging 148 games per season over the last three years.

Obviously, Bellinger shifted the trajectory of his career with the Cubs on a one-year “prove it” deal with the Cubs last season. The Cubs grew fond of Bellinger following his 26 home run and 97 RBI season last season.

But the Cubs could be motivated to rely on Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field, should they feel the youngster is ready for the major leagues in a full-time role.

Either way, the Cubs are proving to be aggressive this offseason. Who will they land this winter?

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But he’s quickly showing he’s in this thing for the long run.

“We’re at the start of a journey, man. Together,” Counsell said on MLB Network at the Winter Meetings. “… It’s been fun getting to know [Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Ian Happ].”

The Cubs announced Counsell as the 56th manager of the organization in early November.

They signed him to a record-breaking five-year contract worth $40 million. He immediately became the highest-paid manager in baseball after shocking the baseball world with a lateral move to the south of his once-beloved Brewers.

Of course, that wasn’t always the plan for Counsell.

He said on MLB Network the Cubs “weren’t in the picture for most of the process.” He admitted it was “hard work” being a free agent as a manager. In the end, it came down to deciding between the Brewers and the Cubs.

The Brewers allowed Counsell to explore free agency after the skipper’s contract was up. They planned, however, to negotiate another deal. Counsell said they pushed off negotiations for a while, though they had conversations.

The Cubs seemingly pounced at the sight of the Brewers’ complacency with their manager and ushered him to the North Side. The move showed the baseball world they aren’t messing around this season — an attitude they plan to bring to free agency and the MLB offseason, too.

“We’re solving for wins… That’s the puzzle you’re putting together. That’s the hard part about roster building,” Counsell said to the media at the Winter Meetings.

The Cubs have been attached to several names. And, of course, they are still in on Shohei Ohtani. After Ohtani, the Cubs seemingly have a Plan B in Tyler Glasnow, Matt Chapman, Rhys Hoskins, Cody Bellinger and even Juan Soto, who remains available on the trade market.

It remains to be seen how the Cubs operate from a roster management standpoint this offseason. However that piece of their offseason unfolds, they have arguably the game’s best manager at the helm of their operation.

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Tyler Glasnow, pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, is available on the trade market for the right price. And the Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are both reportedly interested in the right-hander, according to Jon Morosi, barring the completion of Ohtani’s next deal.

From the Cubs’ perspective, one pivotal name has surfaced in the Glasnow trade talks, according to Bob Nightengale.

Glasnow, 30, will become a free agent after the 2024 season. He’s scheduled to make $25 million for this upcoming season on his current deal.

Concerns have been voiced about his workload, as his past season’s innings pitched (120) marked a career-high for him. Last season also marked the first year Glasnow started in over 20 games.

Although his availability has waned over the majority of his career, his strikeout numbers remain high. Glasnow struck out 162 batters in those 120 innings last season, finishing the season with a blistering 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

His 3.53 ERA and 1.083 WHIP are difficult to look past, too. Glasnow allowed 47 earned runs in 485 batters faced last season. His services would immediately boost a Cubs rotation that includes Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad.

On the other hand, Morel, 24, is one of the team’s main sources of power. He hit 26 home runs in just 388 at-bats last season. Behind Seiya Suzuki, Morel led the team in OPS last season (.821).

If the team parted ways with Morel, they’d have a considerable gap to close in terms of power. Cody Bellinger is also a free agent this offseason. He hit 26 home runs and knocked in 97 runs with the Cubs last season.

The Cubs certainly need upgrades to their starting rotation. If it’s not Glasnow, there are other options the Cubs have in front of them. One MLB insider considers them favorites to land Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, should the Cubs miss out on Ohtani.

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Seen as heavy pursuers in now two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani, they’re also interested in another Japanese star — right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

“The 25-year-old right-hander will decide among a who’s who of teams interested in him: The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox and Cubs are among the favorites, with the Giants, Blue Jays and Phillies also expected to be in the mix,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.

Yamamoto, 25, is one of the hottest commodities on the MLB free agency market this offseason. He’s pitched in Japan on the Forgein level and in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. All-encompassed, he holds a 1.72 ERA over nearly 1,000 innings pitched.

He turned heads during the World Baseball Classic, proving to be one of the best pitchers in the tournament. With tournament champion Team Japan, he pitched 7.1 innings and held a 2.45 ERA. He struck out 12 batters and allowed a blistering .160 batting average to his opponents, putting himself among the league’s best.

The Cubs starting rotation needs assistance. That’s part of the reason they’re heavy in the Ohtani sweepstakes, despite Ohtani being unable to pitch during the 2024 season because of a UCL tear he suffered last August.

Without Marcus Stroman in the lineup, the Cubs are currently dependent on Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Kyle Hendricks, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks. Should they bring in Yamamoto, they will instantly boost their rotation.

The Cubs’ interest in Yamamoto, as is with any other free agent, is likely dependent on whether or not they land Ohtani. That contract will call for well north of $500 million, and maybe even up to $600 million. It will certainly finish as the highest in MLB history.

What about Yamamoto?

“The price for Yamamoto, officials who plan on pursuing the pitcher told ESPN, seems to be growing by the day. Multiple executives said the floor will be $200 million. Others said the cost of his contract could be in excess of $250 million,” Passan reported.

The likelihood of the Cubs signing both Japanese stars seems wildly unlikely. But, if another team lands Ohtani, it would make sense for the Cubs to strongly pursue Yamamoto.

On the subject of Ohtani, Passan also reported the Cubs are firmly in the running for the two-time AL MVP.

“The Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, who were among the initial group of suitors, have turned their attention to other players, sources said,” Passan said. “Among those confirmed by sources to be still in the bidding: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Angels. The San Francisco Giants have long had a fondness for Ohtani, though where they stand in these sweepstakes is unknown.”

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The Winter Meetings will kick off Dec. 3-6 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. There, the most significant storyline to watch will be Shohei Ohtani. Where will he sign? How much will he sign for?

The more important question for North Side fans: where do the Cubs stand in all of this? ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the Cubs are still firmly in the race for Ohtani, while others have dropped out.

“The Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, who were among the initial group of suitors, have turned their attention to other players, sources said,” Passan wrote Friday. “Among those confirmed by sources to be still in the bidding: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Angels. The San Francisco Giants have long had a fondness for Ohtani, though where they stand in these sweepstakes is unknown.”

The Cubs have been in on Ohtani since the beginning. The question at the forefront for the Cubs at this point — how much are they willing to cough up for the Japanese star?

Passan reported “The number, sources said, will surge well beyond $500 million. One source said he believes Ohtani will receive a contract for at least $550 million. Another said the bidding could reach $600 million.”

Remember, Ohtani will not pitch during the 2024 MLB season. He suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Aug. 23, ruling out his ability to pitch next season. It’s unknown if the injury will impact the elasticity suitors provide for Ohtani. Still, Ohtani’s contract will undoubtedly shatter Mike Trout’s $425 million deal — the richest in MLB history.

Ohtani’s decision is expected soon. It could be as quickly as next week at the Winter Meetings, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

“I’m thinking he may sign at the Winter Meetings, which would be very, very exciting,” Heyman said. “That seems to be the prevailing opinion at this point. No guarantee.”

Ohtani is arguably baseball’s hottest commodity in its history. The Japanese star hits and pitches at an elite level, guaranteeing him a unique contract for executing and nearly perfecting both sides of the ball. Ohtani just won his second AL MVP award this past season.

How will the Cubs finish in the sweepstakes? Keep your eyes peeled for the North Side’s busy offseason.

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Several reports have dropped surrounding the status of teams who are in or out on the two-way superstar. Jon Heyman said on a live stream with Bleacher Report on Wednesday the Chicago Cubs are firmly in the running.

“Cubs are in there. It would be a great fit,” Heyman said.

Heyman said the Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites at this time. He also said the San Francisco Giants are “in there hot.” The Toronto Blue Jays have whispered interest, according to Heyman, too.

