The Rundown: Busch Ends Annual 1B Search, Hoyer Seeking Starters, Rays Will Finally Play in Tampa Bay

MLB is right in the middle of its awards season, a mindless distraction from the wheeling and dealing we’d rather see. Let me give you one hot take before getting to the meat and potatoes of today’s Rundown: The Cubs will sign Walker Buehler and he’ll be the team’s best pitcher next season. I’d rather have Roki Sasaki though.

Here are your finalists for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and the Cy Young Award.

Have a listen to some Steve Winwood while you contemplate that and read on.

Cubs News & Notes

• It’s been a minute since the Cubs entered the offseason not seeking a first baseman. Thank you, Michael Busch.
• Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports projects Chicago’s 2025 roster, and the only additions are Moises Ballesteros, Alexander Canario, and Rob Zastryzny. I’m not a fan of moving Ben Brown to the bullpen, either.
• The Cubs are hoping to add a catcher from outside the organization but are not opposed to painting Ballesteros with Miguel Amaya.
• You’ll read this every day, but starting pitching is Jed Hoyer’s top priority this winter.
• If Hoyer decides to trade Cody Bellinger, the Phillies, Blue Jays, and Mariners all have outfield needs.

Point/Counterpoint

If you had to trade four of the Cubs’ top eight prospects, who would you move? The lazy option is to keep your four favorite players while sacrificing a more robust return. Don’t be lazy.

1. Matt Shaw
2. Owen Caissie
3. Cade Horton
4. Ballesteros
5. James Triantos
6. Kevin Alcántara
7. Cam Smith
8. Jefferson Rojas

Odds & Sods

For the first time in their history, the Rays will play their home games in Tampa at George Steinbrenner Field. Tropicana Field, which was ravaged by Hurricane Milton on October 9, is located in St. Petersburg. Now we know the real reason they’ve been in touch with Juan Soto. The irony of Soto playing for the Rays in a stadium dedicated to Steinbrenner would be delightful. You can do a lot of things with a big fat insurance check.

The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to play the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Steinbrenner Field is the spring training home of the New York Yankees pic.twitter.com/t3ioHfgLpJ

— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) November 14, 2024

Central Intelligence

• Milwaukee: Are the Brewers genuinely pursuing top free agent Soto? That would be a bad look for Hoyer.
• St. Louis: The Yankees need bullpen help and Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley might be the answer.
• Cincinnati: The Reds are going to once again have one of the worst defensive outfields in baseball.
• Pittsburgh: The Pirates trio of young aces — Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Jared Jones — could be better next year than they were this year.

Thursday Stove

In an odd twist of fate, I’ll be in Dallas the week of December 8-12, but I am not attending the Winter Meetings. Can somebody get me a lanyard and hall pass? Please, and thank you.

MLB will broadcast and distribute games for the Reds in 2025, including a direct-to-consumer streaming option with no blackouts.

Carlos Beltrán says the Mets will do whatever is necessary to sign Soto.

The Sasaki sweepstakes will create chaos for the International Free Agency market.

Teams are probably waiting for Soto and Sasaki to sign somewhere before exploring other potential acquisitions.

The Blue Jays and Yankees are rumored to be interested in Yoán Moncada, but each team is concerned about the infielder’s injury history.

No team needs a bigger winter than the Red Sox. Raise your hand, Cub fans, if only to distract us from news about the Bears.

It’s Not a Rivalry

• It’s rivalry week in the NFL, but the Bears do not look prepared to play the Packers, who have won 50 of the last 65 contests between the two teams. Let’s hope Thomas Brown can get the best out of Caleb Williams, though I wouldn’t bet on it.

Extra Innings

This is a feature we can all enjoy. Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson are swell lookers, too.

Introducing #MixtapeMondays, otherwise known as the perfect way to set your week.

First up: Dansby and Nico 🤝 pic.twitter.com/0pK757b1oA

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) November 11, 2024

They Said It

• “I think [Busch] is gonna win Gold Gloves at first. I think he was outstanding over there. Offensively, he ended up with a .775 OPS as a rookie, which is really impressive.” – Hoyer

Thursday Walk-Up Song

Congratulations to the Rays for finally playing in the city that “hosts” their team. Plus, outdoor baseball. Winner winner chicken dinner.