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White Sox Make Head Scratching Move On Opening Day Eve

By
Craig Rowland
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Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Curtis Mead against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

This Spring Training was a bit different for the White Sox, as they had more set in stone going into February than the past few seasons. This led to less of a chance to make the squad for the non-roster invitees, but there were still some pretty intriguing names that were fighting for the last few spots.

Now, as we sit just one day before the White Sox open the season in Milwaukee against the Brewers, they announced their Opening Day roster.

As you can see above, this is a much improved roster, as there are a ton of intriguing young players, specifically in the lineup. The White Sox have not been able to say that for a quite a long time. However, it was the players that didn’t make the roster that caught the attention of most White Sox fans.

It was reported a few days ago that Korey Lee wasn’t going to break camp with the team, so seeing him get DFA’d wasn’t surprising. However, seeing Curtis Mead get DFA’d was quite shocking.

This is kind of out of the blue, as Mead was the headliner in the Adrian Houser trade at last year’s trading deadline. This was due to the fact that he was a former top-100 prospect. Mead started out in AAA with the Charlotte Knights after the trade, but quickly made his way up to Chicago to make his debut for the White Sox. 

Mead had a strong month of August for the White Sox, as he hit .258 with a .312 on-base percentage. He added seven RBIs and one stolen base. This was a solid start for him, as he hadn’t had much consistent playing time in the major leagues.

Mead continued his nice start into the first week of September, as he had nine hits over the first five games. Unfortunately, Mead hit a cold streak, as he only had six more hits from September 6th to September 28th. This tanked his average, as it fell to .220 in the month of September. However, Mead flashed his ability to be a productive major league player. 

Mead had an alright Spring Training, as he hit .233 with a .258 OBP over 10 games, adding two homeruns, two doubles, and four RBIs. He struck out seven times compared to just one walk. However, Mead was productive in the World Baseball Classic, as he hit .357 with a homerun in four games.

It is really surprising to see the White Sox cut ties with Mead so quickly, as he hasn’t gotten much of a chance to establish himself in the major leagues. Additionally, with his prospect pedigree, I would have liked for him to get more run with consistent at-bats.

Now, the White Sox will look for a trade partner, but if they can’t, any team can claim him on waivers. I would imagine teams would have some interest in trading for him, as there could be a few teams interested in letting him play everyday. If nobody trades for him, he will for sure be claimed on waivers.

This move is shocking for a lot of reasons, but when they chose to carry six outfielders, two of which were not originally projected to make the roster, it is even more head scratching. Hopefully the White Sox can find a way to keep him, as Mead could be a very good major league hitter. Otherwise, this seems like it could come back to haunt the White Sox.

Chicago’s Rebuild Timeline Rides On One Western Conference Cinderella Story

By
Ryan Dauterive
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Nov 19, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) celebrates after making a three-point shot during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Many fans in Chicago can admit that the last five years have been a tough product to support. While there have been scattered high points and one playoff appearance sprinkled in, the majority of this decade has been disappointment. From the front-office decisions to ownership’s failure to keep them accountable, to the product on the court, and the finite failure to stack wins and build a successful franchise. As this season winds down, at least having a clear direction moving forward, Bulls fans can hang their hat on the clarity that the organization has gone all-in on a rebuild for the first time since Arturas Karnisovas’s arrival. In parallel with cheering for Chicago to lose to improve their draft positioning and develop young assets, there’s a second storyline worth investing in. Here’s what Bulls fans need to add to their scope of attention as the year winds down, and how they can finally strike some good fortune while riding a team that held the same title odds as Chicago before the season began.

Big Portland Trail Blazers Fans

Any sports fan can relate when they say that rooting for another franchise is widely frowned upon. Chicago to the moon, dismiss any other organizations. Well, for the next month, Bulls fans should pull for the Portland Trail Blazers. Take solace in the fact that they’re in the Western Conference, have little association or history with Chicago, and they can do us a massive favor. If Portland can sneak its way into the Western Conference playoffs and power through the juggernaut field of teams in the Play-In tournament on that side of the bracket, the Bulls will add a second first-round pick to their ammunition toward a rebuild this summer. That selection is lottery-protected, meaning if they don’t qualify for the NBA Playoffs, they would retain the draft slot.

