Saturday, November 14, 2026
EDGE is live. Chicago fans can now access and explore the beta.
Home Blog Page 238

Domínguez Singing Could Turn White Sox Bullpen Into Three-Headed Monster

By
Mitchell Kaminski
-
Oct 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Seranthony Dominguez (48) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning during game three of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

A White Sox bullpen that was once one of the weakest links of the team suddenly looks like a strength.

After freeing up $20 million in the Luis Robert trade, White Sox general manager Chris Getz wasted no time using the space to sign right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20 million contract.

Domínguez is expected to serve as the White Sox closer, a move that could bring stability to the back end of the bullpen. Last season, Chicago relievers converted just 51% of their save opportunities, with manager Will Venable using eight different pitchers to record saves.

The White Sox lost a MLB-leading 36 one-run games in 2025, with 24 blown saves playing a significant role. 

While Domínguez has spent the bulk of his career as a setup man, he has all the tools to be an effective shutdown closer. The 31-year-old owns a career 3.50 ERA across seven MLB seasons, with his 2025 season being one of his best to date.

Last season, he ranked in the top 90th percentile in strikeout rate (30.3%), whiff rate (33.3%), average fastball velocity (97.7 mph), and expected batting average (.193). 

Domínguez burst onto the scene in 2018 with a 2.95 ERA, striking out 32% of hitters over 58 innings in his rookie season with the Phillies. He also set a career high with 16 saves during his debut season.

However, his next three seasons were plagued by injuries. After missing the 2020 season with Tommy John surgery, he threw just one inning in 2021 before posting a 3.00 ERA with nine saves in 2022. 

Over the past four seasons, he has regained form, producing numbers similar to his breakout 2018 campaign. He logged at least 50 innings in each of those years, totaling 222 1/3 innings with the Phillies, Orioles, and Blue Jays. During that span, he posted a 3.60 ERA with a 27% strikeout rate, a 10.7% walk rate, and a 41.9% groundball rate, while recording 24 saves and 55 holds.

He joins the White Sox with a revamped arsenal after adding a slider, splitter, and curveball in 2025, complementing an upper-90s fastball and a mid-80s sweeper. While his 13.8% walk rate remains a concern, the expanded pitch mix helped him post his highest strikeout rate in a full season since his rookie year.

That was on full display during the postseason, where Dominguez logged some key outs as the setup man for the Blue Jays. This included escaping a bases-loaded jam in game 6 of the World Series en route to a 3.18 ERA in 12 postseason appearances. 

Before adding Domínguez, Jordan Leasure and Grant Taylor were the leading candidates for the White Sox’s ninth-inning role. While both young relievers show promise, either would have been placed in a challenging position.

In a setup role, Leasure can continue to develop in high-leverage situations without the added pressure of the ninth inning. The 27-year-old finished the season strong, striking out 30% of opposing hitters and holding them to a .144 batting average in the second half.

Taylor showed plenty of potential in his first 36 big-league appearances, but the results were inconsistent. Over 36 2/3 innings, he recorded six saves, posted a 4.91 ERA, and struck out just over 34% of hitters. He also generated a 51% ground-ball rate — enough to rank near the league’s best had he thrown enough innings to qualify.

The combination of Leasure, Taylor, and Domínguez now gives the White Sox a trio of hard-throwing right-handers at the back end of the bullpen.

Thrown into high-leverage situations early, Taylor gave manager Will Venable a much-needed weapon to help close out games. His fastball averages nearly 98 mph, while his slider and curveball each produced whiff rates above 30%.

Taylor really found his stride in the season’s final month, delivering eight scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts across nine appearances. His versatility and ability to pitch multiple innings could make him a key contributor in a variety of bullpen roles next season.

However, with starting pitching still a team need and free-agent budget constraints, the White Sox could consider stretching Taylor into a starting or long-relief role — though doing so would mean passing up the chance to maintain a three-headed monster of hard-throwing right-handers to close out games.

If the White Sox enter the seventh inning with a lead, opposing hitters could face the formidable trio of Taylor, Leasure, and Domínguez, making late innings a daunting task.

