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Chicago Cubs Discard Journeyman Pitcher

By
Aldo Soto
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Well, we’ll always have that one appearance against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Journeyman pitcher Yacksel Ríos was designated for assignment in early May after the Chicago Cubs activated closer Daniel Palencia from the 15-day injured list.

Ríos looked good in his only relief outing with the Cubs, retiring all five batters he faced in the team’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hard-throwing righty struck out and only needed 13 pitches to get the five outs.

This was his first MLB appearance since 2023 with the Oakland Athletics.

Despite the flash of good stuff, it comes down to a numbers game, and Ríos does not have any minor league options remaining, so he was the odd man out in the bullpen.

In the big picture, probably not a big deal, as the Cubs are slowly getting healthier in the bullpen. Yet it would have been nice to keep Ríos around in the organization because he throws hard. However, after clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Iowa, Ríos has elected free agency, hoping to find a better opportunity to return to the majors elsewhere.

(Previous Update)

Riley Martin became the latest Chicago Cubs pitcher to go on the injured list, and because there have been so many guys injured already, the team had to make room on the 40-man roster this past weekend. Charlie Barnes was called back up from Triple-A, and a day after pitching in a blowout, veteran Vince Velasquez was designated for assignment. The Cubs needed a warm body in the bullpen, so 32-year-old Yacksel Ríos had his contract selected from the Iowa Cubs.

There’s really not much to point at and immediately think Ríos can be an unexpected hero for the Cubs. Prior to his debut with the Cubs on Sunday, Ríos had a 6.37 ERA in 92 MLB games, and he had not pitched in the big leagues since the 2023 season. In 2023, the right-hander pitched in three games: 1.2 total innings with the Athletics.

I mean, it’s not like he was looking all that good in Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs this year either. In 10.2 innings, Ríos gave up six earned runs on nine hits, including four home runs. He racked up eight strikeouts in seven outings, but also walked six batters and hit a batter. Over 15 seasons pitching in the minor leagues, Ríos has a 4.13 ERA, a below-average strikeout rate, a below-average walk rate, and extensive experience traveling the country since 2011.

So, is there anything to like? Well, back in 2021, Ríos had the best stretch of his MLB career, posting a 3.70 ERA in 20 games with the Boston Red Sox. During the 24.1 inning stretch out of Boston’s bullpen, Ríos held opponents to a .157 batting average, recorded a 1.11 WHIP, and had 14 scoreless appearances out of 20 outings. It wasn’t flashy because Ríos still struggled with his command, and he was eventually dumped off the active roster in September.

But if a guy who broke into pro ball in 2011 is still around, that means teams have to believe he can be useful. Well, the Cubs saw a glimpse of it on Sunday, when Ríos struck out two in 1.2 shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw 13 pitches, featuring a three-pitch mix: four-seam fastball, sinker, and splitter. The Cubs are currently without Hunter Harvey and Daniel Palencia, the two hard-throwing relievers that the Cubs actually have, so it was good to see a bullpen arm actually throwing hard.

Ríos reached 99.2mph with his fastball and 98.9mph with his sinker against the Dodgers. Both of his strikeouts came on whiffs, the first on a fastball to Teoscar Hernandez, and then a splitter to Alex Freeland.

The Cubs currently have 11 pitchers from their 40-man roster on the injured list. It’s not that the Cubs are hoping Ríos can step up in the bullpen; they desperately need him to have a miracle run in 2026, because it is a terrible situation heading into May for the Cubs.

Can Yacksel Ríos turn into an instant hero for the Cubs? If he can throw enough strikes, then there’s a chance that the Cubs strike gold with the 32-year-old journeyman.

People Are Missing Why The Coby Bryant Signing Could Transform The Bears Defense

By
Erik Lambert
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coby bryant
Sep 25, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears took a considerable risk when they allowed their entire safety group to depart in free agency. Kevin Byard left for New England. Jaquan Brisker went to Pittsburgh, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson signed with Buffalo. All three of those guys played integral roles in helping the Bears make the playoffs last season. People were concerned there was no plan to replace them. Thankfully, general manager Ryan Poles didn’t wait long to react, signing veteran free agent Coby Bryant away from the Seattle Seahawks.