The Reality Of Portland’s Playoff Chances

The good news is that the Blazers will be in the Play-In tournament. The bad news is that they’ll have to go through a combination of the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, or Golden State Warriors. If they can pass the Clippers in the standings, who they trail by half a game, they’ll only have to win one game in Phoenix to qualify for the postseason. The most likely scenario is that they’ll host Golden State, and if they win, visit the loser of the Suns versus the Clippers to battle for the final slot in the dance.

A few more important notes for Chicago include Portland being 4-8 against its three Play-In tournament foes, with a -69 point differential in those dozen games. They also have the second-easiest strength of schedule for the remainder of the year, which should translate into improved seeding heading into the tournament.

Can Deni Avdija carry the Blazers into the playoffs and do the Bulls a massive favor?

White Sox Hand Luisangel Acuña Full Runway to Prove He’s a Core Piece

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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Mar 14, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Luisangel Acuna slides into home to score a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Luisangel Acuña will open the season as the Chicago White Sox starting center fielder despite logging just three innings at the position, but recent roster moves suggest the team plans to use him all over the diamond. 

That became official on Wednesday, when the White Sox unveiled their Opening Day lineup with Acuña batting ninth and starting in center field, setting the stage for a pivotal season for the 24-year-old.

What makes Acuña such an intriguing player this season is the fact that he has five years of control. It’s one of the reasons that White Sox general manager Chris Getz decided to pull the trigger on the deal.

“We’re talking about a player with five-plus years of control, one of the younger, exciting players in our game who hasn’t really gotten a runway at the major league level,” Getz said when discussing Acuña. “We have an opportunity here, and we can provide that runway to show off his talent and his ability.”

After being traded to the Chicago White Sox for Luis Robert Jr, Acuña turned in an impressive spring. In 44 at-bats, he racked up 18 hits, including a home run and three doubles, finishing camp with a .409 average and a 1.003 OPS. 

Acuña’s opportunities in New York were limited by a Mets roster in win-now mode, where playoff aspirations left little room for consistent playing time. With the move to the White Sox, he’ll finally get a chance to play regularly, despite an already crowded infield mix. 

By designating infielder Curtis Mead for assignment, the White Sox now carry three outfielders on the bench in Derek Hill, Everson Pereira and Tristain Peters. That roster construction opens the door for Acuña to see time in the infield as well, logging innings at second base, shortstop and the hot corner when Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery or Chase Meidroth are out of the lineup.

Acuña has all the tools to be a serviceable center fielder after getting time at the position in the Venezuelan Winter League. But even with his speed and athleticism, some growing pains are expected at the position, something the White Sox are willing to tolerate if he can produce offensively. 

Consistent offensive production could also help him earn some more platoon action in the infield. But putting together Spring Training numbers is one thing, having that translate into MLB success is another. 

In his first 109 major-league games, Acuña has yet to live up to his former Top-100 prospect billing, posting a career .248/.299/.341 slash line. While he grabbed headlines this offseason by becoming the first player to hit four home runs in a Venezuelan Winter League game, he has never been regarded as a true power hitter. Although any added pop would be a welcome sign, Acuña’s best asset remains his speed, and to fully leverage it, he needs to reach base at a higher clip. 

While he strikes out at a modest rate, he has failed to generate walks or much hard contact over his first two seasons in New York. In fact, his 35.5% hard-hit percentage would have ranked amongst the lowest in baseball last season, if he had enough at-bats to qualify. 

It’s that limited sample size that makes Acuña such an intriguing piece, given his wide-ranging skill set. By DFAing Mead, whom they acquired for Adrian Houser at last year’s trade deadline, the White Sox are prioritizing upside and flexibility by giving Acuña a full runway to prove he can turn tools into production and potentially become a core piece.

How The Chicago Bears Got A Shockingly Fair Grade On Their Free Agency

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots center Garrett Bradbury (65) prepares to snap the ball to quarterback Drake Maye (10) against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Having followed free agency every year for a long time, it isn’t difficult to surmise how grades are usually formed. The teams that spend the most money tend to earn higher grades. Teams that don’t spend much at all get the lower grades. After watching the Chicago Bears have one of their quiet free agency periods in recent memory, it felt like a bad grade was coming their way. Plenty of fans were upset about it, feeling general manager Ryan Poles should’ve been more aggressive.

