According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Cubs have been in contact with free agent slugger Rhys Hoskins on the parameters of a contract.

Morosi reports the Cubs have discussed both one-year and multi-year contract options with Hoskins, who missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a knee injury in spring training.

Hoskins spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Philadelphia 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.

Hoskins found himself on the outs in Philadelphia after the Phillies announced that Bryce Harper would remain the team’s full-time first baseman after beginning to play the position during the 2023 season.

It is unclear what kind of contract Hoskins will aim for, but the Cubs are looking for flexibility at first base and in their designated hitter role, with Matt Mervis likely competing for playing time at first base in the coming season.

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According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs’ optimism in their Ohtani pursuit has “significantly waned,” leading them to likely focus on other free agents this winter.

Nightengale’s report indicates that the Dodgers, Angels, Blue Jays and Giants remain as “likely finalists” in their pursuit of Ohtani.

Ohtani is quite possibly the most sought-after free agent in MLB history, having won multiple MVP awards while also pitching at a Cy Young-caliber level during his career.

During the 2023 season, Ohtani hit 44 home runs and drove in 95 RBI’s in 135 games, slashing .304/.412/.654 for the Los Angeles Angels.

He did undergo surgery on his pitching elbow late in the season, meaning that he won’t be available to pitch in the 2024 campaign. He is expected to try to pitch again in 2025, leaving his status as the most unique player in baseball intact.

As for the Cubs, if they end up moving on from the Ohtani pursuit, there are still plenty of free agents on the market, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Cody Bellinger, among others.

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Well…..there’s some disagreement on that.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported in his column on Sunday that he does not believe Ohtani will sign at the meetings “unless someone suddenly writes a $1 billion check.”

Nightengale went on to report that he does believe Ohtani will sign before Christmas, but that the free agent is “not on the verge” of deciding his next home.

Meanwhile, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports indicated that Ohtani is “very likely” to decide on his next team in the coming week.

The next question, aside from whether Ohtani will actually sign in coming days, is which team will land him. Reports are nearly unanimous in saying the Los Angeles Dodgers are the frontrunners to sign him, but numerous other teams are making noise on that front.

Nightengale’s report tabs the Angels, Blue Jays, Giants and the Cubs as finalists for Ohtani, who would immediately be an asset in any team’s lineup and could potentially return to being the two-way phenom that can both hit and pitch at an All-Star level when he’s able to return to the mound in 2025 following elbow surgery.

Other reports have indicated that the Blue Jays are in hot pursuit of Ohtani,

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That word: desperation.

In his latest column, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale called the Cubs one of the most “desperate” teams in baseball as they seek to improve their roster after missing out on the playoffs during the 2023 season.

“You don’t fire your beloved manager, steal manager Craig Counsell from your rival, pay him a record salary, shout from the Chicago rooftops that it’s Ohtani or bust, and sit back and tell your fanbase that at least you tried if you don’t land him,” he said.

Nightengale also classified the Yankees and Dodgers, among others, as the teams most desperate to improve during the free agency window.

The Cubs have been linked to countless free agents, including the aforementioned Shohei Ohtani, whose contract is likely holding up a large chunk of the market at this point in free agency.

It isn’t clear whether Ohtani intends to meet with teams at the winter meetings, or if he will sign somewhere before they wrap up on Wednesday, but the Cubs have routinely been linked to the coveted free agent, as have the Dodgers, Blue Jays and Giants.

The Cubs have also been linked via reports to several other names, including San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader, and have also been tied to trade rumors surrounding Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow and Cleveland Guardians star Shane Bieber.

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According to Bruce Levine of 670 the Score, the Cubs have indeed been in communication with the Rays about acquiring Glasnow, who has one year left on his contract:

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi had reported earlier this week that the Cubs were discussing potential trades for both Glasnow and for Cleveland Guardians hurler Shane Bieber.

Glasnow, who will become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, went 10-7 last season in a career-high 21 starts, posting a 3.53 ERA as he struck out 162 batters in 120 innings.

The Cubs were likely looking for more swing-and-miss stuff from their rotation, as the team finished 19^th in Major League Baseball with 1,377 strikeouts a season ago. Justin Steele had the highest strikeout rate among Cubs starters, fanning 9.1 batters per nine innings.

Even though Glasnow saw his numbers dip a bit in 2023, he still managed 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings, his sixth consecutive season with double digit strikeouts per nine innings.

The big concern about Glasnow is longevity. He has only eclipsed 100 innings pitched twice in his career, including the 120 innings he pitched in the 2023 season.

