Feb 20, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Brad Keller against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
This is a bit annoying, maybe you feel frustrated, but in a way it is a success story for the Chicago Cubs. That being said, they just lost their best relief pitcher from the 2025 bullpen as veteran right-hander Brad Keller has agreed to a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers confirmed on Wednesday that Keller is leaving the Cubs to sign a two-year, $22 million contract with the Phillies.
Free agent pitcher Brad Keller is in agreement with the Phillies on a 2-year, $22 million deal, sources tell ESPN. @ByRobertMurray was first on the deal being close. Its pending a physcial.
Who knows if the Phillies try to stretch Keller back out to be ready to cover innings as a starting pitcher, but many Cubs fans obviously wanted a reunion with the right-handed pitcher. This deal certainly seems doable by the Cubs, who have actually invested in multiple free agent relievers this offseason, a change from recent philosophy in their spending. Plus, Keller was one of the few high-leverage relievers remaining in free agency, so you were kind of holding out hope that the Cubs could bring him back.
It’s pretty incredible how one year can completely change a player’s trajectory. Keller signed a minor league deal with the Cubs last offseason and was a non-roster invitee to spring training. He had to fight for a roster spot and Keller earned it thanks to his stuff playing up out of the bullpen.
Keller had early success in MLB with the Kansas City Royals, but he was on a steady decline since the 2020 season. The right-handed pitcher hit rock bottom in 2024, when he was let go by the Chicago White Sox and tried to stick around in the majors with the Boston Red Sox. Then, fully transitioned into a reliever, Keller became the best bullpen arm for the Cubs in 2025, posting a 2.07 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 75 strikeouts in 68 regular season appearances.
The Cubs eventually turned to Keller as their No. 1 high leverage reliever down the stretch and became the closer in the postseason. Again, credit to him and the Cubs to getting him to this point, signing a $22 million deal after he was a minor league signing last winter. Unfortunately, he won’t be back with the Cubs, but his story hopefully continues a great trend of this organization finding great value for the bullpen from unexpected sources.
Still, despite the recent additions of Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar to go along with the signing of Phil Maton, it feels like the Cubs are in need of one more reliever. Will it be Pete Fairbanks? He’s the last big-name closer left on the free agent market. Or is this an indication that the Cubs are done adding a major arm for the bullpen?
We’ll see. It would definitely be disappointing if this is it and the rest of the signings are minor league deals. Again, it could work out as it has with several relievers on the Cubs in the past four years or so, but as a fan you are left wanting more.
Oct 5, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) passes the ball as Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Matthew Judon (8) defends in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Last season, the Chicago Bears knew they needed help on the defensive line to fortify their pass rush. GM Ryan Poles had a reputation for being aggressive in those situations. One name that came up was Matthew Judon. The Pro Bowl edge rusher was on the outs with the New England Patriots due to a contract issue. It was clear the team was entering a rebuilding phase. A trade was coming. Poles made a strong offer to get him. Unfortunately, he went to the Atlanta Falcons instead for a 3rd round pick.
After that didn’t work out, Judon signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins in August to join them. A brutal season down there has led to significant changes. GM Chris Grier was already fired. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was just benched. Now the Dolphins have granted Judon his release, allowing him to join a team for a playoff push. Poles has pursued him for over a year. This feels like the perfect time for the Bears to bring in the veteran. He won’t solve their pass rush issues, but he could give them some extra depth during the most pivotal three-game stretch of their season.
The #Dolphins are releasing veteran pass rusher Matt Judon, sources tell The Insiders. Judon appeared in 13 games this season for Miami and could be an option for playoff teams looking for a veteran presence. pic.twitter.com/Fq2xAEioLo
Ryan Poles should get Judon if the price is cheap.
Make no mistake. This is not the same player from three years ago, when he dominated with 69 total pressures and 17 sacks. Truth be told, it feels like he hasn’t been the same since he tore his bicep in 2023. Then again, he is 33. Age catches up to players fast. Judon may simply not have the explosiveness he did a few years ago. That said, there is no reason to think he can’t give them a handful of good rushes on passing downs. A foursome of him, Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka could be a decent rotation.
Much of this depends on Ryan Poles himself. Is his interest in Judon still there? The veteran hasn’t played well in Miami this year. Then again, nobody on that defense has. They often say a change of scenery can do wonders for a player. Chicago is winning. They’re led by an excellent defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen. It feels like a risk worth taking. If the Bears can somehow squeeze even half of the player out of Judon he was a few years ago, the price will be worth it.