One significant nugget Heyman dropped in the livestream is the timing of the deal. Heyman said Ohtani’s free agency could end as quickly as next week at the MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville from Dec. 3-6.

“I’m thinking he may sign at the Winter Meetings, which would be very, very exciting,” Heyman said. “That seems to be the prevailing opinion at this point. No guarantee.”

Heyman said he expects Ohtani to get “around $500 million.” Though, he hasn’t shied away from predicting Ohtani will haul in $600 million on his next contract.

Ohtani is arguably baseball’s hottest commodity in its history. The Japanese star hits and pitches at an elite level, guaranteeing him a unique contract for executing and nearly perfecting both sides of the ball. Ohtani just won his second AL MVP award this past season.

However, due to a UCL tear, Ohtani will not be able to pitch for the 2024 season. He will, however, be fully prepared to hit for whichever team lands him this offseason.

Will that team be the Cubs? Stay tuned, as his decision could be coming soon.

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“I don’t expect them to jump on something like this,” Dawson told the Chicago Tribune on Monday, the paper said. “If they elect to respond, they’ll take their time. And it wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t respond.”

Players could make the decision through the 2001 induction, and the hall took over the decision ahead of the 2002 vote. The change followed reports in 1999 that Tampa Bay offered to compensate the newly retired Wade Boggs if his plaque bore a Devil Rays logo. Boggs was inducted in 2005 and his plaque has a Boston Red Sox logo.

“We plan to speak to Andre but have not yet received the letter,” Hall spokesman Jon Shestakofsky said Wednesday.

Three weeks after Dawson was elected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in 2010, the hall said it decided the plaque will have an Expos cap.

“I respect the Hall of Fame’s decision to put an Expos logo on my cap, and I understand their responsibility to make sure the logo represents the greatest impact in my career,” Dawson said then in a statement issued by the hall. “Cubs fans will always be incredibly important in my heart, and I owe them so much for making my time in Chicago memorable, as did the fans in Montreal, Boston and South Florida, my home. But knowing that I’m on the Hall of Fame team is what’s most important, as it is the highest honor I could imagine.”

However, on the day the hall announced its decision, Dawson told WMVP-AM in Chicago: “I’m disappointed,” adding: “I can proudly say that because Chicago was my preference.”

At the time of the decision, then Hall president Jeff Idelson said: “You want the logo to represent where this guy made his greatest impact. He was impactful in Montreal. He was impactful in Chicago, and to a much lesser extent Boston and Florida, but it’s more of a case sitting down and collectively make a decision.”

The hall said Dawson had 1,575 of his 2,774 hits with the Expos, won six of his eight Gold Glove awards in Montreal and led the Expos to their only postseason series win while in Montreal with a five-game victory over the Phillies in the 1981 NL Division Series. Idelson also said it’s the museum’s responsibility to “properly interpret the game’s history.”

Dawson played his first 11 seasons with Montreal, batting .285 with 225 home runs and 838 RBIs. He was selected an All-Star three times and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1977. He played six seasons with the Cubs, where he won the 1987 NL MVP award after batting .287 with 49 home runs and 137 RBIs. He also played two years each for Boston and Florida before retiring in 1996.

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Flaherty played for eight seasons from 2012-2019, then immediately got into coaching in November of 2019 as an advance scout and development coach for the Padres. The Padres promoted Flaherty to bench coach in February and he acted as the interim manager for a bit in 2022 when Bob Melvin underwent surgery.

The move to Chicago is a pseudo-homecoming for Flaherty. The Cubs drafted Flaherty in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft, but he never played for the team. The Orioles selected Flaherty from the Cubs in the 2011 Rule 5 draft, and Flaherty made his MLB debut with Baltimore in 2012.

According to several reports, the Cubs are going to retain hitting coach Dustin Kelly and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, who each worked under David Ross. Hottovy’s tenure as Cubs pitching coach dates back to December 2018. Last season was Kelly’s first campaign as the team’s hitting coach.

The Cubs made the surprise move to hire Craig Counsell away from the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month, even though Ross was still employed by the team.

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Morales cites Escobar’s cousin, longtime former MLB reliever Kelvim Escobar in his report. Edwin Escobar has also appeared to address the signing on his Instagram page.

The terms of the contract, including whether it’s a minor league or major league deal, are currently unknown.

Formerly one of the game’s prized prospects, Escobar, now 31, is coming off an extended career in Japan that began in 2017 which saw him emerge as one of the more durable relievers in Nippon Professional Baseball.

Across 395 games in NPB over the course of seven seasons, Escobar has posted a 3.17 ERA with 143 walks and 383 strikeouts in 392.1 innings of work.

Prior to his time in the NPB, Escobar had limited MLB experience as well, appearing in two games with the Boston Red Sox in 2014 before making his way into 25 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016, his most recent stint in the big leagues.

In 27 games and two starts in the MLB, Escobar has posted a 1-2 record with a 7.01 ERA, with 12 walks and 19 strikeouts in 25.2 innings.

Escobar’s signing represents the continuation of a trend with the Cubs’ offseason approach to their bullpen in recent years, aiming to sign under-the-radar players on low-risk deals.

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Tigers spokesman Chad Crunk said Tuesday that Hernández died in Florida and the team confirmed Hernández’s death with his family. No cause was announced.

The left-handed Hernández had a 13-year career but is mostly known for his role as the closer on one of the most dominant teams in the past 40 years. The 1984 Tigers, led by Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker and Jack Morris, opened 35-5 and cruised to the AL East title with a 104-58 mark before sweeping Kansas City in the AL Championship Series and beating San Diego in a five-game World Series.

Hernández had a 9-3 record and 32 saves in 33 chances in 1984, with a 1.92 ERA over 80 games and 140 1/3 innings. He is among just 11 pitchers to win the Cy Young and MVP in the same year, edging Kansas City’s Dan Quisenberry for Cy Young in 1984 and Minnesota’s Kent Hrbek for MVP.

Hernández would go on to have an excellent postseason and got the final out of the clinching Game 5, coaxing a short fly ball to left field from Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, setting off a celebration. The Tigers haven’t won a World Series since.

“Willie Hernández was a great teammate, and I’m terribly sorry to hear the news of his passing,” former Tigers star Alan Trammell said in a statement. “I will never forget our team’s celebration together on the mound after he recorded the final out of the 1984 World Series. He will always be remembered as a World Series champion. My thoughts and prayers are with this family.”

Guillermo Hernández was born in Aguada, Puerto Rico, on Nov. 14, 1954. His ascent to baseball stardom couldn’t have been predicted during 6 1/2 solid but unspectacular seasons with the Chicago Cubs that began in 1977. He was traded to Philadelphia during the 1983 season and pitched four scoreless innings in that year’s World Series as the Phillies lost to Baltimore.

Detroit acquired Hernández and Dave Bergman from the Phillies for Glenn Wilson and John Wockenfuss a few weeks before the 1984 season. Hernandez would go on to make three straight All-Star teams from 1984-86.

Hernández finished with a 70-63 record and a 3.38 ERA.

After a decline in performance led to fan booing, Hernández poured ice water from a bucket over Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom in March 1988 while the reporter was speaking with Tigers teammate Frank Tanana. The following month, Hernández asked the team to have the public address announcer refer to him as Guillermo, and Hernández went by that for the rest of his career.

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According to the Cubs, the waiting list for season ticket purchases will be discontinued, with fans now able to buy the tickets via an online marketplace.

Tickets can now be purchased in full season, half-season and 20-game packages, according to the Cubs, and each comes with its own set of perks and discounts.

The 20-game packages come in four different sets, and include access to presales for concerts and other events at Wrigley Field, as well as guaranteed postseason ticket purchasing opportunities.

Half-season packages come in either a “Red” or “Blue” package, and include the aforementioned benefits, as well as a chance to participate in the team’s ticket exchange program. Discounts on concession and retail items are also available.