It never seems like a bad thing when you pluck somebody from the defending Super Bowl champions, but fans wondered how much he could help the defense. Initial reaction indicated he was a tough, rangy safety who offered a hybrid mix of good deep coverage and strong run defense. Such versatility was missing for the Bears last season. However, Film Watchers decided to help illustrate just how good Bryant is by showing a play that Byard couldn’t cover last season, but he could thanks to one crucial trait.

Coby Bryant can directly influence the Bears’ biggest problem.

Of the several weaknesses the defense had last season, none stuck out more than Chicago’s inability to prevent big plays. Throughout the 2025 campaign, they allowed a staggering 60 explosive passes. Those are passes of 20 yards or more. Though Byard and Nahshon Wright mitigated the pain from that by intercepting 12 combined passes, it didn’t stop the bleeding. Opposing teams with good speed and/or smart coaching regularly found openings downfield. So when the Bears weren’t picking them off, they were getting gashed.

By contrast, Seattle was excellent at limiting such plays. Their 16.9% explosive play rate on defense was third-best in the NFL. Across the regular season and playoffs, the Seahawks allowed just 40 total. Bryant was a big part of that. His ability to diagnose plays both before and after the snap, along with his respectable speed, allowed him to erase windows often before quarterbacks could fit the ball into them. He may not have always been the center of attention, but his presence was always felt.

The numbers back Bryant up as well.

Last season, he gave up an 82.0 passer rating when targeted for the season. That was good enough to finish 14th in the NFL. He had a 17% forced-incompletion rate. By contrast, Byard allowed an 86.5 passer rating with a 5% forced incompletion rate. This means opponents had far less success targeting Bryant in coverage. Byard may have had three more interceptions (7 to 4), but he also left more open windows. The Bears were willing to sacrifice the slight downturn in turnovers if it meant slowing the flow of big-play opportunities.

It isn’t a bad trade-off. This doesn’t mention that Coby Bryant is also seven years younger than Byard. So they should also get more long-term stability. Pair him with 1st round pick Dillon Thieneman, and you start to see the plan coming together. Having two safeties with their flexibility will allow defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to keep opponents guessing as to what the Bears are doing from snap to snap. It won’t magically make this defense into the NFL’s best, but it does make them more difficult to attack.

Despite Tempting Arguments, Trading Davis Martin Would Be a Mistake For White Sox

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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Apr 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Davis Martin (65) throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

After three consecutive 100-loss seasons, White Sox fans have grown accustomed to watching nearly every player with an ounce of value become bait at the trade deadline. But this season feels different, as Chicago’s rebuilding roster has begun showing legitimate signs of life.

At the center of it all has been the starting rotation, anchored by Davis Martin. The longest-tenured player on the White Sox roster is putting together the best stretch of his career, posting a 1.64 ERA across 44 innings, tied for the third-lowest mark in the MLB. He’s also limiting free passes at an elite rate, with a 4.7% walk rate that ranks among the best in the league, while holding opponents to a career-best .233 batting average.

With numbers like that, Martin’s name has suddenly surfaced in trade speculation. It makes sense given that Martin’s value has never been higher. 

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf only has to look across town at his other franchise, the Chicago Bulls, to see the risk of holding onto players too long after the team received minimal returns for players like Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Nikola Vučević this season.

At this point in the MLB season, the trade market appears to be shaping up with far more buyers than sellers, especially with the American League playoff race still looking wide open. That could play into the White Sox hands if a team is looking to overpay for a starter who’s putting together an All-Star caliber season. 

However, that conversation has not sat well with CHSN’s Chuck Garfein, who took aim at local sports talk radio during Wednesday’s pregame show for even floating the idea.

