February 12, 2019

• Chicago Sun-Times, ‘Pissed off’ Cubs ready to take 2018 frustration out on the field in new year https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/pissed-off-cubs-2018-frustration-fresh-start-spring-training/

• Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs support Addison Russell’s second chance if he shows improvements https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/chicago-cubs-addison-russell-spring-training-distraction-2019/

• Daily Herald, Rozner: Cubs' Epstein is unhappy, and knows the fans are, too https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20190211/rozner-cubs-epstein-is-unhappy-and-knows-the- fans-are-too

• The Athletic, Cubs spring training guide: Will we see change Cubs fans can believe in? https://theathletic.com/813038/2019/02/12/cubs-spring-training-guide-will-we-see-change-cubs- fans-can-believe-in/

• Cubs.com, Predicting the Cubs' roster https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-opening-day-roster-prediction/c-303771244

• Cubs.com, Cubs, reliever Brach complete deal https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/brad-brach-signs-with-cubs/c-303790094

• ESPNChicago.com, Bring on spring! After winter of discontent, can Cubs move on? http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25974053/bring-spring-winter-discontent-cubs-move-on

• NBC Sports Chicago, 5 spring training storylines you're going to be real sick of in a month https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/5-spring-training-storylines-youre-going-be-real-sick- month

• Chicago Tribune, Cubs at spring training: What to watch for on Tuesday, including Theo Epstein's talk https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-pitchers-catchers-report-spring- training-20190212-story.html

• Chicago Tribune, Kyle Schwarber plans to be a full-time left fielder — not a DH: 'I always take pride in my defense' https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-kyle-schwarber-left-field- 20190211-story.html

• Chicago Tribune, on Cubs' wild-card loss: 'We needed that kick in the butt' https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-willson-contreras-20190211- story.html

• Chicago Tribune, Cubs meet with Islamic relations group after Joe Ricketts' racist emails were revealed: 'What we're attempting to do is mend fences' https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-joe-ricketts-racist-emails-cair- 20190211-story.html

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Chicago Sun-Times ‘Pissed off’ Cubs ready to take 2018 frustration out on the field in new year By Gordon Wittenmyer

MESA, Arizona – and catchers report Tuesday for the Cubs – the team that has ached as much as any other in baseball since October to reach that moment.

“The end of last season was a collective failure that we need to own,” team president Theo Epstein said, “which is a strange thing to say for a 95-win team. But that’s the reality.”

That’s the power of high-elevation expectations crashing so quickly to the ground in losses on back-to- back days in a division tiebreaker and wild-card game on your home field – scoring two runs in 22 innings on the way to a long, bitter offseason.

“We were all pissed off that it ended the way it did,” left fielder Kyle Schwarber said.

The offseason didn’t go much better for the Cubs, whose payroll budget kept them from adding any significant players, whose decision so far to stick with shortstop Addison Russell through his domestic violence suspension cost them heavy public blowback at every stage of that process and whose franchise image just took another hit last week with the publication of racist emails by ownership patriarch Joe Ricketts.

But the sun shone brightly over the Cubs’ spring training facility on Monday, as players and staff roamed in and out to prepare to start fresh this week – two dozen pitchers already starting to throw bullpen sessions for new pitching in recent days. Veteran left-handers Jon Lester and Cole Hamels both were at the facility Monday.

Epstein has labeled this season a year of “reckoning” after two years that fell short in October after the Cubs’ 2016 championship. Manager Joe Maddon enters the final year of his contract with no talks planned until late in the season or after – if at all. And the young hitting core, too, is under more scrutiny from the front office this year as the team looks for growth offensively – with the promise from Epstein of reevaluation of those core pieces otherwise.

But this is where it finally starts, where all that talk during the winter about still believing in this group and about demonstrating more urgency after last year’s face-plant gets the chance to show up in action – even if it’s just cutoff drills and ’s fielding practice for a while.

They get to start over, to lose at least a little of that bitter taste of October’s quick exit, to rebuild expectations of a team that’s nobody’s pennant favorite as they open camp this time around.

In the Cubs’ division alone, the Brewers have upgraded since falling one victory short of the World Series; the Cardinals added big names in slugger Paul Goldschmidt and pitchers Andrew Miller; and even the last-place Reds went on a shopping binge over the winter to upgrade their starting rotation and anr already good lineup.

It doesn’t get any easier this time around for the Cubs.

But they are almost all healthy – in particular potential impact players Yu Darvish (elbow) and (shoulder) upbeat and full strength as camp opens after injuries waylaid much of their 2018 seasons.

And if they haven’t rediscovered the hunger of 2016, they seem at least “pissed.”

Epstein has talked since the week of that exit that he believes the Cubs have lacked a daily urgency since winning that long-sought title in 2016.

“It hasn’t been like it’s all complacent all the time,” said the architect of a team that has reached the playoffs four straight years and averaged 97 regular-season wins in that stretch. “We have great players, and they play hard, and we’ve done so many things well. But, again, [if we’re] being honest with ourselves, it hasn’t been the sense of urgency that we probably need to get all the way to where we want to go.

“And the way last season ended is the greatest motivator there could possibly be, and now it’s all about channeling that in a productive way to go play.”

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs support Addison Russell’s second chance if he shows improvements By Madeline Kenney

Cubs players said they stand by the front office’s decision to give Addison Russell a second chance after he was accused of physically and mentally abusing his ex-wife.

“We’re human. He made a mistake,” reliever said at the Cubs Convention last month. “If he does the right thing, if he does whatever he needs to do, he’s going to be welcome to come back.”

Said outfielder Albert Almora Jr.: “We call Russell family, he’s a brother. From what we heard and communicating with Addison, the way he’s dealing with things, if he continues to do that, we’ll welcome him back with open arms. Let’s let him gain our trust again.”

But his teammates’ support doesn’t take away from the distraction they might face when Russell reports for spring training in Mesa, Arizona.

Russell, who will be a full participant in camp, hasn’t talked to the media except through prepared, written statements since he was put on administrative leave Sept. 21. That’s expected to change in the days leading up to the Cubs’ first full-squad workout Feb. 18.

Without Russell there to face the hard questions, his teammates have struggled to come up with the right words when discussing the troubled shortstop.

