Slow going as Cubs leave winter meetings empty-handed
Don't despair that the Cubs didn't make a big deal during the winter meetings.
That's the rule rather than the exception, and that includes the always-exciting Rule 5 draft, which was held Thursday with the Cubs neither gaining nor losing a player in the major-league phase.
The winter meetings get so much attention, and there is so much anticipation, because they're an annual tradition and because so many deals have been made at the meetings.
The off-season player market - both trades and free agency - has been stretching well into the new year of late, and this year looks to be no exception.
Nowadays the winter meetings enable team executives to meet with each other and with player agents to set the stage for future deals. After the meetings break up, interested parties are only a phone call away.
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer pretty much threw cold water on the notion the Cubs would make a major deal before leaving Las Vegas.
The Cubs acquired minor-league lefty Conor Lillis-White from the Angels Thursday. He's the player to be named to complete the Tommy La Stella trade. Lillis-White is not on the 40-man roster.
"The dialogue has been good for the whole industry, I just think it's been slow," Hoyer told reporters. "Sometimes, it probably takes a couple deals to break the ice, and it hasn't happened yet. You guys are probably somewhat bored. I know it's been a slow winter meetings.
"It's been productive for us. We've had a lot of conversations with agents, a lot of conversations with teams, good time here with staff."
The meetings were later than usual this year, and with the Christmas holiday upon us, it may be awhile before the Cubs do something significant.
"If things don't happen next week, we know things are going to drag into January," Hoyer said. "Every market has been different, but this has been a slower one."
New pitching coach ready to roll
New Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy was in Vegas. He replaces Jim Hickey, who resigned after one season for personal reasons.
The 37-year-old Hottovy has not been a pitching coach before, but he has worked with Cubs pitchers every game day in his role as coordinator of advance scouting. Video study and game preparation made up much of Hottovy's duties.
"These guys are open to information," Hottovy told reporters. "They really want to learn and get better. They understand how the game is evolving and how the information can help them.
"It's process oriented, not results. It's what can we do ahead of time that will lead to (fewer walks) - attacking the hitter, having the right approach, and those things will take care of themselves if we take control."
Good gig for bench coach Hyde
The Cubs look to be in the market for a new bench coach. Brandon Hyde appears signed, sealed and delivered to the Baltimore Orioles as their new manager.
Kudos to Hyde. He has been a do-it-all guy with the Cubs. Hired in December 2011, he was minor-league field coordinator and director of player development before joining the major-league staff as Rick Renteria's bench coach in 2014. He served Joe Maddon as first-base coach. Hyde is highly organized and will relate well to the young players the Orioles will bring up.