ESPN finally delivered its breakdown of which teams had done the best work. Unsurprisingly, big spenders like Washington and Las Vegas cracked the top 10. The New England Patriots did as well with their aggressive moves. One would expect the Bears to be well down the list in the 20s range. So it may surprise people to see they sat at a respectable 14th, three spots ahead of Carolina, which spent significantly more money. Ben Solak explained why Chicago’s approach deserves more credit than it gets.

14. Chicago Bears

Key acquisitions and returning players: Coby Bryant, Devin Bush, Garrett Bradbury, Braxton Jones, Neville Gallimore, Cam Lewis

I loved: The Bryant signing. Chicago endured an avalanche of departures in the defensive backfield, as Nahshon Wright (1,177 snaps), Kevin Byard III (1,220), Jaquan Brisker (1,221) and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (612 snaps) have all signed elsewhere this cycle. The Bears needed a starter at safety — a new culture-setter and leader — and Bryant was one of my favorite free agents of the cycle. He’s highly versatile, has explosive stopping power as a tackler and shows great on-field instincts. He’s going to shine for coordinator Dennis Allen.

I didn’t love: How the chips fell at offensive line. The Bears were put in a tricky spot by a brutal patellar injury to left tackle Ozzy Trapilo and then a surprise retirement from center Drew Dalman. Bradbury is a good quick solution at center, but NFC North fans will remember his struggles in pass protection when he was with the Vikings. The Bears still might improve upon him in the draft.

The Chicago Bears got a fair assessment for once.

Solak admits their acquisition of Coby Bryant was one of the best moves in free agency, especially for the $13.33 million per year. That isn’t even in the top 10 among safeties. This is for a guy who just had four interceptions and won the Super Bowl. As for the lowlight, it isn’t even really the Bears’ fault. Ozzy Trapilo blowing out his knee and Drew Dalman retiring were two things completely out of the team’s control. The fact that they managed to find two serviceable band-aids in such a short time deserves some credit.

It hasn’t been perfect, but the team navigated tough circumstances without panicking. Now they head into the draft with a roster that is at least stable, freeing them to go after the best players possible. If they succeed as they did last year, this free agency period will be remembered as one of their best and most disciplined in a long time. Kudos to Solak for giving an honest look at the process rather than just hammering them for not spending enough money.

We’re about to see their draft process tested.

Up until now, Poles has benefitted from picking almost constantly in the top 10 during his tenure as general manager. That makes it easier to land good players. However, only the top organizations manage to do the same despite picking at the back end of the 1st round. Poles got a taste of that in 2022 when he didn’t have a 1st round pick because of the Justin Fields trade. He still came out of it with Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, and Braxton Jones. Not great but not terrible. This time, he has his own scouting department in place and help from a highly accomplished coaching staff.

Poles promised that the Chicago Bears would not become enslaved to free agency like in previous eras. He aimed to build through the draft and only spend on specific needs. To his credit, he has stuck to that promise for the most part. This past month was further evidence. He is willing to gamble on their draft process to push this team towards a championship. Last year offers hope they’re equipped for the task. We will soon find out how prepared they are for the carnage.

This Should Be the Chicago Cubs Opening Day Lineup

By
Aldo Soto
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Opening Day is here, so let’s do the most annoying fan thing in baseball, which is to argue about the starting lineup. Honestly, the Chicago Cubs have a deep lineup, and most of the time it won’t actually matter who bats where, but for Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals the Cubs won’t have Seiya Suzuki in right field, which will change a few things.

Suzuki sprained his right knee, sliding into second base during Japan’s quarterfinals game against Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic earlier in March. The Cubs officially placed Suzuki on the 10-day injured list this week, so he won’t be around until at least April 1.

One of the big questions left unanswered on the eve of Opening Day for the Cubs is who will start in place of Suzuki in right field? It could be Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlson, or Matt Shaw.

Looking at the team’s final game of the 2025 postseason against the Milwaukee Brewers, and really throughout the team’s playoff run, Craig Counsell’s starting lineup featured a lefty-righty back-and-forth setup 1-8, with Matt Shaw batting ninth and Michael Busch leading off.

It’s not that simple for Thursday because, for one, Suzuki is out, and, for two, instead of Kyle Tucker in the middle of the lineup, rookie Moises Ballesteros will be the starting DH. Although Ballesteros flashed some great bat-to-ball skills during his brief stint with the Cubs in 2025, the left-handed hitter isn’t expected to be in the middle of this year’s lineup, at least not out of the gate.

