December 11, 2017

Daily Herald, Reports: Cubs reach two-year deal with reliever Morrow http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20171210/reports-cubs-reach-two-year-deal-with-reliever-morrow

Daily Herald, Epstein: 'We don't try to sell players on team' http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20171209/epstein-we-dont-try-to-sell-players-on-team

Daily Herald, As winter meetings begin, Cubs' Epstein says Chatwood signing just the start http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20171209/as-winter-meetings-begin-cubs-epstein-says-chatwood-signing-just-the-start

Cubs.com, Cubs reportedly nearing deal with Morrow https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-near-deal-to-sign-reliever-brandon-morrow/c-263202952

Cubs.com, Cubs arrive for Meetings with 1 blank filled in https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-arrive-for-meetings-after-chatwood-deal/c-263186996

Cubs.com, Hendry aims to reunite with life-saving doctor https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/jim-hendry-on-hospital-visit-at-2006-meetings/c-263076810

Cubs.com, No-htani? No problem: Cubs set to move on https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-move-on-from-shohei-ohtani-pursuit/c-263143140

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' small investments add up to value on the mound http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/46286/cubs-depth-minded-moves-add-up-value-on-the-mound

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs agree to terms with former Dodgers reliever Brandon Morrow http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21731198/chicago-cubs-agree-terms-los-angeles-dodgers-reliever-brandon-morrow

NBC Sports Chicago, The 3 biggest Cubs questions as MLB Winter Meetings kick off http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/3-biggest-cubs-questions-mlb-winter-meetings-theo-epstein-maddon-alex-cobb-brandon-morrow-chatwood-wade-davis-schwarber

NBC Sports Chicago, New report suggests Cubs likely to pursue Rays All-Star pitchers Chris Archer and Alex Colome http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/new-report-suggests-cubs-likely-pursue-rays-all-star-pitchers-chris-archer-and-alex-colome

NBC Sports Chicago, Giancarlo Stanton reportedly heading to Yankees: What's it mean for the Cubs and the Bryce Harper sweepstakes in 2019? http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/giancarlo-stanton-reportedly-heading-yankees-whats-it-mean-cubs-and-bryce-harper-sweepstakes

Chicago Tribune, Miguel Montero and Geovany Soto aren't ready to retire yet http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-geovany-soto-miguel-montero-20171211-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs reach 2-year deal with reliever Brandon Morrow http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-baseball-winter-meetings-20171210-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Bryce Harper watch begins early on the North Side http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-bryce-harper-giancarlo-stanton-sullivan-20171209-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Life goes on for Cubs after losing out on Shohei Ohtani http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-theo-epstein-20171208-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' bid falls short as Shohei Ohtani chooses Angels http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-shohei-ohtani-angels-20171208-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, GREENBERG: Don’t trade Schwarber before we see him play in new body https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/chicago-cubs-kyle-schwarber-baseball-winter-meetings/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs land top bullpen target, agree to 2-year deal with Brandon Morrow https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-land-top-bullpen-target-agree-to-2-year-deal-with-brandon-morrow/

Chicago Sun-Times, As Cubs move on from Shohei Ohtani, big offseason goals still in play https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/as-cubs-move-on-from-shohei-ohtani-big-offseason-goals-still-in-play/

Chicago Sun-Times, Bittersweet day for Cubs as Ohtani picks Angels, Stanton rejects Cards https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/shohei-ohtani-decides-to-sign-with-angels/

-- Daily Herald Reports: Cubs reach two-year deal with reliever Morrow By Bruce Miles The Cubs got an eyeful of relief pitcher Brandon Morrow in the National League championship series in October. Now it looks like he's on their side.

Reports out of Orlando, where baseball's winter meetings are getting under way, say the Cubs have agreed with Morrow to a two-year contract, with a possible option for a third year, worth approximately $10 million to $11 million per year. The deal is expected to become official once Morrow passes a physical exam. The 33-year-old right-hander was 6-0 with a 2.06 ERA and a tidy WHIP of 0.92 and no home runs in 45 regular-season games this past season with the Dodgers. In the NLCS against the Cubs, Morrow pitched in 4 games, working 4⅔ innings and giving up 1 hit and no home runs. Morrow pitched for the Seattle Mariners from 2007-09, the Toronto Blue Jays from 2010-14, the San Diego Padres from 2015-16 and with the Dodgers in 2017. For his career, he is 51-43 with a 4.05 ERA and a WHIP of 1.32 in 299 games, 113 starts. He could wind up being the Cubs' closer, with the expected departure of Wade Davis via free agency. The Cubs last Thursday signed starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood to a three-year, $38 million contract. Chatwood is expected to be the Cubs' fourth or fifth starter. Other reports out of Orlando say the Cubs could be closing in on starting pitcher Alex Cobb, a free agent from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Cubs recently hired former Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey to fill that role in Chicago. -- Daily Herald Epstein: 'We don't try to sell players on team' By Bruce Miles The Cubs fell short in their bid to land free-agent pitcher-hitter Shohei Ohtani, who agreed to terms Friday with the Los Angeles Angels. Just as they did three years ago with pitcher Jon Lester, the Cubs did their best to woo Ohtani to Chicago, meeting with him on the West Coast and extolling the virtues of being a Cub. But Cubs president Theo Epstein said late last week the organization doesn't have to do a selling job to players, even though that's what they were doing. The Cubs did enough to land free-agent pitcher Tyler Chatwood, who signed Thursday. "I don't think we ever sell anything," Epstein said. "When it come to players like Tyler, you just engage in conversations, talk about how we try to go about winning here, how we go about trying to treat our players and hear his perspective, what he's looking for in a team, what he's looking for in teammates and what he's looking for in the front office. "It's just a good baseball conversation, and that way hopefully the players end up where they want to be and where they're supposed to be and you end up with a type of player and person that you want. It's an exchange of ideas. And you always just tell the truth. You don't get in 'sell' mode. When you start selling something, you've got to be careful what you end up with." Svelte Schwarber: Based on photos circulated online, it appears left fielder Kyle Schwarber is slim and trim. The Cubs' media guide lists Schwarber at 6-feet, 235 pounds.

This past season, Schwarber hit 30 home runs, with a batting line of .211/.315/.467. He had 59 walks and 150 strikeouts. Theo Epstein praised Schwarber's off-season work so far. "It was mutual," he said. "We brought it up with him. He told us that he had made it a priority that he was going to get in the best shape of his life and realize now that to be the left fielder he needs to be and be the hitter that he needs to be that this is something that he wanted to do, to take control of the controllables. You can control what kind of shape you get into in the off-season. A lot of this game you can't control. He's looking to dominate everything under his control. This one of them." Hard to say goodbye: Theo Epstein had good words to say about reliever Hector Rondon, to whom the Cubs did not tender a contract. In five seasons, Rondon racked up 77 saves, good for sixth on the team's all-time leaderboard. He lost his closer's job in the middle of the 2016 season, when the Cubs traded for Aroldis Chapman. They obtained Wade Davis to close in 2017. "It was tough," Epstein said of letting Rondon become a free agent. "He helped us win a World Series. He's helped us get to the (championship series) three years in a row and been a huge part of this turnaround. "We certainly thanked him for everything that he's done. I think this will end up being good for him, get him in a spot where he can pitch reliable innings late in the game. He thrives on pitching deep in the game and being trusted with that kind of role. It just evolved to a point where that was a little bit tough for him here, but I think he's got a lot of good baseball left ahead of him." -- Daily Herald As winter meetings begin, Cubs' Epstein says Chatwood signing just the start By Bruce Miles Baseball's winter meetings happen later than usual this year, meaning they'll run deeper into the Christmas buying season. Maybe there are some last-minute stocking stuffers awaiting the Cubs, who did their part to jump-start a slow-developing off-season with Thursday's signing of free-agent pitcher Tyler Chatwood. On Friday, Japanese pitcher-hitter Shohei Ohtani announced he would sign with the Los Angeles Angels. And early Saturday, the New York Yankees acquired slugger Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins in a deal that reports say will become official pending physical exams. Perhaps the dam has broken. "I don't know," said Cubs president Theo Epstein, who will head the organization's delegation in Orlando for the winter meetings, which officially open Monday. "Things will happen. The winter meetings are a little bit later this year. I think that's why the wait seems like it's longer this year than most."