The half-season packages also include tickets to the team’s home opener against the Colorado Rockies.

Finally, full season tickets can now be purchased via the Cubs’ website. The tickets can be purchased in any area of the ballpark, and include a series of other benefits as well, according to the team.

More information can be found on the Cubs’ website.

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The Cubs announced Friday that they have non-tendered pitchers Codi Heuer, Brandon Hughes and Ethan Roberts, while offering corner infielder Patrick Wisdom a new contract.

Though Friday marks the deadline for tender or non-tender decisions, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road between teams and players who have been non-tendered, as teams often look to seek out minor league deals with non-tendered players who are arbitration-eligible.

Heuer, 27, was initially acquired by the Cubs alongside infielder Nick Madrigal in a trade that sent relievers Craig Kimbrel and Ryan Tepera to the Chicago White Sox.

After initially posting strong results in 2021 with the Cubs, compiling a 3.14 ERA and two saves over 25 appearances, injury setbacks have been the story since.

Heuer has not played at the MLB level since 2021, missing two full seasons for Tommy John surgery and surgery to repair an elbow fracture, respectively.

As for Roberts, the 26-year-old righty and 2018 Cubs’ draft pick missed all of the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Roberts had limited big league experience in 2022, surrendering seven earned runs and six walks in just 7.2 innings of work across eight games.

Hughes, who will be 28 at the start of next month, has been non-tendered after an injury-riddled season of his own.

After posting strong numbers as a staple of the Cubs’ bullpen in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.092 WHIP in 57 games, Hughes battled leg injuries throughout 2023 and was limited to just 17 games.

Hughes compiled a 7.24 ERA with an 0-3 record in his limited action in 2023 before undergoing a debridement surgery on his left knee that ended his season.

Hughes, Heuer and Roberts all provided organizational depth at an area where it is certainly needed, though the trio’s recent injury struggles likely led the Cubs front office to shy away from dishing out arbitration-level salaries for the three relievers.

While the three relievers are now free agents, the Cubs could look to re-up with any of the pitchers on a minor league deal as they look to catch on with any of the 30 MLB clubs.

Though the Cubs confirmed that Wisdom agreed to a new contract, the terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Cubs also confirmed that they have tendered 2024 contracts to the following arbitration-eligible players:

• Adbert Alzolay
• Mark Leiter Jr.
• Nick Madrigal
• Julian Merryweather
• Justin Steele
• Mike Tauchman

The terms of the deals offered to the players were not disclosed.

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According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, MLB’s competition committee is “weighing a proposal that would reduce the pitch clock with runners on base from 20 seconds to 18 next season.” The 15-second pitch clock without runners on base would remain the same.

The proposal is in response to a gradual seven-minute increase in the average time of game last season as players adjusted to the new pitch clock rules.

Passan also reported that the committee is considering a proposal to reduce mound visits from five per game to four.

The competition committee is an 11-person panel comprised of six members representing teams, four players and one umpire.

Passan noted that players have “voiced concerns regarding the reduction of the clock,” citing a slew of pitching injuries throughout the 2023 season. However, MLB has pushed back on that concern

The average time of game in April of last season was 2:37 but increased to 2:44 in September.

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Ozzie Guillén appeared on 670 The Score’s “Mully and Haugh Show” Monday to dish about last week’s bombshell that the Cubs had fired David Ross in favor of the former Milwaukee Brewers manager.

Mike Mulligan asked Guillén, who is an analyst for NBC Sports Chicago, point-blank if Counsell is an upgrade over Ross.

“Nope,” Guillen said. “If you don’t have a ring on your finger, you’re nobody. You can be Manager of the Year [this year], and next year, you can be fired.

“At the end of the day, if you don’t have a ring on your hand, I don’t care how good a manager you are.”

Guillén was “shocked” when he heard the Cubs had cut ties with Ross, especially given how popular Ross was with his players.

“In my view, I think [Ross] did a tremendous job with the Cubs,” Guillén said. “I think they did more than expected. I think he was great with the people, great with the players. I was really shocked.

“Is [Counsell] going to do a good job? I expect that, because now the Cubs are in the position [where they better win now].”

He gave credit to Counsell for what he was able to do in a “low-impact” market like Milwaukee, where winning isn’t the expectation every year.

“Now he’s going to be in the biggest market, biggest media with the biggest critics in baseball,” Guillén said.

It’ll also take time for players to adjust to a new coaching philosophy, according to Guillén.

“It’ll take a little while for [Counsel] to get adapted to a new ball club, and the ball club adapted to him.” he said. “With [Ross], it seemed like everybody loved him, everybody was on the same page. They fought through it all the way ’til the end for the Wild Card.”

“It really, really shocked me. But like I’ve said, baseball is not a game anymore, it’s a business. It’s about winning, make some money. But I was really, really, really shocked.

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“Yeah, I didn’t pick up (Cubs president Jed Hoyer)’s call,” Counsell said in his introductory press conference on Monday. “I wasn’t– that’s what first happened I guess.”

Of course, Counsell eventually called Hoyer back. That’s when Counsell first learned the Cubs were interested in hiring him and the two spoke generally about the job. At that point, Counsell wasn’t all-in on the opportunity. 

“I was interested, but cautious I guess is probably the best way to say it, but I was interested,” Counsell said. “So I suggested we get together that day because I was going to New York the next day and the time of my process was getting pretty fast. So then we got together later that day.”

Less than a week later, the Cubs fired David Ross and hired Counsell. 

Counsell shared part of why he ultimately decided to join the Cubs, including his belief in the team’s core and Hoyer’s vision for the team. Of course, the record-breaking five-year, $40 million contract probably made Counsell’s decision a little easier.

Counsell has nine years of experience as a manager, all with the Brewers. He has a 707-625 record leading the team. The Brewers won the NL Central three times over his tenure and made the playoffs five times. The furthest the Brewers ever made it in the postseason under Counsell was the NLCS in 2018.

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Counsell was available since his previous contract with the Brewers had expired and the Cubs pounced at the opportunity to add someone who is widely regarded as one of the best leaders in the game. That’s just the nature of the business sometimes, and apparently there’s no bad blood between Counsell and Ross.

“David is a very good man,” Counsell said in his introductory press conference on Monday.

Counsell said that Ross texted him before the news of the manager change broke. Counsell called Ross back immediately.

“We had what I think was a very good conversation,” Counsell said. “I’ve always had great respect for David. That gave me the ultimate respect for David, the way he handled the conversation.

“Part of this business is really difficult and it’s really cutthroat. As a player, I’ve lived it, David’s lived it. Every player lives it every day. I respect the heck out of David Ross.”

The Cubs signed Counsell to a five-year, $40 million contract. Both the average annual values and total cash in the deal are MLB records.

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“From a baseball standpoint, I think I saw quickly that the organization is just in great health, and Jed presented a very compelling vision of that,” Counsell said. “It is the right time to be a Cub. There is momentum happening here, and it feels close. And that means there’s a really exciting future ahead of us. Now it’s my job to be part of taking us to the next level, and that’s the plan.”

Before joining the Cubs, Counsell managed the Brewers for nine years, so he had a front row seat to the numerous changes the Cubs have undergone– from underdogs, to World Series Champs, to rebuilds and back to surprise contenders. Counsell praised the new core the Cubs have built and pointed to the 83 wins in 2023 as proof that the team is close to taking the next step again.

“What you have to be careful about is that what happened last year does not indicate this year. I think teams are different. I’ve used this analogy for a long time: there’s a soup made and it can be the same players, but it’s gonna taste a little different next year when grandma makes it, you know what I mean? So it’s always a little different. You have to create a new dynamic every single year, no matter what’s going on. So there’ll be players that have had wonderful years last year that not so much and then vice versa. But there’s a solid core and a solid foundation. That speaks to the health I think of the organization. And that speaks to a bright future.”

