Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele has provided an update following his season-ending surgery.

The southpaw took to social media to thank fans after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery. The details of Steele's surgery have yet to be announced.

Appreciate the prayers and thoughts.. 🙏🏻 God is good pic.twitter.com/7ovr23GEtT

— Justin Steele (@J_Steele21) April 18, 2025

"Appreciate the prayers and thoughts.. God is good," Steele wrote.

Steele's last start came on April 7 when he went seven innings and allowed zero runs in the Cubs 7-0 victory over the Texas Rangers. He finishes his 2025 season with a 3-1 record and a 4.76 ERA in four starts.

The southpaw has a career record of 32-22 and a 3.30 ERA. He was an All-Star in 2023 and has been a strong presence at the top of the Cubs rotation.

Chicago is currently 12-9 and expects to contend for the NL Central. Losing Steele is a tough blow but the team will hope a rotation of Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Ben Brown and Javier Assad can hold it down.

Steele will now watch from the sidelines and will hope to be ready to go for the 2026 season.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced that starter Justin Steele is set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that it's "unclear" if the procedure is a primary repair or Tommy John surgery, but Steele's season is over regardless.

The Cubs previously placed the lefty on the 15-day injured list with left elbow tendinitis on Wednesday.

Steele revealed that he experienced elbow tightness following a start against the Texas Rangers on Monday, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. Counsell told reporters on Friday that the 29-year-old would seek a second opinion regarding the injury.

Steele missed time due to elbow tendinitis near the end of the 2024 season and previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017.

The southpaw has steadily blossomed into a key piece of Chicago's pitching staff since making his MLB debut in 2021, earning All-Star honors and finishing No. 5 in National League Cy Young Award voting for his 2023 campaign.

Steele owns a 32-22 record and 3.30 ERA in 102 total appearances with the Cubs, racking up 517 strikeouts compared to 155 walks in 506.2 innings of work.

Justin Steele tosses his first career complete game, allowing just 2 hits. 👏 pic.twitter.com/hTLJmof8Ni

— MLB (@MLB) July 5, 2024

While he started off slow to begin the 2025 season, he threw seven scoreless innings against the Rangers on Monday and looked sharp after allowing at least three earned runs in each of his first three appearances of the year.

His upcoming absence is a tough blow to a Cubs team that has opened the season on a high note, sitting at No. 1 in the NL Central standings with a 10-7 record.

Colin Rea could fill in for Steele in Chicago's rotation alongside Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd and Ben Brown.

The Chicago Cubs and outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong reportedly failed to come to terms on a contract extension during recent talks.

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Cubs approached Crow-Armstrong about a deal worth up to $75 million, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

Feinsand added that the contract could have maxed out at $75 million if all options were exercised, but it would not have been worth $75 million guaranteed.

Crow-Armstrong, 23, is in the midst of his third Major League season with the Cubs, following a trade from the New York Mets to Chicago in 2021 while he was still a prospect.

Originally the No. 19 overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, Crow-Armstrong has worked his way up through the ranks to the point that he is now an every-day player at the MLB level.

After appearing in just 13 games in 2023, Crow-Armstrong played 123 games for the Cubs last season, slashing .237/.286/.384 with 10 home runs, 47 RBI, 46 runs scored and 27 stolen bases on 30 attempts.

The speedy and athletic center fielder had played in all 16 games for the Cubs this season entering Saturday's slate, slashing .200/.273/.250 with no homers, five RBI, 10 runs and six steals on six attempts.

Crow-Armstrong is a dangerous player on the bases, but getting on base has been his biggest issue during his young career.

His career OBP of .280 is far too low, although Crow-Armstrong's minor league numbers suggest he has the ability to improve.

In 240 career minor-league games, Crow-Armstrong has a .296 batting average and .368 on-base percentage with 81 stolen bases.

If Crow-Armstrong can get his averages anywhere close to that in the big leagues, he could be a top-of-the-order hitter for many years to come.

In recent years, it has become commonplace for MLB teams to sign their young, budding stars to long-term contracts despite a lack of experience at the big-league level.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million deal last year before he even made his debut in the majors.

Earlier this month, the Boston Red Sox signed second baseman and outfielder Kristian Campbell to an eight-year, $60 million deal just a few games into his MLB career.

The San Diego Padres also signed outfielder Jackson Merrill to a nine-year, $135 million extension this month on the heels of a rookie season that saw him finish second in National League Rookie of the Year voting and make the All-Star team.

There is inherent risk involved with signing a player so early in his career, but it can be argued that the reward far outweighs the risk since they could become an incredible value if they perform and develop as hoped.

