Yeah, that seemed to be the takeaway from this morning’s discussions. The Cubs may be done with major acquisitions, but they’re still open to smaller moves, particularly in the bullpen and on the bench. That tracks with how Jed Hoyer and Craig Counsell have approached roster building—staying flexible and opportunistic rather than making moves just to check boxes.
With bullpen depth, it wouldn’t be surprising if they add another experienced reliever on a minor-league deal or bring in a non-roster invitee to compete in camp. The Cubs have some intriguing internal options, but there’s always room for more competition, especially given the volatility of relief pitching.
On the bench side, there’s still a question of how the Cubs want to balance defense, versatility, and offensive production. They could look for another veteran utility piece or a right-handed bat who can complement their existing options.
Did anything stand out to you from the press conferences?
Sources: Cubs have discussed signing Justin Turner if Alex Bregman goes elsewhere. With Patrick Mooney: www.nytimes.com/athletic/612…
— Ken Rosenthal (@ken-rosenthal.bsky.social) 2025-02-10T23:14:32.474Z
Yeah, I think that’s a fair read. The Cubs’ past interest in Turner makes this feel more like a natural fit rather than just random speculation. Even if his defense is a liability at this point, the bat still plays—especially considering how the Cubs have struggled against left-handed pitching.
His ability to DH, spell someone at first or third in a pinch, and provide a veteran presence in the clubhouse all make sense for a team looking to round out its roster. Plus, as you pointed out, these kinds of reports about lower-tier free agents tend to be accurate because there’s little incentive for anyone to float them unless there’s real interes
If the Cubs add Turner, it wouldn’t necessarily block younger guys from getting opportunities, but it would give them a more proven right-handed option, which they currently lack off the bench. Do you think they’ll actually pull the trigger, or is this just due diligence?