Dec 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) looks on from the bench during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Arturas Karnisovas has led the charge in Chicago’s front office since April of 2020. He’s been at the helm for five NBA Drafts, five summer offseason periods, and four trade deadlines. During his tenure, the Bulls have had a 1-4 postseason standing in their one playoff appearance. With that lack of success, many would assume they’ve had several chances at selecting in the top-five, or at least top-ten, come draft night. To perfectly summarize how mediocre the Chicago Bulls have been over the past five seasons, the only time they selected in the top ten was in 2020, which was the draft positioning he inherited. Since then, there have been zero top-ten picks and one playoff game won. In that first year as the front office leader, he selected Patrick Williams fourth overall, who is arguably one of the biggest draft busts in Bulls history. Despite the embarrassing performance thus far, Karnisovas has a chance to redeem himself entirely in the next two months.
Seven Players On Expiring Contracts
On yesterday’s episode of the CHGO Bulls Podcast, Matt Peck and Will Gottlieb reminded the masses of the Bulls’ current contractual situation headed into a pivotal trade deadline. As they mentioned, nearly half of the roster is on expiring contracts. Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Nikola Vucevic highlight a group of players who can contribute to winning franchises and are versatile enough to fit with any contender in search of help. With Chicago pacing to miss the postseason again this season, does Karnisovas turn on the jets and gain some value from these depreciating assets before they walk this summer with no return?
Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu headline SEVEN Bulls players on expiring contracts as we enter NBA Trade Season.
Should AK be an aggressive seller of his most valuable assets?
Being aggressive at a trade deadline would be a complete change of pace for Karnisovas and the front office. Last season, dealing away Zach LaVine was a total shock, and didn’t net much outside of escaping his monstrous contract. A contract that Karnisovas regrettably inked him to, not to be forgotten. In his first year with the organization, he sold a massive haul of future stock for Vucevic, and has been highly reluctant to execute any other deals, since it’s still negatively impacting the franchise today.
Vucevic, White Have To Go
At a bare minimum, two of Chicago’s longest tenured players must go. Vucevic is 35 years old, hitting unrestricted free agency after the season, and will not return. Gaining any value, whether it’s youthful assets or draft capital, is priority number one for Karnisovas. White, who’s also slated to hit unrestricted free agency, should be traded away, too. His price tag will surely at least double when signing his next deal, and with the Bulls far from contention, there’s no value in paying him a steep price to stick around. His value on the market should net a decent return, given that he is just 25 years old and one of the best scoring and playmaking young guards in the NBA. A more complete roster will be eager to add his services and make a deep playoff run.
Bulls fans are growing tired of the endless mediocrity. A fire sale at the deadline would at least ignite hope that the team has chosen a direction, is fully committed to finding a new superstar via a top-end draft selection, or landing a massive free agent, and can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Does Karnisovas silence the phones for yet another trade deadline, or will he finally let it loose and tear the entire thing down?
Dec 14, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) and Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) celebrate after a touchdown during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Let’s cut the crap. Being a Bears fan usually feels like being in a toxic relationship with a partner who promises they’ve changed, only to leave dirty dishes in the sink and draft a punter in the fourth round. We’re used to offenses that look like they’re running in mud. We’re used to “offensive gurus” who couldn’t scheme their way out of a paper bag if you gave them a map and a flashlight.
But this? What we’re watching right now in Chicago? This isn’t just “improvement.” This is a complete, burn-it-to-the-ground-and-build-a-fortress revolution.
Ben Johnson walked into Halas Hall, looked at the dumpster fire that was the Bears’ rushing attack, and decided he wasn’t just going to fix it — he was going to turn it into a weapon of mass destruction. And 15 weeks into the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears possess the NFL’s second-ranked rushing offense.
Read that again. The Chicago Bears. An elite offense.
If you’re still clinging to the trauma of the “3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust” era, wake the hell up. This team is 10-4, sitting atop the NFC North, and they are doing it by physically assaulting defenses for 60 minutes straight. This is the story of how Ben Johnson turned a bottom-tier joke into the league’s most terrifying ground game.
The “Before” Picture: A Hot Mess
To appreciate the penthouse, you have to remember the outhouse. And folks, the first month of this season was a porta-potty at a chili festival.
