Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown underwent successful cervical spine surgery Monday, according to multiple media reports. The operation was reportedly a proactive procedure to address a neck issue that initially appeared in 2024 and reemerged in 2026, landing him on the injured list in late June.
Another MLB season is in the books. The pending lockout is hanging over the heads of players and ownership, but there could be a mad rush of moves prior to December.
Cubs right-hander Ben Brown underwent cervical spine surgery yesterday, reports ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. He won’t be cleared to throw until early next year.
Chicago Cubs fans got the worst possible news on the Ben Brown front Tuesday morning when Cubs General Manager Carter Hawkins revealed that the emerging right-handed starter would probably need surgery to treat his recurring neck problem.
Bob O’Farrell is one of the earliest examples of a Cubs player who was very good for the team — posting seasons of 6.0 and 4.7 bWAR in 1922 and 1923 at ages 25 and 26 — and then was traded away because the Cubs had a catcher they thought was going to do much better.
The Cubs just shed about $100 million in payroll and have no money committed to pitchers — outside of option buyouts — beyond next season, which is precisely why now would be the time to splurge on Tarik Skubal.
Let’s switch gears for a moment from the pitchers I’ve been looking at and instead check out one of the top outfield free agents, former Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena.
The 2026 MLB season was driven by top performances from young players, and the crop of young talent in the minors has never been greater. These 25 prospects could emerge as top MLB players in 2027.
One of the biggest drawbacks to doing this thing as a hobby is that you don’t always have time to put out all the news and info in a timely manner. Such is the case with this nugget, which was part of Sahadev Sharma’s report about the Cubs sitting out the Tarik Skubal bidding.
A very merry Tuesday to all of you who celebrate. We have 22 days left of regular Hot Stove baseball until the owners lock out the players, so be sure to open up your lockout advent calendar for today.
It’s a very busy time for the Chicago Cubs. Free agency has begun, and the General Manager meetings are underway in Las Vegas. Plenty of moves are expected soon, and time is of the essence as a lockout looms.
The Chicago Cubs entered the offseason already thin on reliable starting pitching, and the latest medical update on Ben Brown has only sharpened the sense of urgency.
The Chicago Cubs added depth to their pitching pipeline on Monday by agreeing to terms with right-hander Bruno López on a two-year minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training.
The Chicago Cubs have officially lost left-handed reliever Antoine Kelly, who agreed to a minor-league contract with the Cleveland Guardians that includes an invitation to major-league spring training.
To a few’s surprise, the Chicago Cubs don’t appear to be preparing for a bidding war for Tarik Skubal, per reports. They will add pitching, but it’s hard to imagine top guys such as Skubal or Michael King landing on the North Side.
Let's hope Jed Hoyer has done his fair share of lateral dumbbell raises. The Chicago Cubs' lead executive came into the winter with plenty of weight on his shoulders.
The Chicago Cubs have identified 26-year-old Nippon Professional Baseball’s pitcher Kaima Taira as an alternative to Tarik Skubal, who is expected to be a part of a bidding war amongst MLB teams, one the Cubs may as well sit out of.
The Guardians announced Monday that they’ve signed left-hander Antoine Kelly to a minor league contract and invited him to major league spring training.
The Cubs have the biggest rotation need of any ostensible contender as we enter the 2026-27 offseason, but having the biggest need apparently doesn’t entail pursuing the biggest name on the market.
2026 marks a decade since the Chicago Cubs captured their third World Series title, ending a 108-year championship drought that had haunted the franchise for generations.
Seiya Suzuki is one of the best hitters available in what is a weak class of free agents. Specifically, this class is lacking right-handed power, and Suzuki can provide that for any team.
Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs have more hardware to celebrate. Just days after helping Chicago win the National League Team Gold Glove, the Cubs’ center fielder was named the 2026 NL Platinum Glove Award winner.
After signing with the Cubs ahead of the 2025 season, Matthew Boyd experienced a resurgence. He had dealt with serious injury issues leading up to the deal, failing to eclipse 80 innings in any season from 2020 to 2024.
Rawlings handed out the 2026 Gold Glove Awards on Sunday night, and the winners list is a fun mix of familiar names, rising MLB stars and a couple of choices that will likely start arguments in group chats across baseball.