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Overlooked Reason The Chicago Bears Could Win With A Rookie QB

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky

It’s no secret the Chicago Bears are planning a move of some kind at the quarterback position. Jay Cutler will be 34-years old in this year. He went the seventh-straight season in the NFL failing to start a full 16 games due to injuries. To say nothing of his significant regression from the peak efficient form he showed in 2015.

GM Ryan Pace declared “everything is on the table” for the Bears this coming off-season. That includes exploring free agency and even possible trades. However, most believe that the time has come for Chicago to consider drafting a quarterback high. Something this organization hasn’t done since 2003.

Some though warn that this class doesn’t have any potential rookies who can start from Day 1 and ever hope to win. Especially for a team that just went 3-13. Then again, that was said about many young quarterbacks when they came out of college, but somehow they excelled. It turns out that many of those that did had something in common.

Trade Out of the Top 5? The Chicago Bears Last Did It 14 Years Ago

By
Erik Lambert
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The 2016 season is (mercifully) over for the Chicago Bears. Fans watched as their beloved franchise endured a 3-13 campaign. It goes down as the worst record ever produced by this organization in a 16-game season. Not exactly something one wants on their resume. GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox were adamant it wouldn’t happen again.

Pace in particular seemed emphatic on that point and also that he intended to take full advantage of the resources that come in 2017. First is the healthy amount of salary cap space Chicago will have. Latest estimates via overthecap.com say they’ll have over $58 million to spend. That’s without additional moves to free space.

Then there is the NFL draft benefits. Owning the tiebreaker with Jacksonville, who had the same record, the Bears own the #3 overall pick. It’s the highest they’ve held since 1972 and their first top five selection since 2005. With it comes the inevitable speculation of who they might take. In addition comes the other favorite debate among draft enthusiasts. (continue to next page from top)

New Intriguing Team Beginning To Show Interest in White Sox Todd Frazier

By
Dan Fappiano
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Todd Frazier, White Sox, Chicago, Home Run

Todd Frazier is one of the more confusing trade assets on the Chicago White Sox. He offers enormous power potential, yet teams haven’t exactly been chomping at the bit to trade for the corner infielder.

Frazier has been in the MLB for the past six seasons, playing for the Reds before the White Sox. He has appeared in 791 major league games. Frazier has hit .250 with 148 homeruns, 422 RBIs and 58 stolen bases.

Frazier has atleast 29 homeruns, 80 RBIs and 13 stolen basess the past three seasons. He is coming off a 40 homerun season. Frazier is one of the best power hitters in the MLB, any team acquiring him is adding a massive power surge in the middle of their lineup.

However Frazier is also a free agent following the 2017 season. Teams have been reluctant to offer what the White Sox are asking for due to the potential of him walking at the end of the season.

Due to this, and most teams already having their third/first baseman in place, Frazier hasn’t seen the most extensive market. The Los Angeles Dodgers were thought to be the favorite, but after re-signing Justin Turner, they are out of the Frazier hunt.

Some teams have been thrown out as potential landing spots, but not many teams have come out and aid their interested. A new report gives more clarity into the situation and connects one intriguing team to the power hitting third basemen.

Matt Cerrone is the lead writer and creator of MetsBlog.com. Recently he wrote an article discussing if the Mets should target Frazier. While Cerrone wrote that the Mets are a questionable fit for Frazier, he dropped this tidbit of information:

MLB insiders say at least 10 teams — including the Cardinals and Rangers — have contacted the White Sox to ask about Frazier.

The Cardinals have been loosely connected to Frazier in the past. St. Louis was interested in Justin Turner, and like the Dodgers viewed Frazier as a potential Plan B.

However the Rangers haven’t really been connected to Frazier and make for an intriguing fit for the power hitter.

Texas already has Adrian Beltre in place at third base, meaning Frazier would play first for the team. After seeing Mitch Moreland sign with the Red Sox this offseason, the Rangers are in need of a starting first baseman.

While the need is definitely there, the team already has two in-house candidates for the position in Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo.

Profar is more of a jack-of-all-trades kind of player rather than a pure first baseman. He could realistically play all over the diamond and suits better as a super utility player. However Profar has had flashes of greatness at the plate, leading manager Jeff Bannister doing everything in his power to try and get him in the lineup. Starting him at first base would be the best way to do so.