Of course a sizable pay bump likely played a sizable role in Counsell’s decision to head south. Multiple reports say Counsell signed a whopping five-year, $40 million contract. The $8 million average annual value is by far the most money in MLB, and reportedly more than double what he was making with the Brewers.

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According to the release, Counsell will be introduced at 10 a.m. Monday. The conference will stream in the video player above once it begins.

Counsell, a long-time MLB veteran player, took over the Brewers in 2015 and guided them to five playoff appearances in nine seasons at the helm. The Brewers reportedly offered Counsell a deal worth $5.5 million a season to stay in Milwaukee, but instead he signed a five-year pact with the Cubs that will reportedly pay him $8 million a season, a record for a Major League manager.

Who is Craig Counsell?

Playing as an infielder, Counsell had a 16-year playing career, including spending a long chunk of time with the Brewers. He collected World Series rings with the Marlins in 1997 and the Diamondbacks in 2001, slashing .255/.342/.344 in his MLB career. He hit 42 career home runs, drove in 390 RBI’s and registered 103 stolen bases in 5,488 career plate appearances.

After his playing career ended in 2011, Counsell worked in the Brewers’ front office for two seasons, then was a color commentator for Brewers’ broadcasts for one season.

He was hired as the team’s manager in May 2015. The Brewers won three division titles with Counsell at the helm and had reached the postseason in five of the last six seasons, including an NLCS appearance in 2018.

That season, the Brewers finished in a tie with the Cubs atop the National League Central, winning a one-game playoff at Wrigley Field. The Brewers then were dispatched from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This year, the Brewers won the Central Division crown again, but were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in two games in October.  

In nine seasons at the helm, Counsell went 707-625 as manager of the Brewers, racking up the most wins in team history.

Throughout the season, rumors swirled around Counsell’s future with the club, as he managed the final year of his contract. Speculation only ramped up after David Stearns left the Brewers to join the front office of the New York Mets, with Counsell linked to that job after the club fired Buck Showalter.

Now, Counsell will look to get the Cubs back to the postseason for the first time since 2020. The Cubs fell just short this year, finishing behind the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild card race.

The Cubs haven’t won a playoff game since 2017, when they lost in five games to the Dodgers in the NLCS. The Cubs lost the NL Wild Card game in 2018 and were swept in the 2020 playoffs by the Marlins in a best-of-three series at Wrigley Field.

Milwaukee grapples with the reality of Craig Counsell managing the Cubs

The first sign of discontent regarding Craig Counsell’s decision to leave the Milwaukee Brewers to manage the Chicago Cubs appeared in his hometown at the Little League field that bears his name.

The word “ass” was spray-painted across Counsell’s name on the sign outside the ballpark at Whitefish Bay, the Milwaukee suburb where Counsell grew up and still lives. The sign was covered up Tuesday morning, one day after the Cubs landed Counsell with a five-year deal worth over $40 million.

The Brewers now must try to keep winning in Major League Baseball’s smallest market without the manager who led them to their greatest run of sustained success.

“We have a really good thing,” Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said Monday. “I give Craig credit for helping to build that, and for adding all these coaches, all of whom have stayed. So we’re going to look for a manager who can continue having a terrific clubhouse culture and that can help us keep winning and hopefully get over the hump in the playoffs.”

Counsell told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week the opportunity for a new professional challenge and the proximity of Chicago made this opportunity appealing.

“I think as I was going through this process, it became clear that I needed and wanted a new professional challenge,” Counsell said. “At the same time, look, I’m grateful to be part of this community. And that’s going to continue, hopefully, because it has nothing to do with baseball, that part of it. I’m looking forward to being part of a new community and hopefully impact our community well, too. But as I went through it, it just became clear that I needed a new challenge.”

But the fact he went just 90 miles south to the Brewers’ biggest rival made his exit doubly painful for fans.

“You know in the first ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ movie where they’re digging to find the ark of the covenant and they open this big tomb thing and they look down and Indiana Jones says, ‘Snakes? Why did it have to be snakes?’ “ said Kay Kenealy of Waukesha, Wisconsin, a Brewers partial season ticket holder since 2006. “My initial reaction was, ‘Oh my God, the Cubs? Why did it have to be the Cubs.’ “

Laura Hemming, a partial season ticket holder since the mid-1990s, said the news “felt like kind of a gut punch.”

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On Thursday, Bellinger received an additional honor for his excellent season.

Recently introduced in 2022, Bellinger was awarded the Utility Silver Slugger, given to a player who spent significant time at more than one position throughout the season.

Bellinger was a prominent contributor for the Cubs at both center field and first base in 2023 in a season that saw the 28-year-old return to his previous MVP form.

In 130 games, Bellinger hit 26 home runs, 29 doubles and stole 20 bases while leading the Cubs’ high-octane offense with 97 RBI.

Bellinger slashed an excellent .307/.356/.525, compiling an .881 OPS and 133 OPS+ in the best marks of his career since his 2019 MVP season.

The return to form for Bellinger is seemingly more pronounced considering the lows the utility man has weathered.

Battling through injuries in 2021 and 2022, Bellinger hit his career lows in the former season, slashing just .165/.240/.302. Bellinger managed a higher batting average in 2023 than his 2021 slugging percentage.

Bellinger’s precise contact hitting gave him a career high in batting average while also finishing sixth in MLB in the category.

Having an NL Rookie of the Year, NL MVP, Gold Glove and World Series ring under his belt heading into 2023, Bellinger wins his second career Silver Slugger with Thursday’s recognition.

Bellinger’s first Silver Slugger award came in 2019, when he won the award as an outfielder.

Bellinger was also named as an outfielder finalist for his 2023 performance, while teammates Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson were named as finalists for outfield and shortstop, respectively.

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In an exclusive interview with Jim Henry of the Tallahassee Democrat in Florida, Ross said that while he “gets mad from time to time,” he is more focused on the opportunity he was given to manage the Cubs.

I think the thing that comes over me is that I am extremely thankful for the opportunity, to be honest. There was a lot of people who worked really hard alongside me…I am really thankful for the four years I got, coming from zero coaching experience to getting the chance to manage such a great organization that has impacted my life in a great way,” he said.

In four seasons as manager of the Cubs, Ross posted a record of 262-284 and led the team to a Central Division crown in 2020. He helped the Cubs get above .500 for the first time in three seasons in 2023, with an 83-79 record in his final season at the helm.

While the team had indicated they were satisfied with his performance, that changed when Craig Counsell became available. With his contract expiring with the Milwaukee Brewers, Counsell became a sought-after free agent on the managerial market, and the Cubs inked him to a five-year pact that made him the highest-paid manager in MLB history.

Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer, who met with Counsell in secretive talks after the beginning of the month, said the decision to part ways with Ross was a difficult one.

“On behalf of the Cubs organization, we express our deep gratitude for David’s contributions to our club, both on and off the field,” he said in a statement. “First as a player and then as a manager, David continually showcased his ability to lead. David’s legacy will be felt in Chicago for generations, and his impact on our organization will stack up with the legends that came before him.”

As for what comes next, Ross didn’t elaborate on concrete plans, but provided his mindset in the interview, which you can read on the Democrat’s website.  

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The word “ass” was spray-painted across Counsell’s name on the sign outside the ballpark at Whitefish Bay, the Milwaukee suburb where Counsell grew up and still lives. The sign was covered up Tuesday morning, one day after the Cubs landed Counsell with a five-year deal worth over $40 million.

The Brewers now must try to keep winning in Major League Baseball’s smallest market without the manager who led them to their greatest run of sustained success.

“We have a really good thing,” Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said Monday. “I give Craig credit for helping to build that, and for adding all these coaches, all of whom have stayed. So we’re going to look for a manager who can continue having a terrific clubhouse culture and that can help us keep winning and hopefully get over the hump in the playoffs.”

Counsell had been synonymous with Milwaukee baseball as the NL’s longest-tenured manager.