Through the first four games of 2025, the Bears’ run game was broken. I’m talking 24th in the league, averaging a pathetic 102.0 yards per game. The efficiency was laughable (-0.06 EPA per rush), and every handoff felt like a surrender. It looked like the same old story: predictable play-calling, linemen looking confused, and running backs getting swallowed up before they could even find the line of scrimmage.
Then came the Week 5 bye.
I don’t know what happened in those meeting rooms. Maybe Johnson sacrificed a goat. Maybe he locked the doors and threatened to play game tape of the 2004 offense on a loop until morale improved. But whatever he did, it worked. Johnson stripped the run game down to the studs, focusing on technique, scheme execution, and making sure every single guy — from the left tackle to the slot receiver — knew their assignment.
The Bears’ rushing attack underwent a remarkable transformation after their Week 5 bye, improving across all major metrics under Ben Johnson’s scheme adjustments
The Transformation: From Worst to First
When the Bears came back in Week 6, they didn’t just improve. They exploded.
The stats since the bye week are frankly disgusting. We are talking about an 0.11 EPA swing — one of the most dramatic mid-season turnarounds you will ever see in professional football.
Visual: The Pre-Bye vs. Post-Bye Explosion
Metric
Weeks 1-4 (Pre-Bye)
Weeks 6-15 (Post-Bye)
The Difference
Rushing Yards Per Game
102.0
153.8
+51.8
EPA Per Rush
-0.06
+0.05
+0.11 (Massive)
Yards Per Carry
3.8
5.2
+1.4
This isn’t a hot streak. This is dominance. The Bears now rank 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards per game (152.6) and sit in the top five in success rate (42.6%). They are walking into stadiums and telling defenses exactly what they are going to do, and nobody can stop it.
“I can’t emphasize enough the importance of our running game,” Johnson said after the Bears dropped a historic 281 rushing yards on the Eagles’ heads. “Without our ability to run the ball effectively, we wouldn’t have won.”
No shit, Ben. But thanks for building the engine.
The Two-Headed Monster: Swift and Monangai
You can have the best scheme in the world, but if your backs suck, it doesn’t matter. Fortunately, the Bears have stumbled into the most productive “Thunder and Lightning” duo in the league.
D’Andre Swift: The Speed Merchant
Remember when people groaned about signing D’Andre Swift? “He’s injury-prone.” “He dances too much.” “He’s not a bell cow.” I’ll raise my hand — I was shouting that same garbage by Week 3.
But it’s time to shut up. Just shut up. (And yes, I’m talking to myself, too.)
Swift has been electric. He’s rushed for 935 yards on 191 carries (4.9 YPC) with 7 touchdowns. But where he really kills teams is on the outside zone. This scheme was built for him. Johnson gets him to the edge, and Swift’s vision and burst take over.
Visual: Swift’s Splits (Where He Wins)
Run Concept
Yards Per Carry
Notes
Outside Zone
5.6
Elite production; constant home-run threat
Inside/Gap
3.5
Not his bread and butter
He has 21 explosive runs of 10+ yards. That’s 21 times a defense thought they had him bottled up, only for him to make a cut and leave a linebacker grasping at air. His 125-yard performance against Philadelphia was a masterclass in patience and explosion.
Kyle Monangai: The Seventh-Round Steal of the Century
Ryan Poles found this kid in the 7th round (Pick 233!), a spot where teams usually draft practice squad bodies or long snappers. Instead, the Bears got a bowling ball of hate who refuses to go down.
Monangai is the perfect foil to Swift. While Swift is slashing to the outside, Monangai is running 4.9 yards per carry between the tackles. He creates violence. He seeks contact. He is the only rookie running back in 2025 with multiple 100-yard games.
Visual: The Complementary Backfield
Player
Role
Efficiency (YPC)
Best Trait
D’Andre Swift
The Slasher (Outside)
4.9
Speed & Vision on the edge
Kyle Monangai
The Hammer (Inside)
4.9
Power & Yards After Contact
When Swift went down in Week 9 against Cincy, everyone thought the run game would stall. Instead, Monangai carried the rock 26 times for 176 yards. One hundred and seventy-six. As a rookie.
They are only the second duo in NFL history to both surpass 600 yards and combine for 5+ touchdowns in the same season. The other? The Lions last year. Coached by — you guessed it — Ben Johnson. Notice a pattern?