Bears Insider Finally Sheds Light On Ian Cunningham Comp Picks Situation

By
Erik Lambert
-
ian cunningham

The Chicago Bears have anticipated assistant GM Ian Cunningham leaving at some point to finally get a GM job of his own. He came close in 2024 with the Arizona Cardinals, but opted to stay put. It felt like this was his year. The Bears went 11-6, won the NFC North, and beat Green Bay in the wild card round. It was their best overall season in 15 years, and a culmination of the intense work Cunningham and Ryan Poles have put in to get the Bears to this point. One would think teams would be interested in his services.

Indeed it looked like the Atlanta Falcons were heavy favorites to bring him in, especially with Poles’ best friend Matt Ryan taking over as president of football operations. There is one glaring problem. It is speculated that because Ryan is deemed the primary football decision-maker in the organization, any GM hired would be making a lateral move. In other words, the Bears would not be entitled to compensatory picks were Cunningham to take the position. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has since confirmed this.

Assistant general manager Ian Cunningham has a second interview with the Atlanta Falcons for their open GM job. The Bears won’t receive draft picks if Cunningham is hired for that job because recently hired president of football Matt Ryan is deemed to be the “primary football executive” for the Falcons. Because of that distinction, the Bears could block Cunningham from leaving if they wanted to.

The Bears don’t seem intent on blocking Ian Cunningham.

Since this is officially designated a lateral move, the organization is within its rights to prevent Cunningham from interviewing. However, the assistant GM met with the Falcons this week anyway. That indicates the Bears won’t stand in the way of him taking the job if it’s offered and he wants it. Fans may not like that. They’ll see it as the organization willingly letting a key executive go for nothing in return. Still, Poles has made it clear from the start that he won’t stand in the way of his assistants advancing their careers when opportunities arise.

Losing Ian Cunningham will hurt. Accomplished executives like him are hard to replace. Sure, it would be nice if the Bears could get two extra draft picks for the trouble, but there is little they can do about the rules. Poles won’t compromise his word just because of that. The Bears will find a way to make do without the picks. Besides, there’s no guarantee Cunningham goes to Atlanta anyway. Rumors persist that he isn’t the clear favorite at the moment.

Derrick Rose’s Final Message To Chicago Before Jersey Retirement Ceremony

By
Ryan Dauterive
-
Jan 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks former player Derrick Rose reacts as he is honored at halftime of a game between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

The fifth number retired for the Chicago Bulls will be lifted into the rafters of the United Center tomorrow night. Derrick Rose, and his signature jersey number one, will forever be cemented in the history of one of the most illustrious franchises in basketball. As a kid from Chicago, Rose constantly speaks highly of the city and how much of a dream come true the entire process has been. From being the first overall selection in the draft to being named the youngest MVP in the league’s history to suffering several devastating injuries, the legendary point guard represents the organization like no other. He’s often referred to as one of the most electric and humble superstars of all time, and had the Bulls as close to contention as they’ve ever been without Michael Jordan. In an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews earlier today, Rose had one final message for the city where he was born, raised, drafted, and lived out his childhood dreams.

“This is For Us”

One thing that remained constant throughout Derrick Rose’s playing days and post-NBA career was his praise for those around him. From shouting out his family members, to his teammates, coaches, and fans, the former MVP has never lost sight of where he came from, and the city he represents. Tomorrow night, he’ll take his well-earned place in Chicago history, where no other player will wear the jersey number one again. In his interview with ESPN, he again credited and reminded the masses of who this honor truly belongs to.

Fans in the United Center for tomorrow’s matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics are in for a historic night. After the game, the organization is raising Rose’s banner into immortality, with plenty of former teammates and coaches alongside. After much anticipation for this night since it was announced last year that his number would be retired by the franchise, the night has finally arrived.