Chatwood is only the beginning for the Cubs, who need another starting pitcher as well as additions to their bullpen. Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer will meet with representatives for free agents as well as most other team executives to talk possible trades. "We've got plenty more work to do," Epstein said. "We're certainly not done. Obviously, the focus of the winter has been pitching. We need to continue to add to the rotation and retool the bullpen to a certain extent. "(The Chatwood signing) is one thing we were able to accomplish before the winter. That'll just help us focus on our remaining needs." Over the years, Epstein and Hoyer have liked getting ahead of the market as much as possible, and signing Chatwood was an example of that. "There are times to strike quickly, and there are times to wait back and get value," Epstein said. "Starting pitching is an area where I felt like there was more demand than supply. In certain areas of the relief market, there's a lot of supply. We felt like if we could get the right starter on a reasonable deal before the winter meetings, that was something we'd like to do. It wasn't something we felt we had to do, but Tyler's somebody we've had a lot of interest in for a long time." Chief among the Cubs' bullpen needs is a closer. Epstein said he is interested in re-signing free agent Wade Davis, who was outstanding in his one year here last season. Ditto for starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, although re-signing either pitcher will take some doing. The winter meetings have become more of a symbolic benchmark in recent years because teams now can make trades or sign players at any time. But that symbolism remains strong, and there's always a chance something gets done when people meet face to face. Momentum for the Cubs to sign ace pitcher Jon Lester picked up steam at the winter meetings three years ago. The key is for teams not to get caught up in the hype and make a deal just to make a deal. "It's just a frenzied environment at the winter meetings, even within your own suite," Epstein said. "We're used to operating with six to eight people within the decision-making circle. All of a sudden at the winter meeting, you have 30 people in there. It's important to remind yourself of that and then step back and not get caught up in any sort of deal momentum, and try to recreate your normal decision-making processes." -- Cubs.com Cubs reportedly nearing deal with Morrow By Carrie Muskat LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla -- The Cubs may be close to finding their next closer. According to MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman, the Cubs are finalizing a deal with free-agent right-hander Brandon Morrow. The Cubs would not confirm the report. Morrow, 33, is coming off his best season since he was converted to a full-time reliever, posting a 2.06 ERA over 43 2/3 innings with the Dodgers. He set career-highs in strikeout rate (29.1 percent) and WHIP

(0.92) while not giving up a home run all season. Morrow's 240 xwOBA was ninth-lowest among relievers with at least 100 batters faced. The Cubs have been in the market for a closer since Wade Davis filed for free agency. Morrow has some closing experience, saving 16 games for the Mariners in 2008-09. The right-hander does have electric stuff and his fastball averaged 97.7 mph last season. Morrow was the Dodgers' setup man last season, although he did collect two saves in the second half. He also was used in 14 of Los Angeles' 15 postseason games, and in four games against the Cubs in the National League Championship Series, he gave up one hit, walked one and struck out seven over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Adding pitching has been the Cubs' primary objective this offseason. Starters Jake Arrieta and John Lackey as well as relievers Koji Uehara and Brian Duensing are all free agents, while the club non-tendered Hector Rondon. The Cubs did make a qualifying offer to Davis and haven't ruled out his possible return. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he planned to talk to Davis' agent during the Winter Meetings, which officially open Monday. Several reports this weekend also had free agent right-hander Addison Reed high on the Cubs' wish list. -- Cubs.com Cubs arrive for Meetings with 1 blank filled in By Carrie Muskat LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Before the Cubs' contingent arrived for the Winter Meetings, they were able to check an item off their to-do list by signing free-agent pitcher Tyler Chatwood. But there's much more to do, starting Monday. "We're certainly not done," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said after locking up Chatwood to a three-year, $38 million contract on Thursday. "The focus of the winter has been pitching, and we need to continue to add to the rotation and retool the bullpen. [Signing Chatwood] is one thing we were able to accomplish before the [Meetings], and that will help us focus on our remaining needs even more." The Cubs knew as soon as the 2017 season ended they had to find more pitching. Closer Wade Davis and starters Jake Arrieta and John Lackey all are free agents, and the Cubs decided to non-tender former closer Hector Rondon. Epstein will meet with the agents for Arrieta and Davis at some point during the next four days, but Cubs fans should not expect a reunion. The Cubs acquired Davis at last year's Winter Meetings from the Royals for outfielder Jorge Soler. Now, looking for their fourth closer in as many years, they might've found him in free-agent right-hander Brandon Morrow, who is reportedly finalizing a deal. With Rondon, Brian Duensing and Koji Uehara gone, the Cubs have work to do with the rest of the bullpen, too. They did sign lefty Dario Alvarez, who Epstein said could be a key addition.

"He has one of the nastiest left-handed sliders in the game," Epstein said of Alvarez, who posted a 2.76 ERA in 20 games with the Rangers last season. "We're looking forward to seeing him in Spring Training. If he throws strikes with that slider, he can certainly help anybody. He's got options as well. He provides good depth for us." Getting a starter before the Meetings began was a priority. "Starting pitching is an area where I felt there was more demand than supply, and maybe in certain areas in the relief market, there's a lot of supply," Epstein said. "We felt if we could get the right starter on a reasonable deal before the Winter Meetings, it was something we'd like to do. It wasn't something we felt we had to do. Tyler was somebody we had a lot of interest in for a long time." Pitching may be the top priority, but the Cubs are looking to find bench players to complement their young core, especially with Jon Jay and veteran catchers Alex Avila and Rene Rivera gone. The Cubs were impressed with catcher Victor Caratini, who could be the backup to Willson Contreras if they can't find the right match. One name the Cubs can cross off their wish list is Shohei Ohtani, who announced on Friday he was picking the Angels. The Cubs did make a presentation to the Japanese two-way player, and Epstein was expected to discuss their bid during a media briefing on Monday afternoon. Cubs manager Joe Maddon will meet with the media on Tuesday, and the Winter Meetings will close on Thursday with the Rule 5 Draft. The Cubs' 40-man roster is at 35. -- Cubs.com Hendry aims to reunite with life-saving doctor By Carrie Muskat Next week, when Jim Hendry is back in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., for baseball's Winter Meetings, he's going to try to contact the man who saved his life 11 years ago, Dr. J. In December 2006, Dr. Pradipkumar Jamnadas -- who told Hendry to call him "Dr. J" -- performed an emergency angioplasty on the then Cubs general manager, who didn't let the life-threatening situation stop him from signing free-agent left-hander Ted Lilly while on a gurney. "The guy saved my life," Hendry said this week about Jamnadas. "Before I got there, the residents said, 'You don't know how lucky you are. This guy is on call four days a month and he's the best in this hospital by far.'" The 62-year-old Hendry, who is now a special assistant to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, is very thankful. A little background: The Cubs finished last in the National League Central in 2006 and Hendry was busy revamping the roster before the Meetings. Lou Piniella was named the new manager in early November, and the Cubs then went on a spending spree, signing Aramis Ramirez to a five-year, $73 million deal, Mark DeRosa to a three-year, $13 million contract, and both Kerry Wood and Henry Blanco. The big splash came when the Cubs inked Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $136 million deal.

