Cubs 2018 3rd round draft pick Jimmy Herron (traded to Colorado for International Signing Bonus Pool space in July 2019) drilled a two-run HR, Hunter Goodman (Rockies # 12 prospect) belted a solo HR and doubled and scored, and SP Andrew Quezada tossed four innings of one hit shutout ball, leading the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies) to an 8-5 victory over the Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) on Field # 6, and Yanquiel Fernandez (Rockies # 3 prospect) slugged a towering two-run HR off the top of the RF "foul pole," Adael Amador (Rockies # 1 prospect)

Shota Imanaga threw 5.1 IP of one-run ball with 13 strikeouts (eight swinging) and Ed Howard singled twice, stole a base, scored a run, and drove-in two more, as the South Bend Cubs (Chicago Cubs Hi-A affiliate) edged the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants Hi-A affiliate) 3-2 on Field # 6, and Jordan Wicks hurled six innings of two hit / no run ball with eight strikeouts (all eight swinging) and combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) blanked the San Jose Giants (Lo-A affiliate of the Giants) 4-0 on Field # 5, in Cactus League

Jimmy Glowenke and Victor Bericoto each smacked a two-run HR, Heliot Ramos and Will Wilson belted solo home runs, and Brett Wisely doubled twice, scored a run, and drove-in another, as the Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco Giants AAA affiliate) rallied to edge to the Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) 9-8 on Field # 6, and SP Carson Ragsdale and four relievers combined to hurl a two-hit shutout as the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants AA affiliate) blanked the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) 1-0 on Field # 5, in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training game action Tues

Anderson Suriel belted an RBI triple and a two-run HR, Christian Olivo doubled twice, stole a base, scored one run, and drove-in another, Yohendrick Pinango drilled a triple and a single, and SP Dom Hambley hurled three innings of no-hit ball with four strikeouts, helping the Hi-A South Bend Cubs defeat the Lo-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans 7-5 on Field # 5, and SP Connor Noland fired three innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts and Carter Trice drilled a two-run single, as the AA Tennessee Smokies defeated the AAA Iowa Cubs 5-2 on Field # 6, in Cubs Minor League Camp intrasquad game

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.