His father, John Counsell, was the Brewers’ former director of community affairs. Counsell had two stints with the Brewers in a 16-year playing career and became their winningest manager. He took over the Brewers in 2014 and led them to five playoff appearances over the last six seasons.

Counsell told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday the opportunity for a new professional challenge and the proximity of Chicago made this opportunity appealing.

“I think as I was going through this process, it became clear that I needed and wanted a new professional challenge,” Counsell said. “At the same time, look, I’m grateful to be part of this community. And that’s going to continue, hopefully, because it has nothing to do with baseball, that part of it. I’m looking forward to being part of a new community and hopefully impact our community well, too. But as I went through it, it just became clear that I needed a new challenge.”

The fact he went just 90 miles south to the Brewers’ biggest rival made his exit doubly painful for fans.

“You know in the first ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ movie where they’re digging to find the ark of the covenant and they open this big tomb thing and they look down and Indiana Jones says, ‘Snakes? Why did it have to be snakes?’ “ said Kay Kenealy of Waukesha, Wisconsin, a Brewers partial season ticket holder since 2006. “My initial reaction was, ‘Oh my God, the Cubs? Why did it have to be the Cubs.’ “

Laura Hemming, a partial season ticket holder since the mid-1990s, said the news “felt like kind of a gut punch.”

Counsell’s exit represents the latest setback for Wisconsin sports fans the same year that the Green Bay Packers traded four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, though this move to a division foe was more similar to Packers Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre finishing his career with the Minnesota Vikings.

At least in that instance, Favre spent a season with the New York Jets before heading to Minnesota rather than going directly from the Packers to a division rival. Gabe Neitzel, a sports talk show host for 94.5 ESPN FM in Milwaukee, said the Favre comparisons have been coming up on his station.

“Especially with what Brett meant to the Packers, I think the overwhelming majority of people would still lean toward Brett eventually ending up with the Vikings as the biggest betrayal in Wisconsin sports,” Neitzel said.

Attanasio said the Brewers offered Counsell a deal that would have made him the highest-paid manager in baseball “both per season and the total package.” Attanasio didn’t specify terms, but Cleveland’s Terry Francona was believed to be the highest-paid manager in MLB this past season with a salary of $4.5 million.

The Cubs went way beyond that figure by firing David Ross and luring Counsell. Attanasio was asked Monday if he felt betrayed.

“Definitely not betrayed,” Attanasio replied. “I’m so high on what we have that I can’t imagine somebody wanting to be somewhere else.”

Kenealy said the Cubs’ offer was lucrative enough for her to understand Counsell’s decision.

“If I’m him and they’re offering me $40 million and it’s relatively close to home, it’s like, as much as I’d hate to think of it, if it was me, I would probably take the chance,” Kenealy said. “But it’s the Cubs.”

Hemming said she has a “degree of disbelief that settled into some anger, except I don’t know who to be mad at.” She also noted the inconvenient timing of the Brewers losing Counsell when they’re seeking hundreds of millions in public funding for repairs to American Family Field.

“I know there are people who can look past this specific personnel transaction and see the bigger picture,” said Hemming, who lives in Madison. “But right now, I feel like it’s just a terrible look for them.”

Neitzel and Hunter Baumgardt, a sports talk producer and host at 97.3 The Game in Milwaukee, said callers were pretty evenly split between blaming Attanasio and Counsell for the breakup.

Baumgardt said slightly more callers were blaming Counsell because he’d chosen a division rival. Neitzel said he believed Attanasio would have received most of the criticism if Counsell had ended up managing any opponent other than the Cubs.

“Craig Counsell’s a very relatable person because he grew up here and he knew what baseball was all about,” Baumgardt said. “There’s promotional videos and the things he said after clinching and things like that, how important Milwaukee and baseball in this city was to him. For him to go arguably to their biggest rival, I know Mark Attanasio said he didn’t feel betrayed, but I think a lot of fans feel betrayed.”

Tickets for Cubs’ Spring Training games in Arizona go on sale next month, with tickets available beginning at 11 a.m. local time on Dec. 8.

The Cubs play their Spring Training home games at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., which opened in 2014.

In 2024, the Cubs will play 18 home games at Sloan Park and 16 away games within the Cactus League, beginning with the home opener against the Chicago White Sox on Feb. 23, beginning at 1:05 p.m. Mountain Time.

Tickets can be purchased online here once they are available, with a limit of six tickets purchased per game. In-person purchases will not be accepted.

Fans with season tickets will have the opportunity to purchase Spring Training tickets on Dec. 7 via an exclusive presale opportunity.

The Cubs’ full Spring Training schedule can be found here.

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MLB insider Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday that the Chicago Cubs are “serious contenders” for free agent superstar Shohei Ohtani after speaking with several executives at the MLB General Managers Meetings, which are being held in Scottsdale, Arizona this week

“The Dodgers remain the heavy favorites,” Nightengale said. “The Chicago Cubs and Rangers are serious contenders, with several GMs saying that the Cubs may be the most aggressive team for his services.”

This report comes just days after the Cubs stunned the baseball world by hiring former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell to a five-year contract.

The fight for Ohtani will be one for the history books, with the two-way phenom — and 2023 AL MVP candidate — expected to earn the largest contract in MLB history this offseason.

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Though expected by many to re-up with the Brewers and stay in his hometown, the move down I-94 to a division rival left a wide range of emotions among fans of both teams and Counsell himself.

“Yesterday was an emotional day. I was sad first, then happy, then I was crying, then I was laughing, I went through all of it,” Counsell said to reporters Tuesday.

The new Cubs skipper also let fans know the impact of the sudden move was not lost on him.

“There was a lot yesterday and I understand. It was a decision that affected a lot of people, and I take that very seriously,” Counsell said.

Counsell, who grew up in the Milwaukee era, spent six seasons of his playing career with the Brewers and became the club’s manager in May 2015 following a 7-18 start to the club’s season that year.

Managing the Brewers from May 2015 through the 2023 season, Counsell developed a reputation for getting the most out of relatively low-payroll rosters.

Under Counsell, the Brewers have made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons, including two 95+ win campaigns in 2018 and 2021, respectively.

Over the course of nine seasons, Counsell’s Brewers were 707-625, with a 7-12 record in the postseason.

With a five-year deal worth over $40 million, Counsell will become the highest-paid manager in baseball history with the Cubs, in a deal that is widely expected to reset the market for manager salaries.

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Hoyer made the decision to fire David Ross on Monday, and followed that up by hiring former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, signing him to a record-breaking contract.

In speaking to reporters at the GM Meetings, Hoyer said he was torn about the decision to change managers, but emphasized that he felt the move was the right one for the Cubs in both the short and long term.

“It just felt like an exceptionally hard decision, but one that I felt like I had to make if the opportunity was there,” he told media, including Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. “From my perspective, my job is to figure out how to win as many games as we possibly can in the short term, and in the long term. And there was nothing about this move that didn’t feel like met that criteria.”

Hoyer also said he felt that Counsell is “at the very top of the game” in terms of managers, and that he is the right man to leave the organization forward.

Ross led the Cubs to an 83-79 record during the 2023 season, but the club fell short of the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

While Cubs brass had indicated they were happy with Ross’ performance, especially in his relationships with players in the clubhouse, the team acted quickly to sign Counsell after his contract with the Brewers expired.

That new contract will pay Counsell $8 million per season, making him the highest-paid manager in MLB history.

Counsell has led the Brewers to the playoffs in five of the last nine seasons, with Milwaukee winning a division crown in 2023.

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Hours was announced that the Chicago Cubs were firing David Ross and hiring Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, reactions poured in.

“We’ve lost Craig, but I’ve reflected on this. Craig has lost us and lost our community,” Brewers’ majority owner Mark Attanasio said. “I can’t imagine somebody wanting to be somewhere else.”

Speaking of the community — some of them have weighed in, too.

TMJ4 in Milwaukee reported a “Craig Counsell Park” Little League sign in Whitefish Bay just outside of Milwaukee was defaced with profanity overnight.