For his career, Profar has appeared in 184 major league games, all with the Rangers. He has hit .235 with 12 homeruns, 48 RBIs and four stolen bases.

Joey Gallo isn’t necessarily a first baseman either, but he is blocked at his natural positions of third base and left field. He has absolute tore up minor league pitching and is ready for the major leagues. Having him play first base or DH helps the Rangers get his power bat in the lineup.

Gallo has appeared in 485 minor league games. He hit .254 with 152 homeruns, 375 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.

Both Profar and Gallo would be fine first base candidates for the Rangers, but neither have the proven track record of Frazier. In starting Profar/Gallo, the Rangers are basically taking a chance of their young stars. In trading and starting Frazier, the Rangers know exactly what they’re getting.

Assuming Profar/Gallo aren’t apart of a Frazier deal, the Rangers would then be free to move one for a starting pitcher. Adding a frontline starter to an elite offense and a pitching rotation already featuring Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish could push the team over the edge.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Rangers end up pulling the trigger on a Frazier trade. The team could certainly use his offense at first, however one of Profar/Gallo would be out of a job.

The Todd Frazier saga doesn’t seem like it’s coming to an end anytime soon, but there’s atleast a chance that the power-hitting corner infielder ends up with the Texas Rangers for the 2017 season.

 

Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14

The Bulls Are Shopping All Star Jimmy Butler

By
Matt Peck
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bulls shopping jimmy butler

The Chicago Bulls are apparently finally ready to go “full rebuild.” Trying to move Rajon Rondo is an obvious goal to set before the trade deadline next month. That experiment failed miserably. But now we’re hearing that All Star and rising franchise player Jimmy Butler is on the trading block.

Bleacher Report‘s Ric Bucher just released a video report, claiming that the team does not want to build around Butler moving forward.

Here’s an excerpt from that report:

“League sources say that the team made it known weeks ago through back channels that Jimmy Butler is available for the right price…The Bulls have been uncertain about building around Butler, even after signing him to a 5 year, $95 million deal. One league executive said GM Gar Forman held off aggressively pursuing a move sooner this season because of the team’s surprising start. Now that the Bulls have leveled off, Butler is back on the market.” – Ric Bucher

Bring on the rebuild?

Not so fast, one of my sources close to the team tells me that they’re not likely to deal Butler before the deadline. Conflicting reports are common during this portion of the NBA calendar. Hold on to your butts.

Sports Mockery will keep you up to speed on any further developments regarding a Jimmy Butler trade. For the latest, follow our Bulls beat reporter @Bulls_Peck.

Cubs Rumored To Be Front-Runners For Tyson Ross

By
Dan Fappiano
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Tyson Ross has been one of the more intriguing pitchers on the free agent market this offseason. While Ross is coming off an injury plagued season which saw him receieve surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, up to 20 teams have been interested in the former Padre.

Ross has been in the MLB for the past seven seasons playing for the Athletics before the Padres. He has appeared in 153 games and 670.2 innings. Ross holds a career 32-53 record with a 3.64 ERA and a 633/271 K/BB ratio.

Ross may be coming off injury, but he has proven he could be a front-line starter in past seasons. He was named to the All Star game in 2014 and held a 3.26 ERA with a ridiculous 212/84 K/BB ratio in 2015.

Teams have been willing to take a chance on Ross injury history, given his track record of past success. One of those teams have been the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs have been the team most connected to Ross. The team is in need of another starting pitcher, with Ross being at the top of their wish-list. He would likely be the team’s fifth starter moving Mike Montgomery back into a long-relief role.

However the Cubs aren’t the only team interested in Tyson Ross. According to multiple sources, including our own Sean Sears, the Texas Rangers have begun to show interest in Ross.

Ken Rosenthal reported that the Nationals were also interested, although not as much as the Cubs and Rangers.

The Rangers are an interesting fit for Ross. The team is losing out on Derek Holland and potentially Colby Lewis, meaning the back-end of their rotation is in need of talented pitching. Ross would certainly fit the bill as a guy who could start the season as a back-of-the-rotation starter but end as one of the team’s aces.

The Rangers also have a history of dealing with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, as their pitcher Matt Harrison dealt with it in 2009. That history with the injury could help the Rangers better deal with Ross.