Youngest MVP In League History

After missing the postseason in seven of the previous ten seasons, the Chicago Bulls were granted the first overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft following an abysmal 33-49 campaign. When Derrick Rose’s name was announced, the entire city erupted. He would lead Chicago to seven consecutive playoff appearances, including their lone Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 1998, which stands true today. That year, Rose would be named the youngest MVP in league history, and many thought he was the next face of the entire Association. Following that year, his career took a massive turn for the worse. After playing 78 or more games in each of his first three seasons, he’d only play over 51 games once more for Chicago, in 2015. His gradual decline due to compounding injuries was one of the most painful movies to watch unfold for the Windy City faithful.

Despite an abrupt end to his electric career with the Bulls, the unmatched energy, excitement, and embodiment of the city that Rose demonstrated on and off the court earned him a place amongst franchise legends.

Tune in tomorrow night for all of the feels and to watch one of the most incredible chapters in Chicago Bulls history be enshrined forever.

Who Is Shad Banks? Bears Wisely Spending Loads Of Time Around Young LB

By
Erik Lambert
-
shad banks
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) runs between TCU Horned Frogs linebacker Shad Banks Jr. (0) and TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (21) for a first down during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Oklahoma won 69-45.

Defensive line and safety will be the primary talking points for Chicago Bears fans as the offseason unfolds this spring. However, linebacker should not be overlooked. There is a strong probability that some significant changes are coming to that position as well. Noah Sewell is a free agent, as is D’Marco Jackson. Tremaine Edmunds could be cut due to his hefty contract. All of this makes it likely the team will invest at least one draft pick at the position. So it should be a surprise they’re spending extra time evaluating it. Enter Shad Banks.

The linebacker from UTSA is reportedly drawing a lot of attention from NFL teams at the American Bowl this month. The team that has spent the most time with him is the Bears. One reason for that is his speed. Banks has outstanding range for a linebacker, as evidenced by his three interceptions this past season. If that weren’t enough, he returned one of them for a touchdown, along with a fumble as well. He has 208 tackles in college, including 21 for a loss and four sacks. Such versatility is valuable for creative coaches like Dennis Allen.

The interest in Shad Banks isn’t a surprise.

It became clear how much the Bears’ priorities had changed at linebacker during the 2025 draft. Their selection of Rueben Hyppolite in the 4th round was a surprise. Most experts didn’t rank him that high, but Allen felt the team needed his pure speed. Now the reported interest in Shad Banks merely reinforces it. As they reshape their linebackers moving forward, speed will be at the top of the priority list. It shouldn’t be a surprise, since this is much like how Allen built those strong units in New Orleans.

Remember, the Bears struggled to defend the middle of the field this season. That usually happens when your linebackers either have bad instincts or aren’t great athletes. Shad Banks has both. Much depends on how high he can go in the draft. Current projections have it being somewhere on day three. If his pre-draft process continues to shine, that could change. If nothing else, this confirms the Bears might be prioritizing linebacker than other people are accounting for.

White Sox Keep Adding Pieces To Patch Up Ugly Outfield Situation

By
Mitchell Kaminski
-
May 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Francisco Giants first base LaMonte Wade Jr. (31) gestures after hittin a one run double against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

While trading Luis Robert Jr. gave the White Sox an intriguing young talent in Luisangel Acuña and cleared space to sign Seranthony Domínguez, it also leaves them with one of the worst outfields in baseball. 

To help remedy the situation,  Chris Getz signed seven-year MLB veteran LaMonte Wade Jr. to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The move is the latest in a series of minor-league signings that includes Dustin Harris and former first-round pick Jarred Kelenic.

As of now, Brooks Baldwin, Andrew Benintendi, Derek Hill, Everson Pereira, and Tristan Peters are the only outfielders on the roster.

Hill has a career .629 OPS over six MLB seasons, raising questions about his viability as an everyday option. Baldwin settled into a utility role last season, while his outfield defense remains a work in progress, and Benintendi’s recent defensive decline has made him a better fit for a full-time DH role.

Pereira appears to be the leading candidate to start in center, though he may split time with Acuña depending on how the White Sox structure their infield.