Still, that is his first full season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, so there is reason for optimism that he could potentially take on a bigger workload this season.

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The Cubs, who are needing to replace Marcus Stroman in their rotation, are reportedly “active in trade conversations” for both Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.

According to Morosi, the Reds have also inquired on both pitchers after Sonny Gray signed a long-term deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Both Bieber and Glasnow are set to become free agents after the 2024 season, but both could command a hefty price given the state of the pitching market this offseason.

Bieber, the 2020 American League Cy Young award winner, will turn 29 in May, but was limited to 21 starts during the 2023 season, with a 6-6 record and a 3.80 ERA for the Guardians.

Spotrac estimates that he will make $12.2 million on his final one-year contract prior to hitting unrestricted free agency.

As for Glasnow, he will turn 31 during the 2024 season. He is set to make $25 million next season for the Rays, causing speculation to ramp up that he will be a trade candidate for Tampa Bay.

He was 10-7 last season with a 3.53 ERA in 21 starts, racking up 162 strikeouts in 120 innings of work.

Baseball’s winter meetings are set for next week in Nashville, with plenty of activity expected with a robust free agent market and teams looking to shed salary ahead of next season.

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While being involved in the pursuit for Shohei Ohtani and retaining Cody Bellinger are expected to be priorities for the Cubs this offseason, more opportunities may be awaiting on the trade market.

According to a report by Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the Cubs are expected to be active in the pursuit of what may be this offseason’s most coveted prize on the trade market.

Sources have indicated to Levine that the Cubs are expected to be involved in the Juan Soto trade sweepstakes, as expectations grow across the league that the San Diego Padres will move the superstar one year before he hits free agency in an effort to shed payroll.

Soto, who made $23 million in 2023 under arbitration and is arbitration eligible again in 2024, where he is projected to receive a $10 million raise, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

The Padres, who emerged as one of the league’s top spenders in recent years after decades of being a timid buyer in free agency, are expected to scale back payroll after inking nine-figure contracts with Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr. in recent years.

A pursuit of Soto for the Cubs would likely involve paying a significant prospect price in addition to some big league talent likely headed the other way as well.

Though the Cubs’ farm system is at its most formidable in nearly a decade, it is still not quite at the depth that it was when trades for Aroldis Chapman and Jose Quintana were made.

While it’s fair to suspect that top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is untouchable, the Cubs could be in a position where other top prospects such as Kevin Alcantara and Alexander Canario are involved in trade discussions.

Though the Cubs have long been known for positional depth, the Padres, who may not retain impending free agent and likely Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, may be inclined to poach pitching talent from the North Siders as well.

With the Cubs potentially facing a logjam of pitching talent, the Cubs could be inclined to move one of Javier Assad or Jordan Wicks in such a deal, both high-upside arms with rotation potential and big league experience that the Padres could see play a role in their rotation next season.

Perhaps the most tantalizing trade chip on the big league team for the Padres could be Christopher Morel, a high-upside power bat who despite above average showings at the plate in two straight seasons, is yet to have a permanent home in the field.

While Cubs fans can dream of a world in which both Cody Bellinger is retained and Juan Soto is acquired via trade, it’s likely one or the other, if anything, for the Cubs this offseason.

In the event of acquiring Soto, the Cubs could replace Bellinger’s center field production and slide him into an outfield configuration with Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki for most games.

The Cubs not retaining Bellinger would also leave a potential hole at first base, with two free agents in Bellinger and Jeimer Candelario manning the position for the Cubs in much of the final two months of the season.

Though the Cubs could also consider trading for Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, the farm system’s depth could likely only afford one of the aforementioned trades.

The North Siders have the artillery to pursue Juan Soto, and with the opportunity to acquire generational talent to a rising team, the Cubs have an obligation to be involved in the sweepstakes.

The Cubs, who hold a $16 million option for Hendricks in 2024, could reasonably float the idea of a multi-year extension with the team’s longest-tenured member to potentially lower the average annual value in consideration of MLB’s luxury tax.

However, a report this week from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers suggests that the Cubs and Hendricks have not been in extension talks during the still-young offseason.

Rogers appeared on ESPN Chicago’s Waddle & Silvy, saying that in addition to not hearing anything about a potential extension between Hendricks and Cubs, the Cubs simply exercising his option is more likely.

“I don’t discount the chance of signing up another contract, but I just don’t think it’s imminent or around the corner. I don’t think they’ve had any discussions about a long-term deal. The first step will be the option,” Rogers said on Wednesday’s episode.