Even better for the club is that, as Sears reported, the interested in mutual between Texas and Ross.

But while the Rangers have begun to show interest in Ross, it appears as if the Cubs are still the favorites to land the big right-hander. According to Sears, there is a 60% chance Ross signs with the Cubs.

The Cubs have been connected to Ross for most of the offseason. Some reports even had him visiting Wrigley Field. While Chicago is now facing pressure from the Rangers, the team still seems like the favorite to land the pitcher.

With the Rangers jumping in the mix and Ross market seemingly heating up, it seems likely that the pitcher will sign in short-order. It seems like that contract will be signed in Chicago.

The Cubs are coming off a World Series winning season, they have courted the pitcher multiple times, including in their home stadium. They have done everything in their power to make Ross come to Chicago.

With the Rangers now showing pressure in the Ross sweepstakes, the Cubs will likely have to up their offer to bring in Ross. But with the team showing serious interest, they will likely do everything in their power to bring the former All Star to the Windy City.

Ross’ scenario should play out over the next few days. But in the end, it seems as if Tyson Ross should be a Chicago Cub going into the 2017 season.

 

Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14

Artemi Panarin Loses $500 Bet To Patrick Kane

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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There was more than pride on the line when the United States beat Russia in the semi-final of the IIHF World Junior Championship last night. Chicago Blackhawks teammates, Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, had a friendly wager of $500 on the game according to Scott Powers of The Athletic.

Panarin must be willing take a few more chances with his money since he signed his new contract. There is no word if Kane will make any bets against his Canadian teammates for the championship game tonight.

The game provided tons of excitement and needed a seven round shootout to decide the winner. American Troy Terry scored on all three of his attempts to lead the United States to the championship game against Canada.

Unfortunately the Blackhawks don’t have any prospects playing for the championship but this will be one of the most exciting games for US hockey in quite some time.

The Cleveland Cavaliers Are Interested In Bulls’ Rajon Rondo

By
Matt Peck
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cleveland cavaliers interested bulls rajon rondo

Rajon Rondo watched from the bench as the Chicago Bulls beat the defending champion Cavaliers again on Wednesday night in Cleveland. It marked the third straight DNP-Coach’s Decision for the veteran point guard. How quickly things can change. Just a little over a month ago, Rondo posted a triple double in the Bulls’ 111-105 triumph over the champs at the United Center. Now, the talk around town is that Rondo wants to be traded if the benching continues.

Despite being shorthanded in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade and Denzel Valentine both missing recent games, coach Fred Hoiberg hasn’t budged on the benching of his $14 million point guard. He believes that Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant should both get minutes before Rondo. Either that or he’s following instructions from above. Unfortunately for Rondo, his bosses in the front office haven’t been quite as clear regarding his future with the team.

If Gar Forman and John Paxson have agreed that signing Rondo was a swing and a miss, they should try everything they can to get something for him in a trade before the deadline next month. Easier said than done, I know. The assumed problem is finding any interested suitors for Rondo.

Rival Dealings

But just like that, a potential trade partner may have surfaced. And it’s a team the Bulls know all too well. According to a Hoop Central report from earlier today, the Cavaliers are interested in bringing in Rondo as their backup to Kyrie Irving.

It makes sense. The floor spacing issue Rondo has on this current Bulls roster wouldn’t be present in Cleveland, where they have plenty of shooters. And the Cavaliers could really benefit from having a legitimate veteran backup behind Irving, especially when the playoffs roll around. Right now, those duties belong to rookie (2nd round selection) Kay Felder. There’s also Jordan McRae and DeAndre Diggins, but they’re both shooting guard more than point guard.

Competition

The hangup that should have Bulls fans pumping the breaks of their excitement, however, is the other name mentioned alongside Rondo. Mario Chalmers is nearing a return from the torn Achilles he suffered last season. He is a free agent, and LeBron James will almost certainly tell Cleveland’s front office to bring him in for a visit. The two played (and won two titles) together in Miami not too long ago. Chalmers may have been James’ punching bag at times, but there’s still a level of familiarity and trust between championship teammates.

Speaking of championship teammates, Norris Cole also played with LeBron and the Heat when they went back to back in 2012 and 2013. Cole is almost fully recovered from a hamstring injury and could also draw interest from the Cavs. Then there’s veteran point guard Jarrett Jack, who is reportedly holding an open workout sometime soon for teams interested in his services. He’s making a comeback from torn ligaments in his right knee last season.

