Mark Matousek

After two great years at The Information, I’m going to take a little time off before I give freelancing a shot. If you’re looking for help with copywriting, ghostwriting, research, or editorial strategy, you can reach me at marktmatousek@gmail.com.

@fakeJohnStocco Not to mention the fact that there’s at least a 50% chance Nico produces more value than Bregman over the next two years. Way too likely the swap is net negative for me to be on board with signing Bregman if it means trading Nico.

Signing Alex Bregman should not mean the Cubs have to trade Nico Hoerner. Trading Nico could damage morale in the locker room and with the fans who actually watch the games not just fantasy baseball. This is a top 2B, homegrown Cub, and a lovable player. This isn’t an easy trade

@TJamesND @insideNDsports He needs to be a focal point of the offense next year. Aside from that huge drop vs. NIU, he was their most reliable AND clutch receiver all year, and they barely threw to him until the semis.

#NotreDame WR Jaden Greathouse: "Really the only thing I can think about is the red and white confetti coming down to the ground. Just thinking about how I need to dominate next season." @insideNDsports

@greg2126 It's a huge credit to how good Mickens and the CB room have been for years that we (myself included!) expect all of our corners to almost never give up big plays. He had an excellent year, especially for an underclassman, but the bar is just absurdly high right now.

Some bad moments last night for Christian Gray. The toughest assignments can get the toughest results. He also had three of the biggest plays of the season, of any season, to get Notre Dame to that point.

@Cody_CHGO Wild. Thinking cable was going to be a good business model for another 20 five years BEFORE they launched Marquee would still have been astonishing negligence for the people in charge of a media-adjacent business.

Ricketts on RSN business impacting the Cubs: "If the cable model had stayed together for the next 20 years, financially that'd be better for the team and we'd be able to put more money back on the field but it's changing, we're trying to change with it. I think we're in a good position. Obviously we have a big fan base. We're in a much better position than most other teams." I'm once again asking how Crane Kenney has a job

No better time than now than to finally watch @thekapman's conversation with Tom. Yes, when I'm incredibly annoyed is the best time. Thoughts in thread🧵

@Cody_CHGO I remember @sahadevsharma saying they were close to extending Javy. My guess is Rizzo was the other, given his leadership role and higher odds of a team-friendly extension given his age. Wouldn't be shocked if KB was the other though, esp. if this was the plan starting in 2017.

Tom on World Series core extension strategy: "The strategy was, "Hey, we have like six core players and lets extend two of them, keep them as the core of the future of the team, let's trade two at some point for younger talent as they get close to their end of their six years of control, and let's let a couple go to free agency and get the draft pick back. That was the strategy. When we went to execute it, there just wasn't an economic way to extend anybody. We tried with all those guys. All the stars from the 2016 team. It just didn't work to get extensions." I'm curious what those two players they wanted to keep were, because you can go back through years of reports, rumors, whatever and find a reason to simply not believe this.

@tbhorka I actually agree with him on that one. 9:30 is more than enough time to score two TDs. Even with the way our D was playing, I would’ve bet on them making an extra quick stop over our offense scoring a TD on that play.

Marcus Freeman says Notre Dame attempted a 27-yard field goal trailing 31-15 with 9:30 left because... -He felt from that point, it would be easier to score 13 points down the stretch than it would be to score 16. -He felt needing nine yards for a TD was asking too much.

@HotStoveCubbies Agreed, you could maybe justify that kind of deal for someone who’s consistently been a top 2-3 closer throughout his career, but Scott wasn’t even that good until two years ago. The variance/regression risk is huge.

The Cubs were never going to go that far for a relief pitcher and I do not blame them one bit. I was in the minority saying 3 years for Scott would be a mistake for any team. 4 years $72 is IMO is going to look awful in the very near future.

@Cody_CHGO What about trading for Montgomery? My hunch is that’s one of the 2 likeliest options for picking up another starter before the season, with the other being a Michael Busch-style trade where we swap 1-2 of our hitting prospects for a top-100, major-league ready pitching prospect.

I’d say after the conversations we had with Mariners and Twins perspectives, I don’t see one of those trades happening unless a team gets desperate and pulls the trigger. I don’t see the Cubs doing that.