With the current roster construction, Harris, Kelenic and Wade all have a legitimate shot at earning a starting role in camp, though Wade appears to have the edge.

Unlike Harris and Kelenic, Wade brings a proven track record of production. In over 1600 career at-bats, he has posted a respectable .731 OPS, and received MVP votes in 2021, slashing .253/.236/.482 with a career high 18 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Giants. 

The 32-year-old has spent the past three seasons as the Giants’ primary first baseman, a position that was also a need for the White Sox before signing Munetaka Murakami. 

While Murakami is expected to see most of the time at first base, Wade could provide a platoon option at both corner outfield spots and first base, as well as a left-handed bat off the bench in a lineup dominated by right-handers.

Wade has shown he can be productive in a platoon role. In 2023, he posted a .373 on-base percentage, then followed with a .260/.380/.381 slash line over 401 plate appearances in 2024. During that stretch, his on-base percentage ranked 11th in MLB among hitters with at least 800 plate appearances.

However, Wade is coming off one of his worst seasons, hitting just .167 in 50 games before being designated for assignment. The Angels claimed him off waivers, but the change of scenery did little to help. He hit .169 and struck out in over 30% of his at-bats in 73 plate appearances before being released in August.

The White Sox provide Wade with an ideal opportunity for a reset. The outfield competition is wide open, and the AL Central is expected to be weak. Still, even if Wade makes the Opening Day roster, a patchwork outfield of minor-league signings and former top-100 prospects offers little reason for confidence.

Analyzing The White Sox Signing Of Seranthony Domínguez

By
ChiSoxFanMike
-
Oct 24, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Seranthony Dominguez (48) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning during game one of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Following the trade of Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets earlier this week, Chris Getz made it clear that the White Sox would be active in reallocating the money the team saved by trading Robert Jr. into other areas on the roster.

He wasted no time backing up his words. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported earlier today that the team signed right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year/$20 million contract with a mutual option for 2028, strengthening the back end of the bullpen and addressing one of the team’s biggest weaknesses.

Domínguez’s Player Profile

Domínguez, 31, is coming off a strong season split between the Orioles and Blue Jays. In 67 regular season relief appearances between Baltimore and Toronto, he recorded a 3.16 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, along with 79 strikeouts in 62.2 innings. He made 12 additional appearances in the postseason for the Blue Jays, allowing four runs in 11.1 innings with 10 strikeouts.

Taking a deeper look into his metrics, it is easy to see why the White Sox were willing to pay handsomely for his services. The 6’1, 225 right-hander ranked amongst the best in baseball in several key categories in 2025 per Baseball Savant, including hard-hit%, barrel%, K%, whiff%, average exit velocity, and fastball velocity, which averaged nearly 98 MPH last season. He was particularly good against right-handed hitters, as they slashed just .132/.269/.182 in 145 plate appearances.

Walks have traditionally been Domínguez’s biggest flaw, and those problems persisted last season. He walked more than 5 batters per 9 innings, including 11 free passes in the playoffs. Still, opposing batters hit just .198 off of him in 2025, with his splitter and sweeper in particular being his best pitches. Opponents hit .114 with a 49.5 whiff% in 47 plate appearances against his splitter and just .132 with a 49.1 whiff% in 57 plate appearances against his sweeper. When he throws strikes, he is among MLB’s best in generating whiffs and strikeouts.

Much Needed Bullpen Addition

With 322 career MLB appearances and 40 MLB saves to his name, Domínguez immediately becomes the most experienced member of the White Sox bullpen. Passan noted that he is expected to be the closer for the South Siders in 2026, which in turn creates a trickle-down effect for the rest of the bullpen. The team already features several interesting young arms like Grant Taylor, Jordan Leasure, Mike Vasil, and Wikelman González, who will all be able to move down an inning and assume less responsibility and pressure with Domínguez in the fold. Adding him to the mix raises both the ceiling and floor of the bullpen as a whole.

White Sox relievers combined for just 25 saves last season and the club was an abysmal 15-36 in one-run games. Improvements were sorely needed, and adding a proven reliever of Domínguez’s caliber for the highest leverage moments should help the ballclub lock down more wins when the margins are thin.

