Chicago Cubs DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Along with reliever Yency Almonte, the Los Angeles Dodgers are sending infielder Michael Busch to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, according to a source. We still don't have the return confirmed on what is going back to the Dodgers, so stay tuned for more details. The 26-year-old former first-rounder was being blocked at the major-league level in Los Angeles, so a move to Chicago should give him more of an opportunity to crack the big-league lineup in 2024 and beyond. The left-handed-hitting Busch made his big-league debut for the Dodgers in 2023 but went just 12-for-72 (.167) with two home runs and seven RBI in 27 games played. He's likely to compete for the third-base job in Chicago in spring training and could become a platoon option for the Cubs at the hot corner against right-handed pitching.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are working on a deal to send relief pitcher Yency Almonte to the Chicago Cubs, according to a source. It remains to be seen what the Dodgers will receive in return. Almonte already avoided salary arbitration with the Dodgers back in November, signing a one-year, $1.9 million deal. The 29-year-old right-hander was dominant for the Blue in 2022 but took a big step back in 2023 in his second year in LA, posting a 5.06 ERA (4.59 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 24 walks and a career-high 49 strikeouts in 48 relief innings over 49 appearances out of the Dodgers' bullpen. Adbert Alzolay will open the 2024 season as Chicago's primary closer, but Almonte could eventually earn a high-leverage setup role alongside Julian Merryweather and Drew Smyly.

In a 2024 MLB Pipeline poll of front-office executives from all 30 organizations, Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was voted the best defensive prospect. Crow-Armstrong has been considered the top defensive player in the minor leagues for a while now, and he made his major-league debut in Chicago in 2023, going hitless in 14 at-bats with an RBI and two stolen bases in 13 games. There should be multiple Gold Gloves in his future at the big-league level. The 21-year-old probably isn't going to hit for a high average in the Show, but he did bat .283/.365/.511 with 20 home runs and 37 steals in 107 games at the top two levels of the minors last season before getting his first major-league call-up. If he has a strong spring, Crow-Armstrong could be starting in Chicago's outfield on Opening Day, and his power/speed combination will make him a highly coveted prospect in all fantasy drafts.

Free-agent right-hander Colten Brewer announced on his Instagram account that he has signed an undisclosed deal with the Chicago Cubs. Brewer made three relief appearances for the New York Yankees this past season and also spent time with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. The 31-year-old will give the Cubbies some relief depth to open the 2024 regular season but he will be well off the fantasy radar. In five years at the major-league level with the Yankees, Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres, Brewer has a 4.98 ERA (8.42 FIP) and 1.77 WHIP with 61 walks and 92 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings over 84 appearances (four starts).