Going into the Winter Meetings, which were held at the same hotel they will be at next week, the Cubs were targeting Lilly, who also was being pursued by the Yankees. On the first day, Hendry had some discomfort in his chest, but shrugged it off. He munched on antacid tablets like they were candy. The next day, the Cubs team physician, Dr. Stephen Adams, examined Hendry, but the general manager downplayed the problem. Hendry was to introduce Tim Wilken at the Scout of the Year banquet, but Piniella and others in the Cubs' front office finally convinced the GM to go to a local hospital. Hendry said no to an ambulance, so Piniella drove him, along with Scott Nelson, who was the Cubs' director of baseball operations at the time. Hendry underwent an EKG, and thought that was it. He got dressed and made some phone calls, but the doctor wanted to do another EKG. Hendry offered to come back the next morning. The doctor said the GM might not make it to the next day. O'Brien, unaware of what was happening, called Hendry, who was still on the gurney, hooked up to the EKG machine. Hendry said the Cubs' final offer for Lilly was four years and $40 million. O'Brien's response: "We've got a deal." "I don't know why to this day I was hooked up on the gurney and had the phone in my hand," Hendry said this week, recalling the incident. "The story is more heroic than reality. I did not know when I took the phone call from Larry O'Brien that I was going to have this potentially life or death surgery an hour later 30 miles away." Still on the gurney, Hendry wanted to welcome Lilly to the Cubs and called the pitcher -- but didn't say where he was. Lilly, now a special assistant to Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, did find out later. Hendry was taken to another hospital 30 miles away. While he was in the ambulance with Nelson, Hendry called some of the Cubs' staff, giving instructions on what to do during the Rule 5 Draft. The paramedic accompanying them suggested Hendry might want to call family members. "He said, 'You better call the people you love instead of the people you work with,'" Hendry said. Hendry did contact his daughter Lauren and son John, who were 10 and 8 at the time, and told them that they may see something on the news about him but it was not a big deal and their dad was going to be fine. The kids were supposed to meet their father in Orlando after the Winter Meetings. "[Lauren] said, 'Dad, does that mean we're not going to Disney World?'" Hendry said, laughing now at his daughter's response. When Hendry got to the hospital, he met Jamnadas, a cardiologist, who did the angioplasty and inserted four stents. Dr. J did great. Hendry said when he goes for his checkups now, the staff says it's as if he never had a heart attack. "Truthfully, I've never had one day since then that I've had a twinge in my heart or discomfort, or 'I better get this checked' or think, 'Here we go again,'" Hendry said. "They were right -- looking back, he did a phenomenal job."

By the way, Hendry didn't waste his rehab time. While he was intensive care, the Cubs reached an agreement on a three-year, $21 million deal with Jason Marquis. -- Cubs.com No-htani? No problem: Cubs set to move on By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- As much as manager Joe Maddon was intrigued by having Shohei Ohtani in the rotation and possibly the outfield, the Cubs were eliminated on Friday when the Japanese player's agent announced Ohtani had picked the Angels. The Cubs were one of seven finalists, making a presentation to the two-way player and his representatives on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The other teams involved along with the Angels and Cubs were the Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, Padres and Rangers. "While there has been much speculation about what would drive Shohei's decision, what mattered to him most wasn't market size, time zone or league but that he felt a true bond with the Angels," agent Nez Balelo said in a statement released Friday. "He sees this as the best environment to develop and reach the next level and attain his career goals." A right-handed pitcher and left-handed-hitting slugger, Ohtani, 23, was believed to have preferred a team on the West Coast, which made the Cubs a surprise finalist. The Angels were limited to paying Ohtani a $2.315 milllion bonus, as well as the $20 million posting fee to the Nippon-Ham Fighters. The Cubs were restricted even more in international bonus money because they overspent their allotment last year and could have paid Ohtani a $300,000 signing bonus. On Thursday, the Cubs introduced new starter Tyler Chatwood, who signed a three-year, $38 million contract and will likely be slotted at the back end of the rotation after Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana. At the news conference, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein would not comment on the club's meeting with Ohtani out of respect for the player and the process. Getting Chatwood before baseball executives gather for the Winter Meetings, which officially open on Monday, gives the Cubs a little bit of a head start. They are still in the market for another starter after losing both Jake Arrieta and John Lackey to free agency and are looking for a new closer with Wade Davis becoming a free agent. "Starting pitching is an area where I felt there was more demand than supply, and maybe in certain areas in the relief market, there's a lot of supply," Epstein said. "We felt if we could get the right starter on a reasonable deal before the Winter Meetings, it was something we'd like to do. Tyler was somebody we had a lot of interest in for a long time." Whether it was the chance to be a designated hitter as well as pitch, have Mike Trout as a teammate, or play in Southern California that convinced Ohtani to chose the Angels over the Cubs and the others, only he knows. "Shohei is humbled and flattered by all the time and effort that so many teams put into their presentations and sincerely thanks them for their professionalism," Balelo said in the statement. "In the

end, he felt a strong connection with the Angels and believes they can best help him reach his goals in Major League Baseball." -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs' small investments add up to value on the mound By Jesse Rogers LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The winter meetings aren’t even a day old, and already, the Chicago Cubs' strategy is coming into focus. Actually, it began to come into focus last Thursday, when the Cubs signed right-hander Tyler Chatwood to a three-year deal for $38 million. On Sunday, they agreed to a two-year contract with righty Brandon Morrow, who should be the team’s closer, considering his reported $10 million-plus per year salary. The Cubs haven’t commented yet, as Morrow’s deal is not yet official. What do the two signings have in common? Besides occurring before the winter meetings officially kicked in, they both represent a relatively small investment by the team. Instead of committing longer term in years and dollars to Wade Davis, Jake Arrieta or other bigger names, the Cubs elected to keep some flexibility while filling the holes on the staff. Of course, the saying "you get what you pay for" comes to mind with signing second-tier guys, but that isn't to say Chatwood and Morrow won’t be excellent for their new team. Even so, the Cubs chose certainty in signing them while conceivably leaving the door open for a bigger contract. It’s not like the Cubs have run out of money. So far, they've taken a more measured approach, and that keeps them from being forced to make a move. With openings all over the pitching staff as winter began, the last thing the front office wanted was to be left rushing to fill holes. “It’s such a frenzied environment at the winter meetings,” Theo Epstein said last week. “It’s important to step back and not get caught up in any sort of deal momentum.” With two solid pitchers added to the fold, the Cubs can conceivably still discuss deals with Arrieta and/or Davis, though the chance that either player returns feels like a longer shot today than it did a week ago. More than likely, the Cubs will continue with the path they're on, as free-agent righty Alex Cobb is still on their radar. His situation should gain some clarity in the coming days, and a contract for him would be closer to that of Chatwood’s than Arrieta’s. The Cubs' strategy might have been different if they had just one hole to fill -- say, for an ace. Then a huge contract for Arrieta or another pitcher would make more sense. But signing Arrieta and then filling two or three other holes on the staff -- without a trade -- probably wasn’t in the budget. The Cubs are doing things the right way because these smaller investments are allowing them to fill out their staff without losing the one thing that makes them special: depth. Smaller free-agent signings combined with keeping their base of position players intact while still allowing Arrieta or another bigger name to return might just be the best way to go when you consider how much the Cubs needed this offseason. The Cubs aren’t finished, but they’re well on their way to accomplishing their goals. Their approach might not be the right strategy every winter, but it very well might be for this one. --