While Hendricks’ return to the Cubs is both a sensible move that would be popular with the fanbase, there is reason to be timid in locking down The Professor as a logjam of younger pitchers emerges on the North Side.

Though rumors have swirled of the Cubs pursuing Rays’ starter Tyler Glasnow in a trade in an offseason in which several intriguing free agent options are available, there will also need to be decisions made within the organization.

With both Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon guaranteed to be back and the likelihood of options being given to both Kyle Hendricks and Marcus Stroman, the Cubs have several pitchers that had rotation time in 2023 that would be left in unsure roles.

It’s widely assumed that left-hander Drew Smyly, coming off a down season, will opt-in to the second-year of his contract, earning him $10.5 million.

Before even considering the potential impact of upstart minor league pitchers like Ben Brown and Cade Horton, the Cubs will also have to define roles for Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks and Hayden Wesneski on next year’s club.

While there’s no way of knowing what level of confidence the organization has in each of the aforementioned pitchers, there’s no doubt that their roles will play a part in how the Cubs’ approach their future with Kyle Hendricks.

According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, Breslow is the only candidate to have received a second interview with the Red Sox, and appears to be the frontrunner to take over the club’s management.

The Red Sox fired chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and reassigned general manager Brian O’Halloran in mid-September, paving the way for a dramatic overhaul of their baseball operations department.

Breslow had previously pitched for the Red Sox, winning a World Series title with Boston in 2013.

In 12 seasons, Breslow had a 23-30 record and a 3.45 ERA, with eight career saves in 570.2 innings of work.

After his retirement following the 2018 season, Breslow was hired by the Cubs to join their front office. In Nov. 2020, he was promoted to his current role as the team’s assistant general manager, as well as the head of the team’s vice president of pitching.

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According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the Chicago Cubs are not only interested in Alonso’s services, but the first baseman would actually love to play on the North Side.

“Pete Alonso is on their radar. There’s no doubt about it. Here’s the reason: he wants to come here,” he told ESPN’s “Kap and J. Hood” show on Tuesday. “From what I’ve been told…is he’s surveyed now that the Mets have been broken up, and saw that the Cubs don’t have a first baseman ready to rock and roll. They have a pretty good team, and a great market. I think that he wants to come here as much as they want him.”

Rogers went on to say that Alonso would be willing to work out a reasonable contract extension with the Cubs as well, citing his agent’s familiarity with Cubs President Jed Hoyer.

The news of Alonso’s reported interest comes as the Cubs look at options to add to their roster in the 2024 season. According to Bruce Levine of 670 the Score, the Cubs will “do everything they can” to acquire Alonso from the Mets, and while Rogers expressed skepticism that Chicago would bring back Cody Bellinger, Levine says that the plan would be to try to pair the two sluggers together.

In 154 games with the Mets this season, Alonso blasted 46 home runs and drove in 118 RBI’s. His batting average did dip significantly to .217, with his slugging percentage and OPS hitting career-lows for the Mets.

He still made the All-Star team for the third time in his career.

Needless to say, adding Alonso would be an interesting move for the Cubs, who are still trying to identify their first baseman of the future after Matt Mervis’ struggles in his first call-up to the North Siders.

Mervis is still likely part of their plans, but adding Alonso would give the Cubs a dominant power threat and would also smooth the runway for Mervis to reach the major leagues and to stick.

Alonso is arbitration-eligible this offseason, having earned $14.5 million in the 2023 campaign with the Mets.

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Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal was first with the report:

Chafin became a fan-favorite with the Cubs during the 2021 season, with a 2.06 ERA in 43 appearances.

He hasn’t quite found the same success in Arizona this season, with a 4.19 ERA, but does have 49 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work for the Diamondbacks.

He will slot into a Milwaukee bullpen that is hoping to help the Brewers in the hunt for either the Central Division crown, or a wild card spot in the National League.

As for the Cubs, they could still be active in the relief pitching market, with names like Brooks Raley potentially on their radar ahead of the Tuesday deadline.

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According to a report from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the Cubs have now decided to keep outfielder Cody Bellinger on the club beyond the trade deadline.

“As the Cubs continue to add wins to their pre-deadline streak, the team has decided to pull Cody Bellinger’s name off the trade market,” Rogers reported on Sunday.

Bellinger, who has a mutual option on his contract at the end of the season, has found his form again with the Cubs after struggling for several seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has 15 home runs and 46 RBI’s this season, had a .315 batting average and has stolen 12 bases, which is just three off his career high.

