Stud Pitching Prospects Who Can Help 2024 Cubs Bullpen

Aldo Soto
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Stud Pitching Prospects Who Can Help 2024 Cubs Bullpen

All right, let’s try to figure out some solutions to the 2024 Chicago Cubs bullpen problems. After Adbert Alzolay’s arm injury, half of the team’s Opening Day bullpen is now on the injured list. We’ve talked about trade targets, the dream being Mason Miller, but also other legit trade candidates. Now, let’s take a look at the internal options, who are currently working themselves up through the Cubs farm system.

You could say the Cubs are desperate to find help and well at this point of the season they are. Through the first seven weeks of the season the Cubs have used 15 different pitchers out of the bullpen and the group’s 4.50 ERA ranks seventh worst in MLB. Maybe we’ll see a couple more minor moves similar to the acquisition of Tyson Miller just to survive in the meantime, but eventually the Cubs will need some major impact via the trade market or their own minor league system.

Bryan Smith, who does a great job covering the Cubs minor league system, listed four pitching prospects, who all have had some success so far in 2024 and might earn the opportunity to make an impact in the big leagues soon.

We’ll list the four pitchers based on their proximity to the majors.

Porter Hodge

Age: 23
Level: Triple-A
Acquired: 2019 Draft, 13th Round Pick
2024 Stats: 11 G, 14 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 24 K, 12 BB, 1 HR

Porter Hodge started the 2024 season at Double-A and after two dominant outings where he struck out 8 batters in 4 innings, he was promoted to the Iowa Cubs at Triple-A. His first eight appearances of the season at Double-A and Triple-A were incredible, as the right-handed pitcher struck out 19 batters in 11.1 innings and only allowed two runs, which came on a two-run homer on April 17.

Hodge looked great early on, but as is the case with so many young pitchers the question remains if he can throw enough strikes to become a reliable reliever in the big leagues. He’s averaging nearly 8 BB per 9 innings this year, but if he’s able to get that under control and get it back to 4-5 like he’s done throughout his minor league career, then Hodge just might take the next step in 2024 with the Cubs.

A good fastball and some nasty break on the off speed is a great combo for Hodge and that’s driven him to striking out 37% of the batters he’s faced so far in 2024.

Eduarniel Nuñez

Age: 24
Level: Triple-A
Acquired: 2017 International Free Agent
2024 Stats: 11 G, 15.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 15 K, 6 BB, 0 HR

Batters were only 6-for-51, a .118 average hitting against Cubs pitching prospect Eduarniel Nuñez at Double-A before he was promoted to Triple-A this week. The right-handed pitcher only allowed one extra base hit in 15.2 innings, a double, and did not give up an earned run through 11 appearances.

Nuñez had middling numbers in 2021 and 2022, when he first began to pitch out of the bullpen on a full-time basis. However, in 2023, the righty turned the corner and ended the season with a 3.11 ERA in 46.1 innings, eventually earning a promotion to Double-A.

Now, Nuñez is a step away from the major leagues as he continues to ride his momentum in 2024. Again, the stuff is great, but the command remains a question mark around Nuñez. So far this season, he has limited the walks, only 6 in 15.2 innings, so that’s hopefully a trend that continues as he begins his stint at Triple-A.

Zac Leigh

Age: 26
Level: Double-A
Acquired: 2021 Draft, 16th Round Pick
2024 Stats: 12 G, 13.2 IP, 1.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 18 K, 6 BB, 0 HR

Right-handed pitcher Zac Leigh is an older prospect at 26-years-old, but he’s had a few injuries the past couple seasons that kept him in the lower levels of the minor leagues after he was drafted out of Texas State in 2021. Leigh has put up strong numbers since he signed with the Cubs, posting a 2.80 ERA in 96.1 innings. However, because of a few IL stints, Leigh just hasn’t had a lot of innings, logging 39.1 innings, which were a career high in 2023.

Leigh will most likely get the bump to Triple-A soon because he’s remained a steady performer with the Tennessee Smokies to begin the 2024 season, as he’s currently striking out 30% percent of the batters he’s faced with a 3/1 strikeout to walk ratio.