ESPNChicago.com Cubs agree to terms with former Dodgers reliever Brandon Morrow By Jesse Rogers ORLANDO, Fla. -- After an impressive performance against them in the National League Championship Series, the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a two-year deal with free-agent right-hander Brandon Morrow, according to sources familiar with the situation. The club has not confirmed the signing. The deal is worth $21 million and includes a $12 million vesting option for 2020, a source confirmed to ESPN's Buster Olney. The value of the deal was first reported by The Athletic. Morrow, 33, pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, compiling a 2.06 ERA with 2 saves in 45 games. With last year's closer for the Cubs, Wade Davis, becoming a free agent, Morrow could end up finishing games for Chicago after his numbers were spectacular in 2016. His 5.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio was easily the best of his career, as he helped shut down his new team in the postseason, pitching 4 2/3 innings against them while allowing just one hit and striking out seven. The Cubs' bullpen had issues in the playoffs, producing a 4.52 ERA and 53 walks in just 10 games. Morrow is the second pitcher to join the Cubs since last Thursday. Tyler Chatwood agreed to a three-year deal and will join the rotation. The Cubs are still after more arms as the winter meetings begin. Free-agent righty Alex Cobb has had the Cubs' interest, though no deal is imminent. -- NBC Sports Chicago The 3 biggest Cubs questions as MLB Winter Meetings kick off By Tony Andracki LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — As the baseball world descended upon Disney World, the Cubs are sitting pretty. Theo Epstein's front office is poised to make "The Happiest Place on Earth" a reality as they already appear to have some of their major offseason issues resolved. The Cubs reportedly have an agreement in place with late-inning reliever Brandon Morrow, a move that should be announced Monday once a physical is passed, the "I" are dotted and the "T"s are crossed. Couple that with last Thursday's signing of starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood and the Cubs' search for pitching has gone well even if they missed out on 23-year-old Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani. However, while the Cubs are in an enviable position of filling most of the pressing holes on their roster entering the MLB Winter Meetings, there are still questions to be answered. Here are the top three questions facing Theo and Co. in Florida this week: 1. Who will fill the final rotation spot? The Cubs are said to be pushing hard for Alex Cobb to fill out their starting staff, but as of the official tipoff of the Winter Meetings, no deal had been reached.

Cobb and the Cubs have been linked since before the right-hander even reached free agency. There was a clear need for another starter on Chicago's North Side heading into the winter and Cobb had the connection with Joe Maddon from their days together in Tampa Bay. Cobb's connection to the Cubs was strengthened when Maddon hired former Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey to serve in the same role in Chicago. If the Cubs are able to secure Cobb's services, they will have their starting rotation set for 2018: Jon Lester Kyle Hendricks Jose Quintana Alex Cobb Tyler Chatwood Depending on the length of the deal for Cobb, the Cubs could have some rotation consistency for the next several seasons as all four current starters (Lester, Hendricks, Quintana, Chatwood) are signed through the 2020 season. However, if the Cubs and Cobb can't come to an agreement — they are hardly the only team bidding on the 30-year-old's services — who will be the fifth and final starter? The free agent market is rather slim after Cobb, Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish, though the trade market is clearly an option with the Cubs currently possessing a surplus of young position players. 2. Will the Cubs pull off any major trades? There's no doubt the Cubs will be linked to plenty of trade rumors throughout the week at Disney World, but will anything actually come to fruition? Kyle Schwarber has been linked to a pair of American League East teams — the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox — over the last few days, but it'd be tough to see the Cubs sell low on a guy they absolutely love. Forget the fact that he's lost a bunch of weight and in the best shape of his life (which does matter if he's to improve his range in the outfield), here's how Epstein explained why the Cubs feel such a personal attachment to America's Now-Not-So-Large Adult Son: "I will say that it's really an organization-wide evaluation of this player," Epstein said the day after the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Cubs from the NLCS in October. "But I'm not skirting responsbility. I'll happily endorse him. He's the type of the player that we want to win here with the Cubs and have won with. "The fact that he hit 30 bombs in a bad year is a good start. But power is not everything. I think he fell into this year becoming a little bit more of a slugger and less of a hitter than he really is. That's important for him to get his identity back as a hitter, as a dangerous hitter that honestly, we feel he has the potential to be an all-around hitter on the level of Anthony Rizzo, per se. "When he reaches his prime, I think we feel like that's what he could be. He's got certain toughness and certain leadership qualities that are hard to find that we don't necessarily have in surplus in abundance running around in this clubhouse and organization. Certain energy and grit and ability to bring people

together. That's important. We rely on it. But the biggest thing is his bat. We think he's the type of offensive player that you build around along with a couple other guys like him." You'll be hard-pressed to find a better public endorsement of any player from Epstein. But even if Schwarber isn't dealt, the Cubs can still trade any number of guys from a pool that includes Ian Happ, Albert Almora Jr., Javy Baez or Addison Russell. 3. Will Morrow have any other new bullpen mates? Assuming Morrow's deal doesn't hit any snags, will the Cubs add any other relief reinforcements this week? It's a pretty good bet to take. Never in the history of baseball have relievers had such an impact on important games — particularly in October — and the Cubs clearly understand that as well as anybody. After Maddon's mix-and-match approach with the bullpen the last two postseasons, the Cubs clearly cannot go into 2018 with World Series expectations when they boast essentially the same relief corps, with Morrow replacing Wade Davis. Speaking of Davis, the presence of Morrow doesn't necessarily mean the 2017 Cubs closer with "huge balls" won't be returning. Morrow's reported $10+ million per year makes a Davis return less likely, but the Cubs certainly need another impact reliever and Morrow can slot in as a seventh/eighth inning setup guy. Here's how the Cubs bullpen depth chart looks right now (with Morrow inserted): Brandon Morrow Carl Edwards Jr. Pedro Strop Mike Montgomery Justin Wilson Justin Grimm Dario Alvarez Plenty of high-leverage relief options remain available on the open market, including Brandon Kintzler (whom the Cubs were linked to this week), Addison Reed, Anthony Swarzak, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw. -- NBC Sports Chicago New report suggests Cubs likely to pursue Rays All-Star pitchers Chris Archer and Alex Colome By Vinnie Duber The Cubs might be looking to bring a little bit of Florida sunshine to the North Side this winter. Already rumored to be interested in signing free-agent pitcher Alex Cobb — something that might be a tad less likely after signing starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood a few days ago — a new report Saturday indicated the Cubs are likely to pursue a trade with Cobb's old team, the Tampa Bay Rays, in an attempt to secure the pitching services of Chris Archer and Alex Colome.

