What we're hearing about the Cubs: Justin Turner, plus the shape of the roster

New York Times

18-02-2025

MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs continue to look for a veteran hitter to add to their offensive group, league sources told The Athletic, with Justin Turner remaining a name under serious consideration after their unsuccessful bid for Alex Bregman.
Turner, 40, would come at a fraction of the three-year, $120 million deal that Bregman secured from the Boston Red Sox. He would still be an upgrade as a right-handed hitter with 16 years of major-league experience, a career .821 OPS and an excellent reputation from his long, successful run with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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As part of their standard due diligence, the Cubs also evaluated Nolan Arenado as an unlikely trade target, league sources said, but the St. Louis Cardinals predictably have no intention of moving the All-Star third baseman within the division to a historic rival.
'Your roster-building never ends,' Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. 'You're always looking to make the team better. That's what you're trying to do every year, put yourself in a better position and a good position to win a lot of games. I think we're solidly in that position. Always going to try to get better through player development and through player acquisition.'
• Chris Flexen reached an agreement with the Cubs on a minor-league contract, league sources told The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma and Ken Rosenthal on Monday. The deal, which is pending a physical, would create additional pitching depth. Flexen logged 160 innings last year with the historic Chicago White Sox team that lost 121 games, posting a 4.95 ERA.
Sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me that the Cubs have added pitcher Chris Flexen on a minor-league deal pending a physical. Flexen tossed 160 innings last season with the White Sox. Another depth piece for the Cubs rotation.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) February 18, 2025
• Dansby Swanson is always searching for ways to improve and evolve in his 30s, but the $177 million shortstop won't be asking for games off or scrapping the all-162 mentality he developed with the Atlanta Braves: 'Baseball is meant to be played every day,' he said. 'I was kind of raised in the game that way, and that's not going to change.'
• Nico Hoerner ideally won't play a single inning at shortstop this year, though he represents a strong insurance policy in case Swanson doesn't live up to his ironman expectations. Regaining that ability — both as a backup option and as a selling point when he reaches free agency — factored into Hoerner's decision to undergo flexor tendon surgery last October.
'My role on this team is to play second base as well as I can every single day,' Hoerner said. 'We're fortunate to have a shortstop who is not only really good at it, but plays almost every day at a level that most people don't. When I say 'able to play shortstop,' I mean being able to play the game uncompromised — the full version of myself.'
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• Matthew Boyd was good enough to start three playoff games for the Cleveland Guardians last October. He also has not topped 80 innings in any of the last five seasons. The Cubs invested in quality over quantity when they signed him to a two-year, $29 million contract, viewing that as the sweet spot of the pitching market while also recognizing his upside after Tommy John surgery in 2023.
'There's no restrictions on Matthew Boyd,' Counsell said. 'We're preparing for 32 starts. It's read and react in terms of that, understanding the injury history, absolutely. But at this point, it's not going to change how he will prepare. We'll get him ready to pitch on a normal schedule, like everybody else.'
• Cade Horton is not drawing the same prospect buzz at the moment, though his name still appears on several top 100 lists. The Cubs acquired so much pitching this offseason that his name is almost buried on the depth chart. A right shoulder injury limited him to only nine starts last year (and zero after May). Things can happen fast, however, for a pitcher who flew up the draft board during Oklahoma's run to the 2022 College World Series, becoming the No. 7 pick of that year's draft.
'The thought of Cade Horton being in the big leagues this year?' Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. 'I just want Cade Horton to have a great year. Sometimes, guys try to have these timelines. But if Cade Horton has a great year, he's going to be contributing for the Cubs. He's got the talent.

'But I want him to do it the right way. We fell into a trap early last year. He had a great '23. We saw some mechanical issues in spring training in '24. But we tried to rush it because he wanted to get ready for that season. And then we kind of got behind the 8 ball.
'Now he better understands what his goals are. In camp, for us, it's similar. Get the experience. Be around the guys. Be around the major-league staff in more of a daily capacity and continue to learn and ask questions. He's an uber-talented kid. He's going to contribute at a high level. What level is that? And how is that all going to work out? We'll see.'
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• Kevin Alcántara, the 6-foot-6 prospect nicknamed 'The Jaguar,' appears to be the next man up should the Cubs need another center fielder if Pete Crow-Armstrong gets injured (or regresses in his second major-league season). Alcántara, 22, was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Anthony Rizzo trade at the franchise-altering 2021 deadline.
• Alexander Canario, another prospect from that trade deadline, is out of minor-league options, which should give him the most leverage he's had since being dealt from the San Francisco Giants in the Kris Bryant deal. Canario has some experience at all three outfield positions, and the Cubs have kicked around the idea of having him play first base to increase his versatility.
'I would not make a big story about Alex playing first base this spring — that would be a mistake,' Counsell said. 'He needs to hit. He needs to be able to handle a bench job and hit without at-bats all the time. Frankly, he just needs to have a good offensive spring.'
• Luke Little, the 6-foot-8 lefty reliever who was shut down with a shoulder/lat injury last summer, is on a slower ramp-up in spring training. Little has shown flashes of potential with his 96 mph fastball and extension that puts him in the 97th percentile of major-league pitchers, according to Statcast. Counsell, however, made it sound like Little probably won't start the season on time: 'There are scenarios that could happen that Luke might be involved in the Opening Day roster, but ideally we get a good foundation for Luke Little coming off that injury.'