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The 2025 season is already here for the Chicago Cubs. The team’s pitchers and catchers have reported for spring training, as the team prepares for its’ slate of exhibition games before travelling to Japan at the end of the March. There, they will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tokyo Series. As Cubs manager Craig Counsell took questions from the press, he was asked about Japanese starting pitcher Shota Imanaga making a start. As one could expect, Counsell told reporters, including USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, that Imanaga would indeed start one of the two opening matchups.
“Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell couldn’t help but laugh when asked whether Shota Imanaga will start one of the first two games against the Dodgers in Tokyo next month: ‘Yes, Shota’s going to pitch in Japan. I think that’s mandated. I don’t think I have a choice,” posted Nightengale on X, formerly Twitter, Sunday.
It’s likely that Imanaga will start the opener, as he’s the Cubs’ best starter at the moment. Lefty Justin Steele would probably start the other matchup for Chicago, as long as both starters are healthy then. That is certainly the plan, as the Cubs look to make a return to the postseason. Counsell is entering his second season at the helm, and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is the last year of his contract. It’s make or break side on the North Side of Chicago. Can the Cubbies beat the defending World Series champions on foreign soil? If so, 2025 could be their season.
Cubs, Dodgers to open season in big Tokyo Series
The Chicago faithful are getting antsy, as the White Sox were the worst team in baseball history last season, while the Cubs underperformed to an extent. Now that Counsell is entering his second season in charge, the familiarity is there. Hoyer bolstered the roster even further by trading for superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker, and by adding to the bullpen as well. The NL Central is certainly within the Cubs’ grasp, especially since their other divisional rivals have taken hits during the offseason. Getting off to the right start in spring training will be key for Chicago.
Even though the Dodgers are coming off a World Series win, they aren’t invincible. They can be beaten, and the Cubbies certainly have the talent to do just that. If Imanaga starts this season off with a performance like he did last year, then Counsell and his team will be in a good place. But if his homecoming turns sour, then hopefully it’s not an omen of things to come on the North Side this season.
More must-reads:
- MLB sends message by suspending Victor Robles for bat-throwing incident
- Aaron Judge seemed annoyed with Aaron Boone over troubling health update
- The 'Most multi-HR games by MLB team' quiz
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Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Sends Message as Season-Ending Decision Nears
The St. Louis Cardinals have been battling to stay alive in the NL wild card race, yet they have struggled to produce offensively in the month of August without their starting third baseman Nolan Arenado. The 34-year-old veteran has been on the injured list since August 1 after his shoulder irritation became too painful for him to continue playing every day. Arenado has been officially diagnosed with a right shoulder strain and has been rehabbing at the team’s spring training facility in Florida, attempting to ramp up baseball activities before returning to action. Arenado’s shoulder pain may have partially contributed to his decline in production at the plate this season, as he’s posted a .235 batting average and .660 OPS—both the lowest marks of his career—across 96 appearances. Nolan Arenado Injury Update On Tuesday afternoon, Arenado announced that he hopes to begin swinging by Friday and start a throwing program next week. He also offered a message regarding his pain via The Athletic’s Katie Woo: “Pain is going down, definitely getting there.” Arenado has made it clear that he intends to return to the big-league roster before the season ends. Cardinals Facing Difficult Season-Ending Decision With Arenado attempting to return to the active roster, the Cardinals may have to make a tough decision on whether it makes sense to rush him back. Currently sitting five games out of a playoff spot, and with an 11–18 record in the second half of the season, it may be smart for the team to be cautious and not risk further damage with playoff contention unlikely. Arenado has had an exceptional 13-year career, collecting eight All-Star selections, ten Gold Glove Awards, and five Silver Slugger Awards across stints with the Colorado Rockies and Cardinals. His peak came from 2015–18, when he led the National League in home runs in three of four seasons and led all of MLB in RBIs in back-to-back years (2015–16).