The Cubs were seemingly trying to do something similar with Crow-Armstrong, and while it hasn't yet come to fruition, that doesn't mean they can't return to the negotiating table in the future.

It's not exactly on the same level as their 108-year World Series drought, but Carson Kelly finally ended the Chicago Cubs' long wait to have a player hit for the cycle.

Kelly was one of many Cubs who took to the Athletics' first home game in Sacramento, hitting for the cycle as part of a 4-of-4 night at the plate in Monday's 18-3 victory.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Kelly noted he didn't feel great about his chances to complete the cycle when he came to the plate in the eighth inning needing a triple:

"I've been in this same position before where I needed a triple for the cycle. If anybody's ever looked up my numbers, I have two triples, so odds are not in my favor, right? I didn't get it done the first time. This time I'm like, oh, I'm just going to put a good at-bat together. Hit it, like, 'Oh yeah, pretty good.' Then I hit first and saw it ricochet and I was like, 'Oh boy, this is it right here, I got to go.' That's probably the fastest you'll ever see me run."

Kelly reached base in all six of his plate appearances (two walks) and drove in five runs from the ninth spot in the batting order.

The Cubs have had 12 players hit for the cycle in their franchise history, but Kelly is the first to do it since Mark Grace in May 1993. It was the longest active drought by an NL club.

Kelly, 30, was born 13 months after Grace's cycle. He signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Cubs as a free agent in December.

It's been an inconsistent start to the season for the Cubs. They have alternated wins and losses in their last five games after being swept in a two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo from March 18-19.

After a bullpen meltdown cost them a win on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cubs put together a strong all-around performance in the series opener against the A's.

The Cubs will look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season on Tuesday when they send Jameson Taillon to the mound against Jeffrey Springs and the Athletics.

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn could be joining the other side of the team's rivalry with the Chicago Cubs.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Thursday the Cubs have "entered negotiations" with the right-hander because they are looking for depth in their starting rotation.

Chicago could use another arm as either a spot-starter or longer option in the bullpen because Javier Assad is set to start the season on the injured list due to oblique concerns.

"I think Javi's on a good track," manager Craig Counsell told reporters Monday. "He's gonna start the year on the injured list. Got significant ramp up to go, but all signs are good."

The Cubs could rely on the combination of Colin Rea and Lynn as their fifth starter and swing options while Assad is sidelined. That could also open the door for the front office to have Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown start the year at Triple-A Iowa so they can pick up some valuable innings and keep their arms ready in the early portion of the season.

Teams can never have too much pitching, and Lynn would represent a proven arm for the North Siders even though he is 37 years old.

He has played for the Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers during a career that started in 2011. While he has bounced around to various teams of late, he was with St. Louis for the first six years of his career.

Lynn also returned to the Cardinals in 2024 and posted a 3.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 109 strikeouts in 117.1 innings. It was an impressive bounce-back effort after he finished with a 5.73 ERA in 2023 for the White Sox and Dodgers.

The Cubs would surely take a fifth or sixth option with a sub-4.00 ERA in their rotation as they look for more quality depth behind Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele.

After failing to sign Alex Bregman in free agency, the Chicago Cubs were able to pivot by landing Justin Turner to boost their infield depth for the 2025 season.

Per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, Turner has agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal with the Cubs.

The Cubs entered the day with $185.6 million in salary commitments, so their payroll has now jumped up to $191.6 million. That ranks 11th in MLB, just behind the Los Angeles Angels ($194.8 million).

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Updated Cubs Lineup

Ian Happ, LF

Kyle Tucker, RF

Seiya Suzuki, DH

Michael Busch, 1B

Dansby Swanson, SS

Nico Hoerner, 2B

Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF

Matt Shaw, 3B

Miguel Amaya, C

Bench: Justin Turner, INF; Carson Kelly, C; Jon Berti, INF/OF; Alexander Canario, OF

Roster information via FanGraphs' Roster Resource.

The expectation is that Turner will primarily serve as the backup at first and third base this season.

Third base, in particular, is a position being watched closely by Cubs fans this spring. Matt Shaw, the No. 19 overall prospect by MLB.com, has the inside track to be the Opening Day starter.

Drafted with the 13th pick in 2023, Shaw has had a quick ascent through the minors. He has played at five different levels over the past two seasons, including finishing 2024 at Triple-A Iowa.

Shaw certainly seems poised to take on the starting job at the MLB level to open 2025. He hit .284/.379/.488 with 21 homers and 31 stolen bases in 121 games across two levels last season.

If the Cubs want to give Shaw more time in the minors to open the year, Turner is a capable fill-in at the hot corner. His defense isn't what it once was now that he's 40 years old, but he can still hit enough for the position.