“It’s an unfortunate situation, but you … I don’t know how to answer that question for you there,” outfielder Kyle Schwarber said when asked about the difficulty of answering questions pertaining to Russell. “It’s something that’s obviously put in front of us. I think that everyone wants to handle it the right way.”

Russell, who signed a $3.4 million non-guaranteed contract in January, will serve the final 28 games of a 40-game MLB suspension for domestic violence at the start of the season. Team president Theo Epstein made it clear Russell won’t play if he doesn’t continue to show improvement and meet the standards set by MLB and the Cubs.

“We’re probably in the top of the second inning with this story,” Epstein said. “He’s got a ton of work ahead of him and it may not work, and if it doesn’t, we will move on instantaneously.”

Outfielder can “confidently” say the Russell situation won’t distract the team.

“They hold us accountable,” Heyward said of the front office. “And to me, attitude reflects leadership.

“With Addy’s situation right now, they don’t want to pass it on to someone else. They don’t want to be like, ‘OK, we took him for the good, and then for the bad we left him hanging.’ And I feel like they want to be a part of the solution in general, regardless of whether it’s baseball involved or off the field. And I feel like to me, that’s something that takes a lot of pressure off of the player. I don’t have to worry about it or focus on it.”

Almora also isn’t worried about Russell being a distraction.

“That’s a question for the front-office guy,” he said. “Us, we’re just worried about our teammate and Addison as a person. When it comes to the media or a ‘what could happen’, all we’re focusing on is if he continues to do what he’s doing, then if he keeps growing and becoming the man he wants, we believe in second chances and letting him grow as a person.”

Meanwhile, Strop hopes the Cubs can get a handle on Russell’s situation in camp so it doesn’t haunt the team heading into the season.

“I don’t think that people should be asking no more after spring training,” he said. “If he does the right thing, why not welcome [him] back?”

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Daily Herald Rozner: Cubs' Epstein is unhappy, and knows the fans are, too By Barry Rozner

Believe it or not, Theo Epstein and his guys were busy at work this winter.

To most Cub fans, it looked as if he sat on his hands and watched the Central Division go by, as if he was satisfied with what the Cubs have accomplished the last four years.

Absurd, of course, but what makes the Cubs president so different is he doesn't begrudge you the anger you might carry after an offseason in which the Cubs failed to land a big free agent, especially when there's been a citywide assumption the last few years that Bryce Harper was on his way to town.

"I completely understand," Epstein said. "From a fan's standpoint, all we can do in the winter -- we can't go out and play hard and win 10 in a row -- all we can do is add players or spend money.

"If we're not doing that at the level we have in previous offseasons, I completely expect there to be questions.

"The fans have expectations that have changed. They're upset after a 95-win season. They should be. I totally get it.

"They waited more than a century to get on top and they want to stay there. I welcome their scrutiny."

So you want answers.

You want to know why there has been no check written for a few hundred million this winter when the Cubs guaranteed Jon Lester $155 million after 2014, Jason Heyward $184 million and Ben Zobrist $56 million after 2015, and Yu Darvish $126 million and Tyler Chatwood $38 million after 2017.

While you take a moment to digest a few of those names, Epstein gives you his side of the story.

"We've been in the top six payrolls every year since we became competitive and we will continue to be," Epstein said. "But I think every team has to go into every offseason as nimble as they can be, with as much payroll flexibility as possible, with as many trade assets as possible, with as many guys coming off career years as possible, because it puts you in a better position.

"There are more possibilities out there to add players, make trades, sign free agents.

"We've had a lot of years where all those things have gone well and lined up. Those have been the offseasons where we've been more active and gotten a lot of credit for all our moves."

But, ya know, best laid plans and such.

"This year," Epstein continued, "because decisions we've made the last couple years haven't worked out, because a number of guys had down years, because we had a number of players not live up to expectations, because some of the contracts we have are not as movable as we expected them to be at this point, we are not in that position.

"We have nowhere near the flexibility we normally have, we're not as nimble as we normally are and the world of possibilities is much smaller than we're used to. That's just the reality.

"It's not going to be that way every year. That's the way it is right now.

"So if you cheered us when we had really aggressive offseasons and everyone thought we were doing everything right, then you should criticize us for being in this position now. That's the way baseball is.

"But it doesn't mean that we're a cheap organization. We have spent an awful lot of money on players."

And sometimes not well, which is the risk you take in free agency, the risk a couple teams are about to take with contracts that may reach or go beyond $300 million.

A single wrong step and that money is flushed.

Nevertheless, Epstein understands that Cubs Nation is at least restless, if not downright nervous about 2019.

"We're focused on the players that we have, the great talent that we do have, and all the adjustments that we need to make so we can be better than we were last season, collectively and individually," Epstein said. "This is a process of being honest with ourselves about what went wrong, being accountable for it, making adjustments, and then going out and fixing it with some urgency.

"In that space of the day to day, trying to build the best possible team and organization we can, we don't hear it.

"But I'm not deaf to it."

So take comfort in knowing that your president has had some sleepless nights, and that as players begin to trickle into camp, he will be vigilant.

His description of, essentially, tying his own hands because of so many things that went sideways last year is appropriate.

Theo Epstein is unhappy. And you don't have to tell him twice that you are, as well.

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The Athletic Cubs spring training guide: Will we see change Cubs fans can believe in By Sahadev Sharma

MESA, Ariz. – Once upon a spring training, the thought of two premier 26-year-old free agent hitters and one of the greatest closers of this era still jobless on the cusp of Valentine’s Day would excite Cubs fans. But not this year.

A number of factors have led to the Cubs’ frigid winter, most notably budgetary restrictions imposed by ownership a year after a winter spending spree produced few dividends, the lack of a TV mega-deal and the cost of investments in and Rickettsville.

For much of the offseason, Cubs president Theo Epstein has pleaded for a delay in judgement until this season begins. With pitchers and catchers reporting Tuesday, that pre-judgement process can actually begin.

Before any baseball is played though, Addison Russell will face the media for the first time since last season. Russell will miss the first month of the season as part of his 40-game suspension for violating the league’s joint domestic violence policy with the players’ union and what he has to say about both his past actions and how he’s working to meet the expectations the Cubs set out for him will be of major interest.