His defense in center field and at first base has been top-notch, and his performances have left Cubs fans clamoring for the club to re-sign him before he could potentially hit free agency.

In terms of those additions, Rogers cites the Cubs’ bullpen as a potential area of focus, mentioning Chicago White Sox reliever Aaron Bummer as a possibility. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale recently reported that the South Siders are intent on keeping Bummer in their bullpen for next season.

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Compiling what is his third consecutive otherworldly season as one of the game’s premier pitchers and arguably the game’s finest hitter, Ohtani’s upcoming contract is likely going to cost an amount previously seen unthinkable.

Widely expected to be the first player in MLB history to earn a $500 million contract, with some even anticipating $600 million, the big-market players in baseball are all expected to be in on the generational talent, including the Angels who will hope to maintain his services.

Though teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are expected to be primary contenders for the 29-year-old MVP, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score indicated that the Cubs are anticipated to be involved in the bidding.

Levine was steadfast in his belief that the Cubs would be players in Ohtani’s market, while also indicating that the exorbitant cost would not shy away the North Siders’ front office from pursuing him.

Currently, the largest contract in Cubs’ franchise history belongs to Jason Heyward, who signed an eight-year deal worth $184 million ahead of the 2016 season.

Entering play Saturday, Ohtani leads the majors in several offensive categories, including triples (seven), home runs (39), slugging percentage (.681), OPS (1.077), OPS+ (187) and total bases (263).

Hitting .301 with a .396 on-base percentage, Ohtani is having the best offensive season of his career and is also leading the American League in walks with 62.

On the mound, Ohtani has been exceptional.

Across 20 starts this season, the phenom has posted a 9-5 record with a 3.43 ERA, striking out 156 batters across 120.2 innings while leading all of baseball in hits allowed per nine innings at just 5.9.

With Ohtani just months away from hitting the market and still without a playoff appearance as the Angels make a push for October, there isn’t a team in baseball that wouldn’t love Ohtani’s services for the next decade.

While the price tag seems only in reach for the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and apparently Padres of the world, Levine indicated that the Cubs would have the resources to sign Ohtani shall there be mutual interest.

Despite the Cubs’ reported interest, fans should pump the brakes on pressing their custom Ohtani Cubs jerseys, with prior statements of preference to remain on the west coast to consider on top of the existing challenges for the Cubs.

Though the Cubs owe it to themselves and their fanbase as a large market team to pursue Ohtani, the North Siders may be better suited aiming their offseason priority toward a long-term deal with Cody Bellinger, who has fit seamlessly with the team on a one-year deal meant to reset his market.

Returning to near-peak form in 2023, Bellinger provides the Cubs with great defense at two positions while proving to be capable of being one of the game’s most productive bats when healthy.

Although there’s no certainty on what the rest of the 2023 season will bring, the Cubs front office owes it to their player core and their fanbase to pursue the elite talent that will be on the free agency market.

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Lil Hendricks is already set up with a sweet Cubs jersey, just like dad. This will be Hendricks and Cain’s first child.

Hendricks and Cain started dating in 2011 and got married in 2017.

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This is a homecoming for Higgins, since the Cubs drafted him in 2015 and Higgins played 83 games for the North Siders between the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Higgins has spent all of his time with Arizona’s Triple-A team this year. He’s slashed .317/.407/.473 in 58 games in the minors this year.

There’s a chance Higgins will head to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs currently have three catchers on their 40-man roster, with Tucker Barnhart, Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya in that group, so they would have to make another room if Higgins were to join the big-league club.

Higgins was designated for assignment by the Cubs earlier this year to make room on the 40-man roster for Barnhart, and he opted for free agency instead.

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However, fans of all 30 baseball teams will have their eyes squared in on one player, whose impending free agency is poised to test the limits of what can reasonably offered to an athlete in a contract.

Shohei Ohtani, who turned 29 just over a week ago, is a unicorn not just in today’s game, but in all of baseball history.

Redefining the limitations of what baseball players are capable of, Ohtani has emerged over the past several seasons as both one of the game’s finest pitchers and perhaps its most feared slugger.

Following an MVP season in 2021 and an incredible follow-up season in 2022, Ohtani is continuing to push boundaries.

This season, Ohtani leads all of the majors with six triples and 32 home runs, with video game-like offensive metrics.

Ohtani leads all of baseball in slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+ and total bases at the All-Star break, with his 1.050 OPS and 182 OPS+ exceeding what a league MVP compiles in a given season.