Potential Trade Chip

While Domínguez figures to be an integral piece of the White Sox bullpen for now, it is worth monitoring his status as a potential trade chip down the line. If he has a strong first half, the team could look to deal him to a contender in order to accumulate more prospects. Depending on how he performs, he could become a valuable trade commodity given that he will be under contract for the 2027 season as well. And in a scenario where he doesn’t live up to expectations, the contract is for only two years and won’t cripple the team’s payroll in the long term.

Final Takeaway

It’s hard to view bringing in Seranthony Domínguez as anything other than a good thing for the White Sox given where the team currently is in its rebuilding process. The move addresses one of their biggest weaknesses from last year, while also giving them another potential trade piece to cash in at the deadline. With $10 million of the $20 million savings from trading Robert Jr. now used, improving the starting rotation and outfield should be the next items on Chris Getz’s to-do list.

MacKenzie Gore Trade Fallout Confirms Cubs’ Untouchable Prospect

By
Aldo Soto
-
Jul 2, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

If you ever wondered who the untouchable prospect in the Cubs minor league system really is, then the fallout from the MacKenzie Gore trade will confirm the answer. The left-handed starting pitcher has been on the trade block since the summer and the Washington Nationals finally agreed to a deal, sending Gore to the Texas Rangers for a package that includes five prospects earlier this week. Now, a Cubs insider revealed who the Nationals were asking for back in July, and why Jed Hoyer ultimately pivoted to a different direction.

The Cubs were active in the free agent market for a starting pitcher and reportedly still are, but the front office did jump at the opportunity to revisit talks with the Miami Marlins this offseason. Heading into 2025, the Cubs were interested in Jesus Luzardo, but that trade fell apart because of medicals. This time around the Cubs were comfortable with Edward Cabrera and sent outfield prospect Owen Caissie to headline the return for the Marlins.

Caissie, who ended 2025 as the Cubs’ top ranking prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was also part of the trade involving Luzardo last offseason before it was nixed. According to Bruce Levine, Caissie was also one of the names the Nationals were asking for back at the trade deadline in discussions for Gore.

Of course, no deal was ever made between the Cubs and Nationals for Gore, but it wasn’t because of Caissie. Duh, right? He was moved for Cabrera. It’s now pretty obvious why the Cubs didn’t make a huge splash at the trade deadline when it came to adding another arm for the starting rotation. It wasn’t because they didn’t want to trade Caissie it was because the Cubs want no business trading their top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins.

Although Wiggins was purposefully limited in 2025 by the Cubs’ organization there’s no denying his talent.

The right-handed pitcher was selected with the 68th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Arkansas. The Cubs have not rushed Wiggins’ development and in 2025, Wiggins put up great results with a 2.19 ERA in 78 innings of work. He recorded big strikeout numbers as he climbed up the team’s minor league system, ending the year with a promotion to Triple-A. Wiggins posted a 31.0 K% in 19 appearances and held opponents to a .160 batting average.

The 24-year-old could definitely be on the radar for the Cubs in 2026, and although Wiggins has a total of 137.2 innings in the minors he’s already considered one of the best right-handed pitching prospects in the game.

Wiggins may end up playing a major role in the Cubs’ starting rotation as soon as the 2027 season, considering the team has several veterans who may be headed elsewhere after this year. Shōta Imanaga and Jameson Taillon will be free agents following the 2026 season, while Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea could also become free agents if their options are not picked up.

The Cubs lost Kyle Tucker in free agency this offseason and next year Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki will be free agents, but despite that they didn’t really have a problem trading away their top outfield prospect in Caissie. That further cements Wiggins as their most untouchable prospect.

The Hall of Fame Continues To Snub A White Sox Legend

By
Craig Rowland
-
Jul 11, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Former Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle poses next his statue after it was unveiled before the teamÕs game against Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

As we get closer to the conclusion of the offseason, Major League Baseball announces their inductees into the hall of fame. The last player to be selected to Cooperstown that played most of their career with the White Sox was Minnie Minoso in 2022. However, Dick Allen was elected last season, and despite just three seasons with the team, he did win a MVP award while on the White Sox.

