Welcome to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor. Dave’s probably here. Thanks for coming.

Jed Hoyer has been busy recently. The bullpen looks a lot better with the addition of Hector Neris and maybe Carl Edwards Jr., who I have always liked, but is on a minor-league deal. He’ll have to earn a spot in Spring Training. I’d still like a good lefty, and of course, Cody Bellinger, but things are looking up.

The minor-league system is the talk of the town these days, and justifiably so, but none of those players have proven themselves yet at the major-league level, and so we wait to judge.

But I’ll not throw any brickbats today, Ignatz. It’s a sunny day in Arizona, Spring Training is just around the corner, and I’ll save the salt for my fries. For now.

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The Astros’ deal with Josh Hader puts them as the favorite in the American League this year, I think.
But it will be difficult to replace Hector Neris, who will help the Cubs way more than Cubs fans realize now.
Neris was the glue in the Astros’ bullpen. He’s a revered leader.

— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) January 27, 2024
“A guy like Hector Neris brings a lot more of that confidence that the game is over for a teammate. And you know what, the Cubs, who I think making moves like this puts them in that category we got to start talking to them as a serious contender to win that central. And these are the type of moves that winners make.” — David Aardsma.

Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs bring back member of 2016 championship team. “The team has agreed to terms with reliever Carl Edwards Jr. on a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training…” Evan Altman has more.
Ryan Taylor (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ odds to sign Cody Bellinger in danger with Angels newfound interest. “Remember, the Angels big ploy this offseason was re-signing their star two-way player, Shohei Ohtani.”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs Have 7 of Top 73 prospects in MLB Pipeline’s newest rankings. “… having the most prospects in the top 100 for the first time in 10 years is pretty cool.” Manny Randhawa has more. North Side Bound adds on.
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs pitching prospect suspended after testing positive for PEDs. “… Mathew Peters, the team’s 12th round pick in 2022, has been suspended for the Arizona Complex League season after testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone…” ESPN has more. Fans trolled him, says Sportskeeda.
Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib*): The hottest spring training hat in Cubs history just leaked – and it’s gorgeous. “Calls for more powder blue seem to have been heard – at least if the team’s rumored Cactus League hat for 2024 means anything.”
Food for Thought: