One week to go on the trading-deadline clock, and I’m counting down and looking around the National League. Here come the sharp traders, playing the angles, looking for the fools to exploit. And those fools will find fool’s gold. Here come the nervous front...
Cardinals fans and the media that serve them have plenty of complaints to fuss about. The franchise is doing OK this season but remains in a slump relative to the more successful and memorable years that established a high standard. The month of October has been quiet...
The outlook in the National League Central became clearer over the weekend when Cody Bellinger rejoined the Cubs in a move that surprised no one. Bellinger agreed to a three-year deal for $80 million, but in reality this is a sequence of three one-year deals....
The NL Central should be renamed. My suggestion: The Bill DeWitt Division. Why would I say such a ridiculous thing? Well, I’m trying to be cute. That’s one reason. It’s annoying. Forgive me. The other factor is more serious and based on payroll pugnacity. From a...
The Chicago Cubs made a stunning move on Monday, finalizing terms on a five-year, $40 million contract to lure manager Craig Counsell away from the Milwaukee Brewers. The deal took shape after a clandestine meeting in early November between Counsell and Cubs president...
No one is required to like Willson Contreras or accept the popular view that the Cardinals made a helluva smart move by signing the free-agent catcher to a five-year, $87.5 million contract. I just wish dissenters would be more fact-based in their objections on the...
THE REDBIRD REVIEW The Cardinals have set up headquarters at Wrigley Field, where they’ll play five games in four days. The action begins tonight at 7:05 p.m. The Cardinals are perky these days, having gone 9-3 in their last 12 games including the three-game brooming...
The designated hitter is coming to the National League this season to pump up the offense. That’s the expectation, anyway. But what does it mean for the pitching? More than I would have assumed. As Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said this week:...
TRANSACTION: The Chicago Cubs and free-agent starting pitcher Marcus Stroman agreed to a three-year, $71 million contract. REACTION: – Keith Law, The Athletic: “The Cubs had been quiet this offseason, which, coupled with their sell-off at the trade deadline, seemed...