Michael Arias

Age: 22
Level: Double-A
Acquired: 2021 Minor League Free Agent
2024 Stats: 12 G, 19 IP, 2.37 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 20 K, 10 BB, 2 HR

Michael Arias has had an interesting career in pro baseball as he first started his journey as a shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, who signed him as an international free agent in 2019. The Cubs scooped him up in 2021 and converted Arias into a pitcher. It didn’t take long for Arias to adapt, as he spent 2021 pitching in the Dominican Summer League and after only 17 innings state-side in 2022, Arias got on everyone’s radar last year, when the right-hander looked great in 11 starts with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Arias was bumped up to Advanced A-Ball in the middle of the 2023 season and although he showed off great stuff you could see that the Cubs were going to try him out as a reliever because the command issues were becoming an issue.

It hasn’t been perfect at Double-A, where Arias has walked 10 in 19 innings and he’s been in a funk as of late, allowing four earned runs in his last five outings. However, at just 22-years-old, Arias has time to continue to develop and gain experience to hopefully improve. His stuff looks legit.

Now, if we take a look at the current Cubs roster, then you can already see how Craig Counsell may use a few of the swing guys on the pitching staff as relievers moving forward. Veteran Kyle Hendricks is going to stay in the starting rotation for the time being, so you should expect Hayden Wesneski to remain a reliever and the same could be said about Ben Brown.

Those are two additional pitchers who were not in the bullpen to begin the regular season that can have a positive affect for the Cubs as bullpen weapons the rest of the sesson.

The Chicago Bears 2024 Schedule Is Out. Here’s A Full Prediction

Erik Lambert
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The Chicago Bears 2024 Schedule Is Out. Here’s A Full Prediction

The Chicago Bears 2024 schedule has been fully leaked. We now have a clear idea of what awaits this team as it prepares to embrace playoff aspirations. Everything has gone according to play. They started over in 2022, finished 3-14 and secured the #1 pick. They traded that for a mountain of assets to help improve to 7-10 last season. Through sheer luck, they landed the #1 pick again from Carolina and have used it to secure a potential franchise quarterback. This team feels ready to re-enter the big picture in the NFC.

Here is a complete list of every game from week to week, who they play, where they play them, and a prediction of who comes out on top. Do they get over the hump?

The Chicago Bears 2024 schedule features plenty of twists.

Week 1: vs. Titans – Win

Tennessee appears to have improved considerably on paper, especially on offense, with new arrivals like Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, and JC Latham. That said, they are still a team in transition with a new coaching staff. Combine that with an unproven quarterback (Will Levis), and this should be a win.

Week 2: at Texans – Loss

Houston appears to be one of the new hot contenders in the AFC, thanks to the arrival of quarterback C.J. Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans. They’ve since added Stefon Diggs, Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry, and Joe Mixon to their lineup. This feels like a tough team to beat.

Week 3: at Colts – Win

Indianapolis has remained a talented team, but it is still at the mercy of an unproven quarterback. Anthony Richardson looked uneven in his four starts last year before getting hurt. Their defense was also among the league’s worst in points allowed. The Bears match up well with them.

Week 4: vs. Rams – Loss

Last year proved that Sean McVay and a healthy Matthew Stafford remain a lethal combination. Chicago hasn’t beaten the Rams since 2018, and none of the matchups since have been close. The good news is that the Bears finally have them at Soldier Field this time, but it may not matter against Stafford, who knows it well.

Week 5: vs. Panthers – Win

Carolina likely won’t be as bad as they were last year, but it’s hard to imagine they will be that much better in 2024. They traded star pass rusher Brian Burns and didn’t really replace him. All of their efforts centered on helping quarterback Bryce Young, which likely won’t matter against the Chicago Bears’ defense.

Week 6: vs. Jaguars (London) – Win

It is hard to feel intimidated by Jacksonville. While they do play more games in London, this doesn’t seem to be a true home game for them. They also took a big hit on offense with the losses of Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones to free agency. The game isn’t a gimme, but this doesn’t feel like a team trending in the right direction.

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: at Washington – Win

The Bears clobbered the Commanders in Washington last year with basically D.J. Moore being the entire offense. Now they have Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, too. Washington has a new coaching staff and a rookie quarterback. It may not be a blowout like last time, but this should be another win.

Week 9: at San Francisco – Loss

Facts are facts. The 49ers are the class of the NFC. They were an overtime away from being Super Bowl champions. It is still a talented and well-coached team. Chicago may have shocked them two years ago, but that was at home in a monsoon. Don’t expect such benefits in California.

