Jordan Bastian
@bastianmlb.bsky.social
MLB.com senior reporter covering the Cubs (since 2019). Previously covered Cleveland (2011-18) and Toronto (2005-10). Michigan State alum. Liverpool fan. Runner. Also bastianmlb on Instagram.
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."
"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."
December 9, 2025 at 5:13 PM
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."
"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.
Cleveland writer Hoynes earns call to HOF with renamed Platinum Pen Award
ORLANDO, Fla. -- It’s called the “Hawk Call.”
For decades, a highlight of the experience of covering baseball games at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium or Progressive/Jacobs Field was that midgame mome...
www.mlb.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
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.
• 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.
December 8, 2025 at 11:08 PM
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.
• 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
Top 5 starting pitchers available on free-agent market
This winter’s starting-pitching market got off to a strong start when Dylan Cease agreed to a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Blue Jays.
That deal took a notable name off the board, but the...
www.mlb.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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.
December 5, 2025 at 12:51 AM
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 ⤵️
Cubs lefty Boyd to pitch for Team USA
Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd is the latest member of Team USA’s squad for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The 34-year-old broke the news during Wednesday’s episode of Foul Territory, saying that whe...
www.mlb.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
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.
December 2, 2025 at 9:49 PM
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...
From the CHICubs community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the CHICubs community
www.reddit.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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 ⤵️
More here ⤵️
Hottovy ‘pumped’ to have Shota back for '26
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
www.mlb.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:10 PM
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 ⤵️
More here ⤵️
Cubs name INF Jonathon Long and RHP Jostin Florentino their Minor League player and pitcher of the year for 2025 ⤵️
November 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
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).
Following @willsammon.bsky.social (first on contract length) and @michael-cerami.bsky.social (first on agreement).
November 22, 2025 at 4:17 AM
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).
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.
Reese McGuire and Eli Morgan have been non-tendered, and are now free-agents.
November 21, 2025 at 10:54 PM
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.
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.
November 19, 2025 at 12:04 AM
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).
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
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.
November 18, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga has accepted the one-year Qualifying Offer ($22.025M) to remain in Chicago for 2026, per multiple sources.
All-Star and Gold Glover Pete Crow-Armstrong is going to suit up for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
November 14, 2025 at 3:08 AM
All-Star and Gold Glover Pete Crow-Armstrong is going to suit up for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Will Cubs be involved in international market?
Hoyer: "Yeah. There’s a lot of good players. There’s a lot of good Japanese players coming over, some good Korean players coming over. There’s a number of good American players coming back over. So yeah, I expect to be engaged in those markets."
Hoyer: "Yeah. There’s a lot of good players. There’s a lot of good Japanese players coming over, some good Korean players coming over. There’s a number of good American players coming back over. So yeah, I expect to be engaged in those markets."
November 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Will Cubs be involved in international market?
Hoyer: "Yeah. There’s a lot of good players. There’s a lot of good Japanese players coming over, some good Korean players coming over. There’s a number of good American players coming back over. So yeah, I expect to be engaged in those markets."
Hoyer: "Yeah. There’s a lot of good players. There’s a lot of good Japanese players coming over, some good Korean players coming over. There’s a number of good American players coming back over. So yeah, I expect to be engaged in those markets."
Hoyer on Imanaga:
"We made a decision not to exercise the club option. He quickly made the decision not to do the player option. And we’ve had pretty consistent dialogue since then. ... We think the world of Shota. He was fantastic in his two years for us. We’re never closing the door on anything."
"We made a decision not to exercise the club option. He quickly made the decision not to do the player option. And we’ve had pretty consistent dialogue since then. ... We think the world of Shota. He was fantastic in his two years for us. We’re never closing the door on anything."
November 12, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Hoyer on Imanaga:
"We made a decision not to exercise the club option. He quickly made the decision not to do the player option. And we’ve had pretty consistent dialogue since then. ... We think the world of Shota. He was fantastic in his two years for us. We’re never closing the door on anything."
"We made a decision not to exercise the club option. He quickly made the decision not to do the player option. And we’ve had pretty consistent dialogue since then. ... We think the world of Shota. He was fantastic in his two years for us. We’re never closing the door on anything."
Hoyer: "We’re in a pretty good position on the position-playing side. On the pitching side, we’re thinner. So I think that’s going to be our focus. And I expect to explore trades. I expect to explore free agency, both at the top of the market, but also looking at Minor League free agency."
November 12, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Hoyer: "We’re in a pretty good position on the position-playing side. On the pitching side, we’re thinner. So I think that’s going to be our focus. And I expect to explore trades. I expect to explore free agency, both at the top of the market, but also looking at Minor League free agency."
Cubs righty Cade Horton finishes second to Braves catcher Drake Baldwin in voting for the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year. Voting breakdown from BBWAA here ⤵️
November 11, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Cubs righty Cade Horton finishes second to Braves catcher Drake Baldwin in voting for the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year. Voting breakdown from BBWAA here ⤵️
Cubs pick up the National League’s Gold Glove team award for 2025 ⤵️
November 8, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Cubs pick up the National League’s Gold Glove team award for 2025 ⤵️
For bookkeeping here: this is confirmed via multiple sources now.
Tucker is no-brainer to decline the offer. Imanaga is more interesting. It's a raise over $15.25M option he turned down. Could explore what multiyear deals exist before 11/18 deadline. Only 14 of 144 QOs all-time have been accepted.
Tucker is no-brainer to decline the offer. Imanaga is more interesting. It's a raise over $15.25M option he turned down. Could explore what multiyear deals exist before 11/18 deadline. Only 14 of 144 QOs all-time have been accepted.
The Cubs have extended a one-year Qualifying Offer ($22.025M) to both OF Kyle Tucker and LHP Shota Imanaga, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. The move secured Draft-pick compensation in the event that they decline and then sign with a new team.
Deadline to accept/decline is Nov. 18.
Deadline to accept/decline is Nov. 18.
November 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
For bookkeeping here: this is confirmed via multiple sources now.
Tucker is no-brainer to decline the offer. Imanaga is more interesting. It's a raise over $15.25M option he turned down. Could explore what multiyear deals exist before 11/18 deadline. Only 14 of 144 QOs all-time have been accepted.
Tucker is no-brainer to decline the offer. Imanaga is more interesting. It's a raise over $15.25M option he turned down. Could explore what multiyear deals exist before 11/18 deadline. Only 14 of 144 QOs all-time have been accepted.
The Cubs have extended a one-year Qualifying Offer ($22.025M) to both OF Kyle Tucker and LHP Shota Imanaga, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. The move secured Draft-pick compensation in the event that they decline and then sign with a new team.
Deadline to accept/decline is Nov. 18.
Deadline to accept/decline is Nov. 18.
November 6, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The Cubs have extended a one-year Qualifying Offer ($22.025M) to both OF Kyle Tucker and LHP Shota Imanaga, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. The move secured Draft-pick compensation in the event that they decline and then sign with a new team.
Deadline to accept/decline is Nov. 18.
Deadline to accept/decline is Nov. 18.
Cubs prospects C Owen Ayers and RHP Koen Moreno were named to the AFL’s Fall Stars team. The game will be at 7 pm CT on Sunday, aired on MLBN and MLB.com.
November 6, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Cubs prospects C Owen Ayers and RHP Koen Moreno were named to the AFL’s Fall Stars team. The game will be at 7 pm CT on Sunday, aired on MLBN and MLB.com.