There's always been plenty of "what if" surrounding Archer and the Cubs, who dealt the right-hander away back in 2011 as part of the deal that brought Matt Garza to Chicago. Archer has been on plenty of fan wish lists over the years, too, as he's had a great run in his six big league seasons with the Rays, making a pair of All-Star appearances, posting a career 3.63 ERA and making at least 32 starts in each of the last four seasons. Archer's numbers have been slightly less appealing in the past two years, a combined 4.05 ERA in 2016 and 2017 after turning in a combined 3.28 ERA in 2014 and 2015. But he's still just 29 years old and considered one of the game's better arms. Colome, meanwhile, led baseball with 47 saves last season and has saved a combined 84 games over the past two campaigns. He was an All Star in 2016, and he finished that season with a pencil-thin 1.91 ERA. Archer is under team control through 2021, while Colome is under team control through 2020. Certainly the Cubs are in the market for another starting pitcher and a closer thanks to the free-agent departures of Jake Arrieta, John Lackey and Wade Davis. Losing Arrieta and Lackey put a significant hole in the starting rotation, though the signing of Chatwood filled one of those two open spots. The Cubs are shorter on options when it comes to a ninth-inning man. They've been connected to free-agent relievers Brandon Morrow and Brandon Kintzler this offseason, and there's the potential option of bringing Davis back on a new contract, one that figures to be expensive after he converted 32 of 33 save opportunities in 2017. Archer and Colome would knock two huge items off Theo Epstein's offseason to-do list. But as Rogers mentioned, it will likely take a big-time return package to net a couple of All-Star pitchers. The Cubs' minor league system has been seriously depleted in recent years as many of the organization's biggest names have either reached the big leagues — helping the team to that curse-smashing World Series win in 2016 — or been traded away in midseason deals for Aroldis Chapman and Jose Quintana in the last two years. That means it'd likely take multiple guys on the major league roster to acquire Archer and/or Colome. The same names that have been speculated about this offseason would once more figure to come into play in this discussion: Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ. But perhaps Javier Baez and others would be needed to swing a deal like this, too. Of course, the Cubs would figure to have tremendous scouting reports on Archer and Colome — and Cobb, for that matter — with not only Joe Maddon's history in St. Petersburg, but also with Jim Hickey now on Maddon's staff as the Cubs' new pitching coach. Hickey came to Chicago this offseason after 11 seasons with Tampa Bay. It remains to be seen if anything comes of this at the Winter Meetings, which begin Monday in Florida, or later on this offseason. Certainly starting pitcher and closer are two areas of need for the Cubs, but they might not have the assets to pull off a trade of such magnitude. -- NBC Sports Chicago Giancarlo Stanton reportedly heading to Yankees: What's it mean for the Cubs and the Bryce Harper sweepstakes in 2019? By Vinnie Duber Giancarlo Stanton is reportedly heading to the Big Apple.

According to multiple Saturday morning reports, the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins have agreed on a deal and Stanton is expected to approve it, sending the National League MVP to the Bronx. The implications are many for baseball, with Stanton — who belted 59 home runs last season, the most since Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa hit 73 and 64 dingers, respectively, in 2001 — teaming with American League Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge — who smacked a rookie record 52 homers in 2017 — to create the most formidable middle of the order in the game. After coming close to reaching the World Series in 2017, losing to the eventual-champion Houston Astros in the AL Championship Series, the Yankees could be the presumed favorite heading into 2018. But what's all this mean for the Cubs? The most obvious effect is that Stanton is out of the NL, making things easier for the North Siders, though the Marlins weren't much competition to begin with, finishing eight games below .500 last season. And Stanton rejected a trade to the Cubs' division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, on Friday, meaning they dodged a bullet not having Stanton slugging in the NL Central. But the Cubs were one of four teams on Stanton's reported short list of clubs he'd approve a trade to. This could be viewed as the Cubs missing out on the offseason's two biggest targets in as many days, with Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani picking the Los Angeles Angels over the Cubs and five other finalists Friday. But just because Stanton said he'd like to play on the North Side doesn't mean the Cubs were ever actually showing any interest or talking with the Marlins about a deal. Instead, the biggest effect of this trade from a Cubs standpoint figures to come a year from now, when Bryce Harper becomes one of the biggest and most sought-after free agents in baseball history. The Washington Nationals star has been on Cubs fans' wish list for a few years now as his impending free agency draws closer. There has been plenty of speculation that the Yankees would be a leading candidate for Harper's services, with their historically deep pockets and rapid rebuild that has them near the top of the baseball heap once again. But does the Stanton trade knock them out of the running? Stanton's contract is gargantuan, a massive 13-year deal when he signed it that still has as many as 10 years and $259 million remaining (he can opt out after the 2020 season). Plus, Stanton and Judge are both corner outfielders, the same position that Harper plays. With those corner outfield spots and a whole ton of money spoken for between Stanton and Judge, the Yankees might no longer make sense as a destination for Harper, arguably baseball's biggest star. The Cubs, meanwhile, now don't have to promise long-term corner-outfield spots to either Stanton or Ohtani. The money will of course be tricky, with the team's young stars like Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Javy Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Kyle Hendricks and Willson Contreras all due big-time raises in the next few seasons. But the Cubs could move to the forefront of the Harper conversation — even if they already were in Chicago, where Harper's every move has seemingly been construed as a sign he wants to join fellow Las Vegas native Bryant in Cubbie Blue. As for the present, the Cubs still have Schwarber and Jason Heyward patrolling the corner-outfield spots at Wrigley Field, with a host of interchangeable parts for Joe Maddon to play with. And the middle of the order, dominated by Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Contreras, is still a mighty strong one. But there's a new souvenir company to compete with in New York. --

Chicago Tribune Miguel Montero and Geovany Soto aren't ready to retire yet By Mark Gonzales Geovany Soto’s 2017 season with the White Sox ended prematurely because of right elbow surgery and Miguel Montero’s tenure with the Cubs stopped abruptly after voicing his displeasure with pitchers not holding runners more closely at first base. But retirement isn’t in either catcher’s plans, as they seek to continue their major league careers. After undergoing surgery in May, Soto has rehabilitated his elbow and felt strong enough to embark on a rehab program that he plans to play in 2018. Soto, 34, played in only 13 games last season with the White Sox due to the pain. Soto was the National League Rookie of the Year with the Cubs in 2008. The market could move slowly for Montero, 34, who has some value because he could serve as a left-handed hitting backup. Montero needs to shore up his throwing, as opponents stole 58 bases in 63 attempts against him. Montero batted .242 with 27 home runs and 94 RBIs in 243 games with the Cubs from 2015 until June 28, 2017, when he was designated for assignment following his criticism. Montero was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays and batted .138 in 101 at-bats. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs reach 2-year deal with reliever Brandon Morrow By Mark Gonzales While 2019 seems like a reasonable target for the White Sox to begin contending, the future is now for the Cubs. Their sense of urgency has been apparent, especially after they agreed to terms Sunday on a two-year deal with free-agent reliever Brandon Morrow on the opening day of the winter meetings. Morrow’s deal, which will become official after he passes a physical, helps stabilize the back end of the bullpen, which figures to lose closer Wade Davis. The agreement with Morrow comes three days after the Cubs signed free-agent starter Tyler Chatwood to a three-year, $38 million contract to help offset the potential losses of Jake Arrieta and John Lackey. A Cubs source said the team was far from done trying to improve its roster, as efforts to sign free-agent starter Alex Cobb remain strong. The Cubs also could add another reliever, but signing Cobb would allow them to assess other needs that could be addressed through trades, with young outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ available. The Sox, meanwhile, did much of their heavy lifting toward their rebuilding project at last December’s meetings, when they traded ace Chris Sale to the Red Sox and outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals. Much of this year’s trade speculation has focused on first baseman Jose Abreu, but a Sox source insisted they aren’t shopping their slugger. Abreu has averaged 31 home runs and 103 RBIs during his first four seasons and won’t be eligible for free agency until 2020.