Week 10: vs. Patriots – Win

This is not the Patriots of old. New England is in full rebuild mode. Their roster still needs a ton of work before it’s playoff-caliber again. It is likely they either start Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye at quarterback. Their roster doesn’t appear to have improved much, and they are trying to break in a new coaching staff.

Week 11: vs. Packers – Loss

Look, I’m going to make this as clear as I can. Until the Bears prove they can beat the Packers, I’m going to keep picking against them. They still have the advantage at quarterback and remain a talented, well-balanced team. It doesn’t matter where they play. Green Bay has the psychological edge, and they know it.

Week 12: vs. Vikings – Win

For the time being, Minnesota has downgraded significantly in two key areas. They swapped Kirk Cousins for a combination of Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy and replaced Danielle Hunter with Jonathan Greenard. The Bears beat Minnesota once last year and should’ve done it twice.

Week 13: at Lions (Thanksgiving) – Loss

These games always seem to be fun ones. Detroit and Chicago have produced fireworks on Thanksgiving, even when both teams are bad. Now that both appear to be good, it should be fun. Each team held serve at home last season. Expect that trend to continue as the Lions take care of business.

Week 14: at Cardinals – Win

The Bears thumped Arizona the last time these two teams played. Arizona appears to have added some talent since then, headlined by wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. They likely won’t be such a pushover at home, but I still believe Chicago is the more physical team and will prove that in this game.

Week 15: at Vikings – Win

As stated above, it feels like one team got a lot better this off-season while the other kind of stayed in place. Minnesota is always a tough assignment in their dome, but the Bears won there last year with a far less talented offense. That signals this game should be a big win for them.

Week 16: vs. Lions – Win

The trading of blows continues as the Chicago Bears 2024 schedule helps them get their revenge at a cold Soldier Field, taking down Detroit to even the season series. By this point, Caleb Williams will be showing signs of serious progress and delivering one of his better performances.

Week 17: vs. Seahawks – Win

Seattle is in a transitional phase with a new coaching staff. Geno Smith remains their quarterback, but it’s hard to know if he will have the same magic he did under Pete Carroll’s watchful eye. The Bears decided to give him and the Seahawks a rude reception.

Week 18: at Packers – Loss

Same song, different verse. The Bears go into Lambeau Field and once again can’t solve the equation to beat this team. It will happen at some point, but this team doesn’t feel like it’s ready yet. Green Bay is too battle-tested and seasoned for late-season football.

Final record: 11-6

Cubs Place 15th Player on the Injured List in 2024

Aldo Soto
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Cubs Place 15th Player on the Injured List in 2024

The Chicago Cubs have placed their 15th player on the injured list so far in 2024, as right-handed relief pitcher Keegan Thompson is the latest victim to get hit with the injury bug. This time it’s literally a viral bug.

Thompson is headed to the injured list because of a viral illness. The Cubs have called up left-handed reliever Luke Little to take Thompson’s spot on the 26-man roster and will be available to pitch Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves.

Thompson began the 2024 season at Triple-A, and was then called up by the Cubs in April to replace Jose Cuas in the bullpen. Thompson was incredible in his first five relief appearances with the Cubs, allowing no earned runs in 9.2 innings, while posting a 12/3 K/BB ratio. However, the wheels started to fall off in May, as Thompson allowed seven earned runs in three innings of work over four appearances.

Little is back in the Cubs bullpen for the fourth time this season. He as one of the eight relievers on the Opening Day roster and was then optioned a few different times during the month of April. He was last demoted to the Iowa Cubs following a bad showing against the Boston Red Sox on April 27, when the young lefty allowed five earned runs in 0.2 innings.

Prior to that bad appearance, Little was doing just fine, posting a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings. Standing at 6-foot-8, Little has had some issues with his command, as the left-hander has walked 7 batters and hit two more in 9 innings with the Cubs.

As a reminder, here are the 15 players who have been on the injured list in 2024. (* currently on IL)

SS Dansby Swanson*
LHP Jordan Wicks*
LHP Drew Smyly*
RHP Daniel Palencia*
RHP Julian Merryweather*
RHP Yency Almonte*
RHP Adbert Alzolay*
RHP Keegan Thompson*
RHP Caleb Kilian*
OF Cody Bellinger
OF Seiya Suzuki
3B Patrick Wisdom
RHP Jameson Taillon
RHP Kyle Hendricks
LHP Justin Steele

Plus, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner have missed games because of hamstring issues, while this past week Jameson Taillon was pushed back a series because he had a back issue flare up.

