AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

The Rundown: Doubling Down on Cease, Players Get Rock Star Treatment in Tokyo, Ohtani Spotted Everywhere

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterMarch 15, 2025

Are the Cubs close to signing ex-Cardinals and White Sox starter Lance Lynn? One report and its accompanying tweet have traveled at the speed of light since it dropped on Thursday. I’ve yet to find one analyst who can make it make sense. It’s become the black hole of spring training, and I can’t help but wonder if Jed Hoyer, while under the influence of a couple of sakes, decided to mess with Bob Nightengale. I mean, they have history, and lots of it.

As I wrote yesterday, I’m more interested in Dylan Cease, and I will die on this hill. Also yesterday, Jon Heyman of the NY Post named the Cubs one of nine teams ($) that have contacted the Padres about their pending free-agent ace. The article is a tad confusing because, on the one hand, Heyman said the Padres aren’t interested in trading Cease, but on the other, he said they’re looking for young pitchers and prospects they can flip.

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune wrote earlier this week that the Padres were only willing to entertain trading their top starter if they received a significant offensive upgrade in the return package. Jason Heyward is listed as their current starting left fielder, so it makes sense that they might want an outfielder as part of the package. They’re also in need of a first baseman. San Diego is considered a Wild Card contender, but Heyward and Luis Arráez aren’t going to get them there, and Arráez is also considered a trade candidate.

It may take a three-team trade to get Cease to the Cubs, but I do not know what that would look like. That said, involving another team should temper the quality and quantity of prospects it would normally take to land Cease. Lynn isn’t Chicago’s answer, if only because Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks are better options at the back of the rotation, particularly Brown. I also believe Cade Horton can help this team once fully stretched out.

Heyman lists several pitching options for teams not interested in meeting San Diego’s price. Sandy Alcántara has been previously connected to the Cubs, but he’s not going anywhere for now. The Cardinals are unlikely to trade Erick Fedde to Chicago without a massive overpay. Jordan Montgomery isn’t an option unless the Diamondbacks include a vault full of cash. The buy-low candidates include Lynn, Taijuan Walker, Patrick Corbin, and Kyle Gibson, who has also been linked to the Cubs. Heck, I’d take Dillon Tate and his remaining minor league option over Lynn.

I’ll continue to insist that Cease is worth the potential overpay if Hoyer is convinced he has a playoff-caliber team. A rotation with a top three of Cease, Justin Steele, and Shōta Imanaga should push the Cubs to the NLCS as No. 2 seed behind the Dodgers. I like Jameson Taillon, but lining him up for a three-game set feels awkward. Do you want him pitching in a win-or-walk game? Do you risk slotting him as the second starter in a three-game set? What if the Cubs lose the first game?

Cease seems to be the best option, and there is no close second. That pushes everybody back and makes injury-prone Matt Boyd the fifth starter. Brown, Rea, Assad, Horton, and Wicks are all capable backups if Boyd gets hurt. If not Cease, then Framber Valdez, Michael King, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander are trade deadline options. They’re fine pitchers, but only Valdez stacks up to Cease, especially in the playoffs.

Cubs/Dodgers News & Notes

Odds & Sods

The top three reasons Justin Turner signed with the Cubs:

  1. Kimonos
  2. Seeing all his old Dodger friends in Tokyo.
  3. Helpng Chicago beat Los Angeles in this year’s NLCS.

Central Intelligence

Spring Training News & Notes

Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton is dealing with tennis elbow in both arms and a chronic calf issue. The injuries could sideline him until at least Memorial Day, and opting for surgery could mean Stanton would be done for the year.

The Braves didn’t do much this offseason, but bringing back Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider from their 2024 injuries is a huge upgrade.

The Tigers are giving shortstop Javier Báez a tryout at third base. He hasn’t played there since 2019 with the Cubs.

Rafael Devers still seems somewhat miffed that the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman.

This week marks the five-year anniversary of baseball’s shutdown due to COVID-19.

One congressman believes MLB owners are blacklisting Trevor Bauer because of his support for Donald Trump.

Ironically, most owners lean to the conservative side of US politics. Also, most congressmen are idiots.

Extra Innings

It sounds to me like Craig Counsell has aligned himself properly with Suzuki. The two had some minor communication issues last year.

They Said It

  • “Honestly, now that I’m with the organization, I would say that [the Cubs] don’t necessarily move guys as quickly as some other organizations I’ve seen. I’d say they’re probably more middle of the pack. But I’ve put in a lot of time and effort to be in this situation. I’m very thankful for their belief in me.” – Shaw
  • “The player has to be judged on everything. For Matt [Shaw], we need him to do both. He’s not going to play defense to the level of a Pete Crow-Armstrong. But he’s going to keep getting better on defense. That’s why the kid’s here already. It’s because he keeps getting better. You put something in front of him, he conquers the challenge. You put something else in front of him, he conquers the challenge. That’s how you get here so fast.” – Counsell

Friday Walk-Up Song

When in Japan… This is a great song, by the way.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterMarch 15, 2025
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