The Rundown: Opening Series Nice Test for Cubs, Time to Trade for Cease, Rays No Longer Pursuing New Tampa Stadium

The Cubs are in Tokyo, and we should be talking about a potential NLCS preview by this time next week. Yes, the Cubs are still a top-of-rotation starter away and the Dodgers can win 125 games, but the projection feels right. Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins have done a fantastic job creating divisional separation, but they need a guy like Dylan Cease to leap ahead of the Mets and Braves.

The Tokyo Series will be a nice tease, a popshot ahead of the rest of the regular season. Still, the front office must keep its eyes on the prize once the team returns. The goal must be the World Series; three teams stand between the Cubs and a National League championship. Hoyer has checked all his offseason boxes except adding a No. 1 starter. The Padres say Cease isn’t available, but let’s get real. San Diego is no lock to reach a Wild Card with or without Cease, so he will probably finish the season elsewhere. Chicago is an acceptable option for many Cubs fans, though the Yankees might have something to say about that.

Then again, New York doesn’t have the prospect depth that the Cubs do. What does a Cease trade potentially look like? I’ll give you two options.

1. Jordan Wicks, Kevin Alcántara, Jefferson Rojas, Jaxon Wiggins or Brandon Birdsell.
2. Alcánatara, Ben Brown, James Triantos, and Javier Assad.

You could probably create a third scenario using any combination of those players. I admit that’s a pretty steep price and many readers will object, but running Cease, Justin Steele, and Shōta Imanaga at the Dodgers or any other postseason team gives Chicago a fighting chance. I prefer the Cubs keep Triantos, and there is no way I’d part with Owen Caissie unless Hoyer extends Kyle Tucker.

The Cubs should enjoy themselves in Tokyo; by all accounts, it looks like they are. There is no more excellent litmus test than opening the season against the reigning World Series champions. They’re facing two aces in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Rōki Sasaki, and a batting order that includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. The latter three have combined for five MVP awards and the two pitchers are veritable Cy Young Award candidates.

Make no mistake: The Cubs are just a minor threat to Los Angeles as the team currently stands. Cease isn’t an equalizer by any means, but he would make Chicago the top contender to dethrone the champs. Fans, no matter how opposed, would love nothing more than to see the Cubs playing meaningful games at the end of October.

Cubs/Dodgers News & Notes

• He’s no longer a No. 1, but the Cubs are reportedly talking to Lance Lynn about joining the pitching staff.
• The pitching matchups for the Tokyo series have been finalized. Imanaga will face Yamamoto in the first game, and Steele will face Sasaki to close the two-game set.
• The Dodgers’ star-studded rotation is as volatile as it is talented.
• Chicago and Los Angeles are also facing each other in tonight’s Spring Breakout from Camelback Ranch.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong is ready to take his game to elite levels.
• Jim Bowden of The Athletic said Alcántara is turning a lot of heads ($) this spring.
• Julian Merryweather could be the X-factor of Chicago’s bullpen.
• Brad Keller looks like a lock to make the Opening Day roster. That’s based on what Craig Counsell said about him, though Keller still lacks a roster spot.
• Once the Cubs resume the regular season in Arizona at the end of March, they will have several rotation options. They could run it back with Imanaga and Steele or give starts to Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon.
• Tickets to the two games between the Cubs and Dodgers are going for $1,500 and up. That’s a lot of Napa cabbage.
• Taillon is on a Pokemon hunt in Japan.
• MLBTR dropped its Cubs version of offseason reviews ($) yesterday, which, as you might expect, includes several relievers.
• DirecTV offers a new streaming option for Chicago sports fans, including Marquee and CHSN. I have Fubo and access to both, and nothing is blacked out except games against the Brewers, Bucks, and Minnesota Wild (because I live in Milwaukee).
• Senior writer Jordan Shusterman of Yahoo Sports predicts the Cubs will win 84 games and take the NL Central. I know the division is weaker this season, but the division champ will win 90 or more games. Book it.
• Ex-Cub David Bote is considered a “hidden gem” by Zach Kaplan of Athlon Sports. That seems unlikely because Bote struggles to outpace the Mendoza Line, so Chicago should fire its entire development team if he becomes a star in Los Angeles.
• Los Angeles made several moves ahead of its trip to Tokyo. The Dodgers optioned Bobby Miller and Hyeseong Kim, and reassigned Bote, Giovanny Gallegos, Dalton Rushing, Michael Chavis, and Eddie Rosario to minor league camp.

Odds & Sods

Seiya Suzuki, Samurai Star.

Yeah, we think Seiya’s ready for the #TokyoSeries. 😳 pic.twitter.com/IFYUFix6R6

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 12, 2025

Central Intelligence

• Milwaukee: William Contreras voted for brother Willson Contreras as his dream teammate. Brewers fans would love nothing more than to replace Rhys Hoskins with the elder Contreras.
• St. Louis: The Cardinals signed reliever Phil Maton, the first major league contract they’ve added this winter. The signing came immediately after the MLBPA said they are investigating teams who have substantially cut payroll. Coincidence or not?
• Cincinnati: Terry Francona said returning from retirement to manage the Reds felt like the right thing to do.
• Pittsburgh: Veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen believes Oneil Cruz has an unlimited ceiling.

Spring Training News & Notes

The Rays have decided not to proceed with new stadium plans, which will undoubtedly anger Rob Manfred.

Because of their stadium situation, the Rays are now a candidate for relocation. Please send them to Brooklyn. Thank you.

The Twins are expected to be sold, but that may not happen for several months. We may also be saying the same thing about the White Sox before the end of this season.

Four MLB managers will enter the 2025 season on the proverbial hot seat: Oli Marmol (Cardinals), John Schneider (Blue Jays), Ron Washington (Angels), and Bud Black (Rockies).

An article worth your time courtesy of three writers at The Athletic ($): How college pitching labs are cranking out MLB-ready flamethrowers.

Did You Know?

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the first MLB regular-season games played in Japan, a season-opening matchup between the Cubs and Mets at the Tokyo Dome on March 29-30, 2000. Chicago and New York split that set, with the Cubs winning Game 1 by a score of 5-3 before falling 5-1 in Game 2.

Extra Innings

Imanaga nailed it with Counsell’s batting stance.

Breaking of the sake barrel. A Japanese tradition to bestow many blessings on the #Cubs. Please wait for Shota at the end🤣 pic.twitter.com/NJjDIk5C4O

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) March 12, 2025

They Said It

• “I’d like to take a longer view with Keller, because I think there’s some ingredients there that can make him a very good pitcher, a very good starting pitcher. This is a pitcher that had big success in the league at a very young age and I always take note of that. I think that’s important to take note of. It’s in there. There’s a really good major league starting pitcher in there. That’s the guy that we want.” – Counsell

Thursday Walk-Up Song

How about a full album today? You’re welcome.