That’s of course, not to mention his 3.32 ERA over 17 starts on the mound, leading all of baseball by allowing just six hits per nine innings.

Needless to say, Ohtani’s free agency will be unlike any other in baseball history, with the monetary value widely expected to exceed any contract in the past.

Here’s a look at six teams where Shohei Ohtani may end up next season:

Los Angeles Dodgers

Perhaps the most financially feasible outcome is Ohtani simply heading north on the Santa Ana Freeway and joining the interleague rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

A perennial contender and recent world champion, the Dodgers have built a reputation as an organization with a farm system continually churning out homegrown talent while also never shying away to spend big money in free agency.

The Dodgers turned heads last season when they sat out on many of the market’s biggest names after a 111-51 season came to a shocking end in the NLDS at the hands of the San Diego Padres, with speculation arising that the Dodgers were preparing to make a run at Ohtani in 2024.

Ohtani would find himself entrenched on a win-now team at Chavez-Ravine, and the Dodgers have proven to have the pocketbook to make the move happen.

New York Yankees

A serious contender for any major free agent by default, the Yankees remain the most valuable team in the sport and have not shown any indication that they will stop spending anytime soon.

A hallmark of perennial success, the Yankees last finished under .500 in 1992, and haven’t finished worse than 84-78 since the 1994 players’ strike.

Still in search of their first title and pennant since 2009, the Yankees recently locked down franchise cornerstone Aaron Judge, and in all likelihood would love to give him a long-term counterpart.

Los Angeles Angels

Far from the most tantalizing option, Ohtani may simply stay put with the Angels, though demonstration from the team that they are closer to a contender is likely needed for that to happen.

At a 45-46 record at the All-Star break, the Angels are five games outside of a Wild Card spot, poised to miss the postseason for the ninth consecutive year.

Despite being teammates with who is widely regarded to be the other half of the best two players on the planet, the Angels have struggled to build a contender over the years. A consistently mediocre pitching staff and free agent contracts that have not panned out have left the Angels in perpetual purgatory.

However, if the Angels make other moves on the free agent market or perhaps make the most extravagant offer, Ohtani may stay right where he is at.

Seattle Mariners

After recently getting swooned by fans during the All-Star Game, the Mariners have positioned themselves as a notable dark-horse to land the blockbuster of a century.

Seattle generally presents itself as a unique free agent destination by default, thanks to none other than geography.

Typically dealing with the longest travel schedule in the league, Mariners players are tasked with making a difficult adjustment while also being presented an opportunity to seize a unique advantage at home.

The city is also home to one of the league’s more popular ballparks and a large Japanese American population, and a franchise that is likely one major piece away from being a bona fide title contender.

New York Mets

While the Mets have broken the bank in free agency the past several years, owner Steve Cohen has shown no restraint in his desire to spend to build a contender, a desire that may be even further amplified on the heels of what has been an incredibly disappointing season so far.

Though signing Ohtani to what figures to be a contract north of $500 million would push the Mets into unprecedented luxury tax territory, the lack of recent postseason success for the club could drive such desperation.

With Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer both aging and the latter only holding a player option with the club next season, the Mets may try to take the ultimate win-now approach next season.

Chicago Cubs

Perhaps the biggest sleeper of Ohtani’s potential destinations, the Cubs have seldom lived up to their big market status in free agency in recent seasons.

One year after making their second-largest free agency commitment in team history to Dansby Swanson via a seven-year, $177 million deal, a large commitment to Ohtani would propel the Cubs to be division favorites and title contenders.

Unlike other potential destinations, the Cubs do not offer much more certainty at contention than the Angels do, which will likely impede their already long-shot case.

However, if the Cubs have a significant offer that’s been kept under wraps and manage to post a strong finish to the season, the North Side could appear to be tantalizing to Ohtani.

The city’s air quality was deemed “very unhealthy,” drawing concerns about the players, coaches and fans’ safety for Tuesday’s game. From the looks of it, however, it looks like the game will play.

“As of now, it looks like we’re gonna play,” skipper David Ross said pregame.

“I was out walking around a little earlier today. It’s not ideal, but there are probably some smarter people making decisions on that than me.”

Ross said the MLB and MLBPA are running point on the decision. They are holding calls every hour on the hour with the Cubs about the status of the game. As of this writing, all signs point to the Cubs-Phillies game happening on Tuesday night.

From inside the clubhouse, the players don’t seem overly concerned, or annoyed, by the status of the game.

“I think we’re all just learning what that really means: the air quality numbers and things like that,” Nico Hoerner said pregame. “Hopefully, we’ll be alright.”

