Morning Marquee: Cubs Convention is drawing closer

In mere days, perhaps one of the most-hyped Cubs Convention events in recent memory is set to kick off, with the likes of new manager Joe Maddon and left-handed ace Jon Lester set to make their respective debuts, with plenty of familiar names also confirmed.

Fergie Jenkins, Kerry Wood and other former Chicago standouts are also confirmed for the 2015 Cubs Convention, which seems to mark the start of baseball fever season on the North Side of Chicago – especially with the team heading to Arizona for Spring Training in just under a month.

In other happenings around the league, the Miami Marlins and Nick Massett agreed to a minor league deal, Wandy Rodriguez is set to join the Atlanta Braves after failing a physical in Philadelphia recently and the Arizona Diamondbacks are not going to seek catching help – at least that’s what first-year GM Dave Stewart has stressed of late.

In one of the more notable moves of late, the Kansas City Royals signed managed Ned Yost to a one-year extension – which comes as somewhat of a surprise given he led the team to its first American League pennant in decades; one may think he would be set up to land a long-term extension.

Here’s more from around the league:

“Cubs Convention set to kick off Friday” – Cubbies Crib

“Ned Yost, Royals agree to one-year extension” – Kings of Kaufmann

“Rooftop owners file another lawsuit against Cubs” – Cubbies Crib

“Dbacks GM says he will not add a new catcher” – Arizona Republic

“Orioles, Hunter open to long-term extension” – CSN Baltimore