According to the report, a “three-letter profanity was added to the sign with spray paint.”

Monday, the Cubs announced they had fired manager David Ross after four seasons.

“Today we made the difficult decision to dismiss David Ross as our Major League manager,” said Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer in a statement. “On behalf of the Cubs organization, we express our deep gratitude for David’s contributions to our club, both on and off the field.”

According to the Cubs, Counsell will be introduced to media at Wrigley Field next week.

Counsell, a long-time MLB veteran player and widely considered one of the top managers in baseball, took over the Brewers in 2015 and guided them to five playoff appearances in nine seasons at the helm. His contract expired in early November, with the Cubs jumping in and reportedly signing him to the richest deal in MLB history.

The Brewers reportedly offered Counsell a deal worth $5.5 million a season to stay in Milwaukee, but instead he signed a five-year pact with the Cubs that will reportedly pay him $8 million a season, a record for a Major League manager.

Who is Craig Counsell?

Playing as an infielder, Counsell had a 16-year playing career, including spending a long chunk of time with the Brewers. He collected World Series rings with the Marlins in 1997 and the Diamondbacks in 2001, slashing .255/.342/.344 in his MLB career. He hit 42 career home runs, drove in 390 RBI’s and registered 103 stolen bases in 5,488 career plate appearances.

After his playing career ended in 2011, Counsell worked in the Brewers’ front office for two seasons, then was a color commentator for Brewers’ broadcasts for one season.

He was hired as the team’s manager in May 2015. The Brewers won three division titles with Counsell at the helm and had reached the postseason in five of the last six seasons, including an NLCS appearance in 2018.

That season, the Brewers finished in a tie with the Cubs atop the National League Central, winning a one-game playoff at Wrigley Field. The Brewers then were dispatched from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This year, the Brewers won the Central Division crown again, but were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in two games in October.  

In nine seasons at the helm, Counsell went 707-625 as manager of the Brewers, racking up the most wins in team history.

Throughout the season, rumors swirled around Counsell’s future with the club, as he managed the final year of his contract. Speculation only ramped up after David Stearns left the Brewers to join the front office of the New York Mets, with Counsell linked to that job after the club fired Buck Showalter.

The Brewers reportedly offered Counsell a deal worth $5.5 million a season to stay in Milwaukee, but instead he signed a five-year pact with the Cubs that will reportedly pay him $8 million a season, a record for a Major League manager.

Now, Counsell will look to get the Cubs back to the postseason for the first time since 2020. The Cubs fell just short this year, finishing behind the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild card race.

The Cubs haven’t won a playoff game since 2017, when they lost in five games to the Dodgers in the NLCS. The Cubs lost the NL Wild Card game in 2018 and were swept in the 2020 playoffs by the Marlins in a best-of-three series at Wrigley Field.

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Kidding aside, Counsell was picked as a finalist based on his work with the NL Central-champion Milwaukee Brewers, who reached the postseason for the fifth time in nine seasons under his counsel.

Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker and Atlanta Braves skipper Brian Snitker were the other two finalists for the prize.

If Counsell wins, he would be one of a select group of managers to win the award after leaving the team he was nominated for leading. Joe Girardi won the 2006 prize as NL Manager of the Year after he was fired by the Marlins.

The Cubs hired Counsell on Monday in a stunning move, firing David Ross from his post in the process.

Counsell signed a five-year deal with the Cubs worth a reported $40 million, the richest deal for a manager in MLB history.

The prize for Manager of the Year will be handed out on Tuesday, Nov. 14, MLB says.  

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Counsell, a long-time MLB veteran player, took over the Brewers in 2015 and guided them to five playoff appearances in nine seasons at the helm.

Now, he’ll look to guide the Cubs back to the postseason, as the North Siders haven’t made the playoffs in a full 162-game season since the 2018 campaign.

So what should Cubs fans know about Counsell?

Playing as an infielder, Counsell had a 16-year playing career, including spending a long chunk of time with the Brewers. He collected World Series rings with the Marlins in 1997 and the Diamondbacks in 2001, slashing .255/.342/.344 in his MLB career. He hit 42 career home runs, drove in 390 RBI’s and registered 103 stolen bases in 5,488 career plate appearances.

After his playing career ended in 2011, Counsell worked in the Brewers’ front office for two seasons, then was a color commentator for Brewers’ broadcasts for one season.

He was hired as the team’s manager in May 2015. The Brewers won three division titles with Counsell at the helm and had reached the postseason in five of the last six seasons, including an NLCS appearance in 2018.

That season, the Brewers finished in a tie with the Cubs atop the National League Central, winning a one-game playoff at Wrigley Field. The Brewers then were dispatched from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This year, the Brewers won the Central Division crown again, but were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in two games in October.  

In nine seasons at the helm, Counsell went 707-625 as manager of the Brewers, racking up the most wins in team history.

Throughout the season, rumors swirled around Counsell’s future with the club, as he managed the final year of his contract. Speculation only ramped up after David Stearns left the Brewers to join the front office of the New York Mets, with Counsell linked to that job after the club fired Buck Showalter.

The Brewers reportedly offered Counsell a deal worth $5.5 million a season to stay in Milwaukee, but instead he signed a five-year pact with the Cubs that will reportedly pay him $8 million a season, a record for a Major League manager.

Now, Counsell will look to get the Cubs back to the postseason for the first time since 2020. The Cubs fell just short this year, finishing behind the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild card race.

The Cubs haven’t won a playoff game since 2017, when they lost in five games to the Dodgers in the NLCS. The Cubs lost the NL Wild Card game in 2018 and were swept in the 2020 playoffs by the Marlins in a best-of-three series at Wrigley Field.

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Ross, who was hired by the Cubs prior to the 2020 season, had led the club to an 83-79 record during the 2023 campaign, but the team made the decision to cut him loose when Counsell became a free agent in early November.

Here is the full statement from Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer:

“Today we made the difficult decision to dismiss David Ross as our Major League manager. On behalf of the Cubs organization, we express our deep gratitude for David’s contributions to our club, both on and off the field. First as a player and then as a manager, David continually showcased his ability to lead. David’s legacy will be felt in Chicago for generations and his impact to our organization will stack up with the legends that came before him.”

In four seasons with the Cubs, Ross led the team to a record of 262-284, with a 2020 National League Central crown to his credit. The team fell just short of the playoffs in the 2023 season, winning 83 games.

Previously, Ross spent the final two years of his playing career on the North Side, helping the Cubs to two playoff appearances and a World Series title in 2016.

He reportedly had one year remaining on his contract when he was fired this week.

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The reports first came out Monday afternoon, and the Cubs confirmed they had parted ways with Ross in a press release later in the day.

“Today we made the difficult decision to dismiss David Ross as our Major League manager,” said Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer in a statement. “On behalf of the Cubs organization, we express our deep gratitude for David’s contributions to our club, both on and off the field.”

According to the Cubs, Counsell will be introduced to media at Wrigley Field next week.

Counsell had served as the Brewers’ manager for parts of nine seasons, leading them to five playoff appearances and an appearance in the National League Championship Series in 2018.

Widely considered one of the top managers in baseball, Counsell’s contract expired in early November, with the Cubs jumping in and reportedly signing him to the richest deal in MLB history.

Ross, who concluded his playing career with a World Series championship with the Cubs in 2016, became their manager after the team opted now to re-sign Joe Maddon following the 2019 campaign.

In four seasons, Ross posted a record of 262-284, and led the Cubs to a National League Central crown in 2020. He also led the team to an 83-79 record in the 2023 campaign.

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According to multiple reports, including from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Counsell’s contract with the Cubs checks in at five years and $40 million in all, giving him an annual salary of $8 million.

That would make Counsell not just the highest-paid manager in the league, but also the highest-paid manager in baseball history, besting the $7.5 million annual salary commanded by famed New York Yankees manager Joe Torre during the heyday of the team’s dynasty in the early 2000’s.

