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. 

At 9 AM (Eastern) on Thursday 11/2 (the day after the final game of the 2023 World Series), 3B-1B Jeimer Candelario, RHP Tyler Duffey, and RHP Shane Greene will be automatically declared Article XX-B MLB free agents and will be removed from the Cubs MLB 40-man roster. They do not have to file. It is automatic. At that same time, RHP Michael Fulmer will be reinstated from the MLB 60-day IL and will be declared an Article XX-B MLB free-agent. 

An unsigned player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who has accrued at least three but less than six years of MLB Service Time is automatically eligible for salary arbitration.

2023 Cubs Arizona Instructional League - Final Stats

There is no Official Scorer at AZIL games, so all stats are unofficial 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen" 

AZIL CUBS RECORD: 5-10-1 (16 games)

NOTE: Stats from AZIL Cubs intrasquad games are not included 
 

Ruben Santana belted a bases-loaded bases-clearing double and scored a run, Jackson Feltner hammered an RBI triple and scored a run, and Luis Caicuto drilled an RBI single, walked twice, and scored a run, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League game action Wednesday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ. 

Darius Perry drilled a game-tying RBI single in the 5th, Bryant Betancourt roped an RBI double in the 8th to break the 1-1 tie, and Skyler Messinger capped the scoring with a solo HR in the 9th, lifting the Rockies to a 3-1 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League game action Tuesday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

In four AZIL games played against the Cubs, Skyler Messinger has been a virtual one-man wrecking crew, going 6-14 with three singles, a double, a triple, and a HR, and four RBI. 

10/2 UPDATE: 

OF Christian Franklin has replaced OF Alexander Canario on the Mesa Solar Sox roster, and catcher (ex-INF) Carter Trice has been added to the Solar Sox Taxi Squad. 

Trice was the 12th round draft pick of the Cubs this past July out of NC State, and has been in the Catcher Conversion Program at AZ Instructs for the past six weeks. 
 

Despite a victory over the Brewers in the penultimate game of the season, the Cubs found themselves eliminated from the final NL Wild Card spot as the Marlins defeated the Pirates. The final game of the season will have no playoff stakes--but it's always nice to end on a win and send a rival to the postseason with a little whiff of failure. The Cubs will rest Justin Steele and give Drew Smyly the start. Look for role players and youngsters to get some opportunities as well. Adrian Houser, 7-5, 4.32 ERA, will start for the Brewers.