Chairman Tom Ricketts will also face questions about his father’s racist emails, released publicly by Splinter News, as well as his team’s lack of offseason moves as they head into a critical season that Epstein described as a “reckoning.”

And lest we forget, manager Joe Maddon is entering the final season of his five-year contract. Despite both sides downplaying any controversy with a “free agent year,” it’s going to be hard to avoid the topic throughout the season. Every losing streak or questionable decision will lead to questions about who will lead this team in 2020 and beyond.

And that’s just what the Cubs are dealing with off the field. On it, there are even more unknowns.

What’s new Well, it depends how you look at it. On the field, fans won’t see too many unfamiliar faces. Daniel Descalso adds depth to the infield and the potential for a vocal clubhouse leader. Brad Brach is capable of being an impact reliever and could start the season as closer, along with Steve Cishek and Pedro Strop, as the team awaits the return of Brandon Morrow from offseason elbow debridement surgery. A healthy leads the pack of depth options for the bullpen, a long list that includes some intriguing non-roster invitees, including Junichi Tazawa and George Kontos.

The Cubs also enter 2019 with their third combination of hitting, pitching and bench coaches in three years. Mark Loretta replaces Brandon Hyde, the new manager of the , on the bench a year after Hyde took over for Nationals manager Dave Martinez. steps in as hitting coach, with Termel Sledge as his assistant. Tommy Hottovy gets a well-earned promotion to pitching coach after Jim Hickey left for personal reasons after just one year on the job.

“He’s a problem solver,” Epstein said of Hottovy at the winter meetings. “He’s really adept at using the vast resources of technology that we have at our disposal to help pitchers get better. He and () have done an unbelievable job with the game-planning. The fact that those three guys (Hottovy, Borzello and bullpen coach Lester Strode) continue working together and continue doing the same good job they’ve been doing is reassuring for us. We’re excited for it.”

The experiment got off to a bad start almost immediately as his methods were met with hesitation by hitters who subscribe to more modern philosophies. Epstein described the hiring of Iapoce, who spent time with many of these players in the Cubs’ system as their minor-league hitting coordinator, as a sort of “return to our roots.” Epstein said Iapoce is “as cutting-edge as anybody.”

“(He) can speak to young and modern hitters and he’s also really aware of what it takes to hit good pitching and what it takes to execute situationally and how adjustable good hitters have to be in this day and age with the quality of pitching that’s being thrown out there and how advanced scouting reports are,” Epstein said.

The coaching turnover was the biggest change in a lackluster offseason. In addition to a stringent budget, Epstein was handcuffed by an inability to find trade value in return for any of his more expendable position players. So he took those restrictions, along with the unexpectedly abrupt end to the season, as an opportunity to re-evaluate every part of the organization from top to the bottom. Their process had to be scrutinized, and along with numerous new faces in new roles behind the scenes, Epstein has hinted at changes coming this spring, though details have been scarce.

At the GM meetings in November, Epstein spoke about the team’s need for an edge. Javier Báez and Jon Lester seemed to lament the lack of urgency after the season ended and it was reiterated by Epstein the following day when speaking with the media.

“I don’t want to get into details about it,” Epstein said at the GM meetings. “We’ve been all spending a lot of time on it and there will be some changes for next year. Some subtle, some not so subtle.”

Epstein said at the time that ideas were being thrown out, some crazy and perhaps bad, but some real, actionable ideas that would likely be implemented. We’re now at the point where we’ll start to see and hear about what those changes are and how they impact the team both on and off the field.

“I promise fans this is the hardest I’ve ever worked in an offseason,” Epstein said at Cubs Convention. “The results in terms of adding players aren’t there, but I think we’ve done a lot of good work behind the scenes to get better and to put our best foot forward.”

What’s needed Despite the Cubs’ relative inactivity this offseason, they still have some needs. A power-hitting outfielder or a dynamic infielder with immense talent entering the prime of his career wouldn’t hurt. It’s easy to say the Cubs have enough to win. But it’s also just as easy to criticize ownership for not spending more to capitalize on a clear window of contention.

It’s not that the Cubs don’t spend enough. Where the real criticism belongs is the rigidity of the budget keeping the front office from aggressively pursuing the best players to fill obvious holes, like the bullpen. Instead, they’ve been forced to wait out the market and see what’s left. The glacial pace of the offseason worked in the Cubs’ favor with Brach taking less than originally expected. And despite the 40- man roster being full – and 26 of those being pitchers – there are still murmurs of the Cubs adding another piece to the bullpen.

In an ideal world, the Cubs would continue to add depth everywhere. Epstein is notorious for planning for every possible scenario and having backup plans for backup plans. This offseason hasn’t allowed him to do that to the extent he might like, and as we head into spring, holes in the bullpen and at backup catcher still remain.

It’s an annual tradition to point at the leadoff spot and cry foul, even pre-Dexter Fowler. That never seemed to be a priority for this team, though, and while there may not be an ideal answer, the Cubs have managed to fight through that perceived issue. In 2018, the Cubs led the NL with a .366 on-base percentage from their leadoff man and were second with a 121 wRC+. Sure, a traditional leadoff man would be nice, but it’s hardly what’s sinking this offense.

What the Cubs need more than anything this season is for Kris Bryant to look like the player he was in the first six weeks of last season — and the three years prior to that – and not the one with a balky shoulder and little power from last season’s final three-plus months.

Willson Contreras must channel his energy in a way that more efficiently taps into his immense talent and maximizes his production at and behind the plate. The Cubs need Báez to not take too big of a step back and perhaps continue to grow. can’t have the April he did last season. And jumps in production from Kyle Schwarber or , preferably both, would help make this offense a force. If Jason Heyward and Albert Almora Jr. provide league-average offense to go along with their plus-plus defense, that would be gravy.

The rotation needs to stay healthy. If it doesn’t, the first man up may be Mike Montgomery, possibly crippling the left-handed depth of the bullpen — behind Montgomery there’s Brian Duensing, Randy Rosario, and . Perhaps there is upside and room for surprise, but this is hardly the type of depth Epstein feels comfortable with. The bullpen as a whole needs both health and some surprises. Morrow coming back in May, remaining healthy throughout the season and performing at an elite level would be as impactful as nearly any move this team could have made to their relief corps during the winter.