Packers HC bothered by rookie's 'unacceptable' behavior during preseason game
Green Bay Packers right tackle Anthony Belton had a forgettable first half against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday when he committed five penalties in the first half. The rookie was called for a false start, two illegal formation penalties, a face mask and unnecessary roughness. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was peeved by the unnecessary roughness penalty, which the second-round pick was called for when he pushed Colts cornerback Johnathan Edwards from behind after the play. Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, LaFleur "let Belton have it" at halftime. Following the game, LaFleur explained to the media why that behavior bothers him — it hurts the team. “That’s the one that really bothers me because that is — I mean, they all bother me — but you can’t be getting personal fouls because that really hurts the team, puts you in a really tough position,” LaFleur said. “That is completely unacceptable in my mind. I appreciate the effort that he plays with and I thought he did a really nice job…I love the effort. It’s just, you got to be smart in those situations.” Belton's penalties were costly for the Packers. One of the illegal formation flags took away what would have been a touchdown pass from quarterback Taylor Elgersma to tight end Ben Sims. The 15-yard penalty on the unnecessary roughness call turned a manageable 3rd-and-5 into a 3rd-and-20. Saturday's preseason game is a learning experience for the 2023 third-team All-ACC offensive lineman. The Packers can't have Belton on the field if he's going to commit that many penalties, and the unnecessary roughness mistake would have been easy to avoid.
New report sheds light on how Cowboys view Micah Parsons situation
It is no secret that the relationship between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys is not on solid ground, but that does not necessarily mean it is tarnished beyond repair. On the latest episode of his podcast, which was released on Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter predicted that Parsons and the Cowboys are "headed towards divorce." Schefter said the two sides have not spoken since April and that it seems like a matter of when — not if — they part ways. Longtime NFL reporter Josina Anderson was told the situation is not quite that grim, at least from the Cowboys' perspective. Anderson reported on Tuesday evening that the relationship between Parsons and Dallas "has not deteriorated to the point of an imminent divorce." "I did not detect any obvious tones of concern in my sourced conversation when I recently asked about ESPN's Adam Schefter's report stating he sees 'these two sides headed towards a divorce, in time.' ... I just feel Dallas has so much history with protracted (and) sensitive negotiations, thus my current impression is the club remains unrattled, at this time," Anderson wrote in a post on X. Parsons is earning just over $24M in the final year of his rookie contract this season. The 26-year-old had 12 sacks in 13 games last season and has 52.5 sacks in 63 career games. Parsons is arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL when healthy. Although Parsons has formally requested a trade, the Cowboys maintain that they have no intention of dealing their four-time Pro Bowl defensive end. The only real leverage Parsons has is creating a headache in Dallas. He remains under contract, and the Cowboys also have the ability to use the franchise tag on him in each of the next two seasons. If Parsons were to sit out regular-season games, his contract would eventually toll. Even with Jerry Jones publicly taking shots at Parsons, one massive contract offer could change everything.
Terry McLaurin, Commanders standoff reportedly 'will end' this way
Eyebrows were raised when it was learned over the weekend that the Washington Commanders had activated wide receiver Terry McLaurin off the active/physically unable to perform list after he missed practice time with a supposed ankle injury amid his desire for a multiyear contract extension. McLaurin is in the final year of his current deal and requested a trade on July 31. For an article published on Monday morning, ESPN's Ben Solak revealed that a recent visit to the Commanders during training camp left him believing there's only one realistic outcome regarding the situation involving Washington and McLaurin. "Not only can I not find anyone who believes wide receiver Terry McLaurin will play for another team in 2025," Solak wrote. "I can't find anyone who has a remotely plausible hypothetical in which McLaurin plays for another team in 2025. This section might better be called one thing I didn't hear: a way McLaurin actually gets out of Washington. I strongly believe this standoff will end with a compromise extension before Week 1." McLaurin reportedly wants "parts" of the five-year, $150M contract that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave DK Metcalf as part of acquiring him from the Seattle Seahawks in March. While the Commanders seemingly aren't keen on giving a receiver who turns 30 years old in September that type of a deal, it's always been unlikely that they would trade the playmaker for a future draft asset coming off their trip to last season's NFC Championship Game. McLaurin finished last season with the second-most receiving touchdowns (13) in the league. He's the favorite target of quarterback and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, who is viewed by many as a legitimate candidate to win the Most Valuable Player Award for the upcoming season. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Commanders tied for third (with the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers) among the betting favorites at +950 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX this coming February. The Commanders activating McLaurin suggests he may not be willing to forfeit money by sitting regular-season games out if he doesn't have a signed extension in hand when Washington opens the campaign with a home game against the New York Giants on Sept. 7. That said, it remains to be seen what type of "compromise extension" he could accept to take the field for that Week 1 matchup at Northwest Stadium.
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