So the Bulls will have a good amount of competition if they want to move Rondo to Cleveland, and actually get something in return. There’s also the possibility that the Cavs will just wait for the Bulls and Rondo to agree on a buyout and pursue him after that. The more logical choice for the Cavaliers is to sign one of the aforementioned free agents, particularly one of LeBron’s former teammates. On the bright side, if the Bulls’ division rivals are at least looking at Rondo, that could mean more teams will start to look his way too.

Cubs officials hoping to lure college football to Wrigley Field bowl

By
Matt Schoch
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Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs

Chicago’s college football team went to New York City for a cold weather bowl game this year and had a memorable close to its season.

In future years, Chicago might be hosting other teams’ final hurrahs.

Teddy Greenstein of the Tribune is reporting the Cubs are very interested in hosting their own bowl game starting after 2020 along the same lines of the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, which Northwestern played in this year.

There are fall renovations scheduled for each of the next few season after the Chicago Cubs seasons, but Cubs President Crane Kenney told Greenstein that Wrigley wants in on the action.

He said Northwestern home games would be the first priority for Wrigley, but that the Cubs would also be “absolutely” interested in hosting a bowl game.

One of the major hurdles is field configuration, as a 2010 game at Wrigley Field between Northwestern and Illinois had teams going into the same end zone throughout the game because the walls were too close to the action, officials decided.

Those problems should be solved by 2018, as the dugouts are scheduled to be moved closer to the foul poles next offseason, according to the Tribune. In addition, no bowls will be added until at least 2019.

It’s too early to tell which conferences could have tie-ins to such a game, although the article states Chicago as driving distance for Big Ten schools and a few from the Big 12 or SEC (think Missouri or Kentucky).

George McCaskey Discusses Idea Of Selling The Chicago Bears

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears
Credit: Chicago Tribune

Fans haven’t been happy with the Chicago Bears lately. Like at all. Once considered a premier franchise in the NFL, it has sunk to depths never experienced before. For the first time since the league instituted a 16-game season in 1978, the Bears finished 3-13. It’s their second-worst record in franchise history (finished 1-13 in 1969).

Needless to say this painful experience has put the entire team brass under fire from the press and social media. From head coach John Fox to GM Ryan Pace. However, perhaps none have drawn more heat over the past half decade than the ownership. Virginia McCaskey and her family have owned the Bears since 1983 when her father, the great George Halas died.

Since then the team has won just one Super Bowl and managed to make the playoffs just four times since the start of the new millennium in 2000. Some have long since reached the conclusion that this family is ill-equipped to run a modern professional football team. That in turn has led to ceaseless calls for them to sell the franchise.

Would they ever consider it?

Danny Trevathan Likely To Start 2017 Season On PUP List

By
Sports Mockery
-

The Chicago Bears feel very confident about their new inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. Both of them showed elite talent in flashes during the 2016 season, but each of them also had their downfalls. Freeman was suspended four games for using PEDs and Trevathan suffered a season-ending ruptured right patellar tendon.

Based on Ryan Pace’s feedback during the season-ending press conference on Wednesday, it sounds like Trevathan could start the season on the PUP list as he continues to recover.

Trevathan suffered the injury in a game in late November when he planted his foot while being blocked. If he were to start the regular season on the PUP list, which is a definite possibility, he would have to miss at least six games to open the year.

If that were to happen he would likely be replaced by Nick Kwiatkoski. The first year linebacker is coming off an impressive rookie season recording 44 tackles, one sack and two pass deflections. The Bears are excited about his future but obviously didn’t expect him to step into a starting role on the defense so soon.

As good as Kwiatkoski looked though, he’s not Trevathan. The five-year veteran veteran was on pace for over 130 tackles after recording 66 in just eight starts. The injury is something Trevathan can fully recover from, according to Pace, but it’s going to take a while.

“It’s an injury he can fully recover from, so I think we’ll be all right, ” Pace said.

Trevathan, 26, was one of the prizes of the Bears’ 2016 free-agent class, signing a four-year deal for $24.5 million. He’s already missed half his first season and it looks like Trevathan could miss the first six games of 2017.

Get well soon #59.

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