A league source joked that the Sox aren’t in the market for the kind of talent they collected last winter even though their asking price remains high. “They’re used to shopping at Neiman-Marcus,” the source said. “They need to take a look at Target now and then.” With the base salaries of Arrieta, Lackey and Davis off the books (at about $38 million in 2017), the Cubs have reinvested their money in much-needed pitching. FanRagSports.com reported Morrow will receive $10 million to $11 million annually. Morrow, 33, has the ability to close, and the right-hander is expected to help a bullpen that issued 24 walks in 10 playoff games. Against the Cubs in the National League Championship Series, Morrow allowed one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts in four scoreless appearances for the Dodgers. He then pitched in all seven games of the World Series against the Astros with an 8.44 ERA. Morrow was 6-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 45 regular-season appearances last season, striking out 50 in 43 2/3 innings. Morrow hasn’t allowed a home run since Sept. 8, 2016, when he pitched for the Padres against Cristhian Adames of the Rockies. "When he's coming out of the bullpen he's throwing 98-99 with that (89 mph slider) he's got,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before Game 4 of the NLCS. “This guy has been extremely talented. Now, when he stays healthy, which he has, that's a different animal." Morrow was drafted fifth overall in 2006 by the Mariners, ahead of Andrew Miller (sixth), Clayton Kershaw (seventh), Tim Lincecum (10th) and Max Scherzer (11th). The Cubs could shift some of their trade resources toward acquiring major-league-ready starting pitching, since the upper levels of their minor-league system lack depth. -- Chicago Tribune Bryce Harper watch begins early on the North Side By Paul Sullivan The ball started rolling last summer when Bryce Harper posted a photo of himself and Kris Bryant on Instagram with the message “#Back2BackOneDay.” After Harper admitted he enjoyed trolling the media for speculating on his future free-agency plans, Bryant conceded his Las Vegas buddy was “stirring the pot” for laughs. Whether Bryzzo would be adding a new partner in the future was a topic Harper concluded was buzz-worthy, and if nothing else, Harper knows how to create a buzz. “He's just totally having fun because I think a lot of people were talking about that,” Bryant said. “He's funny, man. He knows how to get people talking about stuff, and I love that about him."

We now might be one step closer to that “one day” becoming reality. New Marlins CEO Derek Jeter gift-wrapped slugger Giancarlo Stanton and handed him to the Yankees in a salary dump for the ages, a deal that should eliminate New York from Bryce Watch 2018 and perhaps lead Harper to the North Side. While it seems like an unlikely pairing given Harper’s expected $400 million to $500 million price tag and future payroll obligations after Bryant and others have their paydays, you never know what the Cubs are up to (or, in Instagram lingo, “#WhatAreTheCubsUpTo?”) It was only last summer Yankee Stadium was considered the most likely destination for Harper, who seems to crave the media spotlight that seldom shines on sleepy Washington. Before the All-Star Game in Miami, someone asked Harper whether he could hit 80 to 90 home runs playing in Yankee Stadium. He good-naturedly declined to discount the possibility. “I try to hit the ball all over the field when I can, and if I can get an accident inside I try to pull it,” he replied. “I’m not sure. It’s something I have no idea (if it’s possible). I don’t even think about what’s big or small or anything like that at what field I play at.” Unfortunately, we’ll never know now that the Yankees have their megabucks slugger in hand and won’t be able to afford Harper. Assuming he leaves the Nationals next offseason, he will have to find another big spender that can win immediately and help sell his brand. Fortunately for Harper, no one knows branding like the Cubs. That, of course, doesn’t mean the Cubs will sign Harper, who coincidently has a dog named Wrigley — and not because of the chewing gum. They’re going to have to pay Bryant eventually and perhaps extend Anthony Rizzo as well. Whoever sticks around from the curse-breaking core of kids — Javier Baez, Kyle Hendricks, Addison Russell, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora Jr. and Carl Edwards Jr. — deserves to be paid down the road as well. But with all the new premium clubs on tap at Wrigley, not to mention the exorbitant ticket prices and a new TV deal after the current one expires in two years, the Cubs should have the resources to take on Harper — if they so wish. And as long as Harper keeps getting his picture taken next to Bryant, as he did during a recent Golden Knights game in Las Vegas, the pot will continue to be stirred. Face it: Wrigleyville is a preferred destination for prime-time players these days. The Cubs were among the seven finalists for Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani while also landing on the short list of Stanton’s desired teams. That list did not include the Cardinals, proving once again that this is not your father’s Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. As the winter meetings convene Sunday in Orlando, Fla., a patented Theo Epstein surprise would be welcomed by Cubs fans. The three-year, $38 million deal for back-end starter Tyler Chatwood didn’t exactly move the needle, but it’s still early. Perhaps picking apart the Marlins’ carcass for athletic outfielder Christian Yelich or acquiring Rays ace Chris Archer, could trigger a mini-remodeling job this offseason. The more money they save, the more they have for next winter, when the hashtag hits the fan. --

Chicago Tribune Life goes on for Cubs after losing out on Shohei Ohtani By Mark Gonzales The Red Sox weren’t built in a day, as Theo Epstein can attest. Shortly after taking over as the team’s general manager after the 2002 season, he lost out on Cuban free agent Jose Conteras to the rival Yankees. After his recruiting efforts fell short Friday in trying to land prized Japanese pitcher-hitter Shohei Ohtani, Epstein will continue to try to retool the Cubs pitching staff. Ohtani, 23, who possesses a 100 mph fastball and can hit for power, would have been an ideal signing for the Cubs — a hard thrower under team control for at least six seasons with power from the left side of the plate. But in the most scrutinized free-agent recruitment of this offseason, Ohtani chose to play for the Angels over six teams that included the Cubs. The Cubs have cast a wide net for pitchers who might be available through free agency or trades. The most obvious free-agent candidates are Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn, although Darvish or Jake Arrieta — whom the Cubs haven’t completely ruled out re-signing — would come at a high cost. The Cubs have earmarked about $93.2 million in base salaries to seven players, and signing six arbitration-eligible players would cost an additional $23.5 million. The Cubs also need to shore up their bullpen, although Epstein said Thursday the demand for relievers isn’t as acute as it is for starters. Free agents Brandon Morrow and Jake McGee remain attractive relief options. The Marlins, who are trying to trade superstar slugger Giancarlo Stanton, dealt speedster Dee Gordon to the Mariners on Thursday and could accelerate their fire sale since new ownership took over in the fall. Among the Marlins relievers who might be available are Nick Wittgren (recovering from surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow), Brian Ellington and Kyle Barraclough. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' bid falls short as Shohei Ohtani chooses Angels By Mark Gonzales The Cubs can shift to Plan B after prized Japanese free agent Shohei Ohtani elected Friday to play for the Angels. “Shohei is humbled and flattered by all the time and effort that so many teams put into their presentations and sincerely thanks them for their professionalism,” Nez Balelo, co-head of CAA Sports, announced in a statement. “In the end, he felt a strong connection with the Angels and believes they can best help him reach his goals in Major League Baseball.”