After that, it’s about hoping for a bounce-back from the likes of Duensing, Brandon Kintzler or Tyler Chatwood while looking for a youngster like Steele, or Dakota Mekkes to provide impact. Surprise performances are common among relievers, both positive and negative. The Cubs are would

love for some of that good luck to come their way with the likes of Ryan, or any of the NRIs they’re bringing to camp.

What to watch for In the six weeks until the Cubs kick off the season in Texas, the health of Bryant’s shoulder will be top of mind. From discussions with those in the organization and with Bryant himself, there is no concern about lingering issues. Spring training batting practice and games will provide an answer to whether Bryant can return to his MVP form sooner than later.

How will Yu Darvish look? Has his stuff returned after a disastrous first season with the Cubs ended with elbow issues and a procedure in September? Spring will tell us how healthy he is physically. His confidence and how he handles himself when the pressure rises will take a little longer to evaluate. Speaking of confidence, the results may not matter, but seeing Chatwood on the mound, however low the stakes may be, is going to be fascinating all spring long.

As always, it’s important not to take too much away from spring results. More important will be how the position players jell with Iapoce. Getting on the same page philosophically with their hitting coach, in an era where nearly all players have their own personal hitting coaches in the offseason and have strong views of their own, will be essential this spring. That many of these key players, like Bryant, Happ, Schwarber and Contreras, all have prior relationships with Iapoce bodes well for the immediate future.

And there’s always a reliever that catches Maddon’s eye in the spring. Mekkes and Alzolay have a chance to make an impression now and get a head start for a summer call-up or be ready should injuries lead to openings earlier. But they’re not alone. The list of names that could eventually help in the bullpen is always long come spring, but this year it seems extraordinarily so.

In the end, it all circles back to what’s happening off the field. How the players handle Russell’s presence, the team’s – and baseball’s in general – mostly inactive winter and the controversy surrounding Joe Ricketts will be capturing headlines early in the spring. Whether they continue to do so into the summer could be as big a key as anything else as to how this season unfolds.

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Cubs.com Predicting the Cubs' Opening Day roster By Jordan Bastian

A lot can change prior to Opening Day, but the Cubs' projected 25-man setup has little wiggle room at the moment. Barring something unexpected, Chicago's five-man rotation is set and the lineup and bench are occupied. The biggest source of competition for Spring Training will be in the bullpen.

With that in mind, and given what is known at the moment, here is a very early prediction for how the Cubs' Opening Day roster might look.

Catcher (2): Willson Contreras, Victor Caratini Contreras logged more innings behind the plate (1,109 2/3) than any MLB catcher last season and started for the All-Star team. The catcher faded badly down the stretch, though, hitting .169 with a .495 OPS in his final 45 games. Overall, Contreras had a .730 OPS, which was down from .855 in '17. The Cubs will be aiming to help Contreras tap back into his tremendous talent. Right now, Caratini represents the backup option.

First base (1): Anthony Rizzo Mark this one in pen for the Cubs. Over the past five years, all Rizzo has done is average 30 homers and 100 RBIs per season with an .897 OPS in that span. Don't forget about the 105 times Rizzo was hit by a pitch in that time period, either. Last season, Rizzo hit .283 with 25 homers, 101 RBIs and an .846 OPS, and he took home a Gold Glove Award. After a rough April -- historically his worst month -- Rizzo turned in a .905 OPS.

Second base (1): Ben Zobrist For the start of the season, Zobrist will likely garner innings at second base, though manager Joe Maddon may also lean on Daniel Descalso for this spot. When he's not at second base, Zobrist can also offer depth for the corner-infield and corner-outfield positions. The 37-year-old Zobrist -- in the final year of his contract with the Cubs -- had a solid season last year, hitting .305 with an .817 OPS in 139 games.

Third base (1): Kris Bryant Bryant is looking to come back strong from a trying '18 campaign in which he battled a persistent left shoulder injury. The third baseman saw his slugging percentage drop to .460 last year -- down from .537 in '17 and .554 in '16. All indications are that Bryant is healthy, which would go a long way in getting Chicago's offense back on track. He resumed a hitting program in early December with no issues.

Shortstop (1): Javier Baez Baez will begin the year at shortstop, while Addison Russell finishes a 40-game suspension for violating MLB's Domestic Abuse Policy. Last year, Baez was a walking highlight reel for the Cubs in a breakout showing that ended with him as the runner-up for the NL MVP Award. The dynamic middle infielder hit .290 with 34 homers, 40 doubles, nine triples, 21 steals, 101 runs, 111 RBIs and an .881 OPS.

Outfield (3): Albert Almora Jr., Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber This trio projects to be the starting outfield with Schwarber in left, Almora in center and Heyward in right. Almora and Heyward are both elite defenders and Schwarber took a step forward in his defensive development in the outfield last season. Of the three, Schwarber stands out offensively, bringing the ability to hit the ball out of the park and get on base. Almora will be aiming to bounce back from an offensive slide in the second half of last season.

Utility (3): , Descalso, Ian Happ Versatility is the biggest strength of the Cubs' bench. Bote can bounce all over the infield and play corner outfield in a pinch. Happ came up as an infielder, but can handle all three outfield spots. Descalso can hop between second and third base and offer another reserve option for the outfield, too. Offensively, this group offers pop, and any of the three would be fine as a part of a starting lineup. That will help Maddon maximize the platoon advantage when it makes sense.

Starting pitcher (5): Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels, , Jon Lester, Jose Quintana In this era of bullpenning and pitching specialization, the Cubs have five starters each capable of 180-200 innings. Darvish was limited to eight starts last year due to a right elbow injury, but has been throwing and said last month that he expects to be ready for Opening Day. Chicago's arms do not blow hitters away, but this is a veteran, experienced group with the potential to chew up innings, set up a bullpen effectively and run off a lot of quality starts.