This was my original Opening Day lineup.

However, I do want to make a few changes for what I think Counsell will end up doing on Opening Day without Suzuki.

  1. Michael Busch
  2. Alex Bregman
  3. Ian Happ
  4. Pete Crow-Armstrong
  5. Nico Hoerner
  6. Moises Ballesteros
  7. Carson Kelly
  8. Dansby Swanson
  9. Michael Conforto

I still don’t love it, but it kind of keeps the lefty-righty order for the most part. Plus, Conforto can be easily pinch-hit for if there’s a need for it against a tough lefty, and fans won’t have to worry about Busch ever coming out because Counsell has already said the first baseman has earned the playing time against left-handed pitching.

I like Busch at leadoff because he was a monster against right-handed pitching in 2025. He posted a 151 wRC+ and hit 30 home runs off righties. Set the tone early and make the opposing starter uncomfortable against a very good hitter that provides a huge power threat.

But let’s hear it from the rest of you. How would you write out the Cubs Opening Day lineup?

3 Questions Surface As Chicago Cubs Release Opening Day Roster

By
Aldo Soto
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Feb 22, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Dylan Carlson (5) hits against the San Francisco Giants in the second inning at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs have released their Opening Day roster for the 2026 season, and although fans pretty much knew who was making the team after a few injuries, it’s no less remarkable who ended up on it. Usually, and in the Cubs’ case in recent years, there will be pitchers who were claimed off waivers or came into camp on minor league deals who ultimately win a spot in the bullpen, but this time around, three non-roster invitees on the position side grabbed spots on the 26-man roster.

The Cubs are relatively healthy heading into the regular season, but they won’t have right fielder Seiya Suzuki until at least April 1. Suzuki sprained his right knee while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, which opened up an unexpected spot on the roster. Tyler Austin’s knee surgery that was announced mid-spring training also created more competition for the bench, and that’s how the Cubs got to Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlson, and Scott Kingery all making the Opening Day roster.

That leads to the first question as we look at the Cubs’ Opening Day roster.

Who Gets Released When Seiya Suzuki Returns from IL?

The Cubs placed Suzuki on the 10-day injured list, which is retroactive to March 22. That means, if his recovery goes smoothly, then Suzuki can return to the active roster on April 1.

At first thought, it seems obvious that Kingery would be immediately designated for assignment once Suzuki comes back from the injured list. However, the main reason Kingery made the roster is that the Cubs were intent on carrying an extra infielder to begin the year. Yet, that could be tied to Matt Shaw being one of the main options to fill in for Suzuki in right field during the first week of the regular season, which would leave the Cubs without another infielder on the bench.

Carlson is the only other player on the active roster with meaningful experience playing center field, so he does seem like the safe choice to keep, as he would slot into the backup role to Pete Crow-Armstrong. Conforto was awful in 2025, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, so who knows if his decline will continue or if he bounces back, but he’d be the other left-handed bat who could be called upon to step up if rookie Moises Ballesteros struggles.

Kingery is the obvious answer here, but we’ve seen wilder things. That being said, if Kingery does stick around for longer than Suzuki’s absence, then something went wrong.

Who Should Start in Right Field?

The Cubs will begin the regular season with three games at home against the Washington Nationals, who announced their starting rotation. The Nationals will have three right-handed starters going up against the Cubs at Wrigley Field: Cade Cavalli, Miles Mikolas, and Jake Irvin.

Naturally, Conforto seems to be the likeliest starter in right field. He has the best track record among the three options, he’s a left-handed hitter, and besides Carlson, he’s actually played right field in his MLB career. Carlson seems like a defensive sub rather than a starter early on, which leaves Matt Shaw as the main competition for early starts while Suzuki continues his recovery.

Shaw is entering his second year in the majors, but he’ll be in a new role in 2026. After being the starting third baseman throughout his rookie year, Shaw will now be a utility player, which includes some time in the outfield. He looked shaky in right field during spring training, so that could make Craig Counsell a bit apprehensive to use him right out of the gate.

Yet, fans look at Conforto’s 2025 numbers with the Dodgers and want nothing to do with him in the starting lineup. Shaw has much more upside than Conforto at this point in their careers, which is why some Cubs fans want him out in right field over the veteran. We’ll see if Counsell rolls the dice or plays it safe with Conforto this week against the Nationals.

How Will Ben Brown Be Used Out of the Bullpen?