“This is where I get salty, salty at sports talk radio, salty at social media because go a little deeper with Davis Martin. First off, he is the leader of this staff, he’s 29, he’s only pitched 300 innings in the major leagues, he’s got a fresh arm for someone who is 29, and on top of all of it, he’s not a free agent until he’s 34 years old,” Garfien said. “They got him under control until 2031, and you want to trade him away? If you trade Davis Martin, you’re basically looking and hoping to find someone like Davis Martin!” 

Garfien certainly raises some valid points. Martin already underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and has come back looking stronger than ever. He also has five more years of team control, and looks like he can be a steady presence on a contending team. 

There are still some red flags, such as opponents’ .274 expected batting average against Martin. But unless the White Sox can receive a trade package with at least one top-100 prospect, it would be unwise to trade Martin at the deadline. 

The White Sox also face limitations in the type of prospects they can realistically target, given how heavily their farm system is already stocked with infield talent. Currently, 45 of MLB Pipeline’s Top-100 prospects are either infielders or catchers, two positions of strength within the White Sox organization. 

On top of all of that, he has emerged as the clear leader of the pitching staff and earned the trust of manager Will Venable. Martin is the only White Sox starter who has not received the opener treatment and has rewarded Venable by consistently pitching deep into games, helping stabilize an overworked bullpen.

The White Sox are 6-1 in the seven games Martin has started this season. In those starts, Martin has thrown six-plus innings in five of them. The vibes in the White Sox clubhouse are the highest they have been in the last five seasons. The team is playing with confidence, and Martin is a major reason why. By suddenly flipping a cost-controlled starter at the trade deadline, what type of message does that send to the rest of the team? 

Even if Martin regresses, his overall body of work suggests that he can still be a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm for a contending team. While there is certainly a case for trading Martin, the value he provides outweighs the potential benefits of trading him.

Why Ben Johnson’s Plans For Colston Loveland Are More Ambitious Than Ever

By
Erik Lambert
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colston loveland
Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) runs after the catch as Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) defends during the second half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson won’t be going into 2026 with the same offense he exited last season with. For one, two of his projected starting offensive linemen are gone. Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo tore his patellar tendon in the playoffs, and center Drew Dalman retired. The Bears were also forced to trade wide receiver D.J. Moore. People are left wondering how the offense will look after these changes. Rome Odunze dealt with a foot injury last season. Luther Burden still has some growing to do. The offense has to go through somebody. It isn’t difficult to find the answer. That will be Colston Loveland.

This isn’t just an assumption, mind you. Sports Mockery insider Jeff Hughes revealed on his podcast that Johnson’s infatuation with the tight end has grown significantly over the past few months. The Bears head coach thought he knew what he was getting when the team drafted the tight end out of Michigan 10th overall. It didn’t take long for Loveland to exceed those expectations, both with his talent and his work ethic. Johnson is fully prepared to mold the offensive attack around him.

Johnson saw what everybody else did with Colston Loveland.

Towards the end of the 2025 season, he was pretty much unstoppable. He had 94 yards and a touchdown against San Francisco, then 91 yards and a touchdown in the regular season finale against Detroit. Then, in his playoff debut, he torched the Green Bay Packers for 137 yards. Teams had no answer for him. The only reason the Los Angeles Rams were able to slow him down was by giving him a concussion. Doing all of that as a rookie must have had people terrified of what he could become with more experience and a better understanding of the offense.

No doubt Johnson is thinking the same thing. Few offenses in the NFL are friendlier to tight ends than his. Handing him a weapon like Loveland felt like bad news for the league even at the time. Now there are no further doubts. Johnson knows what he can do and will build the offense around that. Defenses will inevitably try to counter, which will open up countless opportunities for others to make plays. It is essentially the same situation as Travis Kelce in Kansas City and George Kittle in San Francisco.

This is everything the Bears hoped for.

Today’s NFL is driven by great tight ends. It isn’t a coincidence that contending teams often have great ones involved in the offense. Kelce, Kittle, Rob Gronkowski, Zach Ertz, Mark Andrews, and Sam LaPorta all prove as much. The Bears have had a player of this stature probably since Mike Ditka, though Greg Olsen could’ve been that. Regardless, Colston Loveland has all the makings of a star. Nobody should begrudge Coach Johnson for wanting to feature him like one. Smart teams do that.