Relief pitcher (8): Tony Barnette, Brad Brach, Steve Cishek, Brian Duensing, Carl Edwards Jr., Brandon Kintzler, Mike Montgomery, Pedro Strop This is by no means set in stone, but Tyler Chatwood and Montgomery will be bumped out of the rotation if Darvish is healthy and there are no setbacks for other starters prior to Opening Day.

Chatwood's place on the roster will need to be sorted out during the spring, but the inn will be crowded after adding Barnette and Brach (not official yet) this offseason. Look for Strop to be the interim closer while Brandon Morrow recovers from right elbow surgery during the season's first month. Relievers like Duensing and Kintzler -- while under contract -- also need to show something after subpar seasons. There are some experienced depth options (non-roster and roster) and prospects waiting in the wings.

And here is a more condensed look at the Cubs' projected Opening Day roster.

CATCHERS Willson Contreras Victor Caratini

INFIELDERS Javier Baez Kris Bryant Anthony Rizzo Ben Zobrist

OUTFIELDERS Albert Almora Jr. Jason Heyward Kyle Schwarber

UTILITY PLAYERS David Bote Daniel Descalso Ian Happ

STARTING PITCHERS Yu Darvish Cole Hamels Kyle Hendricks Jon Lester Jose Quintana

RELIEF PITCHERS Tony Barnette Brad Brach Steve Cishek Brian Duensing Carl Edwards Jr. Brandon Kintzler Mike Montgomery Pedro Strop

INJURED LIST Kendall Graveman Brandon Morrow

RESTRICTED LIST Addison Russell

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Cubs.com Cubs, reliever Brach complete deal By Jordan Bastian

On the eve of pitchers and catchers reporting to Arizona, the Cubs put the finishing touches on a one- year deal with free-agent reliever Brad Brach.

The Cubs announced Monday that they signed Brach to a one-year contract that includes a mutual option for the 2020 season. The deal, which was agreed upon on Jan. 24, has a base salary of $3 million for '19 and is valued at $4.35 million guaranteed. With the addition of Brach, Chicago's 40-man roster is at capacity and full of a variety of options for a crowded bullpen competition this spring.

Pitchers and catchers are slated to report to Mesa, Ariz., for the Cubs on Tuesday with the first official workout to follow on Wednesday. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 18 and Chicago will open its Cactus League ledger against the Brewers on Feb. 23 at .

Brach provides some added right-handed depth for the Cubs, who could be without closer Brandon Morrow for the first month of the season. Morrow underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right elbow on Nov. 6 to clean up some cartilage in the joint.

As things currently stand, Brach joins a Cubs bullpen that also features Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, Mike Montgomery, Carl Edwards Jr., Tyler Chatwood, Tony Barnette, Brian Duensing and Brandon Kintzler. Options on the roster behind that group include Randy Rosario, Kyle Ryan, , Rowan Wick and , among others.

The Cubs also have an assortment of non-roster invitees, including Christian Bergman, Ian Clarkin, George Kontos, Dakota Mekkes, Carlos Ramirez and Junichi Tazawa, among others.

Last season, the Cubs' relief corps led the National League with a 3.35 ERA, .225 opponents' average and 0.78 home runs allowed per nine innings, but there were other statistical areas of concern. For example, the bullpen's walk rate (11 percent) was 14th in the NL, the rate (22.6 percent) ranked ninth and the group logged the fifth-most innings (588 1/3) in the Senior Circuit.

Brach, who will turn 33 in April, offers some more veteran late-inning depth for Chicago's cast of relief arms.

In 69 appearances last year, Brach compiled a 3.59 ERA with 60 against 28 walks in 62 2/3 innings between tours with the Orioles and Braves. After being traded to Atlanta at the end of July, he spun a 1.52 ERA in 23 2/3 innings over the season's final two months. Brach held right-handed batters to a .243 average (.692 OPS) last year, but he saw lefties hit .330 (.838 OPS) off him.

Brach has put together an eight-year career in the big leagues with San Diego, Baltimore and Atlanta after not being picked until the 42nd round of the 2008 Draft. He owns a 3.08 career ERA with 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 424 appearances (all in relief), and he was an All-Star for the Orioles in '16, when he posted a 2.05 ERA.

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ESPNChicago.com Bring on spring! After winter of discontent, can Cubs move on By Jesse Rogers

MESA, Ariz. -- Eventually, Willson Contreras got bored. The offseason had gone on long enough. The catcher was used to playing baseball deep into the fall, but a team-wide offensive flameout last year led to a long winter.

So on Monday morning, a day before catchers and pitchers reported, Contreras was already taking his swings in the cage, attempting to put a down 2018 season for him and the team behind him.

"I think we needed that (losing early)," Contreras said after he was finished hitting. "We tried to do our best but it didn't work out...This was my first offseason having October off. It was really weird for me. I was really uncomfortable at first."

A winter of discontent for the Chicago Cubs has finally given way to a spring of cautious optimism as camp opens for the champions. That historic title -- coming 108 years after their last one -- feels like a decade ago as the team and organization have taken a bit of a hit in the interim.

Of course, that's partly because expectations from a rabid fan base -- thinking about a Cubs dynasty -- have come up short since November 2016. It hasn't helped their narrative that the team did little this offseason, is bringing back a player suspended for domestic abuse allegations, and recently had to distance itself from racist and bigoted emails associated with the father of the team owner. Discontent might be an understatement.

"This year is really a reckoning in a lot of ways," Team president Theo Epstein said during the winter. "We do have a lot to prove."

Epstein was referring to his team on the field, which, by the way, won 95 games last season. But that statement could apply to the off-the-field concerns as well. Can they navigate the possible return of shortstop Addison Russell, when his 40-game suspension is over in May? He would become the first prominent player to return to his old team after serving a significant suspension for violating baseball's domestic abuse policies. Others in similar situations have moved on, but the Cubs insist they want to be part of the solution, which includes monitoring Russell's counseling and therapy. The team is also likely to make amends, where they can, after the revelation of racially charged emails associated with Joe Ricketts, patriarch of the Ricketts family who own the Cubs.