@HotStoveCubbies My read is that Rea's replacing Wesneski. Lots of upside with Wicks/Brown/Horton/Birdsell, but also lots of injury and/or experience concerns. I could see why they’d be willing to give up a bullpen spot for someone with more stability and less upside to balance things out a bit.

On the surface this looks crazy to me. Not the type of SP or RP I am looking for the Cubs to add at this point in the offseason. However… to me this says a trade is coming which likely includes player(s) from Cubs rotation. Spidy senses say a big move is coming.

Soak it all in #GoIrish

@seatonob He looked deep inside himself and realized that maybe winning games isn’t so important after all

Remember when Brian Kelly left ND because they couldn’t compete in a playoff? How’s that working out for him?

@DEvanAltman He’s unquestionably the better player, and more underrated than I realized. From 22-24, Nico is 25th in batter WAR — ahead of Devers and Adames, and just 3 spots behind Rutschman. I’ll take 2 years of Nico over 3 years of Paredes any day.

After initially being in favor of a Hoerner trade, I thought about how incredibly high his floor is and realized that trading Paredes made way more sense. This was weeks ago. Now I think the Cubs MUST keep Nico because they got their power bat and don't need pop at 2B.

@jacobzanolla I’d keep Nico for at least one more year, use Shaw as your infield injury depth this season, and build a deal for a starter around Alcantara and Triantos. If Shaw looks ready, trade Nico or Bohm next year for whatever you need then

The Phillies need outfielders, maybe there’s a framework around Bellinger-Bohm that could be worked out? Then trade Nico for a SP?

@HotStoveCubbies Would be ecstatic if Paredes + Smith is the “Tucker + extension” offer

What I am hearing The Cubs have 2 offers to HOU for Tucker. One set of players is if Tucker signs an extension with the Cubs upon trade, the other is if he does not. Both are said to be the best offers on the table. 2 sticking points - Bellinger Trade - Where Bergman lands

@Cody_CHGO I’d bet Jed’s been trying to convince them to take Triantos (or even Triantos + Murray or Long) instead of Smith

If you’re able to keep Seiya, Shaw, AND don’t have to send an arm as well, sign me up. Just wish they wanted Caissie or Alcantara instead. We’re in position to be in position, folks.

@DOM_Frederic Paredes and Smith is a little steep but fine. Adding Wicks, Assad, or Wesneski as well is ridiculous unless there’s a pre-worked extension with Tucker. That’s way more than Soto or Betts returned.

belief is that cam smith is the biggest hold up at the moment. also, good chance assad, wicks or wesneski will be added into the deal

@BleacherNation Agree, have to believe that report is the Astros trying to put pressure on the Yankees to include Gil. I can’t imagine Jed agreeing to anything close to that deal without a very favorable extension worked out in advance.

I want Tucker as much as anyone, but sending ALL THREE of Paredes, Suzuki, and Smith/Shaw simply does not make sense. It's actually kind of absurd. Gotta believe it's a Paredes OR Suzuki (plus prospects) situation.

@Michael_Cerami My somewhat plausible dream deal is Paredes+2 prospects in the 8-12 range in the Cubs’ system (seems possible given Paredes’ age/track record/2 extra years of team control compared to Tucker) for Tucker+5-year extension.

If you can find a way to keep Seiya Suzuki (likely as the DH) *and* add Kyle Tucker as the right-fielder ... that is a HUGE win. THOSE are two star level bats, one from each side, that could anchor a lineup.

@BleacherNation Was trying to extend Tucker also part of the dream offseason plan, or was/is the idea that he’d just be a one-year rental?

Is this where I say there were some whispers at the start of the offseason that Kyle Tucker was part of the Cubs' dream path for the offseason, but I kinda thought it was too pie-in-the-sky to believe?

@angdicarlo Is there another coaching staff that’s even close to this stubborn about rotating players during the biggest moments of close games? I’m a strong supporter of giving your 2s regular snaps, but any coach on the planet will tell you that goes out the window during crunch time.

@angdicarlo The lack of basic situational awareness ND’s offensive staff has had at times the last few years is insane. First they take out Audric against Ohio State after he gets them within one first down of icing the game, now this.

Second guess nugget: Jeremiyah Love had his incredible 34 yard touchdown with 8:34 left in the 3rd quarter. He touched the ball just ONE more time the rest of the game.