January 24, 2018 The Athletic, Mooney: The Cubs set their sights on Yu Darvish https://theathletic.com/220148/2018/01/23/mooney-the-cubs-set-their-sights-on-yu-darvish/ Cubs.com, Gimenez deal indicates Cubs serious about Yu https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-strategic-in-pursuit-of-yu-darvish/c-265180858 NBC Sports Chicago, Winter heat in I-94 rivalry: Cubs reportedly in 'active talks' with Yu Darvish after report of Brewers' offer http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/winter-heat-i-94-rivalry-cubs-reportedly-active-talks-yu- darvish-after-report-brewers-offer-free-agent-hot-stove-mlb-trade-rumors NBC Sports Chicago, Looking to take next step, Ian Happ hoping for more of what fueled his Cubs breakout http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/looking-take-next-step-ian-happ-hoping-more-what- fueled-his-cubs-breakout Chicago Tribune, Cubs continue talks with free-agent Yu Darvish as spring training looms http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-yu-darvish-20180122- story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1 Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon and hometown loom large in PBS documentary on culture war http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-joe-maddon-american-creed- chicago-inc-20180124-story.html Chicago Tribune, 2018 MLB Hall of Fame ballot from Mark Gonzales and Paul Sullivan http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-spt-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot-20180120- story.html Daily Herald, Why this year's Baseball Hall of Fame class could be big http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180123/why-this-years-baseball-hall-of-fame-class-could-be- big -- The Athletic Mooney: The Cubs set their sights on Yu Darvish By Patrick Mooney The Cubs are setting their sights on Yu Darvish, trying to land the star Japanese pitcher who could help them get back to the World Series. The Cubs remain involved in the Darvish negotiations, a source said Tuesday, as Major League Baseball’s long winter might finally be starting to thaw for one of the top free agents on the open market. The Cubs are also weighing how to allocate their resources as they put the finishing touches on a team that lost to Darvish and the Los Angeles Dodgers in last year’s National League Championship Series. Even factoring in benefits, roster turnover and savings for the trade deadline, insiders project the Cubs can spend in the range of $30 or $35 million more this offseason and still stay underneath the $197 million luxury-tax threshold. While the Associated Press reported Monday night that the Cubs are in “active talks” with Darvish’s camp, it’s not clear whether either side truly deactivated since their face-to-face meeting last month in Texas. But there is a sense that the negotiations have recently picked up momentum, with Darvish’s options not limited to the teams identified publicly: the Cubs, Dodgers, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers. It stands to reason that there would be mystery teams, because the Cubs can’t be the only ones looking at their big board, making arrangements for spring training and wondering what kind of deals they could get with so many free agents still searching for jobs in late January. It’s embedded in this front office and the nature of this offseason, but the Cubs have been preparing for multiple possibilities, like signing a lower-tier pitcher such as Alex Cobb, forecasting how much money might be left over to add another reliever and keeping their options open for next winter’s banner class of free agents. Cubs president Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer, run prevention coordinator Tommy Hottovy and pro scouting director Kyle Evans met with Darvish and his Wasserman representatives last month at a Four Seasons resort in the Dallas area. Jake Arrieta returning to the place that helped make him a Cy Young Award winner appears to be a long shot now. But during both a free-agent hit (Tyler Chatwood) and a swing-and-miss (Shohei Ohtani) this offseason, the Cubs tried to sell a pitching infrastructure and how their combination of analytics and coaching can help optimize player performance. That might have been part of the backdrop after an anonymous Houston Astros player explained to Sports Illustrated how Darvish tipped his pitches during two brutal World Series losses, where he got only 10 outs combined and gave up nine total runs. While the years and dollars will ultimately be far more influential than a personal catcher, a source close to Darvish said that signing Chris Gimenez to a minor-league deal doesn’t hurt the Cubs’ chances. Gimenez