Turner had a .259/.354/.383 slash line in 139 games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners last season.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell could also use Turner in a platoon role with Busch at first base. Even though Busch had near-equal splits against lefties and righties last season, his career OPS against left-handed pitching is .678.

Turner, by comparison, hit .252/.355/.403 in 141 plate appearances against left-handed pitching last year.

The addition of Turner is all about adding flexibility at the corners for the Cubs. Bregman would have been an ideal fit if he had chosen to sign with Chicago, but this is hardly a bad fallback plan for an organization that already added Kyle Tucker to the lineup earlier in the offseason.

The Chicago Cubs are considering signing free agent Justin Turner as a backup option if Alex Bregman signs elsewhere, according to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Ken Rosenthal.

Bregman, the free agent out of Houston, has been drawing interest from several teams, as he has yet to sign despite the start of spring training.

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This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

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Ryan Brasier is reportedly on the move after being designated for assignment last week by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Los Angeles traded the right-handed reliever to the Chicago Cubs. Brasier spent two seasons with the Dodgers.

The 37-year-old was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2007 but didn't make his MLB debut until 2013. He appeared in just seven games that season before what would be an extended absence from the majors.

He spent several years in the minors before deciding to take his talents to Japan for a season in 2017. He found his way back to the majors in 2018, and he has been a solid reliever ever since.

He was with the Boston Red Sox from 2018 to 2023, winning a World Series with the team in his first season. He appeared in nine postseason games during their 2018 World Series run, recording a 1.04 ERA and notching seven strikeouts across 8.2 innings.

The Red Sox traded Brasier to the Dodgers halfway through the 2023 season, and he thrived with his new team. In the second half of the season, he made 39 appearances and posted a 0.70 ERA.

Last season, he made 29 appearances and recorded a 3.54 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. In the postseason, he appeared in eight games and started two for the Dodgers, collecting a 5.00 ERA across nine innings.

Though the Dodgers didn't have room for Brasier in their bullpen, he should be able to play a big role for the Cubs in the middle innings.

Even though the San Diego Padres already have Dylan Cease under contract for 2025 after the two sides avoided arbitration, the veteran right-hander is a hot topic in trade talks with spring training on the horizon.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi (starts at :45 mark), the Chicago Cubs were cited as a team to watch in the Cease market because of the depth of high-end talent in their farm system that is in the upper-levels of the minors right now.

"One team to watch is the Chicago Cubs."

- @jonmorosi on Dylan Cease's trade market. #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/kDPUImqJSy

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 30, 2025

Cease agreed to a $13.75 million contract with the Padres on Jan. 9. He will be eligible for free agency after the 2025 season, which is one reason San Diego is at least exploring his value right now.

Another reason, as Morosi pointed out, is the Padres are "bumping up against" their payroll limit being imposed by ownership. It's unclear exactly what the figure is, but their current payroll for the upcoming season sits at $197.5 million.

By comparison, the Padres ran a $170.9 million payroll in 2024. There is also an ongoing dispute about control of the franchise in the wake of Peter Seidler's death in November 2023.

Sheel Seidler, Peter's widow, filed a lawsuit earlier this month against two of her late husband's brothers to become the control person for the Padres. The lawsuit accuses Robert and Matthew Seidler of "fiduciary breaches of trust, fraud, conversion and egregious acts of self-dealing" in their roles as trustees and executors of Peter's estate.

Even though the Cubs haven't been playing in the deep end of the free-agent pool this offseason, their front office has kept busy by making trades. Most of their moves so far have been with the Houston Astros, landing Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly in separate trades.

Playing for the Cubs would be something of a full-circle moment for Cease. He was originally drafted by the club in 2014 before being dealt to the Chicago White Sox three years later in a midseason trade as part of a package for José Quintana.

Cease has been an inconsistent player since making his MLB debut in 2019, but his ceiling is as high as any pitcher in the big leagues. He has two top-five finishes in Cy Young voting in the past three years, including a second-place showing in 2022.

The Padres acquired Cease from the White Sox in March 2024. He posted a 3.47 ERA with 224 strikeouts in 189.1 innings last season. His durability is also a huge asset, as he leads all pitchers with 130 starts since 2021.

Adding Cease would give the Cubs a proven frontline starter to pair with Shōta Imanaga as they look to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

San Diego's pitching depth isn't as strong going into 2025 with Joe Musgrove out for the year after having Tommy John surgery in October. Trading Cease would create even more problems for the rotation, leaving Michael King and Yu Darvish as the only reliable options.

While that would be a dilemma for the big-league club, trading Cease would allow the Padres to restock a farm system that The Athletic's Keith Law ranked as the sixth-worst in MLB going into this season.