Chicago Cubs News: Coaching Staff taking shape, Brooks Kriske, Ben Zobrist

One week remains before the start of the MLB Winter Meeting, but there remains the expectation that the Chicago Cubs will not be among the newsmakers at the gathering of the baseball industry.

There was a time that the Cubs dominated the news cycle of the Winter Meetings but the days of the team winning the offseason may be gone for good. The Cubs, under Jed Hoyer, don't appear to be inclined to swim in the deepest waters of free agency and that isn't a stance that is likely to change. Even if Jed Hoyer does not return as the Cubs' President of Baseball Operations, it seems unlikely that Tom Ricketts will hire someone who challenged him in the way that Theo Epstein did.

In the week ahead, the focus for the Cubs will likely be on announcing Craig Counsell's coaching staff for the 2025 season.

Chicago Cubs News: Casey Jacobson promoted to assistant pitching coach

After former Cubs' assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos left the organization to become the new Miami Marlins' pitching coach, Craig Counsell promoted Casey Jacobson in his place. Moskos is believed to be a rising star on a Cubs' coaching staff that will have a different look for the 2025 season.

It would seem likely that by this time next week, the Cubs will have announced Counsell's full 2025 coaching staff. Of note, the Cubs have yet to name their first base coach in place of the recently departed Mike Napoli. Napoli is set to join the Cincinnati Reds' coaching staff under Terry Francona.

Chicago Cubs News: Another flier taken on a minor-league relief pitcher

The Cubs added more pitching depth to their organization on Friday as they inked right-handed relief pitcher Brooks Kriske to a minor-league deal.

Kriske last pitched at the Major League level with the Kansas City Royals in 2023. In 4 appearances, Kriske allowed 3 runs on 3 hits with 4 walks.

Chicago Cubs News: Ben Zobrist shares insight from 2016 World Series

Former Chicago Cubs super-utility player Ben Zobrist shared what was going through his mind when he get the game-winning double for the Cubs in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.

Zobrist is candidate to be inducted in this year's Hall of Fame class but it seems that he may face an uphill climb. Though, given his heroics in the 2016 World Series, Zobrist will always be a legend in the city of Chicago.