It's under that backdrop the team begins spring training with a lame-duck manager. The Cubs hate what the word means as they continue to profess faith in Joe Maddon. But the reality of the situation is simply this: There's a chance Maddon could take the Cubs to the playoffs in all five of his five years as manager and still be out of a job next winter. As is, the perception is that if he goes 4 for 5, he'll be out of a job. It's a sign of the times when perennial playoff managers are losing gigs in favor of younger and cheaper options. That's not to say Maddon is coming off his best year in the dugout. Far from it.

The off-the-field issues have divided some Cubs fans, but what unites many of them is a belief the team pulled a fast one on them by doing very little to improve the roster for 2019. This was supposed to be the year Las Vegas natives and friends Bryce Harper and Kris Bryant joined forces. Or at least that's what many thought would happen, though the Cubs never once forecast such a union. After failing miserably on offense late last season, the team changed just it's 25th man on the roster, adding Daniel Descalso while subtracting Tommy La Stella. After ceding the division to the , doubt has begun to creep into the Cubs narrative. Was the end of 2018 the beginning of something bad for the Cubs or

just a blip? After all, it's hard to improve or be upset with a 95-win year. The Cubs may simply embrace the underdog role just as they did being the favorite back in 2016.

There's nothing wrong with having some doubt," general manager said recently. "In '16, we were clearly the best team in the division, and we embraced that target. That's not the case right now."

If Maddon needs some bulletin board material, perhaps he can post PECOTA's predictions. Annually, the Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm spits out its win/loss predictions for every team. It has the Cubs going 82-80 this year. 82 wins? That's blasphemy for the team with the most wins in baseball over the last four regular seasons, averaging just under 97 wins per year. Even Las Vegas, always a friendly place for Cubs bettors, doesn't think the team will win 90 games.

So what's the solution? Urgency. Even in winning 95 last year, there wasn't enough.

"Complacency is kind of a loaded word, but do I think we played with the same urgency we played with in 2016?" Hoyer wondered. "No."

Epstein added, early in the winter: "(It) sounds funny coming off 95 wins. I feel like we underperformed. I think you're going to see a really highly motivated group of players out there. Whether we have a big offseason or more nuanced offseason, you should judge us on how we play next year."

We now know it's been a more nuanced winter for the Cubs, meaning all the focus is on the team that came up short last year -- which is mostly the same team that won the World Series. PECOTA thinks their starting staff is too old, fans think the offense is still broken and no one is quite sure how the bullpen will fare with closer Brandon Morrow already down to start the spring. But even with question marks, few will count the Cubs out. There's still a lot of talent. Perhaps 82 wins won't be a shock but neither would be 97.

"We feel like as though we have all the ingredients in the bowl," Maddon said. "I'm all about development ... I'm with the guys, Theo and Jed, regarding definitely trying to extrapolate more out of the group we already have because there's a lot more left."

Maddon spent the offseason learning what makes millennials tick while the front office has made behind-the-scene changes to how they want their players to attack each day.

Meanwhile, the other NL Central teams have added to their rosters, leading to those predictive models suggesting no one will win 90 games in the division.

"People are going to pick a lot of different teams to win our division," Hoyer said. "We've had good years by normal standards."

"Normal" left the building the moment the Cubs won it all in 2016. Fans want nothing less than another title -- or at least a better shot at one than the team gave last season. There were extenuating circumstances -- injuries and a rough schedule were real. So there's hope mixed in with the doubt. It's the beauty of baseball and the reality of the Chicago Cubs as 2019 begins. A year of reckoning indeed, especially for its manager.

"I came up on one-year deals, but you always felt if you worked well and did your job that stuff will take care of itself," Maddon stated. "I still believe in those principles."

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NBC Sports Chicago 5 spring training storylines you're going to be real sick of in a month By Cam Ellis

Look, I don't blame anyone in Chicago for getting excited about baseball this week. It's been 20 degrees every day since early October. We're getting our third ice storm of the year this week.

If you want to put all your eggs into the baseball-starts-this-week basket, go right ahead. There are probably worse ways to spend winter's last leg than living vicariously through 15-pitch outings and ranking non-roster invitees based on their baserunning skills.

With that said, any professional sports pre-season is objectively torture; the Cubs' first home game is still eight weeks away. Pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday, and the first game isn't for 10 days *after* that. There's a LOT of time between now and then to hammer the same half-dozen narratives into the ground. What narratives, you wonder? Glad you asked! Let's dive in:

1. *whispers* Are ... are the Cubs good? It's an admittedly odd question for a team coming off 95 wins and like, maybe two roster changes. Here's a team with the 2nd-highest payroll in baseball this season, still working with a core group that won a World Series only two seasons ago. And yet - are we sure they're good? PECOTA isn't. Any projection system that claims Javy Baez is a bad defender deserves a fair bit of skepticism, sure, but PECOTA's concerns with the Cubs isn't totally unfounded. The NL Central got much, much better this offseason - the Cubs will probably need to get close to, if not above, the 90-win threshold to win the division. They'll need to be significantly better in-division than they were last year (41-36), and it'll be against much tougher competition. That's a tall task.

2. How many ifs are too many ifs? One of the most fascinating things about this Cubs team is just how much of their season balances on 'ifs'. Not every team is like this - the Yankees *are* going to hit a billion home runs, and the Marlins *are* going to lose 90+ games. The Cubs, on the other hand, are a team littered with 'ifs'. Think about it - the Cubs probably reach their ceiling:

- IF Kris Bryant bounces back to his MVP-caliber self

- IF Javy Baez is truly an above-league-average hitter (2018 was the first time he put up a wRC+ over 100)

- IF Kyle Schwarber can bounce back from one of the unclutch seasons of all time

- IF Yu Darvish can return to form and be a reliable #2 starter

- IF Jon Lester can be '15 Cubs Lester (5.0 fWAR) than '16-'17-'18 Cubs Lester (combined 8.7 fWAR)

- IF running back most of the same bullpen they had last season turns out differently

Now, obviously all of these don't need to happen in conjunction - but they'll probably need, what, 4 of these to hit? That's a big ask, and it's not even taking into account the production they'll get from Jason Heyward, what to do when Addison Russell inevitably returns, and how good their bench really is. Every team is going into Spring Training with a handful of questions that need answering, but it feels like the Cubs are on the high end of that scale.

