bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Seems about right…
Chicago Cubs 2026
Anyone heard how Alcantara is progressing after his core muscle surgery in October? Expected back by spring training or will his start to season be delayed?
So many questions that I wouldn’t actually put money in it. Can Boyd and Rea be as productive as they were in 2025? Can Cabrera stay healthy? Will revamped pen be as good? Those are three top of my mind. Then, of course, question of what kind of year PCA has. I think with some luck and mostly positive outcomes to those questions they could get to 95.
Well that changes everything LOL. So would that mean he has to make big league club from the get-go or that next time he is brought up he has to stay or be exposed to waivers?
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
If he’s out of options, it’s the big club or waivers. You get 3 years for options and his were 23, 24 and 25. It seems he may have been granted a fourth year but where the confusion lies.
If he’s waived, he will be picked up. That’s why I thought he might included in the Marlins trade. But if he gets a 4th year, it’ll be a moot point.
Yes, definitely can’t run him through waivers. Well, I hope he’s ready. It will be interesting to see how his game translates. Despite his size, his power numbers haven’t been very large and it seems he does most of his damage off of fastballs. Hopefully he can adjust to steady diet of other pitches. Guess we’ll see soon enough.
As to the Cabrera trade, I’m sure Cubs tried to push a package of prospects centered round him rather than Owen. That wasn’t going to fly. Owen looks to be decidedly the better prospect.
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AFL offensive player of the year. I didn't actually dive any deeper to see how he is on defense.
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
He was drafted as a 3B. If he can play 2B and SS, that could make him a very valuable utility IF.
Wasn’t that AFL appearance back in 2023?
This is an important year for him. Had a down year at AAA this past season with his worst BA since 2021. Has only played SS in 8 games in minors with the last time being 2023. Been 2B and OF for most of his career. Showing he can play SS some is important because unless he gets back on track offensively, he’s looking like utility guy might be his ceiling.
Triantos illustrates how much better the Cubs farm system has gotten. He finished 2022 as Cubs #3 prospect. In 2023 he was #12, 2024 #7, and finished 2025 as #9. I would guess when rankings come out for 2026, he’ll be about the same of slightly lower.
So, barring any more significant transactions or injuries, it looks like the opening day roster will be:
SP:
Boyd
Horton
Imanega
Cabrera
Taillon
With Steele hopefully becoming available before the ASB.
Closer:
Palencia
LHRP:
Thielbar
Milner
RHRP:
Maton
Webb
Harvey
Rea
And whichever of Brown and Assad looks better in Spring Training.
Starting lineup of:
C: Kelly/Amaya
1B: Busch
2B: Hoerner
3B: Bregman
SS: Swanson
LF: Happ
CF: Crow-Armstrong
RF: Suzuki
DH: Ballesteros
Bench:
Shaw
Austin
Whichever OF wins the battle between McCormick, Alcantara and Carlson.
SP:
Boyd
Horton
Imanega
Cabrera
Taillon
With Steele hopefully becoming available before the ASB.
Closer:
Palencia
LHRP:
Thielbar
Milner
RHRP:
Maton
Webb
Harvey
Rea
And whichever of Brown and Assad looks better in Spring Training.
Starting lineup of:
C: Kelly/Amaya
1B: Busch
2B: Hoerner
3B: Bregman
SS: Swanson
LF: Happ
CF: Crow-Armstrong
RF: Suzuki
DH: Ballesteros
Bench:
Shaw
Austin
Whichever OF wins the battle between McCormick, Alcantara and Carlson.
Javy Baez disqualified from the WBC for "drug use"...
I'm hoping that the Cubs are waiting until Steele can be put on the 60 day DL (start of Spring training) to sign Gallen.... Pitching in Chicago instead of Arizona could boost his stuff.
Marijuana. No longer banned in MLB.Javy Baez disqualified from the WBC for "drug use"...
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Nailed it.
And I'm counting on Steele to return way prior to the All Star game. I also love Shaw in the super-sub role. I could see him getting 450 AB's, even without any significant injuries.
Thought this was wild and being that a lot of those swings were in a Cubs uniform.
On one hand, I should’t underestimate the Brewers. On the other hand, underestimating the Brewers is my favorite hobby…
The Durban trade seems like the Brewers getting too cute for their own good… trading their 25-year-old starting 3baseman for… not much that’s going to contribute this year… would be considered a sell off or a concession if any other small market team had done it.
Because it’s the Brewers, the baseball press seems to have decided that there’s something there the rest of us aren’t seeing and that this is going to somehow work out for them.
Maybe. But the numbers crunchers at Fangraphs now have the Cubs favored to win the division by 5 games.
The Durban trade seems like the Brewers getting too cute for their own good… trading their 25-year-old starting 3baseman for… not much that’s going to contribute this year… would be considered a sell off or a concession if any other small market team had done it.
Because it’s the Brewers, the baseball press seems to have decided that there’s something there the rest of us aren’t seeing and that this is going to somehow work out for them.
Maybe. But the numbers crunchers at Fangraphs now have the Cubs favored to win the division by 5 games.
I'm not sure that's accurate. I counted only 8,763 circles.
those are the 1,237 pitches that he swung at that were in the dirt
I expect Shaw to play outfield along with backing up the infield. The staff should be Horton, Cabrera, Taillon, Imanaga and Boyd. I hope they let Steele come back slowly as working him out of the pen. Brown should be developed into a late game reliever. he has the tools to do that, just needs to get him mentally prepared for the job.
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
They have already indicated that they don't plan to rush him and will limit his innings so that he will be available for October (hopefully).