Swift and Monangai’s complementary skill sets create a perfect two-back system – Swift’s speed thrives on outside zone while Monangai’s power works inside
The Trench Warfare: Bullies in the Middle
You cannot run the ball if your offensive line plays like a turnstile. Ryan Poles knew this, and he spent the offseason buying heavy machinery.
This isn’t the Bears O-line of old that would get blown up by a stiff breeze. This unit is nasty.
Joe Thuney (LG): 74.0 PFF Grade. A stabilizing vet who doesn’t make mistakes.
Drew Dalman (C): The unsung hero. Grading at 82.1 overall, he’s the 3rd best center in the league. He’s the brain of the operation.
Jonah Jackson (RG): Reunited with Johnson, he’s mauling people.
Darnell Wright (RT): Developed into a top-15 tackle.
Ozzy Trapilo (LT): The rookie stepped in and posted a 91.1 pass-blocking grade in Week 14. Are you kidding me?
Visual: The Wall of Chicago
PFF Rank: The Bears are one of only two teams (shoutout to the Rams) with two guards ranked in the top 10.
Yards Before Contact: 1.41 (2nd in NFL). That means the line is moving the defense nearly a yard and a half before a running back is even touched. That is domination.
“Ben has a really good understanding of how he sees the run game every week,” O-line coach Dan Roushar said. That’s coach-speak for “We know exactly how to kick your ass.”
The Nerd Stuff: Why the Scheme is Unstoppable
Okay, let’s get a little technical. Why is this working? It’s not just “try hard.” It’s geometry.
1. Outside Zone is King
Johnson’s scheme stretches the defense horizontally. The linemen step laterally, forcing linebackers to scrape across the field. If one defender over-pursues, Swift cuts back. If they stay home, he beats them to the corner. It puts defenders in conflict on every single snap.
2. The Secret Weapon: 12 Personnel
This is Johnson’s favorite toy. 12 Personnel means 1 Running Back, 2 Tight Ends, and 2 Wide Receivers. The Bears run this on 33% of snaps, way above the league average.
Why does it work? Because Cole Kmet and rookie Colston Loveland are freaks. Kmet is basically a third tackle who can catch, and Loveland is a mismatch nightmare.
If the defense puts heavy linebackers on the field to stop the run, Johnson spreads them out and throws to the tight ends.
If the defense puts small defensive backs on the field to cover the pass, Johnson runs right at them with Kmet clearing the way.
It’s a “pick your poison” scenario, and right now, every defense is drinking the cyanide.
3. Motion & Misdirection
Johnson uses jet motion and orbit motion constantly. This isn’t just eye candy; it forces the defense to adjust their alignment right before the snap. It creates hesitation. And in the NFL, hesitation gets you killed.
Historic Beatdowns: The Receipts
If you think these are just empty stats, look at the game logs.
Week 13 vs. Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have a “good” defensive front, right? The Bears ran for 281 yards. Swift had 125. Monangai had 130. It was the first time since 2014 that two Bears backs went over 125 yards in the same game. They physically broke the Eagles’ will. By the fourth quarter, Philadelphia’s linebackers looked like they wanted to go home and file their taxes rather than tackle Monangai again.
Week 9 vs. Cincinnati Bengals: No Swift? No problem. The Bears dropped 283 rushing yards. Monangai ran for 176. This proved it wasn’t just about Swift’s talent. The system works. The line works.
The Bears are the only team in the NFL to reach 100+ yards before contact and 150+ yards after contact in multiple games. They are beating you at the line, and then beating you again in the open field.
After the Week 5 bye, the Bears have consistently dominated on the ground, with five games exceeding 200 rushing yards including two historic 280+ yard performances
Is This Sustainable? (Or: Can We Trust It?)
I know. You’re a Bears fan. You’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. You’re waiting for an injury, or a defensive adjustment, or the McCaskeys to somehow intervene and mandate we run the wishbone.
But this feels different.
This isn’t a gimmicky offense relying on a QB scrambling for his life. This is built on infrastructure.
Continuity: The O-line is healthy and gelling.
Versatility: They can beat you with speed (Swift) or power (Monangai).
Coaching: Ben Johnson isn’t an idiot. He adjusts. (Okay, his clock management in the Packers game was a disaster, but the man knows how to design a run play).
The Bears are 5th in EPA per rush while maintaining a balanced offense. They aren’t running because they have to; they’re running because they want to. And that mindset shift is everything.