The Cubs and other teams saw Ohtani, 23, as a potential impact starting pitcher with the opportunity to hit. With the Angels, he joins All-Star sluggers Mike Trout and Albert Pujols with the option of performing designated hitter duties — not available with the Cubs, who play in the National League. “I want to thank the clubs and everyone else for respecting our intent to make this very important process as private as possible,” Balelo said. “We were resolved to having a fair, methodical process. Teams clearly put in a lot of work, and we are grateful for that. The past few weeks also further demonstrated Shohei’s incredible thoughtfulness, attention to detail and determination to make an informed decision. “He read every page of every presentation and listened to every word in each meeting, and he was so impressed that it was not an easy choice. While there has been much speculation about what would drive Shohei’s decision, what mattered to him most wasn’t market size, time zone or league but that he felt a true bond with the Angels. He sees this as the best environment to develop and reach the next level and attain his career goals. More than ever, I believe this is not only a special talent but a man of special character, and like everyone else I’m excited to see him in Major League Baseball.” The Cubs will proceed with their mission of acquiring starting and relief pitching. They signed starter Tyler Chatwood on Thursday to a three-year, $38 million contract. The Cubs, Dodgers, Giants and Padres were limited to offering Ohtani $300,000 in international bonus money. The Angels’ allotment of $2.315 million, however, was only third-highest behind the Mariners and Rangers. -- Chicago Sun-Times GREENBERG: Don’t trade Schwarber before we see him play in new body By Steve Greenberg Did you happen to see the videos of Kyle Schwarber that the Cubs posted last week to their Snapchat story? I wouldn’t know a Snapchat story from a hole in the ground, but even I caught glimpses of the still images from those videos that made the rounds. Working out at the team facility in Mesa, Arizona, Schwarber looked, well, incredible. Fitter and trimmer, by a long shot, than we’ve ever seen him. Like a baseball player — perhaps even, dare I say it, an outfielder — and not a longshoreman or a guy with a moving truck. By God, don’t trade the man! It could be I’m a rube, but that’s what screamed inside my head as I took in those images and imagined what a 24-year-old player — coming off a bad, terrible, horrible season in which he still belted 30 home runs — might do after reinventing himself physically. “We brought it up with him,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said of Schwarber’s offseason work, “and he told us that he had already made it a priority that he was going to get into the best shape of his life and that he realized now that, to be the left fielder that he needs to be and to be the hitter that he needs to be, this is something that he wanted to do. “You can control what kind of shape you get into in the offseason. There’s a lot in this game that you can’t control. He’s looking to dominate everything under his control.”

As I reach for my cynic’s cap, the images of Schwarber and the words of Epstein begin to look and sound like an elaborate sales pitch to use this week at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida. Could it be that the Cubs are hoping to trade Schwarber? There were reports that the Yankees and Red Sox were interested in the left-handed slugger, who always has made clear sense as an American League designated hitter. The Cubs kind of make sense without Schwarber, too. Albert Almora Jr. is ready and good enough to take on an every-day outfielder’s load. Jason Heyward’s contract leaves no real choice but to keep him right where he has been. Ben Zobrist, Ian Happ, Jon Jay if the Cubs re-sign him — there are plenty of others who’ll need at-bats. Besides, this is no time for sentimentality. Not when the Yankees are throwing nearly $300 million at Giancarlo Stanton. Not when Bryce Harper is driving toward a contract that will make Stanton’s look puny. Sentimentality? No, it’s go-for-the-throat time if the World Series-minded Cubs think they can make themselves even a little bit better. Still, don’t they need another year to know what they truly have in Schwarber? Don’t we all need another year — a best-shape-of-his-life year — given the knee injury that cost Schwarber the 2016 regular season is still so close in the rearview mirror? One more time, please: Let the man rake. Let’s see if he can be the one who makes the Cubs better. Let him chase 30 home runs again. Or 40. Or 50, where Stanton roams. Let Schwarber bumble in the outfield on occasion as long as he continues to get better out there. He’s no closer to a Gold Glove than he is to Olympic gold in the 100 meters, but the images from Mesa don’t lie. At a critical crossroads in his young career, this dude isn’t playing around. “People are always going to have an opinion about you,” Schwarber said late last season, “but there’s always room to improve. I want to be the best possible player I can be — being a better hitter, being a better baserunner, being a better defender, being a better teammate. Anything like that, I want to be. And that takes constant work.” The Cubs have seen a lot of that side of Schwarber. He worked tirelessly and was a terrific teammate in 2016 as he slowly fought back from a severe knee injury. When he wasn’t rehabbing, he was diving into scouting reports with his teammates. When he wasn’t doing that, he was offering a helping hand wherever he could. And the way Schwarber handled an in-season demotion to Class AAA Iowa in 2017 was beyond impressive. “You can’t just shut down on yourself because adversity hits,” he said then. “That’s not me. I love the challenge.” Epstein has long been a big fan of Schwarber, maybe more so than anyone else. It might be that there’s next to no chance at all the Cubs will trade him. For at least one more season, anyway, that would be a fine way to go. Either way, we’ve all learned by now that Schwarber isn’t a Babe Ruth-style “Schwarbino,” isn’t a cartoon character, isn’t going to just spit out long home runs and clutch hits all the time like he did during the 2015 postseason and the 2016 World Series.

And now there’s visual proof: those images of a lean, mean fighting-for-his-career machine. Yeah, I want to see what that guy can do. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs land top bullpen target, agree to 2-year deal with Brandon Morrow By Gordon Wittenmyer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. —The Cubs wasted no time getting to business at the Winter Meetings after losing out on Japanese free agent Shohei Ohtani. Looking for starting pitching and relief, the Cubs agreed to a two-year deal Sunday with their top bullpen target, right-hander Brandon Morrow. With the Dodgers, Morrow played a key role in their bullpen’s dominance over the Cubs in the 2017 National League Championship Series. The deal, which includes an option for 2020, is worth $10 million to $11 million a year, according to FanRag Sports. Morrow, 33, is expected to replace Wade Davis as the closer. The Cubs have looked at Morrow for more than a year as a potential future closer as he worked his way back from shoulder surgery with the Padres. He had a breakout season for the Dodgers as a setup man after signing a minor-league deal in January. The 2006 fifth overall draft pick by the Mariners had a 2.06 ERA in 45 games with 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings (1.9 walks per nine). He held the Cubs to one hit and a walk in four appearances during the NLCS, then became the second player to pitch in all seven games of a World Series. The Cubs signed starter Tyler Chatwood to a three-year deal last week. Here’s the Cubs’ outlook for the rest of the meetings this week: The big prize The Cubs are looking for at least one more starting pitcher, and after focusing early on free agent Alex Cobb, they could be close to reuniting him with his old Rays manager (Joe Maddon) and pitching coach (newly hired Jim Hickey). Keep your eye on . . . Relief pitchers. The Cubs aren’t done restocking their bullpen yet, and that could be a focus for the next month or more in a comparatively deep free-agent market. Dollars and sense

