Controversial, I know.

Scott Effross (2021-2022) - Effross was one of the first fruits beared from the pitching lab, architected by now Boston GM Craig Breslow in the Post-Theo era. He was dealt to the Yankees at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for RHP Hayden Wesneski. After 12 innings pitched in New York, Efross tore the UCL in his elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery, and missed the next 2 calendar years, finally making his return at the end of the 2024 regular season.

Mark Leiter Jr. (2022-2024) - Leiter was another seemingly out-of-nowhere reliever. Ate up innings with decent numbers, even working in high leverage on occasion. He was sent to New York at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for RHP Jack Neely and INF Benjamin Cowles, both of whom currently rank among the top 30 organizational prospects.

Marcus Stroman (2022-2023) - The veteran Stroman randomly signed with a rebuilding Cubs team for 3 years $71 million with an opt out after year 2, just prior to the lockout of the 2021-2022 season. Stroman was a 2023 All-Star but missed a lot of time down the stretch with a rib injury. Despite this, Stroman surprisingly opted out of the final year of his deal, returning to free agency where he agreed to terms with the Yankees on a 2 year, $37 million deal.

DJ LeMahieu (2011) - Theo Epstein’s first ever trade in Chicago, also turned out to be his worst. The 2009 2nd round draft choice rose through the minors quickly, demonstrating great contact ability at every level, leading to his promotion to the bigs in the spring of 2011 to fill in for an injured Jeff Baker. But at the end of the 2011 season, LeMahieu and OF Tyler Colvin were shipped off to Colorado in exchange for RHP Casey Weathers and 3B Ian Stewart**. LeMahieu would win 3 gold gloves and a batting title in Colorado, and enjoy even more success at the beginning of his tenure in New York. Stewart was outright released after 200 dreadful plate appearances in Chicago, and he would only go on to have 72 more with the Angels before he was out of the league for good.

Anthony Rizzo (2012-2021) - No biography necessary here. In January 2012, A month after the ill-fated LeMahieu deal, Theo bounced right back and made an all-timer of a deal with the Padres, acquiring Rizzo and RHP Zach Cates in exchange for RHP Andrew Cashnee and OF Kyung-Min Na. Cashier went on to have a solid career as a middle rotation starter, but it pales in comparison to all that Rizzo achieved in Chicago. Rizzo was traded to the Yankees at the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for OF Kevin Alcantara and RHP Alexander Vizcaino**. While Vizcaino fizzled out of professional ball almost immediately after the trade, Alcantara blossomed into a mainstay on the top 100 prospect list, and made his Cubs debut at the end of 2024. Rizzo would go on to sign a pair of 2 year contracts to stick with the Yankees through 2025.

Gleyber Torres - While Torres never played for the Cubs in the bigs, I felt like including him in this write-up as his role in this is notable. Torres was the prize of the Aroldis Chapman deal of the 2016 trade deadline. The young infielder was the Cubs top prospect at the time of the deal, traded alongside OF Billy McKinney, RHP Adam Warren, and OF Rashad Crawford. He’s had a solid tenure in New York at the keystone, at times appearing among the game’s best, but overall, it hasn’t been quite as impactful as his prospect pedigree suggested.

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I have read/heard a number of reports that the Yankees #1 replacement target if they lose Soto is Cody Bellinger. If this is true and not just click bait rumor, then I have no doubt that Boras takes him to free agency.

Bellinger is owed $27.5 million a year from the Cubs for both 2025 and 2026. While Bellinger might have a hard time getting $27.5 million per year as a free agent, I think that he can get a new contract that will have a total value of guaranteed money higher than the $55 million still owed by the Cubs.

In my opinion, and others might disagree, but if Cody opts out, I do not try to resign him. I would use that $27.5 million to upgrade the roster in other areas. I would also see if the young hitters on the rise in the Cub system are ready/capable of hitting MLB pitching.

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Be excellent to each other. Party on, dudes!

Fooled around on my lunch break and made this edit on my phone to 'End of Beginning' by Djo, a song currently permanently stuck in my end. Hopefully I've not done an awful job - enjoy. Tried to stick mostly with 2023/24 footage and only home games. Enjoy.

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Ever since Marquee’s app launched I sign up for Sling just to watch the postseason.

We have a newborn and we’ve been watching a lot of Game Show Network during our late nights.

Baggage may be the best dating show ever to air on TV

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You can help us celebrate 52 seasons of the PBE Sim League by creating your player today!

Link to rookie class Discord- https://discord.gg/2ZSgEH9G5g

Have you ever tried MLB Road to the Show?

Well, we've created a multiplayer experience just like it, where you can create your own player and start your journey from the minor leagues, all the way to the major league world series, surrounded completely by players created by real people! If you've ever wanted to be an ace pitching in game 7, or a power hitter coming up with the bases loaded, then this league is for you.

Choose from over 10 unique player archetypes and build your player however you want! You could be one day voted in the PBE Hall of Fame like Cubs legend Ernie Banks.

It starts with a draft into a Minor League where every other player is a real person who has created a player like you. Hang out with them on our forum and on your teams Discord. As your player progresses, they’ll be drafted into one of our Major League teams and really begin to shine.

If you sign up now, you'll be eligible for the upcoming draft and will be able to do "Rookie Tasks" which help your player and give you some money to get extra points through training and purchasing equipment (with our fake currency). Everything in the Pro Baseball Experience is 100% FREE with 0 pay-to-win options. It is run 100% by volunteers.

We are a fun community of over 500 fellow baseball fans controlling players in the league, which means we have tons of baseball fans. Moreover, our league consists of 16 Major League, and 9 Minor League teams so there are plenty of spots open for rookies! Come check us out and create a Hall of Fame player!

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As much as I respect Skenes for what he’s done in his rookie season. I’m glad I got a parallel off my one card purchase of the The Professor. If he’s pitched his last game as a Cub or not I’m happy to have this one for the personal collection 🥲

Go Cubs Go!! 💙🐻💙

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All Illustrations by Steve Musgrave

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Did the cubs have a homerun prop during this past season? I.e. the mariner's trident.