3. grumble grumble grumble why didn't they fix the bullpen? Unless you are the worst and root for the Yankees, odds are you probably aren't that crazy about your team's bullpen currently. Pedro Strop has been great for the Cubs, but in an age when you need two or three power guys at the backend, are you really comfortable with a 33-year-old closer who was in the 43rd percentile for fastball velocity last season and has seen his K% decline each of the last 4 years? In theory, getting a healthy Brandon Morrow back helps a whole bunch. In reality, Morrow is 34, coming off arthroscopic elbow surgery and has never appeared in more than 60 games once during his 12-year career.

Brad Brach was a nice pickup, and the projections are pretty bullish on him this year. Steve Cishek is a good piece. Carl Edwards Jr. has The Stuff, but he also walked over 5 batters per nine innings last year. If you squint hard enough, there's a blueprint there. Still, if the Cubs aren't buyers in the bullpen market come late-July, something probably went seriously wrong.

4. Did you hear Kris Bryant is back?! Kris Bryant is back! That's going to change the entire offense, right? The funny thing about the Cubs' pursuit of Bryce Harper was that they ALREADY have an MVP-caliber, organizational cornerstone from Las Vegas that rakes and has terrific hair. Do you really need 2? (yes)

For all of the bemoaning around Bryant's 2018 season, he still put up a 125 wRC+. In 100 injury-plagued games last year, Bryant was still 25% better than a league-average hitter. Here's where the Cubs have finished leaguewide in wRC+ during all 4 of Bryant's seasons:

2015: 18th (96)

2016: T-3rd (106)

2017: 9th (101)

2018: 12th (100)

It's not surprising that the Cubs' best finish happens to coincide with Bryant's MVP season. At the risk of oversimplifying things, it's not totally inaccurate to think that as Bryant goes, so does the Cubs' offense. PECOTA has him slashing .272/.376/.473 with 23 homers this year, while FanGraphs' projections mark him at roughly 40% better than league average. Adding a 5-6 win player to the middle of the order never hurts, but history says that the Cubs need Bryant to be fantastic if they have real postseason aspirations. Maybe the emergence of Sluggin' Javy Baez mitigates some of those concerns, but again, see Question #2.

5. Sooooooooooo what's the deal with Joe Maddon? Maddon, for all his clever soundbites and fan-friendly quirks, finds himself in an oddly precarious position for someone who very recently brought one of baseball's most high-profile teams their first championship in one hundred years. It's World-Series-or-Bust on the North Side, and while that's probably not fair to Maddon, he knew what he was getting into. Now, he's working on a one-year contract while rumors of front office discontent swirl. The (to put it kindly) unceremonious exit of hitting coach Chili Davis, who blamed his departure on Those Damn Millennials instead of That Damn Below Average Offense, reflected poorly on Maddon's grip on the clubhouse. Maddon's always had bench coaches, but Mark Loretta's hiring is just another reminder that the tea leaves are there if you want to read them. Is Maddon out next fall regardless? Would a tight NLCS loss keep him around? It's pretty wild that the Cubs' manager is on the hot seat after 4 straight years of postseason berths and a World Series title to boot, yet here we are.

6. Where do we go after Cubs games now that the Taco Bell is closed? No, seriously.

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Chicago Tribune Cubs at spring training: What to watch for on Tuesday, including Theo Epstein's talk By Mark Gonzales

The Cubs won’t conduct their first official workout for pitchers and catchers until Wednesday, but Tuesday will be dominated by the traditional pre-spring training news conference featuring President Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and manager Joe Maddon.

Many of the topics, such as Maddon’s status with one year left on his contract with no immediate discussions about an extension, will be rehashed.

With the projected 25-man roster virtually set, much of the attention will focus on how Maddon will follow through on his intent to spend more time coaching, the availability and/or usage of some of his relievers with medical issues (Brandon Morrow, Tony Barnette) and the typical lineup/bullpen questions.

Many of the pitchers already in camp will take advantage of their last full day off until March 11. The arrival of left-hander Cole Hamels on Monday afternoon completed the attendance for the rotation.

Jon Lester threw a bullpen session Monday morning, one day after Yu Darvish threw a 45-minute session. Kyle Hendricks and left-hander Jose Quintana already worked out Monday.

Players and support staff members who arrived from Chicago or other chilly regions have welcomed the sunny skies, although a few staff members sported ski caps while watching Monday’s informal workout because of the chilly air.

Check back for updates all day from Sloan Park.

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Chicago Tribune Kyle Schwarber plans to be a full-time left fielder — not a DH: 'I always take pride in my defense' By Mark Gonzales

Kyle Schwarber’s 2018 defensive improvements were immediately forgotten last week when speculation surfaced about the National League eventually adopting the designated hitter and saddling the Cubs’ left-handed slugger with that role.

“I always take pride in my defense,” Schwarber said Monday after shagging flies in left field and hitting balls to all fields with authority — one week before the Cubs’ first full-squad workout.

“Last year I made good strides out there. A lot of valuable stuff was learned from (coach) Will Venable and all of our fielders, and I’ve got to transfer that over to this year and take in more information from them and learn as much as I can. The more I can pay attention and watch those guys, the better I can get.”

Improved mobility, the result of considerable weight loss, helped Schwarber record 11 outfield assists last year — tying him for second in the NL, one behind speedy center fielder Billy Hamilton (now with the Royals). Schwarber also was credited with two defensive runs saved.

He also earned playing time by raising his batting average 27 points (to .238) and his on-base percentage by 41 points (to .358). He had the ninth-highest pitches seen per plate appearance at 4.19.

Yet Schwarber’s potential is clouded by projections that he would become a DH, which wouldn’t happen until at least the 2020 season and perhaps not until after 2021, when the collective bargaining agreement expires.

“It is what it is, but I know what I want to do — and that’s to be a solid everyday left fielder and go up to the plate and try to make a difference. That’s how I try to approach it.”

With gradual success, the left-handed-hitting Schwarber, 25, may receive more opportunities to improve. Unless Steven Brault wins the fifth spot in the Pirates’ rotation, none of the Cubs’ NL Central rivals will have a left-hander in their starting rotation. Schwarber hit 25 of his 26 home runs off right- handers last season.