In addition to setting an all-time record, the reported deal also rewrites the expectations for free agent managers in today’s MLB. According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, Terry Francona had been the highest-paid manager in baseball before his retirement, earning $4.5 million with the Cleveland Guardians.

San Diego’s Bob Melvin made $4 million during the 2023 season, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. He also reported that six managers in MLB made less than $1 million in the 2023 season, with a staggering 15 managers earning $1.75 million or less.

Counsell made $3.5 million with the Brewers during his final season in Milwaukee, according to reports, while Houston’s Dusty Baker collected $3 million a year after winning the World Series. Dave Roberts, who won the 2020 title with the Los Angeles Dodgers, earned $3.25 million in the 2023 season, per Nightengale’s report.

Multiple reports say Counsell was offered a deal by the Brewers that would have made him the highest-paid manager in baseball, but that the annual salary was far below what the Cubs ultimately offered him.

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Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was the first to report the news.

There had been no indication that the team was planning on firing Ross before the reports that the team had hired Counsell surfaced, with President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer and Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts both expressing confidence in Ross’ performance during the 2023 season.

The Cubs made the move official on Monday afternoon.

“Today we made the difficult decision to dismiss David Ross as our Major League manager,” said Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer. “On behalf of the Cubs organization, we express our deep gratitude for David’s contributions to our club, both on and off the field.

According to multiple reports, the contract Counsell signed with the Cubs will pay him $8 million a season for the next five years, making it the richest contract for a manager in MLB history.

Counsell has nine years of experience as a manager, all with the Brewers. He has a 707-625 record leading the team. The Brewers won the NL Central three times over his tenure and made the playoffs five times. The furthest the Brewers ever made it in the postseason under Counsell was the NLCS in 2018.

After former Brewers GM David Stearns left the organization to join the New York Mets, speculation ramped up about Counsell’s future, as his contract expired on Nov. 1.

According to multiple reports, the Cubs could have asked permission to negotiate with Counsell prior to the expiration of his contract, but they declined to do so, instead waiting until the beginning of November to open negotiations.

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With Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ all winning Gold Glove awards at shortstop, second base and left field respectively, the Cubs have three Gold Glove award winners in the same season for the first time.

The hardware on Sunday also marks the first time since 2020 that the Cubs have had multiple Gold Glove award winners in the same season, with Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez winning at first base and shortstop respectively in the pandemic-shortened season.

The honors also mark the second consecutive Gold Glove awards for both Swanson and Happ, with Hoerner winning his first career Gold Glove.

Hoerner excelled in his first season at the position, accumulating 1.9 defensive WAR for the second straight season while leading all of baseball in assists and posting 15 outs above average.

The win for Hoerner makes him the fifth Cubs’ second baseman to win the Gold Glove, and the first since Darwin Barney in 2012.

As for Swanson, the win marks the second of his career as well as his second in a row, taking home more hardware for what was arguably the finest defensive performance in all of baseball.

Swanson’s 20 outs above average ranked first in MLB regardless of position, while his 2.7 defensive WAR ranked second among all players in the NL.

In addition to the NL Gold Glove award for shortstop, Swanson also won the Fielding Bible award for the position, which is only given to one MLB player per position.

With Swanson and Happ both winning Gold Gloves, they become the first middle infield duo to each win the award since Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik with the San Francisco Giants in 2016.

Swanson becomes the fourth Cubs shortstop to win a Gold Glove, joining the company of Ernie Banks, Don Kessinger and Javier Baez.

As for Happ, the win marks the second of his career, adding more hardware to his name since becoming an everyday left fielder at the start of 2022.

Though Happ’s 2023 performance didn’t stick out with advanced metrics in the same way his Gold Glove-winning 2022 season did, Happ still showed defensive prowess at a position where it is often neglected.

Happ posted 12 outfield assists with an average arm speed of 85.4 miles per hour in 2023, both representing career-high marks for the former utility man-turned-left fielder.

In addition to leading all left fielders in outfield assists in 2023, his 23 outfield assists since the start of 2021 rank second among all players at the position.

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Nearly a year later as 2023 award winners are announced, the Cubs’ defensive abilities this past season were honored on the biggest stage.

While the North Siders came up a game short of the playoffs, it was to no fault of their superb defense up the middle thanks to second baseman Nico Hoerner and shortstop Dansby Swanson, who both won the NL Gold Glove award for their respective positions.

In addition to the awards for Hoerner and Swanson, Ian Happ took home his second consecutive NL Gold Glove award for left field.

The win marks the first of his career for Hoerner, originally a shortstop who moved to the right side of the infield after the Cubs signed Swanson to a long-term deal.

Hoerner excelled in his first season at the position, accumulating 1.9 defensive WAR for the second straight season while leading all of baseball in assists and posting 15 outs above average.

As for Swanson, the win marks the second of his career as well as his second in a row, taking home more hardware for what was arguably the finest defensive performance in all of baseball.

Swanson’s 20 outs above average ranked first in MLB regardless of position, while his 2.7 defensive WAR ranked second among all players in the NL.

In addition to the NL Gold Glove award for shortstop, Swanson also won the Fielding Bible award for the position, which is only given to one MLB player per position.

As for Happ, the win marks the second of his career, adding more hardware to his name since becoming an everyday left fielder at the start of 2022.

Though Happ’s 2023 performance didn’t stick out with advanced metrics in the same way his Gold Glove-winning 2022 season did, Happ still showed defensive prowess at a position where it is often neglected.

Happ posted 12 outfield assists with an average arm speed of 85.4 miles per hour in 2023, both representing career-high marks for the former utility man-turned-left fielder.

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While Cubs fans can expect Kyle Hendricks back next season and Marcus Stroman likely in a different uniform, another pivotal piece from the 2023 team will be returning next season.

According to a report from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the Cubs have exercised their 2024 option on catcher Yan Gomes, bringing the veteran backstop back to the North Side for his third year with the team.

Gomes, 36, will be entering his 13th big league season next year, coming off a resurgent 2023 with the Cubs.

After an underwhelming 2022 campaign in which Gomes slashed .235/.260/.365 with 20 extra-base hits and a 72 OPS+, Gomes emerged as one of the Cubs’ most valuable bats in the back half of the lineup in 2023.

In 116 games in 2023, Gomes totaled 32 extra-base hits, a 93 OPS+ while posting an invaluable .769 OPS with two outs and runners in scoring position.

While the Cubs initially envisioned Gomes in an even platoon role with Tucker Barnhart in 2023, Barnhart’s struggles at the plate led Gomes to take on the role of an everyday catcher later in the season, balancing time with Miguel Amaya.

A similar approach is likely in 2024, with both Gomes and Amaya returning to the Cubs, though it’s reasonable to expect that Amaya’s role with the club will increase considering Gomes’ age.

Gomes’ offense is also likely to be situationally utilized more in 2024, as the veteran had rather pronounced righty vs. lefty splits last season.

Against left-handers in 2023, Gomes amassed an .824 OPS against just a .673 OPS against right-handers, despite having a nearly identical on-base percentage against both sides of the mound.

This can also give Gomes time to slot in as a designated hitter in particular matchups, especially considering the growing rapport between Amaya and Kyle Hendricks.

Gomes, who signed a two-year deal worth $13 million before the 2022 season, will make $6 million in 2024 with his option exercised.

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Prior to the 2022 season, Stroman signed a two-year, $50 million deal with the Cubs that included a $21 million option for a third year.

While the storylines early on in the season primarily revolved around Stroman’s interest in staying with the Cubs amid his stellar first half performance, a second half downturn and injury immediately cast doubt on what Stroman would do this offseason.

Stroman was 9-4 with a 2.28 ERA through 16 starts prior to the Cubs’ visit to London, when his season began to take a turn for the worst.

Initially dealing with a blister and later rib cartilage fracture, Stroman struggled to return to form and spent much of the final two months on the injured list.