Final Verdict
Ben Johnson’s first-year transformation of the Chicago Bears’ rushing attack represents modern NFL coaching at its finest. He didn’t just bring a playbook; he brought an identity.
The numbers are staggering: a 50+ yard-per-game improvement post-bye, historic dual 100-yard performances, and a rookie 7th-rounder looking like a Pro Bowler. D’Andre Swift has revitalized his career. The offensive line has become a brick wall.
Most importantly, the Bears have stopped trying to be cute and started trying to be physical. When this offense walks onto the field now, opponents know they are in for a street fight.
As the Bears push toward the playoffs with a 10-4 record, this rushing attack is the engine driving the bus. And if they keep executing like this? They aren’t just going to make the playoffs. They’re going to run right through them.
Nov 2, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) celebrates with guard Joe Thuney (62), center Drew Dalman (52) and guard Jonah Jackson (73) after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times last year. That was among the five worst such seasons for a quarterback in NFL history. One can understand if the Chicago Bears quarterback may not have been fond of his offensive line at the time. That has changed significantly in the past year. With three games left to play, Williams has been sacked 23 times. That puts him on track to cut the previous number by more than half. This is a testament to the incredible job done by head coach Ben Johnson and GM Ryan Poles in rebuilding the line almost from scratch.
Of the five spots on the roster, four of them have a new starter from last year. The group is putting together one of the best seasons a Bears offensive line has had in years. Nobody is happier about that than Williams. He’s even given them nicknames to commemorate their success. He calls them the Avengers, after the iconic Marvel superhero team.
It doesn’t stop there. Williams broke down the moniker he provided for each of the linemen. It’s not hard to tell that he put plenty of thought into this.
Caleb Williams is pretty on point with those choices.
Wolverine is a character renowned for his toughness, resilience, stubbornness, and strict code of honor. Ozzy Trapilo could’ve easily wilted under the pressure after he was essentially benched when the Bears removed him from the left tackle competition midway through training camp. Instead, he kept working, stayed the course, and won the job with some excellent performances over the past month.
Dr. Strange is one of the Marvel universe’s smartest characters. He’s also renowned for being selfless and wise. Couple that with supernatural magic powers, and that sums up Joe Thuney well. He is a tremendous leader and one of the best technicians in the NFL today.
The Hulk for Drew Dalman is self-explanatory. He possesses the intelligence of Bruce Banner when making blocking adjustments up front and the strength of the Hulk when leading Chicago’s #1 rushing attack.
Red Hulk? He has the same raw power as Hulk himself but is prone to even more violence, often to the point of flirting with villainy. When you watch Jonah Jackson play, you can understand how he got that nickname.
Darnell Wright being Bucky may seem like a playful joke, but it’s not entirely inaccurate from Caleb Williams. The Winter Soldier is known for his super strength, speed, stamina, and durability. Wright has showcased all of those qualities while emerging as one of the NFL’s best right tackles.
Nov 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) rolls out during the first quarter of their game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears took care of business on Sunday by crushing the Cleveland Browns 31-3. They knew that game was important if they wanted to set up a meaningful rematch with the Green Bay Packers. Sure enough, their arch rivals took a brutal loss in Denver on the same day, and it came at a catastrophic price. Superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL, ending his season. The entire strength of Green Bay’s defense this year was its ability to get after the quarterback. Parson was the key to it all. Now they face Caleb Williams again without his speed and closing ability.
Is it really that bad, though? Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune spoke to an NFL pro scout about the situation. He didn’t mince words. It is as bad as everybody thinks. Maybe worse.
“Losing Micah Parsons is a complete game changer,” a pro scout said. “That changes everything about their defensive front and their coverage and matchup ability in terms of schemed fronts and schemed pass-rush matchups. They were using Parsons all over that line. Both ends, moving him inside to defensive tackle, looping him inside on stunts.
“Outside of Myles Garrett, he is the biggest difference maker in the NFL on the defensive line. When you lose a player like that, it is not next man up because the next man is not Micah Parsons and he’s not close.”
The worst part is that this will force the Packers to lean on scheming to cover the damage.
They won’t be able to constantly rush four guys or play lots of man coverage. It will be a mix of blitzing and zone coverage to try to make Williams uncomfortable and eliminate big plays. These are the fallback options when a team’s regular pass rush isn’t very good.