By the way, Happ and Hoerner are missing their second game in a row against the Braves tonight.

Not great!

DeMar DeRozan Reveals Desired Landing Spot In Free Agency

Ryan Dauterive
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DeMar DeRozan Reveals Desired Landing Spot In Free Agency

On FanDuel’s NBA show Run it Back this morning, Lou Williams hosted Chicago’s newest free agent, DeMar DeRozan. The elephant in the room with the six-time All-Star is which jersey he’ll be wearing at the start of the 2024-25 season, knowing he’s expressed a career-long goal of championship contention and has yet to accomplish it. Chicago has missed the playoffs in two of his three seasons with the club and has failed to reach the postseason back-to-back years following their second consecutive Play-In Tournament loss. DeRozan hasn’t made it beyond the first round of the NBA playoffs since the 2017-18 season and has only made one Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2015-16. Where does the 15-year veteran forward want to play next season, and do the Bulls have a chance at an extension?

“Taking Care of Unfinished Business”

Immediately following the Bulls 2024 Play-In Tournament loss, which officially eliminated them from playoff contention, several reports surfaced that the team and DeRozan had mutual interest in an extension for their leading scorer over the last three seasons since his arrival. His answer seems to have not changed since, and his long-term goals still lie within the United Center.

Celebrating a career resurgence with the Bulls, it’s no surprise that he’s enjoyed his time with the team despite the lack of success. Two All-Star nods, one All-NBA honor, two Clutch Player of the Year nominations, several game-winners, and his career-high playoff scoring outing, a 41-point outburst in 2022 in their lone win against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Welcomed Back With Open Arms

A fan favorite, DeRozan would be a sight for sore eyes if he were back in 2024-25. Originally on one of the team-friendliest deals leaguewide, he’ll surely be more expensive this time. In the last three seasons, he was only paid an average of $28 million annually, whereas this time around, Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe says that number will rise significantly.

“$40 million a year for the next two seasons,” Poe wrote…”A potential saving grace for the Bulls is that this decision is somewhat out of their hands. After the play-in loss, DeRozan cracked open the door to signing elsewhere as he admitted to frustration.”

Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe

This is an understandable reaction from the 34-year-old veteran and one that’ll reroute the direction of the Bulls franchise for the foreseeable future. Letting him walk without any return would sting, especially considering there were several suitors at the trade deadline a few months ago that would have forked up draft stock or young talent at the minimum in exchange for his services in the postseason. Instead, Chicago stood pat for a third consecutive trade deadline and finished below .500 for the second straight season and the seventh time in eight years.

Should Chicago move on from the DeRozan and LaVine pairing, or will just one be hitting the road? Is Coby White ready to take the reigns of a new-look Bulls team that can bolster their future with him, the 11th overall pick, and a healthy Lonzo Ball? The DeRozan decision will determine where the Bulls are headed in the next five years.

Here Is The Rumored Opponent Caleb Williams Will Debut Against

Erik Lambert
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Here Is The Rumored Opponent Caleb Williams Will Debut Against

Does the first start usually offer insight into how a quarterback will fare in Chicago? Jim McMahon beat Detroit 20-17. Jim Harbaugh lost 23-3. Cade McNown lost 20-16. Rex Grossman won 13-10. Mitch Trubisky lost 20-17. Justin Fields lost 26-6. Surprisingly, that is pretty accurate. McMahon and Grossman both reached the Super Bowl. That could put a little more pressure on Caleb Williams to get off on the right foot when he debuts for the Bears this September. A lot of it may come down to the opponent and where the game takes place.

Schedule leaks have finally begun as the official announcement nears. While nothing is cemented yet, there seems to be a general agreement about who teams will face in week one. That includes the Bears. They will be at home hosting the Tennessee Titans. It may not be the high-profile matchup that some expect, but it is a potential great bit of fortune for Chicago. The Titans were 6-11 last year and just got done overhauling their entire coaching staff. Their defense was in the bottom half of the league against the pass.

Of course, one year often makes a big difference.

Caleb Williams can get the season off on the right foot.

Tennessee was one of the most active teams in the off-season this year. They signed free agent receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, then traded for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. On paper, they are an improved team. However, so are the Bears. This game likely comes down to the trenches. Tennessee had 45 sacks last season. Protecting Williams will be a must for Chicago’s offensive line. Conversely, a trio of Ridley, Boyd, and DeAndre Hopkins will make for a tough first test for the Bears’ secondary.

