MESA, Ariz. – While a group of the Cubs’ stars are taking part in the World Baseball Classic, the team has the ongoing task in Arizona of evaluating the group and thinking about ways to build its Opening Day roster. Coming off a 92-win season that ended with a run

There's so much on the line every Spring Training as all 30 MLB teams work to finalize their rosters for Opening Day. While some positions are set long before the season begins, each club is still trying to nail down at least one key aspect of its roster -- and

MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs entered Spring Training with the hope that Porter Hodge was on the cusp of a strong comeback campaign out of the ballclub’s bullpen. That may still play out this season, but the righty has encountered an obstacle that has stalled that storyline. On Sunday morning,

MESA, Ariz. -- Five months later, Nico Hoerner still remembers the sequence. The Padres had hard-throwing reliever Robert Suarez on the mound at Wrigley Field and he threw four consecutive changeups to Cubs slugger Michael Busch. In a tense October environment, Busch swung through two of them and watched two

MESA, Ariz. -- Javier Assad’s performance for Mexico in the last World Baseball Classic three years ago helped the pitcher cement his case for inclusion on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster. The righty is once again on the international stage while also competing for a place in Chicago’s pitching staff.

TOKYO -- There’s not many places for a pitcher to hide when facing Samurai Japan. The lineup features one Japanese slugger after another, each with the ability to put the ball over the fence. Facing its rival Korea on Saturday night, Japan showed off that power with three home runs

This page will be updated throughout the year with all the latest Cubs injury news and transactions.

MESA, Ariz. -- With roughly three weeks left until Opening Day, the Cubs’ pitching staff is taking shape. There is little to solve right now in terms of constructing that side of Chicago’s roster, but there are jumps in velocity, new pitches being developed and issues to iron out before

TOKYO -- The defending champs and the most talented baseball player on the planet make for a dangerous combination. On Friday night, Samurai Japan began its World Baseball Classic title defense, taking on a Chinese Taipei team that upset it in the 2024 Premier12 tournament.

MESA, Ariz. -- When Cubs manager Craig Counsell received the lineup and travel squad from the D-backs ahead of Thursday’s Cactus League game, he sent a photo of the list to his wife, Michelle. Their son Brady was included in the group of extra players heading to Sloan Park. The

MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs have balanced building a playoff-contending roster with creating developmental runway for prospects in the Major Leagues in recent seasons. Names like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Cade Horton and Matt Shaw have jumped from Pipeline’s rankings to postseason races. Spring Breakout offers a chance to get

MARYVALE, Ariz. -- Cubs catcher Moisés Ballesteros positioned himself on one knee, holding up his glove in the heart of the zone for Edward Cabrera. The hard-throwing righty then unleashed his signature changeup, which only briefly flirted with a trajectory to that visual target. The pitch broke down sharply, veering

Seiya Suzuki could only watch from afar as Japan won the 2023 World Baseball Classic, as he had to withdraw from the tournament due to an oblique injury. If Tuesday was any indication, the slugger looks more than ready to make up for what he missed. Suzuki absolutely crushed a

Our annual tradition is back. Each spring, we look forward to the upcoming season by breaking down the 30 teams into eight or nine somewhat-subjectively defined tiers, grouping together those in similar situations. We've done it for several years now, and it's a fun way to get ready for the

This story was excerpted from the Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

After tying the Mariners for the most Top 100 prospects (seven) a year ago at this time, the Cubs are down to just two. Matt Shaw and Cade Horton are established big leaguers, Owen Caissie went to the Marlins in a trade for Edward Cabrera, while James Triantos, Kevin Alcántara

Major League Baseball introduced Spring Breakout in 2024 and the prospect showcase games in Florida and Arizona were an immediate hit. Fans and front offices alike loved seeing all those future MLB stars on the field at one time. Now the concept is getting even better. Starting in 2027, the

MESA, Ariz. -- Alex Bregman is on the board. The third baseman, who inked a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs in January, went yard for the first time in Spring Training, blasting a 2-2 fastball 369 feet to center field in Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the White Sox,

MESA, Ariz. -- Pedro Ramirez has ice in his veins at the hot corner. It didn’t matter that his 2025 season with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies was his first at third base, as Ramirez settled into the role quite comfortably. He committed four errors in 68 games, including 66 starts,

Spring Training is the perfect time for prospects to show what they can do, and a number of players have taken that opportunity and run with it so far in 2026. From elite prospects to unheralded young players, there's always someone putting on a show with the bat or the

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Masyn Winn on the mound. A combined no-hitter. And Paul Skenes … catching?! No, it's not some alternate reality. Long before they were Major Leaguers -- Crow-Armstrong as a center fielder for the Cubs, Winn as a shortstop for the Cardinals and Skenes as a pitcher for

Plenty of pitchers could emerge as the Cubs’ best starter in 2026. Don’t expect manager Craig Counsell to pick a leading candidate, though. “You’re not going to get me to answer that,” Counsell said with a wry smile when asked Saturday on MLB Network to name the ace of his

MESA, Ariz. -- Edward Cabrera’s debut was worth the wait. The right-hander retired all six batters he faced in his first Cactus League appearance during the Cubs' 8-6 win over the Guardians at Sloan Park, flashing the electric arsenal that enticed Chicago to acquire him from the Marlins this winter.