“From a defensive perspective, they might have to change how they do some things,” the scout said. “They might have to be more zone-heavy at times. Or they might have to say, ‘We can’t get home. We’ve got to start bringing more pressure.’ That might not be what they want to do, but losing Parsons was the one injury they cannot have outside of Jordan Love.”
Such a strategy is unlikely to work against Caleb Williams.
Remember, the Packers played that way last season before they acquired Parsons. In two games against the Bears, Williams completed 44 of 60 passes for 379 yards and a touchdown. That was with bad protection and two different offensive coordinators. His protection is far better this year, and he has Ben Johnson calling the plays. If that weren’t enough to prove he could be a big problem for Green Bay, just look at his numbers against zone coverage and the blitz this year.
Caleb vs. zone
174-of-266 for 2,024 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs
Caleb vs. the blitz
89-of-165 for 1,232 yards, 12 TDs, 2 INTs
Don’t forget the Packers had 18 pressures on Caleb Williams in the first meeting. Seven of them came from Parsons. That is more than a third. Sacking Williams is hard enough. If you can’t pressure him consistently, he will make you pay. There were two games in which he was pressured six times or fewer this season. He has seven touchdown passes and no interceptions in those games. Green Bay better hope their remaining guys can do the job. If they can’t, it might be a long night at Soldier Field.
The Chicago Bears are 10-4, which is a terrific achievement for the organization after years of struggling. It hasn’t come from good luck, though, far from it. The Bears have been one of the most injured teams in the NFL this season. According to stat trackers, they have lost a total of 240 games due to various player injuries. Previous Bears teams would’ve seen the season spiral out of control. Instead, they’ve kept the train on the tracks thanks in large part to the excellent coaching of Ben Johnson and his staff.
Oddly enough, the head coach almost avoided this disaster. SM has been informed by people close to the situation that Johnson initially planned to make a change in the training staff. He made a strong push to lure Shaun Barnhouse, the head athletic trainer at Ohio State, to Chicago. Barnhouse has held his current position since 2016. In that time, the Buckeyes have reached two national championship games and won the title in 2024. The program has been putting out a wealth of high draft choices, and Barnhouse has done great work preparing them for the NFL.
It is easy to see why Johnson wanted him. Unfortunately, Ohio State gave the trainer a significant pay raise to keep him in Columbus. Once that happened, Chicago opted to keep Andre Tucker as head trainer.
.@PatrickMannelly believes the Bears are going to have to evaluate their training staff and methods this offseason given all their soft-tissue injuries. pic.twitter.com/unRravaarp
Rather than opting to keep the current staff, he probably should’ve looked elsewhere for options. After all, it’s not like this training crew and strength staff had done anything to show they were good at injury prevention. The Bears suffered from nagging soft tissue problems for years. It just reached epidemic levels this season because Ben Johnson pushed players harder in practices. Their bodies were not conditioned properly, and the team has been paying for it ever since. Changes are needed.
This is something the team has seen before. Lovie Smith ran into the same problem in 2004. Injuries were rampant. Something had to be done, so he brought in someone with more credibility, named Rusty Jones. He immediately cut down on the injuries and toughened up the players. Johnson must look to do the same. It shouldn’t be difficult to find someone with the expertise to get players prepared for the grind. It would certainly be hard to do any worse.
Jul 26, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) throws the ball during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The Chicago Cubs are going to have a fascinating decision to make next offseason and while it seems like a no-brainer to bring back Nico Hoerner longterm because duh, he’s a good ballplayer, there’s always some uneasiness when free agency comes around. If the Cubs don’t work out another extension to keep Hoerner before he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season, then he’ll be one of the most coveted middle infielders available, which could spell trouble for a front office that doesn’t like getting into bidding wars.
Hoerner’s future contract comes to mind now after the recent free agent deal that the Atlanta Braves and Ha-Seong Kim agreed to earlier this week. The defensive stud missed the majority of last season, recovering from shoulder surgery and was eventually traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the Braves. Kim opted out of his two-year, $29 million contract, became a free agent once again and re-signed with Atlanta.
Despite only playing in 48 games in 2025, and posting a .649 OPS with an 82 wRC+, Kim was still able to secure a one-year, $20 million contract from the Braves. The 30-year-old came over from the KBO in 2021, originally signing with the San Diego Padres ahead of the 2021 season. In four seasons with the Padres, Kim established himself as one of the best defensive players in the game, ultimately winning a Gold Glove award in 2023.