The only question on the pitching staff coming out of spring training was who was going to get the final bullpen spot, and in what ended up being a bit of a shocker, it was Ben Brown.

The hard-throwing righty was being built up as a starter for most of spring training, but then a week before Opening Day, Brown came into a game and pitched an inning of relief. He’s had mixed results out of the bullpen in his first two years in the majors, and while the idea of Ben Brown as a starting pitcher is still possible, the Cubs obviously love his arm talent enough now to use him as a reliever to begin the 2026 season.

However, will the Cubs actually commit to using Brown as a one or two-inning reliever, or will he be used as a bulk guy, coming in out of the bullpen for 3-4 innings at a time in case a starter gets into trouble early in an outing? Colin Rea is already the long man in the bullpen, so is Brown potentially lined up to be a high-leverage bullpen arm?

That’s one to keep an eye on. Brown has developed a new pitch, adding a sinker to his pitching arsenal in 2026, in hopes of sticking around as an option in the starting rotation. For now, that will be on hold, but there’s no doubt that his skillset can end up being a lethal weapon for Counsell to use out of the bullpen.

The Adrian Houser Trade Has Aged Badly For The White Sox

By
ChiSoxFanMike
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Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Curtis Mead against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

It didn’t take long for last year’s Adrian Houser trade to age poorly for the White Sox. Curtis Mead, the centerpiece of the return from the Rays in that trade, was designated for assignment this afternoon as the team unveiled their Opening Day roster. As one of the final cuts, his future with the team is now uncertain.

The hope was that Mead, a former top 100 prospect with the Rays, would blossom with a change of scenery and more consistent playing time in Chicago. It didn’t play out like that. Across 41 games with the White Sox following the trade, he slashed just .240/.280/.304 in 132 plate appearances. He performed slightly better this spring, but it ultimately was not enough to secure his spot. The construction of the White Sox roster also did not work in Mead’s favor. With Lenyn Sosa locked in as a right-handed-hitting infielder, it always felt like a long shot that Mead would make the team given his somewhat redundant skill set. The White Sox really needed only one of them, and Sosa got the job based on the improvements he showed last season.

The team will now either have to find a trade partner for Mead or place him on waivers. It’s possible he could remain with the organization and go to Triple-A if he goes unclaimed, but the White Sox now risk losing him altogether by DFAing him.

Still a Glimmer of Hope

Despite the Mead news, the deal isn’t a complete loss yet. Right-handed pitchers Duncan Davitt and Ben Peoples were also in that trade, and both will likely start the season in Triple-A Charlotte as depth options. Davitt in particular could see time on the South Side later in 2026. While his 5.03 ERA in nine starts with the Knights is nothing special, he recorded a 1.30 WHIP in 48.1 innings, striking out 45. With the White Sox starting rotation full of question marks, Davitt could get his chance if he gets off to a strong start with Charlotte.

Lose/Lose Trade as of Now

As for Houser, he also did not live up to expectations with the Rays. After dominating in 11 starts with the White Sox prior to the trade, he put up a mediocre 4.79 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in ten starts with Tampa Bay. The Rays ended up winning only 77 games and as a rental, his stay in Tampa ultimately ended up being a short one. He departed the team following the 2025 season, signing a two-year/$22 million contract with the Giants this past winter.

The Adrian Houser trade looked to be a win for both teams at the time it was made. The White Sox were able to flip a low-cost acquisition for three young players, while the Rays got a pitcher having a great season to boost their playoff chances. In hindsight, however, it’s safe to say the trade has been a bust for both teams to this point.

Ryan Poles Just Upended The Bears’ Draft Projections With Alabama Pro Day Visit

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan poles
Bears general manager Ryan Poles walks onto the practice field for the Alabama pro day on March 25th, 2025

With free agency largely over, it looked like the Chicago Bears‘ plans for the upcoming 2026 draft were clear. Having overhauled the offense last offseason, the time felt right to do the same on defense this year. They need talent at all three levels, especially up front after finishing 29th in the NFL last season. General manager Ryan Poles is leading the charge as always, out on the scouting trail searching for more difference-makers. So far, his visits on the pro day circuit have lined up with those assumptions.