The Bears’ home openers have generally gone well over the past six years, going 4-2. Both losses came against Green Bay. They are undefeated against non-division opponents, which offers some hope that they won’t be in awe of the Titans. Caleb Williams is likely to face plenty of aggressive pressure packages from defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. It will be a great first test to see where his progress is regarding pre- and post-snap reads. This is a game the Bears can and should win.

Blackhawks Logo Controversy Results In Disputed Breach Of Contract, Fraud, And Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Isaac Nielsen
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Blackhawks Logo Controversy Results In Disputed Breach Of Contract, Fraud, And Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

The Blackhawks have been no stranger to the legal spotlight in the last few years. From the viral Kyle Beach scandal that surfaced in 2021 to the more recent Corey Perry investigation last season, the team’s lawyers have been working overtime.

In a story released late Tuesday night, it became apparent that the Blackhawks once again have their work cut out for them. According to CBS News, a Native American woman who worked for the Chicago Blackhawks, is suing the organization for an alleged breach of oral contract, fraud and sexual harassment. A scuffle that began over the merits of the team’s name quickly transformed into grave accusations, each of which has been heavily disputed, to say the least.

Throughout the last several years, sports franchises have faced societal pressure to change their identities. The issue finally reached its boiling point in 2020-21, when the Washington football team and the Cleveland baseball team each changed their names, mascots and logos. However, the Blackhawks held strong, arguing that they were honoring war leader Black Hawk.

In 2020, Chicago hired Nina Sanders as a contractor to “help build relationships with the Native American community,” CBS News said. Before she accepted the job, she called the team’s likeness “racist” and “offensive”. According to Sanders, she was responsible for arranging a meeting between team CEO Danny Wirtz and leaders of the Sac and Fox Nation, Black Hawk’s tribe.

“She said based on her conversations with him, she believed the team would change the logo and she told the community that too. But months later, in August 2021, the team and the Sac and Fox Nation formed a partnership. The tribe then reversed its stance on the logo, and passed a new resolution proclaiming support of the Chicago Blackhawks’ use of it.” – CBS News

As a result, Sanders said she felt “used” by the organization. No longer working with the team, she now alleges the above charges, “among other allegations.”

The lawsuit reads that Sanders was sexually harassed in 2022 by a man working with the Blackhawks, including alleged “inappropriate sexual advances,” touching her “without her consent,” and sending unwanted “sexually explicit videos of him.” CBS News also reports that she verbally reported two other incidents of women being groped at Blackhawks events.

While Sanders alleges she complained about these incidents to her supervisor, the team provided a response to the allegations that told a different story.

The team said that after a thorough investigation, they “found insufficient evidence to substantiate her claims. Of note, the persons identified by Ms. Sanders in your question are not, and have never been, independent contractors with nor employees of the Chicago Blackhawks.”

After Sanders warned Chicago last year that the lawsuit would be coming, the team’s attorneys told her lawyers that she only made the allegations after they chose not to renew her contract.

The White Sox Finally Make This Much Needed Roster Move

Craig Rowland
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The White Sox Finally Make This Much Needed Roster Move

Chris Getz has been very active this morning, as the White Sox have made a flurry of roster moves, including a very interesting trade. However, they also announced one of their biggest off-season acquisitions will be making his return to Chicago.

According to the White Sox, they have recalled outfielder Dominic Fletcher to Chicago. In a corresponding roster move, they have designated outfielder Rafael Ortega for assignment. Ortega never really got a fair shot of playing time, so it’s likely he will return to AAA.

This move is long overdue and it never should have been made in the first place. When the White Sox traded for Fletcher, it was made known that he would get the first crack at starting in right field. While he did start, they gave him an extremely short leash and sent him down in favor of Rafael Ortega, who hardly played.

This was a confusing move at the time, and it is still very confusing. While he was not doing great, Fletcher had one of the better averages on the team before he was sent down, as the whole team couldn’t hit. But, Fletcher was the one that was sent down.

Before his demotion, he hit .206 with six RBIS, most of them coming in clutch situations. He was only given 59 at-bats before he was sent down. That is not a lot of time for someone to get acclimated, and he, like everyone else in the lineup got off to a slow start.

Now he is back in Chicago and he needs to play. The White Sox invested a lot in Fletcher this offseason when they sent a top-10 prospect to Arizona for him. He needs to be given a fair chance to get into a groove and show what he could do. Hopefully now that the White Sox are scoring more runs he can feed off of that and perform better than his first stint earlier this year.