The only question is how much. Johnson tends to prefer spreading targets around. However, Loveland was getting 10+ looks every game down the stretch. If the Bears keep it around that range and the tight end stays healthy, we might be looking at the first 1,000-yard tight end the franchise has produced in over 60 years. In a league driven by star power, this team may finally have one.

How One Comment From Bryson Graham About His Bulls Plan Proves He Gets It

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bulls
New Chicago Bulls VP of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham fields questions at his introductory press conference.

Arturas Karnisovas lost his job to Bryson Graham for several reasons. It starts with his ugly first-ever draft pick, taking Patrick Williams 4th overall, compared to other prominent options. Then you have his inability to get proper value in trades, too often giving away quality talent for highly questionable packages. Yet what probably frustrated people the most about his tenure as Chicago Bulls VP of Basketball Operations was his stubborn refusal to face reality. If there was one word he treated like kryptonite, it was ‘rebuild’. Any time it was mentioned in his presence, he seemed to bristle.

No comment better sums up his thoughts than what he said a year ago when reporters peppered him with questions about rebuilding.

“I don’t like that word, me personally. I like transition for the organization. Transition,” Karnisovas repeated. “And I think a full rebuild is an overused word. I think in terms of construction of our team, we have so many young players but those young players have six, five, four years under their belt. They’re pretty experienced players. So I would stay away from that.”

This was reflected in his actions. Karnisovas never made draft picks a priority in his trades. He was more interested in acquiring young players with experience who might do well with an opportunity for greater minutes elsewhere. That strategy certainly didn’t work out. Ask Jaden Ivey. Graham got his turn to address that word at his introductory press conference on Wednesday.

“We are in the rebuilding phase, and we’re extremely young too…I’m not going to be up here and mince words and say we’re further along.”

Bryson Graham showed in that moment that he understands reality.

This team is not one or two players away from contention. It has problems everywhere. Their defense is one of the worst in the NBA. They have limited bench depth and no star power. All they can hang their hat on is the youthful promise of Matas Buzelis. Cleaning up this mess will require more than one offseason. You don’t get that kind of honesty from executives, at least not in this town. If Graham wanted to start off on the right foot with Bulls fans, the best way to do that is by not lying to them.

Now there is good news. The Bulls have the necessary resources to start a rebuild the right way. They have two 1st round picks in the upcoming draft. With some luck, one of them might become a top five pick in the lottery. Either way, Graham will have two valuable opportunities to add some young talent to the roster. They’ll also have the most cap space in the NBA. If he wishes to continue adding more future assets, he could look to take on some expiring contracts from other teams. The options are plentiful.

The good news is Graham is no stranger to rebuilds.

He was part of two of them during his long stint with the New Orleans Pelicans. However, the more interesting one came at the start of 2019. He was promoted to assistant general manager that year. The Pelicans secured the #1 overall pick and spent it on Duke phenom Zion Williamson. From there, Graham helped the organization steadily build a roster that went from 30-42 in the COVID season to a second-best franchise record of 49-33 in 2023-2024. The roster was littered with players Bryson Graham helped find, like Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Dyson Daniels, and Jose Alvarado.

Things probably would’ve coalesced sooner had Williams not constantly struggled with injuries over that time period. Either way, the point stands that Graham has a solid education in building a team step by step through sound drafting, disciplined free-agent spending, and smart trades. That was often the biggest issue with Karnisovas. He didn’t really do any of those things. Graham was brought in to change that. The first order of business is finding the right head coach.

Add Another to the List of Chicago Cubs Freak Injuries

By
Aldo Soto
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The Chicago Cubs received more unfortunate news on Wednesday, when veteran starting pitcher Matthew Boyd suffered a knee injury that will require surgery. Boyd, who was an All-Star for the Cubs in 2025, was the Opening Day starter for the club this year, but the 35-year-old was already showing some worrying signs. Boyd missed time on the injured list in April because of a left biceps strain, and now he’ll undergo surgery on his left meniscus.

