Chicago Cubs DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks is looking to build off his solid 2023 season after returning from a worrisome shoulder injury that caused him to get a late start last spring training. Hendricks looked good in a live batting practice session last Saturday and was sitting around 86-88 mph with his fastballs. The 34-year-old soft-tossing veteran didn't throw his first bullpen session last spring until Feb. 24 and didn't make his season debut until May while working back from a capsular tear in his right shoulder. Upon his return, Hendricks "felt completely normal again," and it was backed up the fact that he topped 90 mph on a fastball 14 times while seeing the highest spin rate of his career on his changeup. Hendricks will be a key starter for Chicago's rotation, but there's just not much fantasy upside due to his lack of strikeouts.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson is working on a new split-fingered fastball in camp as another pitch to complement his arsenal. "We're still working on it, but he threw some really good ones today that could be really effective at the major-league level," pitching coach Pete Walker said. Pearson is competing for a spot in the bullpen at spring training this year, and the Blue Jays view him as someone who could pitch up to three innings for them in relief. The 27-year-old hard-throwing righty has been set back by injuries early in his MLB career and continues to try and find his niche at the major-league level. So far in three seasons in Toronto, he has a 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with one save and 79 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings over 52 outings (five starts). Pearson could eventually become a high-leverage reliever, but he can be avoided for now in most fantasy leagues.

Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said there have been "some discussions," but they haven't become a "negotiation" yet to re-sign outfielder Cody Bellinger. "We're just waiting, waiting for whenever he and his agent are going to engage. And it could be anytime now, or it could be a few weeks, we'll just see where it goes," Ricketts said. The Cubs have some interest in bringing the 28-year-old lefty slugger back on a cheaper, short-term deal, but it's unclear if Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, is interested in that. The former MVP bounced back in a big way for the Cubbies last year, hitting .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs, 97 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 95 runs scored despite missing a month with a knee injury. Bellinger cut his strikeout rate but had a fortunate BABIP and didn't hit the ball all that hard, pointing to potential regression in 2024.

Chicago Cubs infielder David Bote has received a non-roster invite to spring training, according to beat writer Meghan Montemurro. Bote was taken off the 40-man roster prior to the 2023 season and spent 2023 at Triple-Iowa, where he slashed .258/.361/.456 over 425 plate appearances. Bote signed a five-year, $15 million contract with the Cubs back in 2020, which includes a pair of club options in 2025 and 2026. The team is paying him $5.5 million this season, but he doesn't seem to fit into their long-term plans. The 30-year-old showed some promise back in 2019 but is a career .231/.318/.393 hitter across 1,019 at-bats, spanning a five-year major-league career.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Matt Mervis will likely open the regular season on the bench, according to Jared Wyllys of CHGO Sports. This decision is a product of an offseason trade in which Chicago acquired first baseman Michael Busch from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Given that the Cubs are expected to play Busch on a daily basis, Mervis, who didn't occupy any other positions during his rookie season last year, gets pushed out of the lineup and onto the bench. The 25-year-old has the potential for significant power but got off to a shaky start with his .167/.242/.289 slash line and 32.3 BB% in 2023.