I’ve been trying to reconnect with some old friends lately. There’s no real reason for it as near as I can tell, but maybe that’s just something that comes to you periodically throughout life. I figure if I’ve got the urge to reach out, why not just do it?
The Cubs will send out Colin Rea today for his first start of the spring, and I think it’s safe to assume he’ll keep getting stretched out as a starter throughout camp regardless of the rest of the rotation. Not only did he mostly start the last couple years with the Brewers, but (1) he seems to have the ability to pretty quickly adjust to a long relief role in the bullpen if needed, and (2) I still can’t shake the feeling that the Cubs will be doing some non-traditional things with their rotation group this year. I’m not saying exactly a six-man, and I’m not saying exactly that it’ll be piggybacks, but something. And something that might be aided by having six+ guys fully stretched out come the first week of the season. Nominally, though, Rea is competing with Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown (and Brad Keller?) for the 5th starter job while Javier Assad is out. Unfortunately Owen Caissie’s groin issue is indeed a strain, so he’s completely shut down from baseball activities. Craig Counsell didn’t specify exactly what grade strain or how long Caissie will be out, but it definitely doesn’t sound like a very quick return situation. Although he was not likely to make the Opening Day roster in any case, because he’s on the 40-man, the path was there for Owen Caissie to get big league playing time if there were an injury or two ahead of him. Now it seems likely, at least early on, that Kevin Alcántara is much more likely to be that medium-term type of fill-in, with newly-signed veterans like Travis Jankowski and Greg Allen in the mix if there is a significant rash of injuries before April. Speaking of which, you sure hope there isn’t that kind of rash of injuries that would’ve made it possible for Alexander Canario to make the team, rather than have to hit waivers at the end of the spring. The Cubs jumped that gun by DFA’ing Canario last week to make room for Justin Turner, and here’s hoping they don’t come to regret it. Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for that DFA to resolve – could be a waiver claim or a trade in the next couple days. The Brewers have added to their bench mix, signing Mark Canha to a minor league deal, per Jon Heyman. Canha, 36, fell off a bit last year with the Tigers and Giants, but he was still an above-average overall bat, with the ability to play all over the outfield and at first base. He also raked against lefties. Still probably a very useful player, and the kind of guy who gets a “minor league deal” at this point in the offseason but is very much expected to make the team (on a deal that’ll pay him something over the minimum when he actually does get added to the 26-man). Cheap and effective add for the Brewers. Canha joins the Brewers at the same time the team loses sterling defensive outfielder Blake Perkins (shin fracture) for an undetermined period of time. They also previously added Manny Margot, so they will actually have a crowded group when Perkins does return (Garrett Mitchell, Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Canha, Perkins, Margot). The Cardinals and Astros have reportedly restarted their Nolan Arenado trade talks, which fell off a couple months ago when Arenado veto’d a would-be traded to Houston (thanks in part to the timing of the Astros trading Kyle Tucker to the Cubs). But there is currently no expectation that a deal will come together. The Dodgers will not have Evan Phillips available for the Tokyo Series against the Cubs. Not sure they’ll have enough pitching to compete at this point. Another great thing to see in the Nico Hoerner throwing progression:Nico Hoerner threw long toss today on the agility field at Sloan Park, under the supervision of the Cubs training staff.#Cubs pic.twitter.com/nuGnRcKYBk
“You can feel the experience in the locker room.”Justin Steele on the Cubs’ additions this offseason ? pic.twitter.com/pWddKbm4CI
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 22, 2025 This is so good:Chris Bassitt is serving as the Blue Jays ball boy today after finishing 4-10 in the teams fantasy football leagueIt is also Bassitt’s 36th birthday today pic.twitter.com/ou5ap5XsQN
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 22, 2025 Also good, and also the spirit of Spring Training:YOU EVER SEEN A BASES-CLEARING SAC FLY?! pic.twitter.com/z7s4wjuytB
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 22, 2025ELSEWHERE AT BN: Check Out BN Fantasy | Subscribe to The BN Newsletter
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