Boyd made 31 starts for the Cubs in 2025, surpassing the 100-inning mark for the first time since 2019. The left-handed pitcher has dealt with several injuries throughout his MLB career, including multiple elbow surgeries. He came back from Tommy John surgery in 2024 with the Cleveland Guardians, and although he only pitched in eight regular-season games that year, it was enough to secure a two-year, $29 million contract with the Cubs.

Now, the Cubs won’t know how long Boyd will be sidelined. That will be determined after the surgery is complete, and if you’re wondering how the injury happened, well it seems like another case of the worst fucking luck.

It turns out that Boyd injured his knee while playing with his kids on Wednesday morning.

And that’s what happens when you try to be Dad of the Year. Joking aside, it’s a shame for Boyd, who looked solid in his previous start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sure, his six starts this year haven’t been good overall, a 6.00 ERA in 24 innings, but his 31/6 strikeout to walk ratio was pretty damn good, and some other peripherals suggested he was due for a turnaround.

This one will definitely get added to the list of freak injuries in Cubs’ history. We already had one earlier this season with Ethan Roberts.

History of Freak Chicago Cubs Injuries

Mike Remlinger: fractured left pinky finger after getting it stuck between recliner chairs in the clubhouse.
Sammy Sosa: injured his back by sneezing violently.
Kerry Wood: bruised ribs after slipping while getting out of his hot tub.
Ryan Dempster: broke a toe while jumping over the dugout, celebrating a win.
Alfonso Soriano: strained calf after doing his signature hop when catching a fly ball.
Brandon Morrow: suffered back spasms while taking off his pants.
Jose Quintana: cut left hand while washing dishes at home.
Cade Horton: suffered a fractured rib after severe coughing.

And now Matthew Boyd enters the list.

Chicago Cubs All-Star Pitcher Will Miss Time After Undergoing Surgery

By
Aldo Soto
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You know, things were going a little too well for the Chicago Cubs, so naturally, another pitcher is injured. Veteran left-handed starting pitcher and 2025 All-Star, Matthew Boyd, will miss more time in 2026. He was sidelined earlier this year with a biceps issue, and now the pitcher needs surgery to repair his left meniscus.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell dropped the latest setback on Wednesday prior to the team’s third game at Wrigley Field against the Cincinnati Reds. After pitching a full season last year for the first time since 2019, Boyd has looked a bit off so far in 2026. In five starts Boyd has posted a 6.00 ERA in 24 innings.

Boyd was solid in his last start, going six innings in the Cubs’ 8-4 win on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. There is currently no timetable for Boyd’s return.

In 2025, Boyd made 31 starts, posting a 3.21 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 154 strikeouts over 179.2 innings. Boyd also started three games for the Cubs in the postseason. He gave up a total of three earned runs in 9.2 innings during Chicago’s playoff run.

Boyd had not pitched more than 100 innings in a season since his 2019 campaign with the Detroit Tigers.

So, the Cubs, who are already without Cade Horton for the rest of the year, will now be down two starting pitchers for the foreseeable future. Last week, the Cubs also announced that Justin Steele suffered a setback in his elbow surgery recovery, pushing his timeline to return after the All-Star break.

The Cubs have been able to get this far despite numerous pitching injuries up and down the staff. Entering Wednesday, the Cubs ranked eighth in MLB with a 3.83 ERA.

There was already a need for another starter if the Cubs truly want to make a push in October before this Boyd update, so you know this will only increase the aggressiveness from the front office as teams begin to set out their plans heading into the trade deadline.

How George McCaskey’s Buyers Remorse On Kevin Warren Goes Deeper Than We Thought

By
Erik Lambert
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george mccaskey
Jan 17, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, US; New Chicago Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren (left) shakes hands with chairman George H. McCaskey (R) during the press conference at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Warren’s hire as the new Chicago Bears team president was met with intrigue at the time. Here was a man who’d worked in multiple NFL front offices over the past 25 years and had served as the Big Ten Conference commissioner. His accolades were impressive, at least on paper. Add to that his experience in helping the Minnesota Vikings build their new stadium, and it made sense that George McCaskey would target him for the job. Four years later, and the Bears chairman is having regrets.