A little over three hours before the first pitch, the Cubs released a starting lineup for Tuesday’s game.

NBC Chicago meteorologist Pete Sack said there’s also plenty of time for the weather to improve.

“One of the difficulties that we do have with this, however, is accurately predicting the amount of smoke that’s going to be in the atmosphere just a few hours from now,” Sack said. “So it could ease up in time for the game at 7:05 this evening. The atmosphere could ease up, but we could still see a layer of smoke and haze. So it remains to be seen.”

Earlier this month MLB postponed some games on the East Coast due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. That included a White Sox game against the Yankees that was supposed to be played in New York on June 7. That game was made up the next day.

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement as air quality worsened in the city recommending that children, teens, seniors, people with heart or lung disease, and pregnant women “avoid strenuous activities and limit their time outdoors.” Johnson also suggested folks wear masks if they do need to go outside.

For all Chicago air quality updates, keep tabs on NBC Chicago’s live blog.

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The city’s air quality was deemed “very unhealthy,” putting the baseball game’s status into question.

However, a little over three hours before the first pitch, the Cubs released a starting lineup for Tuesday’s game.

In an interview earlier on Tuesday with 670TheScore that took place around noon, David Ross said that he expected the game to go on, despite the weather.

“I haven’t heard anything yet about cancellation, so I would assume (we play),” Ross said via 670TheScore. “Usually, they put that on my radar pretty early. We are all go as of right now, but we’ll wait to see if things change, or what Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association say.”

NBC Chicago meteorologist Pete Sack said there’s also plenty of time for the weather to improve.

“One of the difficulties that we do have with this, however, is accurately predicting the amount of smoke that’s going to be in the atmosphere just a few hours from now,” Sack said. “So it could ease up in time for the game at 7:05 this evening. The atmosphere could ease up, but we could still see a layer of smoke and haze. So it remains to be seen.”

Earlier this month MLB postponed some games on the East Coast due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. That included a White Sox game against the Yankees that was supposed to be played in New York on June 7. That game was made up the next day.

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement as air quality worsened in the city recommending that children, teens, seniors, people with heart or lung disease, and pregnant women “avoid strenuous activities and limit their time outdoors.” Johnson also suggested folks wear masks if they do need to go outside.

For all Chicago air quality updates, keep tabs on NBC Chicago’s live blog.

Click here to follow the Cubs Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Right now, we don’t know of any plans for MLB to postpone the game. In an interview with 670TheScore that took place around noon on Tuesday, David Ross said that he expected the game to go on, despite the weather.

“I haven’t heard anything yet about cancellation, so I would assume (we play),” Ross said via 670TheScore. “Usually, they put that on my radar pretty early. We are all go as of right now, but we’ll wait to see if things change, or what Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association say.”

First pitch for Tuesday’s game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., so there’s plenty of time for the league to make a change.

NBC Chicago meteorologist Pete Sack said there’s also plenty of time for the weather to improve.

“One of the difficulties that we do have with this, however, is accurately predicting the amount of smoke that’s going to be in the atmosphere just a few hours from now,” Sack said. “So it could ease up in time for the game at 7:05 this evening. The atmosphere could ease up, but we could still see a layer of smoke and haze. So it remains to be seen.”

Earlier this month MLB postponed some games on the East Coast due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. That included a White Sox game against the Yankees that was supposed to be played in New York on June 7. That game was made up the next day.

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement as air quality worsened in the city recommending that children, teens, seniors, people with heart or lung disease, and pregnant women “avoid strenuous activities and limit their time outdoors.” Johnson also suggested folks wear masks if they do need to go outside.

For all Chicago air quality updates, keep tabs on NBC Chicago’s live blog.

Click here to follow the Cubs Talk Podcast.

On the heels of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels after holding a lead in all three games, the lowly Cubs dropped to 10 games below .500 and 7.5 games out of first place in the struggling NL Central.

Despite the struggling division, it appeared at that point that the Cubs were likely moving into surefire seller territory at the upcoming trade deadline. While the team has multi-year commitments to many foundational pieces, the Cubs also possess who may be the best trade chip on the market if made available in Marcus Stroman.

In the 12 games since leaving Anaheim without a win, the Cubs have gone 10-2, sweeping the division rival Pirates twice while taking two of three from perhaps baseball’s brightest young team in the Baltimore Orioles.

This upstart stretch of baseball has been enough for the owner of the Cubs himself to declare that the club is fully looking to compete.

