Matt Shaw: "Of course, I immediately have questions, like, 'Am I going to go here? Am I going to go there?' And they’ve been transparent with me just kind of helping me to understand the role – moving to different positions, giving guys an off-day here and there. And I’m pretty excited about it."

Nico Hoerner: "I love playing for the Cubs. I think that was evident in signing [an extension] initially and hopefully evident just in how I approach the game, and the gratitude of being here and playing in front of these fans. I’m so excited for this season and the roster we have going in."

Dansby Swanson, on Hoerner: "Nico means the world to me and to this team, just who he is as a person. He brings the same type of energy and competitive spirit that Alex does. He’s somebody that’s just a darn good player, a really good winner, and irreplaceable, really."

Announced here at Cubs Convention: Jon Lester and Jody Davis will be the newest inductees into the team's Hall of Fame.

Cubs Convention gets underway tonight. Walked in and Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Hughes was already drawing a crowd.

"Anyone that’s spent time around our office, around me,” said Jed Hoyer said, “knows that this is a player that I’ve coveted for a long time." "I want a third championship," Alex Bregman said. More ⤵️

“I cannot wait to get to work,” new Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman said. “Hopefully, we win a lot of baseball games and build something really special for a long time together.”

The Cubs seem to have a type, and Bregman fits the mold. More from MLB.com's David Adler ⤵️

Official: The Cubs have signed Alex Bregman to a 5-year contract. He will wear No. 3 for the North Siders. Press conference Thursday and Bregman will be at CubsCon this weekend.

Cubs announce some promotions in their baseball ops department ⤵️

Cubs have claimed OF Justin Dean off waivers from the Giants.

This spring, I’ll be running my 10th marathon. All signed up for the Mesa Marathon, which finishes at Sloan Park! If any baseball fans out in AZ are taking part, let me know! Should be a fun day.

The deal hasn’t officially been announced yet, but Alex Bregman is at the Blackhawks game tonight, shown on the scoreboard as “Go Cubs Go” played:

Cubs Convention info ⤵️

How much did Counsell rely on his regulars in '25? Six players (Busch, Crow-Armstrong, Happ, Hoerner, Suzuki, Swanson) appeared in 150+ games. That tied a single-season Cubs record set in 1968 (Banks, Beckert, Hundley, Kessinger, Santo, Williams).

I'm not much of an NFL fan (sorry!), but I did tune into the Bears game tonight -- until the Bregman news landed. So, Bears were losing. I turned the TV off. And then Bears came back to win. So... In the name of superstition, Bears fans, should I watch the next game?

In the middle of the Bears' comeback, the Cubs made some news ⤵️

With Bregman in fold, Shaw can move into super-sub role. One issue Counsell wanted to address for '26 was a better reserve layer to avoid running regulars into the ground. Barring any trades, Shaw can help give guys days off. Can also better rotate guys in/out of DH slot.

Once complete: Bregman's deal is 3rd-largest in Cubs history in total value ($175M), but largest in terms of AAV ($35M).

The Cubs have reached an agreement with free-agent 3B Alex Bregman, sources tell MLB.com. Per MLB.com's @feinsand.bsky.social, deal is 5 years, $175M with no opt-outs and a full no-trade clause.

The Kyle Farnsworth-Iowa mystery might have been just been solved 🕵️‍♂️

$6.775M for Steele, $1.8M for Assad (plus the 2027 team option), per sources. ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported $4.45M for Cabrera.

No arb hearings for Cubs, who have done well to avoid them over the years. List of Chicago's players who went to a hearing: 2021: Happ (player won) 2018: Grimm (Cubs won) 2010: Theriot (Cubs) 1993: Grace (Cubs) 1990: Dunston (player) 1988: Dawson (Cubs) 1985: Durham (Cubs) 1980: Sutter (player)

The Cubs avoided arbitration with Edward Cabrera, Justin Steele and Javier Assad, per multiple sources. Assad's deal includes a team option for '27.

Cubs avoided arb with Justin Steele, per source. Deal worth $6.775M for 2026. Patrick Mooney of The Athletic was first on the signing. Awaiting info on Assad and Cabrera, both eligible for arb.

