I know not everywhere got dumped on by 21 inches of snow like we did, and then immediately followed by sub-zero temperatures, but I am going stir-crazy. The kids are all home, we can’t really go anywhere, and I think we could all use some fresh air. Worse, the brutal cold isn’t turned for, at a minimum, another 10 days apparently. I’m grateful our furnace is working, but I would also be grateful for enough of a break in the roads/temps that everyone can safely go back to school …
The Framber Valdez free agency has felt like a signing was imminent for a few days now (with Zac Gallen likely to follow soon thereafter, and then a whole slew of others – Lucas Giolito? Nick Martinez? Zack Littell? Chris Bassitt? Jose Quintana? Justin Verlander? on and on – to follow after that). I can still see the Cubs going after Gallen, and otherwise looking to see if there is a good reclamation starter option who can be signed on a minor league deal (Walker Buehler?). But, for the most part, this wave of signings will be observed mostly for the potential impact on Cubs competitors. We’re used to guys signing after the start of Spring Training at this point, but that doesn’t mean lots of guys WANT it to be that way. The vast majority of players want to be with their new organizations as soon as possible, and the organizations want it that way, too, especially for pitchers. You want a chance to work together on any tweaks to grips or pitch mix, to set up a health-informed ramp-up schedule (which may vary org to org, depending on the rest of the roster), and you want a chance for the pitcher to get to know your catchers/rest of the your staff/pitching infrastructure. All of these things optimize the comfort and performance of the pitcher for the season ahead, and all of them can be impeded by a late signing (far more than for position players). Arizona Phil has noted a small but important distinction between the Chas McCormick signing and the Dylan Carlson signing, which could conceivably impact their chances of making the Opening Day bench, and/or converting their minor league deal(s) into big league deal(s). In short, because Carlson has over 5 years of MLB service time, he cannot be freely optioned to the minor leagues without his consent if he were placed on the 40-man roster. McCormick, who has 4 years and 161 days of service time, does not come with that same restriction. All that said: both players may well have an opt-out built into their minor league contract, which would allow them to depart the Cubs organization at the end of Spring Training if they don’t make the big league roster. So the decision on Carlson may be “big league bench or he leaves,” while the decision on McCormick may be “big league bench, OR added to 40-man and immediately optioned to Iowa, or he leaves.” So if both looked like really strong bounce-back candidates this spring and the Cubs wanted to keep both around, they may have to carry Carlson on the big league bench out of camp, and then add McCormick to the 40-man and option him from there. (Meanwhile, Kevin Alcantara will also be competing for that spot on the roster, but also can still be optioned back to Iowa.) Speaking of depth outfielders, old friend Nelson Velazquez has signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals and will be coming to Spring Training trying to win a job there. Now 27, Velazquez was sent to the Royals mid-year in 2023 for reliever Jose Cuas (who was solid for the Cubs the rest of that season, but then evaporated in 2024). Velazquez finished the year strong in Kansas City, and had a chance to really take over their DH spot in 2024, but struggled to keep up the power production without letting the contact issues get out of hand. That’s always the tricky balance for a bat like his – so much power potential, but actualizing it in-game can come at the expense of making enough contact to survive. Velazquez split the 2025 season at Triple-A for the Royals and Pirates, where he was about a league-average bat overall, and did manage to reduce the strikeout rate. All that is to say, I’m not sure there’s a breakout looming for Velazquez, and I wouldn’t specifically want to see it happen with the Cardinals in any case. But I do wish him well overall, and he’s still young enough that a corner-turn is possible. It’d help him a lot of if he could play good corner outfield defense, and maybe that’s an area for improvement as well. Either way, he picked a good club to sign with if he wants a shot back in the big leagues at some point this season, as it’s not hard to see the Cardinals trading guys like Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, and Brendan Donovan before the year is up. Odd, right:?Breaking News: There will not be a new cover athlete for #MLBTheShow 26. ? pic.twitter.com/xhTW8D3u0g
Bulls Weekly Preview: Two Back-To-Backs in Loaded Pre-Deadline Schedule t.co/BnqSPqvhiH
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) January 26, 2026A Quick Look at the 2026 Chicago Bears Salary Cap Situation t.co/csF9NiTYk2
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) January 26, 2026Teuvo’s Back, Bedard’s New Line, Mikheyev’s Value, Soucy Traded, and Other Blackhawks Bullets #blackhawks t.co/xevpRFSM1u
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 27, 2026Hence then, the article about another wave of signings looms outfield depth mix old friend and the cardinals and other cubs bullets was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Another Wave of Signings Looms, Outfield Depth Mix, Old Friend and the Cardinals, and Other Cubs Bullets )
Also on site :
- ‘Data is not steroids’: Why were Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz banned from wearing fitness trackers at Australian Open?
- Is a Mental-Health Crisis Hiding in the Church’s Pews?
- End of Dave Portnoy’s Super Bowl ban comes with one NFL caviat