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Matt Shaw is in the news again, That’s all I’m going to say. Chase Strumpf is calling it a career. Framber Valdez and Pete Fairbanks are in the air.
The next real event is the Cubs Convention, Friday, January 16, through Sunday, January 18, 2026.
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- Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Cubs mailbag: It’s all about pitching with Tatsuya Imai’s deadline looming. “With a Jan. 2 deadline to finalize a deal with a major-league club, Imai and his suitors will soon be forced into action.”
- John Wolf (Rising Apple*): NY Mets can unlock Adbert Alzolay by doing the one thing Cubs never did. “His strengths got lost in mismatched scenarios.”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): No. 2 prospect Ballesteros poised to step up for Cubs in ’26. “He’s at the point where, if he can help the Major League team, he’s going to be in the Major Leagues,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said at the Winter Meetings.
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): Dansby Swanson made a bunch of good adjustments, but has to make more. “As he ages, Swanson continues a negotiation with his own skill set…”
Food For Thought:
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Category: General Sports