The Cubs have signed righty Jeff Brigham to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invite to Spring Training.

Cubs have officially announced this trade.

Per multiple sources, Cubs are sending prospects Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo DeLeon to the Marlins in exchange for Cabrera.

Cubs have claimed lefty Ryan Rolison off waivers from the White Sox. 40-man roster currently at 37.

Multiple sources tell @feinsand.bsky.social, myself and Christina DeNicola that the Marlins and Cubs are finalizing a deal that would send Edward Cabrera to Chicago. @michael-cerami.bsky.social was first on the deal coming together.

Cubs have officially announced the signing of RHP Hunter Harvey to a one-year contract.

Is this thing on? Been off for a bit… Per source, Cubs have agreed to a 1-year deal with club option with RHP Jacob Webb. Patrick Mooney of The Athletic was first on this news. Can also confirm that C Christian Bethancourt will be back with Cubs on a Minors/NRI deal.

The Cubs' bullpen makeover continued Thursday via agreements with Hoby Milner (1-year deal) and Collin Snider (Minor League deal/NRI) ⤵️

From @feinsand.bsky.social: Hoby Milner has agreed to a one-year, $3.75 million deal with the Cubs, per source. The deal also includes incentives

Cubs did not make any picks or lose any players in MLB phase of Rule 5 Draft. In Triple-A phase, Cubs picked righty Adam Stone from Yankees’ system. The Harvard product returned from injuries in the AFL with Mesa. Story from MLB.com’s Jesse Borek ⤵️

Some Boras puns from today... "When you pull up to a pitching pump, a Gallen is always premium." "Teams look at that and say, 'Believe me, Imai wildest dreams, I never expected someone to be available like that.'" "When you add a Suarez, I think everyone knows you are armed and Ranger-ous."

A huge congrats to Cleveland press box icon Paul Hoynes on getting his much-deserved Hall call. I learned a lot, and shared so many laughs, working with him in my eight years on that beat. What a legend.

updates from Hoyer's chat with media: • Targeting 1 SP in wake of Shota accepting QO. Could also look for versatile arms as SP depth. • Expressed confidence in Shaw at 3B: "I've been surprised by the number of media reports that link us to different guys." • Still open to multi-yr bullpen deals.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on some of the top starters on the market -- with Cubs among the teams targeting them

The Cubs get international bonus pool space in a trade with Astros, sending Minor League righty Nico Zeglin to Houston.

Matthew Boyd joins Pete Crow-Armstrong among Team USA commits for WBC ⤵️

The Cubs announce that they have signed INF Scott Kingery to a Minor League contract with an invite to MLB Spring Training.

Starting an AMA at 1 pm CT if that's up your alley: www.reddit.com/r/CHICubs/co...

ICYMI: Chatted with Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy about Shota Imanaga's return and how much the hamstring setback impacted the pitcher last season. More here ⤵️

Cubs name INF Jonathon Long and RHP Jostin Florentino their Minor League player and pitcher of the year for 2025 ⤵️

The Cubs are in agreement with free-agent righty Phil Maton on a two-year deal with a club option for '28, pending physical, per source. Following @willsammon.bsky.social (first on contract length) and @michael-cerami.bsky.social (first on agreement).

The Cubs have tendered contracts to Justin Steele and Javier Assad. The salary exchange date is Jan. 8, but Cubs can try to reach deals before that step. Reese McGuire and Eli Morgan have been non-tendered, and are now free-agents.

Cubs have added infielders Pedro Ramirez and James Triantos, as well as lefty Riley Martin, to their 40-man roster. Combined with Shota Imanaga's decision to stay, Chicago's roster has 32 players at the moment.

Similar to 2023, when Cubs received a comp pick for Willson Contreras. Chicago received pick No. 68 and drafted RHP Jaxon Wiggins (now Pipeline's No. 3 Cubs prospect and No. 67 on the Top 100).

Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga has accepted the one-year Qualifying Offer ($22.025M) to remain in Chicago for 2026, per multiple sources.