Kim has primarily started at shortstop during his MLB career, but he’s also moved around the diamond, starting at second base and third base, while recording good defensive numbers at all three positions. However, he’s been a league average hitter at best since debuting in the majors, posting a combined 99 wRC+ across 2,100+ plate appearances. Kim’s best season at the plate came in 2023, when he hit 17 home runs, slashed .260/.351/.398, with a 110 wRC+.
Obviously a lot of Kim’s value comes from his defense as he’s 22 defensive runs saved at shortstop, 15 DRS at second base and 8 DRS at third base throughout his MLB career.
That brings us back to Hoerner. He’ll be a year younger than Kim next offseason and while he’s been at second base for the past three seasons, Hoerner will most certainly try to sell himself as a shortstop on the free-agent market. Back in 2022, Hoerner made 128 starts at shortstop, where he ranked third in the National League with 10 Defensive Runs Saved and second with 13 Outs Above Average.
Since then, Hoerner has become a two-time Gold Glove winner at second base and in 2025, he hit .297 in the regular season before becoming one of the best hitters in the postseason with a .419 batting average.
Since becoming an every-day starter with the Cubs in 2022, Hoerner has posted the following fWAR each season:
We’ll see how Kim plays in 2026 with the Braves and if he can perform better a year removed from his shoulder surgery because along with him it seems like Jazz Chisholm Jr. will be the only other middle infielder to give Hoerner competition in free agency.
Below are the top free agent second basemen and shortstops following the 2026 season.
Second Base Ozzie Albies (30) – $7MM club option Jazz Chisholm Jr. (29) Mauricio Dubon (32) Luis Garcia Jr. (27) Nico Hoerner (30) Jonathan India (30) Brandon Lowe (32) Gavin Lux (29) Nick Madrigal (30) Amed Rosario (31) Gleyber Torres (30)
Shortstop J.P. Crawford (32) Mauricio Dubon (32) Ha-Seong Kim (31) Kevin Newman (33)
Look at that list of shortstops. Nico Hoerner is 100% going to enter free agency telling every team who is interested in him to pay him shortstop money. He’ll be 29-years-old and you can easily see him signing a five-year, $100 million contract at minimum. Will it come from the Cubs? They Dansby Swanson signed through 2029 and Matt Shaw won’t be a free agent until 2032.
The Cubs should lock up Hoerner as soon as they can because if not, then they’ll be in serious danger of losing the talented infielder in free agency.
Apr 26, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz speaks before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Despite reported interest from the Boston Red Sox in reacquiring Kyle Teel, White Sox general manager Chris Getz has made it abundantly clear the 23-year-old catcher is not available.
Appearing on 670 The Score’s Mully and Haugh, Getz joked that he responded to the Red Sox’s trade inquiry about Teel with an emoji.
“What are we doing here? Teams can ask for anyone, sure, go ahead, it’s just a matter of how much attention you’re going to give it on the reply,” Getz said. “It’s wild you trade somebody, and you want them back that quickly. However, it’s a left-handed catcher. He can hit, he’s got zone control, he’s got some pop, he’s athletic as hell, he’s got a good arm, and he can run. It’s a unique skillset for that position. It’s unique, it’s gold, so yeah, certainly didn’t take them very seriously.”
In 78 MLB games, Teel emerged as one of baseball’s most productive offensive catchers in the second half. He put together a 20-game on-base streak, the longest by a White Sox rookie since Jose Abreu in 2014, and posted an .833 OPS.
Teel finished the season with a .273/.375/.411 slash line, eight home runs, 35 RBIs, and a 12.5% walk rate. Teel turns 24 in February and appears to be only beginning to tap into his potential.
White Sox Offseason Focus
While Teel is not going anywhere, Getz offered additional insight into the White Sox’s offseason outlook. The front office remains confident in the direction of its young core, a belief reinforced by securing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft. Getz said during the interview that owner Jerry Reinsdorf even lit a “victory cigar” before the team won the draft lottery, joking it was done to “manifest the first pick.”
Despite the excitement, Getz said the front office’s offseason approach remains unchanged. The focus will be on adding pitching depth to protect young starters such as Shane Smith and prospects Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz, while also seeking additional offense to complement the current roster.
Possible Free Agent Fits
While there hasn’t been much smoke surrounding the White Sox free-agent rumor mill, there are several players on the open market who could fit what Getz is looking for.