“Obviously, we’re buyers right now. Things can come off the rails, but I don’t think they will. I think what we have is a core that can compete for the division and compete for the playoffs and now it’s finding the missing parts to add to it,” Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said to fans in London during a brief Q&A, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Cubs have managed to leapfrog the Pirates during their hot stretch of baseball, and could perhaps be even closer than 3.5 games back if not for an 11-game winning streak from the Cincinnati Reds.

With the NL Central significantly weaker than the other two divisions in the senior circuit, the Cubs will likely be tasked with having to win the division in order to carve their way into a postseason spot.

Although 36-38 isn’t a typical record of division-winners through 74 games, the Cubs could move back to .500 with a two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend, and will have another chance to solidify their place in the division during a massive four-game set in Milwaukee against the Brewers to start July.

While it is not ultimately Ricketts’ decision if the Cubs buy or sell at this year’s deadline, a confident statement from the Cubs owner indicates that it is the organization’s preferred action.

A decision to buy or sell certainly impacts the Cubs roster in 2023, but it will also play a role on how the Cubs construct their team beyond this year. Kyle Hendricks, Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman are all likely to hit the free agent market this offseason, with only options standing in the way of the three players from heading to free agency.

Fans were also emphatic in letting Ricketts know that they hoped Stroman would stay in Cubbie Blue beyond 2023, with Ricketts simply telling the fans to direct their requests to team President Jed Hoyer.

Stroman will pitch against Jack Flaherty and the Cardinals on Sunday at 9:10 a.m. local time, following Saturday’s matchup between Justin Steele and Adam Wainwright at 12:10 p.m. local time.

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The uncertainty comes as the Cubs sit at 29-37, five and a half games out of first in the National League Central and six games back of the third wild card spot in the NL.

The team is 4-6 in their last 10 games, and they do have a minus-5 run differential, which is somehow one of the better marks in the National League this season.

In addition, they have shown a willingness to sign in-season contract extensions, meaning that decisions on several key players could potentially be a bit more complicated than previously thought.

That being said, here’s the latest rumblings on the Cubs.

Marcus Stroman….a Giant?

Marcus Stroman made waves recently when he revealed the Cubs had yet to engage him on contract extension talks, despite expressing a willingness to re-sign with the club.

The topic has gained steam in recent weeks as Stroman has continued to pitch well, and as the expectation grows that he could opt out of the third year of his contract with the Cubs for a larger pay day during the offseason.

While sticking with the Cubs cannot, and should not, be ruled out, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly (subscription required) recently penned a piece arguing that Stroman could be a good fit for the San Francisco Giants.

Baggarly laid out a case both around the team’s current need, as they only have three regular starters in their rotation, and Stroman’s past comments about the Giants after he picked the Cubs in free agency prior to the 2022 season.

He did highlight some significant hurdles, specifically around Stroman’s salary and contract status.

Cody Bellinger a Logical Fit for the Champs?

In a recent story, MLB Trade Rumors laid out the case for the Houston Astros to potentially be in the market for Cody Bellinger as the deadline approaches, and the team’s GM Dana Brown also said that the club could look for a left-handed bat in the coming weeks, according to Sports Illustrated.

The case for Bellinger to join the Astros circles around the team’s uncertainty about the health of Yordan Alvarez, as well as the continued struggles of first baseman José Abreu.

Bellinger is currently on a rehab assignment in Iowa, but has had a strong season with the Cubs, with a .271 batting average, seven home runs and 20 RBI’s.

He could potentially see time at first base upon his return, adding another interesting piece to the puzzle if the Astros were to acquire him at the deadline.

Replying to a tweet that recapped Stroman’s Cy Young-level start to 2023, the pitcher shed some light on how talks between him and the Cubs have proceeded during the first few months to the season.

Stroman continues to make it clear that he loves being in Chicago and could see himself with the team long-term, and if what Stroman says is correct, it is head-scratching as to why the Cubs would not explore options at locking down one of the game’s premier pitchers.

While Stroman is likely to command one of the most significant hauls of this year’s trade deadline if he is moved, the Cubs also stand to gain long-term value by pursuing an extension and selling off other trade chips, a strategy that could be amplified with the return of a healthy Cody Bellinger.

The Cubs ace just turned 32 last month, while holding a player option on his current contract for next year. As a potential free agent, Stroman appears to be a prime target for a three-to-four year deal that could net him over $100 million.

If the Cubs were to pursue an extension with Stroman while still selling otherwise, the North Siders would solidify a formidable 1-2 punch with southpaw Justin Steele to lead off the rotation, adding to existing multi-year commitments to Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki.