The Cubs no longer are limited by revenue-to-debt issues when it comes to payroll decisions, but they’ve got one eye on the $197 luxury-tax threshold ($180 million to $185 million considering the MLB benefits factored into the total) and the other on what they might be able to do in next year’s market. Escalating contracts for young core players will make that a bigger challenge. But they appear to have $30 million to $40 million to work with, depending on how they want to position themselves for next year. Deal or no deal If they can sign Cobb, then trading off the big-league roster from the young hitting core — something team president Theo Epstein said was possible this winter — becomes less likely. It at least gives the Cubs a position of strength in those talks with the biggest needs already filled. If they do make a trade, they’re in the right state for it, with the Marlins and Rays looking like sellers. If they don’t, a valuable chip such as Ian Happ could make the July trading deadline especially interesting. X-factor The Rangers have been after some of the same players the Cubs have pursued, including Cobb and reliever Mike Minor, signed by Texas last week. Bold prediction The Cubs continue to stay in the more affordable waters of the acquisitions this time around to put their big money on No. 34 at next year’s roulette table: Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, the big free agent-to-be who suddenly looks more attainable after the Yankees’ trade for Giancarlo Stanton. What better place to reunite old Las Vegas childhood pals? The Winter Meetings are in Vegas next year. -- Chicago Sun-Times As Cubs move on from Shohei Ohtani, big offseason goals still in play By Gordon Wittenmyer For all the buildup and disappointment over the Cubs’ failed pursuit of two-way star Shohei Ohtani, keep in mind that they weren’t exactly pinning their biggest offseason hopes on the “Babe Ruth of Japan.” It was a surprising success they got as far as they did — one of seven finalists — before Ohtani chose the Angels. Had the Cubs landed him, it would have been the kind of low-cost coup that might have made them the big winners of the offseason even before the start of the Winter Meetings. But nothing has changed in the larger plans and landscape of their offseason as they head to Orlando, Florida, this weekend for next week’s meetings. Backfilling the losses of starting pitchers Jake Arrieta and John Lackey in free agency, the Cubs already have signed a free agent they had coveted as a trade target in recent years: right-hander Tyler Chatwood (three years, $38 million). And other top free-agent starter targets remain on the board, including former Rays right-hander Alex Cobb, who has talked publicly about how much he likes Cubs manager Joe Maddon and new pitching coach Jim Hickey — the only big-league pitching coach Cobb has had.

“We’ve got plenty more work to do. We’re certainly not done,” Cubs president Theo Epstein said after signing Chatwood, the former Rockies starter whose road splits, health and repertoire have the Cubs expecting a significant uptick in overall results. “Obviously, the focus of the winter has been pitching. We need to continue to add to the rotation and retool the bullpen to a certain extent. [Chatwood’s signing] is one thing that we were able to accomplish before the winter, and that’ll help us focus on our remaining needs even more.” Landing another starter, whether through trade or free agency, remains the highest priority in a slow-to-simmer market that could start to move quickly with Ohtani off the board. Epstein said he couldn’t predict whether the next move will involve a starting pitcher or bullpen help. But he again mentioned the depth of the relief market, which gives the Cubs the luxury of waiting out some potential targets. For example, they’re staying in touch with free agent Wade Davis, their former closer, as they watch his market take shape. Former Dodgers reliever Brandon Morrow is another potential closer target, depending on the price tag and years he commands. The Cubs already added an upside hopeful for the bullpen in left-handed depth guy Dario Alvarez, 28, who has played all or parts of four big-league seasons with three teams, most recently the Rangers. “He’s got one of the nastiest left-handed sliders in the game,” Epstein said. “Throwing strikes is the most important thing for him. If he throws strikes with that slider he’s got, he can certainly help anybody.” The trade market could heat up at the meetings, too, especially with the Marlins and Rays looking like sellers with intriguing arms to offer for a young hitter (Ian Happ?). The bottom line is that the Cubs — two-time defending National League Central champs who have been to the NLCS the last three years — consider themselves on track to accomplish the goals they had before Ohtani was in play. They’re not expected to make the flashiest moves at the meetings, but they have enough payroll flexibility to compete for their free-agent targets and might have just enough player capital to pull off one impactful trade. Asked about whether recent MLB revenue increases make any difference, Epstein scoffed. “We have more than enough money to win, and we have been winning,” said Epstein, whose financial considerations have more to do with baseball’s luxury-tax threshold than to the Cubs’ sizeable revenues. “I don’t think we need any additional money.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Bittersweet day for Cubs as Ohtani picks Angels, Stanton rejects Cards By Gordon Wittenmyer So much for that Shohei Ohtani-Giancarlo Stanton showdown next April at Wrigley Field.

Just when it looked like the National League Central race could get an injection of top talent next year with the two biggest names available, Stanton refused to waive his no-trade clause to play for the Cardinals, and Ohtani chose the Angels over the Cubs. Both decisions were announced Friday as teams prepared to travel to Orlando, Florida, for the Winter Meetings, which start Monday. White Sox don’t need to win these Winter Meetings Talk about a bittersweet day for the Cubs, who lost out on Ohtani to the West Coast and the designated hitter and maybe even that $2.3 million the Angels had to offer as a bonus (compared to the Cubs’ $300,000 limit). The Cubs seemed a long shot at the start of the process for the two-way Japanese star, but they surprised many by being selected as one of seven finalists, and the only one east of the Mississippi. And they seemed to gain favor after making their detailed face-to-face pitch to Ohtani and his representatives Tuesday night in Los Angeles. In the end, “he felt a strong connection with the Angels and believes they can best help him reach his goals,” his agent, Nez Balelo, said in a statement. Ohtani, 23, wanted the chance to become a star hitter and star pitcher in the majors, with a spot in the lineup on days he doesn’t pitch. The so-called “Babe Ruth of -Japan,” who has a 100 mph fastball from the right side and power bat from the left, is considered a quality outfielder, but he hasn’t played there in two years. He was the DH for the Nippon Ham Fighters on many of the days he didn’t pitch. He’s expected to share DH duties with Albert Pujols for the Angels. “He read every page of every presentation and listened to every word in each meeting, and he was so impressed, it was not an easy choice,” Balelo’s statement read. “While there has been much speculation about what would drive Shohei’s decision, what mattered to him most wasn’t market size, time zone or league, but that he felt a true bond with the Angels.” The Cubs’ presentation was said to include a virtual-reality experience illustrating what life as a Cub might look like. The Cubs did not comment during the process or after its conclusion. The Cubs’ pursuit of Ohtani was part of a wider offseason focus on pitching that included signing free agent Tyler Chatwood this week to join the rotation. Team president Theo Epstein said that remains the focus heading into the Winter Meetings, where the Cubs are expected to continue talks for free agents such as right-handed starter Alex Cobb and possible trades, with teams such as the Rays and Stanton’s Marlins looking like attractive sellers. The Marlins put together deals involving Stanton with the Giants and Cardinals, pending a decision by Stanton on his no-trade clause. He told both teams no Friday. The Dodgers, Yankees and Cubs are said to be teams to which he would approve a trade.

But the Cubs are putting the majority of their resources this winter into pitching and have no intention of pursuing a big-ticket outfielder. Of course, the best news to come out of the day for the Cubs is the fact they at least won’t have to face Stanton (career .940 OPS against the Cubs) 19 times a year as a division rival. --