He first popped up at Oklahoma to get a look at prominent defensive line standouts Gracen Halton and R Mason Thomas. Then he went down to Miami to watch stud edge rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. Well, Poles finally threw Bears fans a curveball when he appeared at the Alabama pro day. The Crimson Tide isn’t expected to deliver a strong defensive class this year. Most of the attention is on their offensive linemen, particularly left tackle Kadyn Proctor.

This was further solidified when Bears representatives, including Poles, were paying close attention to offensive line drills.

Ryan Poles might not be done at left tackle.

Now, mind you, Proctor isn’t the only name the Bears could be looking at. SM reported the Bears have had significant interest in wide receiver Germie Bernard. Rugged and powerful defensive end LT Overton is another possibility, as is center Parker Brailsford. However, none of those players are going in the 1st round. It wouldn’t make sense for Poles to show up at the pro day unless he planned to look at somebody he may have a chance to draft with that 25th overall pick. The only one in that bracket is Proctor.

Alabama’s left tackle is a massive human being at 6’7″, 352 lbs. He has all the expected traits that go with it, from long arms to overwhelming power, both in the run game and anchoring in pass protection. Yet what has surprised evaluators is how good an athlete he is. Since 1999, there have been six tackles drafted who weighed 350 lbs or more. Only one of them had a faster 40-yard dash time than Proctor’s 5.21 at the scouting combine. While not a ballerina, he moves well for his size.

PlayerDraft YearWeight (lbs)40-Yard Dash
Mekhi Becton20203645.10s
Kadyn Proctor20263525.21s
Trent Brown20153555.29s
Mike Williams20023755.30s
Aaron Gibson19993865.35s
Daniel Faalele20223845.60s
Herman Johnson20093645.63s

Don’t forget what we already know.

Head coach Ben Johnson showed last year that he is a proponent of size at the offensive tackle position. The Bears drafted the 6’8″, 316 lbs Ozzy Trapilo in the 2nd round last year. He also coached the 6’5″, 331 lbs Penei Sewell in Detroit. It isn’t a stretch to think Johnson likes big offensive tackles who still move well. They are almost always a major asset in the running game, which we know is this team’s identity. Proctor was fine-to-good in pass protection against SEC competition throughout his time at Alabama.

The obvious question is, will he be there at #25? There is a growing belief he will not. Offensive tackle is a thin position in this year’s draft, but the demand for them remains as high as ever. It is hard to imagine several teams picking ahead of Chicago that need one will pass on Proctor, even if they have reservations about his weight. Still, Ryan Poles is wise to keep that option open, and no doubt spent his time at the Alabama pro day getting a look at far more plausible targets.

More Than Just Chatter — Donovan, UNC Links Are Starting to Add Up

By
Ryan Dauterive
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Feb 26, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan reacts during the first half of an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Yesterday’s report by Joe Cowley that Billy Donovan could be showing himself the door at the conclusion of the regular season was quickly followed by more news regarding Chicago’s head coach. While none of it solidified or echoed what Cowley first brought to light, they did present a next step for the 60-year-old. Hubert Davis, successor to the legendary Roy Williams, was fired by the North Carolina Tar Heels yesterday morning. Any time a blue blood college basketball program head coaching vacancy has become available over the last decade, Donovan’s name is one of the most commonly mentioned potential suitors, and this instance has been no different. Using Cowley’s report that Donovan’s patience may be growing thin with Chicago and the professional level as a whole, many have viewed this as a perfect opportunity to return to his most successful level as a coach. At the University of Florida, he won back-to-back NCAA Tournament championships, already cementing him in the top seven all-time in tournament titles. Could he be headed back to the collegiate scene?

Fitting The Trend

In any sport at any level, a widely considered top-ten coach of all time will continue to be linked to open positions for years to follow, whether they’re currently coaching elsewhere or not. Donovan has been no exception to this rule. For example, he was on the short list for Indiana in 2021 when they eventually hired Mike Woodson, he was named a possible replacement for John Calipari in 2019 for Kentucky simply for his SEC ties, many had his name on the log for claiming the University of Louisville job in 2022, and when Bill Self was being investigated in 2020, again Donovan’s name was one of the first to hit the news. These reports have all shared a few common traits: no acknowledgement of interest from Chicago’s head coach, no outspoken desire to leave the NBA, no disgruntled comments about his current role with the Bulls, and no substantial evidence that he was ever interviewed or seriously considered for these positions. All of that to say that, for now, this should be assumed in the same category. As K.C. Johnson says below, this has become a common routine for the Bulls and open college coaching positions lately.