The class of 2026 saw two new members join the hall of fame, as Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones finally got in after a few years on the ballot. Beltran secured 84% of the vote, while Jones snuck by the 75% mark with 78% of the vote. Jones spent the 2010 season with the White Sox, so they now have another hall of famer who has played for the franchise.

While these results are exciting for Beltran and Jones, they are very frustrating for a White Sox fan. This is because White Sox legend Mark Buehrle only received 20% of the vote on his 6th year on the ballot. While his number took a big jump from 11.4% in 2025, he is still a large margin away from the 75% needed to make it into the hall of fame.

While Buehrle will have four more opportunities to get into the hall of fame as voted by the Baseball Writers, he can still be elected through the veterans committee at some point down the road, which is how Minoso got into the hall of fame.

Regardless, 20% is an embarrassingly low number for a player like Buehrle, as more people need to recognize how good and durable Buehrle was throughout his career. From his first full season in the major leagues in 2001 through 2014, he pitched at least 200 innings every single season. He would have had the number in his last season in 2015, but in his last start of the year he only pitched 2/3rds of an inning, due to giving up 8 unearned runs. He finished that season with 198.2 innings. You will never see that type of longevity again.

On top of pure durability, he also has some significant accomplishments. He is the owner of four gold gloves, has five all-star appearances, and was the ace on a World Series winning team. On top of that, he has thrown one perfect game and one no-hitter. That is a pretty significant resume.

While Buehrle doesn’t have the gaudy strikeout or ERA numbers as some of the other members of the hall of fame, he was a true pitcher, as he pitched to contact, so naturally those numbers aren’t going to be the same as Randy Johnson.

Buehrle is a White Sox legend and needs to be appreciated as such outside of Chicago. It was nice to see him jump up 9% from last year’s ballot, but he will need some more significant jumps to get to the 75% threshold. Let’s hope that voters start to come to their senses and put Buehrle in the Hall, where he belongs.

Ryan Poles Is About To Face A Test Bears GMs Have Failed For The Past 40 Years

By
Erik Lambert
-
ryan poles
Bears general manager walks the sideline before the Senior Bowl action.

Ryan Poles finally achieved the first part of his goal as Chicago Bears general manager. They took the North, going 11-6 and winning the division. They even won a playoff game over the Green Bay Packers. Now comes the hard part: maintain their place among the NFC contenders. To do that, Poles must achieve something previous Bears GMs haven’t for the past 40 years. He must find a way to draft well in the bottom half of the 1st round. Until now, he has enjoyed a steady supply of top 10 picks. That is no longer an option.

Great teams aren’t just able to build a good roster. They sustain it through capable drafting, even if it’s with later picks. Philadelphia and Baltimore are two such examples. Kansas City and Pittsburgh have also done it well. The Bears? There have been three instances in the Super Bowl era where they picked in the 20s or later. Let’s just say the results were mixed.

1985-1988
  • William Perry
  • Neal Anderson
  • Jim Harbaugh
  • Brad Muster and Wendell Davis

1991-1992

  • Stan Thomas
  • Alonzo Spellman

2007-2013

  • Greg Olsen
  • Chris Williams
  • No pick (Cutler trade)
  • No pick (Cutler trade)
  • Gabe Carimi
  • Shea McClellin
  • Kyle Long

Ryan Poles is well-educated on this challenge.

He was in Kansas City during the building phase of their eventual dynasty run. In a three-year span, they took Dee Ford (23rd), Marcus Peters (18th), and Chris Jones (37th). Then they traded up to 10th in 2017 and nabbed Patrick Mahomes. The rest is history. Assistant GM Ian Cunningham also brings plenty of knowledge on this issue. He worked for both the Eagles and Ravens as a scout and personnel director. In Baltimore, he helped them land Joe Flacco (18th), Michael Oher (23rd), Jimmy Smith (27th), and Courtney Upshaw (35th). All were pivotal to that team’s 2012 Super Bowl run.