paired up with Darvish in Texas, catching 12 of his starts (3.29 ERA) in 2014. Gimenez also has some experience working with Cobb during their time together with the Tampa Bay Rays. Gimenez even played along with a fan who compared him to David Ross, writing on Twitter “Maybe great uncle?????” instead of “Grandpa Chris.” Maybe Darvish could never have quite the same seismic impact as Jon Lester’s $155 million megadeal, but the Cubs can envision him at the front of a World Series rotation. Stay tuned to Darvish’s Twitter account for updates. -- Cubs.com Gimenez deal indicates Cubs serious about Yu By Phil Rogers CHICAGO -- The Cubs' headline move three offseasons ago was signing Jon Lester. It's worth noting that shortly after they got him under control, they returned to the free-agent market to pick up David Ross, Lester's personal catcher in Boston. That move had been discussed -- if not promised -- while they were pursuing Lester. They've reversed the order this time around. The Cubs agreed to a Minor League deal with catcher Chris Gimenez as they try to land Yu Darvish, the top arm on the free-agent market. Not to slight the 35-year-old Gimenez's attractiveness, but it's probably not a coincidence that the Cubs left the job backing up Willson Contreras open until talks with Darvish got serious. A report from The Associated Press says there are "active talks" between the sides, and Gimenez just happens to be Darvish's favorite catcher. Theo Epstein is as brilliant as he is thorough in finding advantages in recruiting and empowering players. While the Cubs have resources that most other teams envy, he doesn't count on simply money- whipping them. Epstein finds ways to let them and those around them know how badly he wants them to be part of the clubhouse family. Gimenez is from the Crash Davis school of catching. He was drafted by the Indians in 2004 and reached the Major Leagues in '09, and he has stuck around for parts of nine seasons. Gimenez had never had more than 130 plate appearances in a season until he reached his mid-30s, stepping up his playing time on playoff teams in Cleveland in 2016 and Minnesota last year, but not exactly establishing himself as essential. Gimenez wasn't on the Indians' World Series roster two Octobers ago, and he backed up Jason Castro in the American League Wild Card Game last October, entering to catch the bottom of the eighth in the 8-4 loss. If the lifetime .218 hitter has distinguished himself in any role, it's been with his willingness to pitch in blowouts. Gimenez had done it nine times in his career, including six times last year for the Twins. Gimenez was with the Rangers in 2014, when Darvish delivered his third consecutive All-Star performance before an elbow injury caused him to be shut down in August (he had Tommy John surgery the next March). Gimenez started the season in Triple-A, but he was promoted in May. Darvish went seven innings to beat a loaded Tigers team in Detroit the first time that Gimenez caught him. He threw eight one-hit innings to win a pitchers' duel at Washington the next time out. Gimenez then caught Darvish 12 times in a stretch of 13 consecutive starts, including a shutout of the Marlins and a start in which Darvish threw eight scoreless innings against the Twins. That's the kind of magic the Cubs would love to tap into as they look to add more gravitas with Jake Arrieta in free agency and Lester entering his age-34 season. Epstein was busy adding pitching in the early part of the offseason, with Tyler Chatwood, Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek among eight arms he added through signings or waiver claims. But the Cubs have long been viewed as front-runners to sign Darvish or re-sign Arrieta, and they have been frustrated by their slow-to-develop market. As much as Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and the spectacular defense, starting pitching was a key to the championship season in 2016. The Cubs had a Major League-best 2.96 rotation ERA, with Kyle Hendricks and Lester leading the way as Arrieta took a step back after his National League Cy Young Award- winning performance the year before. The Cubs' starters were fourth in the NL with a 4.05 ERA last season. They added Jose Quintana in July, and he helped them win a second consecutive division title and secure a third straight spot in the postseason. But Darvish and the Dodgers stopped them short of a return to the World Series, with Darvish's brilliant start in Game 3 the biggest blow. It's not that the Cubs don't want to keep Arrieta. They've just known for at least two years that he wants a longer contract than they're comfortable in giving a pitcher entering his age-32 season.