It has been rumored for some time that ownership wasn’t happy with Warren, particularly regarding his handling of the stadium process. Here is a man who promised shovels in the ground by 2025 at the latest. Now we’re approaching halfway through 2026 and still haven’t even committed to a location yet. Now, more details have surfaced on McCaskey’s feelings from Sports Mockery insider Jeff Hughes. It appears this goes much further back than people realized.

All the way back to right after Warren was hired. It isn’t just the stadium situation, mind you. The utter lack of organization from a business standpoint is another major issue that isn’t talked about.

George McCaskey is caught in a tough position.

Firing Warren immediately after hiring him was a non-starter. It would’ve looked incredibly embarrassing. No doubt the Bears’ owner hoped the executive would figure things out, given some time to acclimate. When that didn’t happen, it became a rough choice. Either he stays the course, hoping Warren can somehow get the stadium over the finish line, or he fires him and muddies up the process even further by hiring a new president. Neither option is a good one.

The fact McCaskey was warned by people inside the building that Warren wasn’t the best choice for the job seems on-brand. Though a dedicated fan of the Bears with every intention of making them a winner, McCaskey still demonstrates a remarkable lack of sense when it comes to the hiring process. We saw that for years with guys like Phil Emergy and Ryan Pace. It seems rather fitting that the same would happen with the team president’s job. Perhaps this is why he was always so reluctant to get rid of Ted Phillips.

That raises an interesting question.

Once the stadium situation is finally settled, will the Bears dump Warren? It really sounds like they don’t see much value in keeping him beyond that. Every time George McCaskey was asked about why they hired him in the first place, the answer always circled around his supposed expertise at getting a stadium built. Not much else. This makes one think that the organization will send him packing once the negotiations are over and construction has either begun or is completed in the next few years.

In all honesty, no one would be surprised whenever it happens. Opinions of Warren among fans and the media couldn’t be much lower. Many see him as nothing more than a politician: great at making promises and terrible at keeping them. Others see him as glaringly incompetent. It is hard to imagine the team could’ve downgraded from Phillips, but it’s shaping up that way. How much longer this goes on depends entirely on McCaskey’s remaining patience.

Bears Insider Finally Reveals The More Honest Reason DJ Moore Was Traded

By
Erik Lambert
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dj moore
Nov 23, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) reacts after making a touchdown catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

DJ Moore was a central hero to the Chicago Bears‘ story in 2025. Without his big-play moments against the Green Bay Packers, this team doesn’t win the division or their first playoff game since 2010. That made the decision to trade him a conflicting one for fans. They didn’t want to lose what he brought to the team. Unfortunately, the business of the NFL doesn’t care about such things. Most agree the decision to trade Moore this past March was motivated solely by financial reasons. The Bears were in a salary cap crunch and needed breathing room. Sending Moore to Buffalo was their best option.

However, it wasn’t quite that cut-and-dry. There was a slightly more selfish reason the Bears did it. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune confirmed as much in his recent column. While cap relief was the primary reason Moore was traded, the Bears also wanted to elevate Luther Burden into a more central offensive role.

“The trade of DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills — in which Poles made out pretty well — was motivated by clearing salary-cap space.

It also was made because the team believes Luther Burden III, entering his second season, is primed for a larger role. Burden caught 47 passes for 652 yards and two scores as a rookie and projects to be the most explosive weapon in the passing game.

But Williams and Burden weren’t always on the same page, and the fourth-down interception in the wild-card win over the Packers is just one example of what happened when those two were not in sync.”

This isn’t entirely a surprise. Burden exploded onto the scene last year, demonstrating his mouth-watering mix of speed, quickness, and after-the-catch ability. The problem is that there are only so many targets to go around. By removing Moore and the 85 he got last season, the Bears can divvy them up to others, particularly Burden. If he could post over 600 yards with just 60 targets, imagine what he could do with 90+.

