MLB

"We had a nice lead early and Jonny [Lester] needed to calm down a bit," said Contreras, "so I did what good catchers do and visited my pitcher as often as possible in the first inning."

The Bears have made their first big off-season headlines with the expected free-agent signing of Allen Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bears GM Ryan Pace said the team plans to have Robinson play "wide receiver," which is an innovative new position the team just discovered.

"It seemed like the nice thing to do," said Cubs skipper Joe Maddon. "I mean, hey, if the guy wants to swing by and take some BP, who are we to stop him?"

"Sure, it would be great to sign some big multiyear contract," said Arrieta, "but you know what is also great? My beard. So why not focus on making that even better?"

"The joy of traveling to Chicago during the middle of winter when the temperatures are well below freezing, only to be mobbed by a bunch of close-talking, chubby Cubs fans in sweat pants with nacho cheese on their faces is just the best," said Arrieta."A lot of those fans love to show off by proving to me that they know my stats better than I do. That never gets old. Trust me.

When you're as wacky as Joe Maddon, sometimes you wake up in an impound lot. That's what happened Friday morning when the Cubs manager's 1970s "Cousin Eddie" van was towed from outside the Cubs Convention hotel downtown, where it was apparently parked illegally.

With holes to fill in the bullpen and starting rotation, as well as other key positions like back-up catcher and utility infielder, the Cubs will introduce their 2018 15-man roster at this weekend’s annual Cubs Convention.