On the starting pitching side, two names to watch are Miles Mikolas and Jose Quintana.
Mikolas is a two-time All-Star with the Cardinals who has a track record of success that includes finishing sixth in the Cy Young voting in 2018. Unfortunately, none of that success has come recently. Mikolas allowed the most earned runs in the MLB in 2023, posted a 5.35 ERA in 2024, and saw his strikeout rate drop to just under 15% last season.
However, Mikolas does provide plenty of durability. He led the MLB in starts in 2023, has thrown over 200 innings four times, and is averaging 188 innings thrown a season.
While he would not significantly upgrade the rotation, he does pound the strike zone and would be an easy short-term rental to plug into the bottom of the rotation to help eat innings.
Quintana also checks plenty of boxes for Getz. He can eat innings, has pitched in big games, and brings with him a solid track record of experience.
Quintana spent the first six years of his career on the South Side, which includes his lone All-Star appearance in 2016. Since then, Quintana has bounced around the league, making stops with seven different teams. This past season, he showed he can still be effective, going 11-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 26 starts. He was added to the Brewers’ postseason roster, where he allowed three runs over five innings in a pair of playoff appearances.
Quintana has never been known as a strikeout pitcher, carrying a career 20.6% strikeout rate that sits just below league average.
However, he makes up for it by generating groundballs and durability. Over a 162-game span, Quintana is averaging 193 innings per season. His career 3.76 ERA is also proof that he knows how to get outs at the big league level, even without throwing at a high velocity.
Cheap Bats Who Could Help The White Sox Lineup
Offensively, Austin Hays, Jesse Winker, and Max Kepler could be short-term options to help bolster the lineup.
Hays hit .266 with 15 home runs last season for the Reds and was named an All-Star in 2023 while with the Orioles.
Winker was limited to 26 games last season with the Mets because of injury but was an All-Star in 2021 with the Reds. In his most recent full season, he hit .253 with 14 homers and 58 RBIs split between the Nationals and Mets. Coming off an injury, Winker could be available on a short-term deal as he looks to reestablish his value.
Kepler has long been a thorn in the White Sox’s side during his decade in Minnesota. He received MVP votes in 2019 after hitting 36 homers and driving in 90 runs, and posted an .816 OPS with 24 home runs in 2023. Although he recorded the second-lowest WAR of his career last season with the Phillies, Kepler still hit 18 homers and could benefit from a hitter-friendly environment at Rate Field.
Dec 14, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98) and Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (99) celebrate after a sack of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Making the playoffs was not something Chicago Bears fans dared to dream about when the season began. They’d had their hearts broken way too many times in the past decade. All they could hope for was that they’d improve from their 5-12 record last year, perhaps reaching 8-9 wins. Head coach Ben Johnson would improve the offense and get Caleb Williams on the right track. Then two games into the season, the Bears were 0-2. Despair hit everybody. It was more of the same. This organization couldn’t get anything right.
Johnson was undeterred. He stayed on his players, grilling them on details and keeping them focused. One win turned into two. Two turned into four. Before anybody knew it, the Bears had won ten of their last 12 games. Suddenly, the dreaded “p” word became realistic. Can the Bears make the playoffs? Yes, they can. In fact, their path ahead is much more straightforward than you realize. It can happen as early as Sunday. Two things are required to make it happen. The Bears control one. An old nemesis controls the other.
#1 – Chicago Bears must beat the Green Bay Packers
This is the obvious first step. Right now, the Packers are just a half-game behind the Bears in the NFC North standings. They beat Chicago in the first meeting at Lambeau Field. Taking that win back is critical to tightening their grip on the division. This victory would give the Bears a tiebreaker and a 1.5-game lead with three games to play. It would be their 11th win of the season. Their playoff probability is currently 89%. That win would push it into the 90s, but not quite over the finish line.
#2 – The Pittsburgh Steelers must beat the Detroit Lions
Detroit is the only other threat to Chicago’s hopes of January football. They beat the Bears back in September in Detroit, so they hold the tiebreaker at present. However, they are 8-6 after losing last weekend to the Los Angeles Rams. One more loss means they can’t win more than 10 games, making it impossible to match the Bears’ 11. That math would cement the playoff spot. Unfortunately, the game will be played at Ford Field. The Lions are 5-2 at home this season. Pittsburgh is 3-3 on the road. The Chicago Bears will have to hope Aaron Rodgers has one more vintage performance in him.