DJ Moore likely always faced this fate.

The hard truth is the Bears were paying him as a #1 wide receiver. With that comes expectations. That means 1,000 yards and 7-10 touchdowns every season. Moore wasn’t providing that. True, not all of it was his fault, but let’s not forget Justin Jefferson had 1,000 yards in just 10 games in 2023 despite four different quarterbacks throwing him the ball. Moore was still productive, but his impact had faded to the point where he was overpaid. Once the Bears drafted Burden in the 2nd round last April, the clock began ticking.

After the rookie started putting together some impressive performances, the calls for him to get more action started coming in. Moore was partially saved from any semblance of criticism because Rome Odunze injured his foot and wasn’t 100% most of the season. That kept his role in the offense secure. It’s fair to wonder what might’ve happened if Odunze had stayed healthy. Would Burden’s ascent have caused Moore’s role in the offense to steadily diminish? We’ll never know, but this revelation at least alludes to that possibility.

It’s unlikely there are any hard feelings.

After all, the Bears did DJ Moore a big favor. Not only did they find a trade partner that allowed him to maintain his current contract, but they also sent him to one of the best teams in the AFC. He’ll get to play with Josh Allen, a recent league MVP and top-three quarterback in the sport. This isn’t a situation where they exciled him to a team with loads of problems. Moore will be just fine. It is a win-win for everybody. He gets to join a contender while they save some money and are free to elevate one of their younger talents.

There is no great benefactor than Burden. The Bears have shown their utmost belief in him by clearing the way. It falls on his shoulders to seize the opportunity. All signs indicate he has been working hard this offseason. He is in shape and running crisp routes in practice. The next step is improving his chemistry with Caleb Williams. That should come with more reps together in spring practices and training camp.

Chicago Cubs Can Do No Wrong: Wild Winning Streak Stays Alive!

By
Aldo Soto
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The Chicago Cubs have now won seven games in a row and 13 straight at Wrigley Field following their second consecutive walk-off victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. This team has that special feeling around it, thanks to so many come-from-behind wins that have been a big part of this wild winning streak.

On Tuesday night, the Cubs trailed 2-0 beginning the seventh inning before scoring a run, and then Michael Busch tied it in the eighth with a massive home run to right-center field.

The Cubs’ bullpen shut down the Reds after Jameson Taillon allowed two runs in 5.2 innings. Javier Assad tossed 1.1 innings, while Jacob Webb, Daniel Palencia, and Ryan Rolison each followed up with a scoreless inning of their own.

In the bottom of the 10th inning, Busch hit a ground ball up the middle, where Elly De La Cruz tried to make the hero play and potentially make a play on Dansby Swanson at third base, but instead the shortstop whiffed on the ball. Swanson raced home and the Cubs walked it off for a 3-2 win.

The 13-game winning streak at home began against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 12. The Cubs were trailing 5-0 in the game before storming back to win 7-6. Beginning with that walk-off win, the Cubs are 18-4 overall. That stretch included a 10-game winning streak and the team’s current seven-game winning streak.

Wild Cubs Wins
4/12: Michael Busch game-tying 2-run single in the 8th, Carson Kelly walk-off single in the 9th
4/19: Michael Conforto game-tying double in the 9th, Nico Hoerner walk-off sac-fly in the 10th
4/23: Up 6-2, Seiya Suzuki go-ahead HR in the 8th, blown save, Dansby Swanson walk-off single in the 10th
4/24: Down 4-0 in the 7th, Alex Bregman game-tying HR in the 8th, Swanson game-winning HR in the 9th
5/4: Down 4-3 in the 9th, Hoerner ties, Conforto walk-off HR
5/5: Down 2-0 in the 7th, Busch game-tying HR in the 8th, Busch walk-off single in the 10th

From 6-8 to 24-12. The Cubs now have the second-best record in the National League, behind the Atlanta Braves, and the third-best overall, with the New York Yankees at the top. It’s only the first week of May, but if you’re keeping an eye on the standings, the Cubs are 2.5 games up on the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.

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