Not only would maintaining Stroman give the Cubs much more certainty at the top of their rotation than they would get in any return for the ace, but it would also help strengthen the team’s status as a free agent destination, as the long-term presence of a veteran in the rotation could pay dividends.

In a year where the Cubs have failed to take advantage of a poor division and excellent seasons from Stroman, Steele and Swanson, the front office finds themselves in a rare instance where holding on to the trade chip that would net the highest return may lead to a better long-term outcome.

When an elite pitcher who is facing an uncertain trade deadline and potential free agency expresses his desire to stay put, it is simply best to capitalize on the player’s desire.

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After a collapse in 2021 before the trade deadline led to a fire sale that saw the Cubs’ front office trade away the majority of the team’s World Series-winning core from five years prior, a new era appeared to be on the horizon.

This new era was appearing to finally take fruition in April. The Cubs’ offseason acquisitions of Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger had revitalized the offense, and by inking Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to three-year contract extensions, Jed Hoyer and company appeared to be communicating that this was a core the Cubs could build around.

Just over a month later, Cubs fans are once again left in doubt over what the team’s future holds.

After concluding play on May 1 with a 15-13 record spearheaded by All-Star level play from the Cubs’ most important contributors, the team has taken a nosedive, winning only a third of their games since.

While bullpen weaknesses that appeared in flashes in April can certainly be blamed for the Cubs’ struggles in one-run games, where they hold a dismal 5-11 record, it has been the significant drop in offensive production that has hampered the team’s chances to win the most.

The bats went cold this week in what was a necessary series for the Cubs to make up ground in, being outscored 16-7 in a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels after holding a lead in all three games.

Despite having a run differential of just minus-8 runs, the Cubs find themselves 10 games below .500 and 7.5 games out of first place in a division where a 34-29 record is good for the lead.

In a season of crushing close losses, strong performances from stars and an urgency to take the next step towards competing for the playoff spot, the Cubs have faltered quickly and now are almost certain to sell assets at the trade deadline once again.

Marcus Stroman, who has voiced his desire to remain with the Cubs long-term, is having a career year with potential free agency looming, as Stroman holds a player option for 2024.

Cody Bellinger, who while still injured, appeared to have revitalized his career in the 37 games he’s played this season, and will likely be a popular trade target if he returns healthy before the deadline.

Perhaps the toughest potential trade from an emotional standpoint, Kyle Hendricks could pitch himself onto the trade market radar with a few more successful starts, as the lone remaining member of the 2016 Cubs is in the final year of a four-year deal, with a vesting option for 2024.

Selling at the trade deadline does not signify the Cubs heading back to square one, as multi-year deals with Happ, Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki alongside a seven-year commitment to Dansby Swanson show the team will maintain sizable stake in players currently on the roster to compete.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, acquired in the 2021 trade that sent Javier Baez to the New York Mets, has also emerged as one of the game’s top outfield prospects while the team’s second-ranked prospect, right-hander Cade Horton, was recently promoted to High-A South Bend.

Yet in trading Bellinger and possibly Stroman, the Cubs would be wagering proven big-league performers for a haul of prospects to add to a farm system that is promising at best and highly questionable at worst.

Brennen Davis, ranked as the organization’s second-best prospect just last year, has hit below .200 at AAA Iowa with a ghastly .615 OPS across 45 games.

While still the third-best prospect in the organization, Kevin Alcántara has shown mixed results at South Bend this year, totaling 15 extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases while struggling to a .289 OBP.

Although the Cubs have considerable talent in their farm system, it is not at the levels seen last decade when the team was preparing to graduate several prospects that went on to form the majority of a championship-winning core.

With a playoff-experienced ace voicing desire to remain with the team long-term, even in the event of the Cubs selling off assets, pursuing an extension with Marcus Stroman potentially offers the team more long-term benefit than trading him for prospects at the deadline.

As experienced top-of-the-rotation strength is routinely among the hardest to draft and among the highest in-demand during free agency, maintaining Stroman gives the Cubs both security at the top of the rotation for the foreseeable future and maintains the team as a free agent destination with tools to compete.

Jed Hoyer, Carter Hawkins and company will have difficult decisions to make on the long-term future of the franchise, just over a month after locking up two core pieces for multiple years.

In a season and future of uncertainty, hanging on to the most tantalizing trade chip while selling off other contributors could leave the Cubs in a favorable position to compete next year.

The Cubs kick off a three-game set against the Giants in San Francisco tonight at 9:15 p.m. local time.