I’m not too sure why they picked now to call him back up, as he wasn’t fantastic in AAA. He hit .238 with one homerun and four RBIs. Perhaps he improved on what they wanted him to while he was down there, but this seems like an interesting time to call him back up.

He did have a nice game yesterday, so maybe they think he can catch fire in Chicago. Maybe they are tired of Gavin Sheets in right field, as he is a defensive liability out there. But, despite him dropping an easy fly ball, he is back in right field for the game today.

This is the right move as the White Sox need to try their best to develop Fletcher, as he showed last year he could be an above average major leaguer. But, the timing is a bit weird, all things considered. I’m not sure how much playing time is out there for him, but he should not come up to sit. He needs to play most days, as he is not going to develop by just watching.

The handling of some of the top prospects by Getz has been extremely questionable to this point, so let’s hope he has a real plan for Fletcher to succeed in Chicago. I understand the value of having veterans play to maximize their returns in a potential trade, but this is a huge year for the development of younger players at the major league level. Let’s hope Chris Getz takes that into consideration with this move.

White Sox Make An Interesting Trade With The Astros

Craig Rowland
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White Sox Make An Interesting Trade With The Astros

Chris Getz has to be one of the busiest General Managers in all of baseball, as he is constantly trying to improve the White Sox roster. Getz struck again today, as he made a very intriguing trade with the Houston Astros.

The White Sox have announced that they have acquired outfielder Corey Julks from the Houston Astros in exchange for pitcher Luis Rodriguez. This is a nice move, as the White Sox have not gotten much out of their outfielders this season, except for Tommy Pham.

Julks is a 28 year old outfielder who has 93 games of experience in the major leagues, including a very solid run with the Astros last year. He was recently designated for assignment by the Astros, but he has an intriguing amount of upside.

Last year in 298 at-bats, Julks hit .245 with a .297 OBP. He had six home runs, 33 RBIs, and added a nice 15 stolen bases. While the average and the OBP are a bit low, they would rank as some of the better marks on the White Sox this season. He adds an intriguing mix of power and speed to a White Sox lineup that could use it.

While he has not played in the majors in 2024, he has some very solid stats in AAA to start the year. So far, he is hitting .266 with a .358 OBP. He has added five home runs, 15 RBIs, and six stolen bases in 124 at-bats. A very solid start to the season for Julks. According to the White Sox, he will be assigned to AAA, but I’m sure he will be in Chicago very shortly.

This is a great move for the White Sox, as Julks still has a lot of upside and could potentially break out with a more consistent role. I’m not sure how much playing time he will get in Chicago, but he is a good fielder, so he could slot into RF and be an instant upgrade for the defense. Considering Tommy Pham is a lock to be traded before the deadline, he could be in line to take his spot when he is traded. I’m curious to see how the White Sox handle this situation, as they traded a young pitcher for Julks, so there is at least some investment in him.

Luis Rodriguez, the player they traded is currently in the Arizona Complex league for the White Sox, where he has pitched three innings. In his short minor league career, pitching mainly in the Dominican Summer League, he has a 3.93 ERA over 36 innings. He has 49 strikeouts in those innings, which is very good. While not a big name in the system for the White Sox, his early stats are encouraging. This leads me to believe that they will give Julks some solid playing time this year, as you shouldn’t trade young prospects for no reason. If it was a trade for Cash Considerations, it might be a different story.

I like this trade for the White Sox at first glance and I hope they can unlock something with Julks. They can use any help they can get offensively, so let’s hope he can contribute. They are a bit backlogged in the outfield currently, so it should be an intriguing situation to monitor.

The Way A Bears Coach Described Rome Odunze Is Utterly Terrifying

Erik Lambert
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The Way A Bears Coach Described Rome Odunze Is Utterly Terrifying

The Chicago Bears bucked tradition in the 2024 NFL draft. While they took the quarterback at #1 overall, as many expected, the widespread belief was they’d pivot to the defense at the 9th spot. It made logical sense. They needed a second pass rusher to pair with Montez Sweat. Houston had done that exact same thing last year with C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson. Instead, GM Ryan Poles went all in on his young quarterback, grabbing him another weapon in the form of Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.