Stroman returned in September for two starts and two relief appearances, finishing the year with a 10-9 record and a 3.95 ERA.

Though it was easy to picture Stroman picking up his option and factoring into a rotation that will at least surely include Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon, Stroman’s decision offers the Cubs a bit more flexibility with how they will approach fortifying the rotation this offseason.

The Cubs are seemingly likely to exercise a $16 million option to bring back Kyle Hendricks, while also being left to find roles, or perhaps trade partners, for Jordan Wicks, Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski.

It’s also possible that the Cubs pursue Stroman in free agency, though the righty’s decision to opt out more likely opens up the possibility that the Cubs pursue a different starting pitcher in free agency, with Aaron Nola, Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell and Sonny Gray among the notable names available.

After encouraging results from both Assad and Wicks in a starter’s role in 2023, the two young arms emerge as both competent back-of-the-rotation starters as well as potential trade chips in a pursuit for the Mets’ Pete Alonso or the Padres’ Juan Soto, both of whom are entering their final year of team control.

Though Stroman’s decision to opt out is unquestionably surprising, it does give the Cubs’ front office a few more options to address the pitching staff in a look ahead to 2024.

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In addition to Bellinger declining his mutual option, Montemurro also reported that the Cubs declined their end of a 2024 mutual option for veteran right-handed reliever Brad Boxberger.

Boxberger appeared in just 22 games in 2023, struggling to a 4.95 ERA with 11 walks and 17 strikeouts over 20 innings.

As for Bellinger, the news likely leaves Cubs fans feeling uneasy, despite the decision being widely expected throughout the season as the former MVP bounced back after two rough seasons that concluded his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bellinger, 28, is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, posting a .307/.356/.525 slash line with 26 home runs, 20 stolen bases and 97 RBI across 130 games while providing excellent defense at both center field and first base throughout the season.

The resounding resurgence of Bellinger won him the NL Comeback Player of the Year award and two Silver Slugger nominations, with the left-handed slugger also likely to receive down-ballot MVP votes as well.

The Cubs are expected to be among several teams that pursue a long-term contract with Bellinger, whose strong 2023 campaign hopes to erase memories of a rough two-season stretch from 2021-22, including a disastrous injury-riddled 2021 season.

Playing in just 95 games, Bellinger managed just a 44 OPS+ and a .165/.240/.302 slash line, managing just 21 extra-base hits while finishing the season 1.7 wins below replacement level.

Bellinger rebounded to an extent in 2022, but was still a below league average hitter with an 81 OPS+, scuffling to just a .265 on-base percentage.

While Bellinger’s 2023 batted ball metrics that show a lot of success on soft contact that could be perceived as lucky may give teams pause on offering a pricey long-term deal, the Cubs are expected to be strong contenders to sign the former league MVP to a multi-year, nine-figure deal.

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In his first season with the Cubs, Bellinger came back from three subpar seasons with a stellar effort in 2023, socking 26 home runs and driving in 97 RBI’s as he helped the North Siders remain in the playoff hunt throughout the second half of the campaign.

All of those numbers were his highest since he won the National League MVP award with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019.

“This whole last offseason, I wanted to prepare myself as best I could, and go out and play the game of baseball that I knew I could,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to go out and show it, both for myself and for my family. I learned a lot this year.”

The video published by the Players’ Association featured some former teammates of Bellinger and also featured Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani, New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, and American League Comeback Player of the Year Liam Hendriks, who captured the award after battling cancer and missing the first two months of the 2023 season.

Bellinger is expected to opt out of his contract with the Cubs and become a free agent in coming days, with numerous teams, including Chicago, vying for his services on the market.

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Bruce Bochy came out of retirement to take over the Rangers beginning in the 2023 season, and how he’s captured his fourth World Series ring and has now appeared in the Fall Classic with three different teams.

Even with that history in mind, the 2016 Chicago Cubs still occupy an intriguing spot in that journey.

In the last 20 seasons, Bochy’s teams have appeared in a total of 16 playoff rounds. They have won 15 of those, with the clubs capturing World Series crowns in 2010, 2012, 2014 and now 2023.

The lone loss that Bochy suffered in that stretch? The 2016 National League Division Series against the Cubs, who went on to win that World Series.

Even still, Bochy’s status in the record books is secured. He is now just the fifth manager to win World Series titles with multiple clubs, and his 16 series victories in postseason play rank second all-time behind Joe Torre’s 19.

He is also the first manager to ever win League Championship Series with three different clubs, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.

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Wait, what? Didn’t the World Series end on Wednesday?

That’s correct. But Nov. 2 marks the day players without a contract officially become free agents. Not so fast, they can’t sign with new teams just yet. Let’s go over some key dates for the MLB offseason.

Nov. 2: Players with 6+ years of service time without contracts are officially free agents. Eligible players must wait five days before signing with a new team. At this time, they’re only allowed to speak with their previous team about a new contract.

Nov. 5: Gold Glove winners are announced on a live ESPN broadcast at 6:30 p.m. CT. Luis Robert Jr.? Ian Happ? Dansby Swanson? Stay tuned.

Nov. 6: This is a big day. It includes several deadlines and beginnings for the MLB offseason. Free agency officially opens up. This day marks the deadline for teams to tender eligible free agents to a qualifying offer. Contract option decisions are also due on this date.

For the White Sox, that means the futures of Tim Anderson (club), Liam Hendriks (club) and Mike Clevinger (mutual) must be decided. For the Cubs, that’s Marcus Stroman (player), Kyle Hendricks (club), Yan Gomes (club), Brad Boxberger (mutual) and Cody Bellinger (mutual).

Nov. 7-9: These days mark the GM meetings in Scottsdale.

Nov. 14-16: Owners meetings happen in Arlington, Tex. through these dates.

Nov. 17: This is the deadline for teams to submit their offers for their pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible contracts for the 2024 season. Contracts need not be signed on this day, just offers.

Dec. 3: Winter meetings in Nashville. Watch out. This is a crazy four-day period. A bunch of free-agent signings, trades and rumors will unfold.

Dec. 5: The draft lottery will be held live on MLB Network. As it stands, the White Sox have the fourth-best odds at landing the No. 1 pick in the draft (14.7%). The Cubs have a 0.4% chance.

Dec. 6: Rule 5 draft. Players selected from other teams during the Rule 5 draft must stay on their new team all season in 2024; otherwise, they are offered back to their native team.

Jan. 12: Arbitration-eligible players and teams will submit their salary figures for 2024. A majority of contracts will be agreed to leading up to this deadline to avoid arbitration.

Jan. 29- Feb. 16: Arbitration hearings will take place during this time.

Mid-February: Players will start reporting for Spring Training. Each team sets its reporting dates for pitchers and catchers, then position players.

And with that, here are the free agents for the White Sox, not including those with an option mentioned previously:

• Yasmani Grandal
• Elvis Andrus
• Alex Colome
• Bryan Shaw
• Jose Urena
• Billy Hamilton
• Tyler Naquin

Here are the 2024 free agents for the Cubs, excluding those with options:

• Jeimer Candelario
• Michael Fulmer
• Edwin Rios
• Shane Greene

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Dansby Swanson, who led all of baseball, regardless of position, in outs above average, won the Fielding Bible Award for shortstop, an award given to who is voted as the best defensive player at each position when considering advanced metrics.

Swanson was the lone unanimous winner of the award in 2023.

In addition to the well-deserved recognition for elite defense this season, Swanson’s win is also significant for the franchise, becoming just the second Cub to win the award, and the first to do so in a full season following Javier Baez’s win in 2020.

The Fielding Bible Award was first awarded in 2006, and was made to more heavily weigh newly emerging advanced defensive metrics as opposed to traditional metrics such as errors, assists and fielding percentage, often weighed heavily in the Gold Glove award process.

While Silver Slugger finalists have yet to be announced by MLB, the Cubs do have three Gold Glove finalists in Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ. The winners will be unveiled on the evening of Nov. 5.

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