Makes perfect sense but if he turns out to be Trey Mancini 2.0 they need to cut their losses earlier than they did with Mancini.Part 1 of 2: Check.
BREAKING: Cubs Signing Free Agent Justin Turner (UPDATE: Terms Disclosed)
Justin Turner is signing with the Chicago Cubs, completing their bench and most likely their offseason.www.bleachernation.com
Chicago Cubs 2025
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Eric Hosmer is the better comp. Mancini was signed to a multi-year contract and expected to be a starter. Turner is on a one-year and expected to get 150-200 ABs, mainly subbing for Busch against the better LHPs.
In any case, even at this age, Turner is a better, more consistent hitter than either Hosmer or Mancini.
Part 1 of 2: Check.
BREAKING: Cubs Signing Free Agent Justin Turner (UPDATE: Terms Disclosed)
Justin Turner is signing with the Chicago Cubs, completing their bench and most likely their offseason.
Unfortunately, the Padres have made recent noise that they aren’t going to move a starting pitcher before the deadline. Maybe a negotiating tactic, maybe stalling to see if anyone big gets hurt in Spring Training.
I’d bet the D-backs would make Montgomery available for some salary relief and a Rule 5 casualty. He can’t be as bad as he showed last year. If the pitching coaches think there’s anything salvageable there, he’d at least eat some innings.
Cubs win exhibition opener. Ivan hit under .200 in less than 100 ABs at single A.
7th round pick. Grace was drafted in the 24th and had the most hits in the 90s so I'm expecting big things!
Okay, not really, but I will be listening for news about him. Big dude, tons of power!
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Tommy Boy building more goodwill with the fans
Surprisingly, he’s never hit more than 16 HRs in a year. But if he can get his raw power to play in games Cubs might have something. Like you, will be interested to see how he does this year.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I think the financials under the hood at the Marquee Network are probably pretty disastrous. The Cubs were just 5 years late to the trough.
In many ways the current power structure in MLB is not market size, but medium term security in TV revenue.
Labor apocalypse coming after the 2026 season.
I'm not an apologist for Tom "Break Even" Ricketts but doesn't some blame go to Comcast ? They did the same thing with Chicago Sports. And I'm sure they're doing a lot better than breaking even.
Cubs win again. Alcantara goes 2-2 (after 2-3 in opener) with a double and SB. Brujam gets his second SB of Cactus League. Only Spring training, but nice start. Anxious for Shaw to see his first action.
Colin Rea is absolutely horrible. Another whiff by Jed. The rotation is going to be very bad
Ryan Pressly looking like a bust as well. Woof, long season ahead
Nothing from February baseball can be interpreted as predictive for the regular season.
The point of spring training for established pitchers:
1)Work on arm strength. It's a long season.
2)Work on other pitches. Now's the time to do it. If you're going to experiment.....you have roughly a month, then it's game on.
This applies to ALL pitchers in spring training.
Cubs get to 5-0 in Cactus League. Obviously, very limited ABs and it’s spring training, but Alcantara has an OPS of 1.27 and Busch has a 1.40.
Agreed. People get way too worked up by results, good and bad, in Spring. A lot of times, pitchers are just trying to get a feel for a pitch or location. They aren't really keyed in on matchups or game situation. If a guy is struggling to locate his slider, he's not going to take it out of the mix. He might even throw more of them, looking for it.
The Cubs were 11-19 in the Spring of 2016. They haven't had a losing record in spring in the last 4 years...
Repeat it with me…
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
It doesn’t matter how many games in a row the Cubs win,
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
“Spring training means nothing.”
It doesn’t matter how many games in a row the Cubs win,
“Spring training means nothing.”
He had been DFA’ed, so cash considerations are typically about the best you’re looking at. As for him being a “good” prospect, all good prospects aren’t created equal. I don’t think he was ever ranked in top 10 of organizations (though close). Given how bad Cubs system was, that will tell you something.
Just looked it up and MLB.com had him ranked #11 in Cubs system in 2023 and that was after hitting 37 HRs across 3 levels in 2022. That sounds promising right? Well not as much when you take into consideration Cubs only had two prospects in top 100 with Cubs #2 only being #87 overall. Guy can hit some with good power, and he still has a chance to carve out some kind of career. But likely not much more. Cubs did pretty well selling off parts a few years ago, but looks like didn’t get much for Bryant with Canario now gone.
On a side note, noticed that to make room for Canario that the Mets put Nick Madrigal on 60-day IL with broken shoulder. Man that guy can’t catch a break.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
MBL Trade Rumors - this will describe why he was DFAed...
Well, not entirely true. Win/losses mean nothing, but some individual performances have some meaning. More so the youngsters than veterans. Alcantara having the start he’s had is much better than him being 0 for 11. Now to write off Rea and Presley as busts after one spring game as one poster did is absolutely silly
All we got now is spring training, so I’ll continue to celebrate those successes. Will those guarantee success in regular season? No, but that’s OK. Any time I can get some joy from Cubs I’ll take it. By the way, Cubs won again.
On Madrigal, I wonder about guys that size and build, and whether they can hold up physically over a 162 game season as a full-time player. Matt Duffy and Tommy La Stella are two other similar players that can’t seem to stay healthy as a full-time player.
Now I am hoping this has no meaning at all. 
Cam Smith, 3B, Houston Astros
Smith may have just been drafted last summer, but he is already making his presence known in MLB Spring Training. Blasting two home runs on Tuesday, Smith has now reached base in all of his plate appearances this spring. Being the helium prospect that we heard took a massive leap this offseason seems to be true. He looks the part.
Cam Smith, 3B, Houston Astros
Smith may have just been drafted last summer, but he is already making his presence known in MLB Spring Training. Blasting two home runs on Tuesday, Smith has now reached base in all of his plate appearances this spring. Being the helium prospect that we heard took a massive leap this offseason seems to be true. He looks the part.
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