While nobody hated the pick, it felt a bit luxurious. The Bears already had D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen in place—two of the best in the NFL. So why? The simple answer is Poles couldn’t justify passing on him. Odunze was too high on their board. They felt it was a 50/50 chance, at best, he’d even be there. Bears wide receivers coach Chris Beatty helped put things in perspective. Moore and Allen bring two specific, highly effective styles to the table. Odunze is a combination of both.

Beatty called Moore a “bull in a china shop” while Allen is “paint-the-edges on Picasso.”

“At the end of the day, you get every angle,” he said. “And Rome (Odunze) is kind of in between. There are times when he’s rugged and rough like DJ and then there’s part of his game that’s intricate like Keenan.”

It’s getting easier to understand the Rome Odunze comps.

People tend to exaggerate when comparing you to guys like Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Owens. Yet when a legitimate receivers coach calls you a combo of two of the best in the league right now, that has to turn heads. The Bears have never drafted a truly great wide receiver in their long history. Some have flirted with the possibility over the years. Harlon Hill, Curtis Conway, and Alshon Jeffery come to mind. Yet, for one reason or another, none of them managed to sustain long, productive careers. Odunze has the best opportunity of them all.

That is because he’ll be paired with Caleb Williams from the start. If the young quarterback is as good as many believe, he should have that job locked down for a long time. Rome Odunze gets to be there from the start. If the Bears keep them together, it could yield tremendous results. Odunze won’t just rewrite the record books, he may destroy them. One can only hope Beatty is correct in his assessment. Moore and Allen are impossible to cover by themselves. So what would happen if they were fused like Goku and Vegeta?

We might be about to find out.

Several Mock Drafts Have Chicago Selecting 19-Year-Old Phenom

Ryan Dauterive
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Several Mock Drafts Have Chicago Selecting 19-Year-Old Phenom

After Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery decided the order of the 2024 NBA Draft, the first wave of mock drafts has gone live. The Chicago Bulls will select 11th in the upcoming draft, outside the top ten for the fourth consecutive year despite only one playoff victory over that span. Bleacher Report, Yahoo, ESPN, CBS, and other sports news outlets have released how they think the NBA Draft will unfold before the NBA Combine or any draft interviews have taken place, and many of them have the same name circled for the Windy City. Who does the mass media market see as the best fit in Chicago, and how realistic is it that his name is called on June 26th?

Introducing Cody Williams

This year could be this regime’s last crack at the NBA Draft. If this season does not result in at least a playoff appearance, it would mark three consecutive seasons and six out of seven seasons without making the postseason. This front-office group has also never won a playoff series with Chicago, another hurdle they’ll need to surpass to remain at the organization’s helm. Much like a year ago when the Bulls traded into the second round to draft a 19-year-old Julian Phillips from the University of Tennesee, this draft may see a similar result via drafting Cody Williams.

Cody is a more raw and elongated version of his older brother, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams. When initially declaring for the NBA draft, many had him slated as a top-five pick, but lacking polished skills at this stage of his game, he’s going to take some development to become the phenom that his brother has become early in his career.

Williams stands 6′ 8″ tall, weighs 190 pounds, and is only 19 years old. Last season for the Buffaloes, he averaged nearly 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists per contest. He also shot over 55% from the field and 41.5% from three-point range. His defensive versatility will immediately transfer to the professional stage, and his downhill offensive skills will make him a dangerous transition threat for a fast-paced NBA style of play. If he can polish his shooting abilities and gain stability on the offensive side, he’s primed to become a top two-way player like his brother.

Ranking The Fit In Chicago

This selection would likely indicate Patrick Williams’s departure. A restricted free agent this summer, Williams never blossomed into the two-way star the Bulls had hoped they drafted fourth overall in 2020. Drafting a 19-year-old forward and resigning DeMar DeRozan leaves the former Seminole out of the rotation or reduced to a bench role. Chicago’s desire to compete in the near future will lead to a draft pick that contributes to winning immediately.

His ability to guard five positions and play offensively on and off the ball will earn minutes quickly. Length and speed have become a premium in the evolving NBA style of play, and he’s the perfect prototype for both of those. Zach LaVine will likely be gone, and a true point guard will enter the equation. While Williams will likely come off the bench to begin the season, if the year turns into a developmental campaign, the reigns could be passed to the duo of him and Coby White after his emergence a season ago.

Is Cody Williams going to fall to 11, and if he does, do you endorse him in Chicago? Is this Karnisovas’s last chance at the NBA Draft?

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