Finding star power that late in the 1st round is almost impossible. However, teams should still be able to find good players. That is the goal in front of Ryan Poles. In the absence of scoring a generational player, he should be focused on providing his team with a steady stream of capable starters. Teams that achieve this goal remain competitive over the long term. With a little luck, it will eventually coalesce into a championship run at some point in the next few years.

Cubs Bring In Serious Competition for Outfield Battle

By
Aldo Soto
-
Jul 13, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Chas McCormick (20) dives to catch a fly ball for an out against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

The majority of fans will dismiss the acquisition’s importance For the most part, these types of late-offseason minor league signings, especially when it comes to veteran bench guys going to contenders. At first glance you might look at the Cubs’ active roster and think there isn’t really an opening, but given the recent rumors and now the signing of Chas McCormick the team is obviously interested in addressing two overall goals heading into the 2026 season.

To begin with, the outfield depth isn’t all that deep on the 40-man roster, especially if an injury occurred to Pete Crow-Armstrong, which would leave center field exposed. Earlier this offseason the Cubs claimed Justin Dean off waivers. Dean, 29, played in 18 games with the Dodgers last season and is slated to begin this year at Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs. Meanwhile,

Kevin Alcantara is currently penciled into a bench spot in the majors, but McCormick’s presence now serves as additional depth and some serious competition to become the fourth outfielder on the Opening Day roster. McCormick has agreed to a minor league deal with the Cubs and he’ll be in camp once spring training begins.

Don’t make a mistake about it, McCormick will be given a shot to win a bench spot with the Cubs out of spring training and while his most direct competition appears to be Alcantara, there’s really no guarantee that Tyler Austin will make the team either.

McCormick is coming off a few brutal years with the Houston Astros, but if the Cubs are certainly hoping the outfielder can return to full health in 2026. In 2024, McCormick missed time on the injured list because of a hamstring strain that sidelined him for nearly four weeks and then he missed most of September after suffering a fracture in his right hand.

In 2025, McCormick was limited to only 66 games. He was placed on the injured list on May 31, with a left oblique strain, which kept him out until after the All-Star break. The right-handed hitter struggled after his stint on the injured to the tune of a 39 wRC+ in 63 plate appearances, leading to a demotion to Triple-A at the end of August.

The Astros removed McCormick off their 40-man roster after the regular season and he eventually elected free agency after rejecting an assignment to Triple-A.

There’s no hiding it, McCormick has been very during the past two years.

2024: .211/.271/.306, 65 wRC+, 5 HR, 27.0 K%, 6.4 BB% (267 plate appearances)
2025: .210/.279/.290, 62 wRC+, 1 HR, 26.7 K%, 7.8 BB% (116 plate appearances)

However, if you believe a return to full health is the key to McCormick’s bounce back, he does have a solid track record to fall back on that gives the Cubs some hope that he can still provide value in the majors. From 2021-23, McCormick slashed .259/.336/.449, with a 120 wRC+ in 342 games. He hit 50 home runs in his first three years combined, including 22 during his career-best 2023 season.

In 2023, McCormick slashed .273/.353/.489, and recorded a 132 wRC+ in 115 games. He also stole 19 bases to go along with 22 home runs.

At the end, maybe it’s in the Cubs’ best interest to keep Alcantara getting every-day at-bats in Triple-A, instead of keeping him on the bench as the backup to Crow-Armstrong. McCormick has a proven track record at the plate and has been an above average defensive outfielder, so he may be better suited for the fourth outfielder role than Alcantara, who has still battled through injuries and whiff issues in the minors.

Out of the handful of position players the Cubs have signed to minor league deals this offseason McCormick definitely has the best chance to make the team out of spring training.

1...237238239...3,362Page 238 of 3,362

Subscribe to our Newsletter

✶ An Unfiltered Voice For Chicago Sports Fans ✶

Chicago Sports News

About Us

© Sports Mockery, Inc. 2026