Making The Case That This One Is Real

If it weren’t for Cowley’s report yesterday outlining how Donovan’s grown impatient with Chicago, which had some off-the-court factors affecting his passion for the position, and that he’s always preached a winning product, unwilling to sign on for a rebuild, these University of North Carolina ties would be disregarded. But given that Cowley’s report contained a hefty amount of easily traceable details that align with his departure, these links are putting the basketball world in a frenzy. According to widely respected hoops analyst Jeff Goodman, Donovan’s inner circle of friends and family is strongly advising him to step down from his position with the Chicago Bulls. Jeff Borzello, an ESPN College Basketball Insider, says North Carolina is expected to “aggressively pursue” the former two-time National Champion head coach.

A new angle to consider is that the NIL system has entirely changed the college game, much to the dismay of many veteran college coaching titans. Does this pull Donovan back into the scene, or push him further away? Coaches like Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino have been quite frank about the negative impacts it has had on college programs, player development, and team chemistry.

With dozens of moving parts each year moving around for monetary reasons, college basketball teams look entirely new with each passing season. Is that something Donovan wants to learn, invest in, and test the waters with? North Carolina would surely be in the highest bracket of NIL spending, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it would have more player turnover than ever before.

Justin Steele’s Return Date Becomes Clearer After Roster Update

By
Aldo Soto
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Apr 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (35) delivers against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs needed to open up a few spots on their 40-man roster on Wednesday, when the team finalized its Opening Day roster. A trio of non-roster invitees to spring training made the active squad, as Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlson, and Scott Kingery cracked the Opening Day roster. Fans were already aware that Justin Steele wouldn’t make his season debut until at least May, and now his return date is much clearer following Wednesday’s roster updates.

Steele was officially placed on the 60-day injured list, which means the left-handed starting pitcher won’t be able to come back until the final week of May at the earliest. Again, not much of a surprise as Steele and the Cubs had indicated earlier in March that the pitcher was targeting a late-May to early June return.

Meanwhile, right-handed relief pitcher Jack Neely was designated for assignment. This move is somewhat disappointing as Neely was one of the two prospects that the Cubs acquired from the New York Yankees in 2024, in a trade that sent Mark Leiter Jr. to New York. Neely briefly pitched for the Cubs at the end of the 2024 season, but he was stuck in Triple-A last year as the righty put up big strikeout numbers, but also had command issues.

We’ll see if Neely passes through waivers and returns to the Cubs, who would then outright him to Triple-A.

The Cubs also officially placed infielder/outfielder Tyler Austin on the 60-day injured list prior to Opening Day. Austin signed a one-year deal with the Cubs this past offseason after a handful of years in Japan. Unfortunately, Austin had a knee issue, and he underwent surgery that will sideline him for several months.

Seiya Suzuki is on the 10-day injured list, which is retroactive to March 22. So, if Suzuki recovers soon and only misses the minimum time, he’ll be eligible to return to the lineup on April 1, meaning the right fielder would have only missed five games.

Porter Hodge and Jordan Wicks are also starting the season on the 15-day injured list.

(Previous Update)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele missed most of the 2025 season after undergoing left-elbow surgery, but the 30-year-old just shared a game-changing update heading into March. Steele said on Saturday that he has been cleared by his surgeon and is back to 100%. Essentially, Steele can now resume a normal ramp-up in spring training, meaning his return to the Cubs’ rotation could come sooner than some experts first theorized.

Steele underwent UCL revision last April and while some fans might have seen that UCL injury and assumed Tommy John surgery, but the time frame to return is shorter for the procedure Steele went through. The Cubs’ lefty shared the update on Twitter and passed along a video of his latest throwing session in Arizona.

We kind of forget how good Steele was in the rotation because of his absence, but from 2022-24, the left-hander was a steady force in the rotation.

Justin Steele 2022-24
2022: 24 starts, 3.18 ERA, 119 IP, 24.6 K%
2023: 30 starts, 3.06 ERA, 173.1 IP, 24.6 K%
2024: 24 starts, 3.07 ERA, 134.2 IP, 24.3 K%

There is no question that the Cubs have a better rotation with Steele in it, and his return also gives the team a much more formidable one for the postseason. Fingers crossed that Steele doesn’t experience any setbacks as he continues his comeback, but today’s update was a giant step forward for him and the Cubs.

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