Schwarber, who looks as lean as he did last spring, expressed the need for the Cubs to set an aggressive tone early — especially after they blew a five-game lead with 28 games left last season. That gave the division to the Brewers, and the Cubs’ stay in the playoffs lasted one game as they were knocked out by the Rockies in the NL wild-card game.

“It’s going to set the tone of the way we want to approach our spring training, the way we want to work,” he said. “But it’s a whole new year. We’ve got goals we want to accomplish, and we’ll put our best foot forward.”

The tone started three and a half weeks ago at the Cubs Convention, where teammates exchanged thoughts on how to make amends for their abrupt elimination from the postseason.

“Guys are really pumped to get out here and get going,” Schwarber said. “And once we get out here, it’s going to be fun. … We’re going to prepare ourselves for Game 1 in Texas (on March 28) and be ready to go from there.”

Schwarber made it a priority to reacquaint himself with Anthony Iapoce, the Cubs’ third hitting coach in as many seasons. The two worked together when Schwarber was in the minor leagues.

“They want to get the best out of you,” Schwarber said of Cubs hitting coaches, past and present. “So that’s how it’s going to be, to be the best version of me, and go from there.”

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Chicago Tribune Willson Contreras on Cubs' wild-card loss: 'We needed that kick in the butt' By Mark Gonzales

Willson Contreras wasn’t as graphic as Jon Lester was in October in describing being eliminated from the postseason, but the Cubs catcher agreed that losing the National League wild-card game could have some benefits.

“I think we needed that,” Contreras said Monday of the loss to the Rockies. “We played good last year until the last one and a half months. We didn’t do our best. We tried to do our best, but things didn’t work out. We needed that kick in the butt to start reflecting and start going.

“It’s motivation for us. I think the team is way hungry this year, and we’ll see what happens.”

Contreras isn’t concerned that the Cubs didn’t make any major moves while the Cardinals added All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and tough left-hander Andrew Miller, and the Reds revamped their roster with the addition of veteran outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig and pitchers Alex Wood, and Tanner Roark.

“I don’t think much about them,” Contreras said. “I’m more focused on our team. They have pretty good players. But I just think about my team, who we are, how good we can be, how we can improve every single day and how we’re going to face them.

“We have a pretty good team, almost the same team as last year. And that’s it. I think the division this year will be tougher, but that’s good for us. We like to compete. We’re good.”

Contreras said it was strange having nearly a full extra month in the offseason thanks to the quick postseason elimination, but he used the time to rest his body.

Around the horn

Infielder David Bote took grounders at third base, shortstop and second base — his natural position — as he hopes to solidify his status on the roster as a versatile backup.

“I enjoy doing that,” he said. “I think people are better players because of (their expanding versatility). You challenge your range and quickness, and those things help in other areas.”

Bote likely will back up Javier Baez at shortstop for the first 29 games while Addison Russell completes his suspension for violating ’s domestic-abuse policy. Should Russell successfully complete terms of his program and rejoin the Cubs, Bote’s status could be in question if the Cubs carry a 13-man pitching staff.

But Bote knows manager Joe Maddon loves versatility, so he relishes the chance to play other positions.

“Ever since (Maddon) came here in 2015, you knew that was his M.O. of having guys play multiple positions,” Bote said. “And in the minor leagues, the only position I haven’t played is catcher. I caught bullpens in the minor leagues. That’s not a foreign thing. It just makes it fun.”

Brach officially in the fold

The Cubs announced the signing of reliever Brad Brach to a one-year contract worth $4.35 million with a team option for 2020.

The addition of Brach, who agreed to terms two weeks ago, fills the Cubs’ 40-man roster.

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Chicago Tribune

Cubs meet with Islamic relations group after Joe Ricketts' racist emails were revealed: 'What we're attempting to do is mend fences' By Staff

Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts and Julian Green, the team’s vice president of communications, met with the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Friday, days after the publication of a series of emails from Joe Ricketts in which he shared and endorsed racist jokes and conspiracy theories.

In an interview Monday with WSCR-AM 670’s “Mully & Haugh Show,” Green said: “What we’re attempting to do is mend fences and try to take a very sad, hurtful, offensive situation and turn it into something good.”

Islamophobia was prevalent in many of the emails, with Joe Ricketts, the patriarch of the family that owns the Cubs, stating in one that “Muslims are naturally my (our) enemy.” Others mentioned the faith of former President . Several were short replies to forwarded emails, including one in April 2011 that included the words “great laugh” in response to a joke with a racist slur for its punchline.

Ricketts apologized last week: “I deeply regret and apologize for some of the exchanges I had in my emails. Sometimes I received emails that I should have condemned. Other times I’ve said things that don’t reflect my value system. I strongly believe that bigoted ideas are wrong.”

Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of CAIR, held a news conference soon after Splinter News published the emails and said it was good they were made public.

“It’s important to note that had these emails not been leaked, where would we be now?” Rehab said. “What kind of playing out of these sentiments would occur within the Cubs establishment against fans, against players who were Muslim who want to play on the team? Would they play out in discriminatory fashion? Would they play out in ways that would put the Muslims on the side toward marginalize and even demonize?

“And so it’s good that they’ve been leaked. But the question is: What would have happened if they weren’t? So we got the apology now that they’ve been leaked. But the positions are there. So what we need to address very clearly and concretely is what ways the Cubs establishment, beyond apologizing for the emails being leaked, step up and show through concrete action that they recommit to the anti- bigotry values of Chicago, to work with the Muslim community, to show that in concrete fashion, and other communities affected by this very problematic, hatred rhetoric.”

Rehab said CAIR was “calling for a conversation and ways to move forward.” He added that Tom Ricketts and Green reached out less than 24 hours after the emails were published.

And on Friday they met.

“We didn’t come into the meeting to stand up with a photo op with a check to give to the organization, nor did they recommend that,” Green told The Score. “We also said we’re not going to paper over this or say, ‘Hey, let’s do Muslim Night at the ballpark.’

“We’re going to be involved, take some concrete and actual steps. We want to make sure that it’s thoughtful, that it’s meaningful, that it’s not tone-deaf. We didn’t come up with any five-point plan in the meeting, but I think it was productive, it was positive and we’ll likely have more meetings.”

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