Ed Howard and David Avitia each smashed a three-run HR (Howard's a high-flying bomb over the right-centerfield fence, and Avitia's a big fly down the LF line), Yohendrick Pinango singled twice, doubled, and scored a run, Brett Bateman reached base four times (three walks and an HBP), stole a base, and scored a run, and SP Marino Santy hurled three innings of one hit / shutout ball, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to an 8-3 victory over the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants Hi-A affiliate) on Field # 6, and Javier Castillo drilled an RBI triple and a sing

SP Javier Assad walked across the street from Sloan Park to the Cubs backfields, and, pitching for the AAA Iowa Cubs squad and facing the AA Tennessee Smokies, hurled five innings (50 pitches - 34 strikes) of one-hit shutout ball with six strikeouts and 7/1 GO/AO, in Cubs Minor League Camp intrasquad squad game action Tuesday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Ben Brown fired 3.2 innings of perfect baseball with eight strikeouts (seven swinging), and Jonathon Long (RBI single), Christian Franklin (RBI double), and Jefferson Rojas (RBI single) stroked run-scoring hits, to highlight intrasquad game action at Cubs Minor League Camp Monday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.     

With the Cubs reportedly agreeing to a 3-year deal with two player opt outs, Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins's major moves in the 2024 free agent market have likely come to a close. Bellinger gets some security along with the potential to explore free agency again prior to age 30. The Cubs get a shorter investment and a reunion with one of their top position players from 2023. Bellinger's flexibility to play any outfield spot as well as first base means hardly anyone is really left on the outside looking in--although the likelihood of Pete Crow-Armstrong starting the year in Iowa increases.

Cubs pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in a week. What now appear to be the most urgent questions for each NL Central club? 

Let's start with the home team and move down last year's standings. 

1/11/24: The Cubs finalized their deal with Imanaga, settling on four years and an option for the fifth with some additional complexities. Today, they also traded Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris for DH/Corner IF Michael Busch and RP Yency Almonte. Busch looks to be competing with Morel, Mervis, and Wisdom for playing time, assuming none of them get traded before Spring Training. Catcher Brian Serven has been DFA'd to make room on the 40-man.

December 16, 2023: The first six weeks of the offseason have yielded little action by the Cubs' front office. Two rumored targets, free agent Shohei Ohtani and former Rays starting Pitcher Tyler Glasnow, have found their way to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jeimer Candelario, who could have been a versatile contributor for the Cubs, has landed in the crowded Reds infield instead. Let's take a look at the options that remain.

12/6 UPDATE: 

PLAYERS SELECTED BY CUBS IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE OF 2023 RULE 5 DRAFT:
NONE 

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE OF 2023 RULE 5 DRAFT: 
NONE

PLAYERS SELECTED BY CUBS IN AAA PHASE OF 2023 RULE 5 DRAFT (1): 
Hayden Cantrelle, INF (selected by AAA Iowa from San Francisco Giants AA Richmond roster)

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN AAA PHASE OF 2023 RULE 5 DRAFT (4):

The 2023 MLB Winter Meetings have kicked off with the Chicago Cubs rumored to be involved in some of the offseason's most desired players. Jed Hoyer et al. have already made the managerial splash of the year, bidding David Ross adieu and welcoming former Brewer Craig Counsell on a big ol' contract, by manager standards. 

11/17 UPDATE: 

The Cubs did not tender 2024 contracts to RHP Codi Heuer, LHP Brandon Hughes, or RHP Ethan Roberts, so the trio are now free agents, eligible to sign an MLB or minor league contract with any club, including the Cubs.

Patrick Wisdom signed a $2.725M one-year "pre-tender" contract to avoid being non-tendered.