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Sports

Which Chicago Cubs players are likely to get traded? Here’s where things stand with the deadline 1 month away.

Chicago Cubs closer David Robertson knows what awaits the next four weeks.Robertson, in his 14th big-league season, has been on the move ahead of the trade deadline once before and has seen plenty of teammates come and go during this month throughout the years. With the Aug. 2 trade deadline a month away, the Cubs will again be sellers. Robertson, who does not have trade protections in his contract, is expected to be on the move.Advertisement“That’s the way it goes,” Robertson told the Tribune this week. “You never know how many people you’re going to run through in a season. The trade stuff is above my pay grade. It’s uncontrollable for me. So, I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything yet.”Robertson likely won’t be the only Cub jettisoned by Aug. 2. The clubhouse will look different four weeks from now, a familiar position after one-third of the 2021 opening day roster was dealt before last year’s trade deadline.AdvertisementTrade talks will heat up in the coming weeks. With that in mind, here’s a look at which Cubs would be on the move:Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after scoring a run in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, June 30, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)If the Cubs follow their trade deadline playbook from last year, this is Contreras’ final month with the organization. It would be an unfortunate ending to a Cubs career that began in 2009 when Contreras signed as a teenager out of Venezuela. But barring a last-minute contract extension, it’s difficult envisioning a scenario in which the Cubs keep the catcher, who becomes a free agent after the season.Contreras is positioned to cash in in free agency as he produces the best offensive season of his career and could make his third All-Star Game start. For a money-making franchise like the Cubs, who have the long-term flexibility to sign him to a big contract, this will be another painful trade for fans to endure.Chicago Cubs closer David Robertson pitches during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field, May 31, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Robertson figures to be one of the most experienced and valuable closers on the market. The Cubs would be wise to try to move him as soon as possible. The 37-year-old right-hander has proven he is healthy in his first full season back after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2019. In the process, Robertson has returned to form as one of the best late-inning relievers in the majors. He should be a hot commodity for reliever-desperate teams. In addition to striking out hitters — 39 in 30 innings entering Saturday — Robertson has suppressed hits and home runs, allowing only 14 hits and three home runs. Aside from Contreras, he could net the Cubs their best return.Cubs relief pitcher Mychal Givens (60) throws to first base in the eighth inning against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 29, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)The Cubs had a clear strategy in spring to sign veteran relievers to one-year deals and hope a couple would pan out — and give them trade assets if the season didn’t pan out. While there have been misses (Daniel Norris and Jesse Chavez), the Cubs have two other veteran arms likely on the move with Robertson at the deadline.Right-handers Chris Martin and Mychal Givens fit the mix for what playoff contenders are looking for. Givens’ name had been a topic of trade rumors for years in Baltimore, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him on the move in the next month. While the number of base runners he allows can be problemattic, Givens’ setup experience is attractive.Martin forces batters to hit their way on base, limiting free passes to just four in 24⅓ innings entering Saturday. He has pitched well lately, throwing up zero earned runs in his last seven outings with no walks and five strikeouts. Martin also knows what it takes to win a title after being part of the Atlanta Braves’ World Series winning bullpen last year.AdvertisementChicago Cubs starter Drew Smyly (11) walks to the dugout after pitching the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field , May 18, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Left-handers Drew Smyly and Wade Miley, like their veteran bullpen counterparts, seemed fated to be on the move at the deadline. However, injuries have put a wrinkle in that plan. Miley (left shoulder strain) might not have enough time to get healthy and pitch in a big-league game before the deadline. He played light catch this week but there remains no timetable for his return.Smyly, though, is trending in the right direction. He threw a bullpen Friday and a rehab assignment could be coming soon, putting Smyly in play to return around the All-Star break. That timing would allow him to make a few starts before the trade deadline. Smyly had looked good before suffering a right oblique strain in late May, owning a 3.80 ERA in nine starts this year.Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (28) wipes his face during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field, May 20, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)Sometimes surprising trades get pulled off when deadline deals are involved. And with the Cubs clearly rebuilding with no definitive, public timeline for when the front office expects a playoff contending team on the field, nothing should be ruled out.That includes outfielder Ian Happ and right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Happ is producing the most consistent season of his career and is set to reach free agency after next season. Perhaps the front office considers him a piece to build around and looks to extend him in the offseason. But if the Cubs do not envision him being part of the organization beyond 2023, Happ’s trade value might not be any higher than it is now with an acquiring team getting that extra year of team control. The Cubs need more good, All-Star caliber players, not less, if they’re turning things around sooner than later. They should want to retain Happ if they believe what he’s showing is the real deal.Hendricks has meant a lot to the organization, and trading him before his contract extension ends after next season (he also has a 2024 club option) would be a significant move. That’s less about how he’s pitching (4.76 ERA in 15 starts) and more about his stature within the team. AdvertisementIf any move were to truly sever the Cubs’ past and future, it would be trading Hendricks. This feels like a sell low situation, though, given his inconsistencies the last two seasons. However, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made clear at last year’s trade deadline that he took the emotional aspect out of trade considerations. So, if teams inquire about Hendricks, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Cubs at least listen.

Sports

Leury García comes through in the 9th, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 1-0 win against the San Francisco Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Leury García came up with the go-ahead run at second base and two outs in the top of the ninth. The Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants were scoreless.The Sox second baseman had one thing on his mind.Advertisement“Bring the guys in,” he said.García did just that, knocking in Adam Haseley with a single to right to lead the Sox to a 1-0 victory Friday night. Haseley scored just ahead of Mike Yastrzemski’s throw as the Sox won the opener of the three-game series in thrilling fashion in front of 35,266 at Oracle Park.Advertisement“I know (reliever Camilo Doval) is a pretty good pitcher,” García said. “Everybody knows that. He’s got pretty good stuff. I tried to put the ball in play and drive the guys in.”García picked the perfect time for his biggest hit of the season.“That was good, a good game,” García said. “We got the W.”García entered Friday with a .193 batting average and 12 RBIs in 54 games. He went 2-for-4 Friday.“He’s been better lately, just got to watch, watch his at-bats the last weeks, not like they were earlier,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “He’s getting closer and closer. He’s a big-time player, got a big-time hit against a big-time arm out there.”The tense game went to the ninth scoreless. With one out, Gavin Sheets hit a grounder to first. Doval didn’t catch Brandon Belt’s throw to the base and was charged with an error.Haseley ran for Sheets and moved to second on a two-out hit by AJ Pollock. García was up next, and he came through on a 2-2 pitch.“I’ve been feeling good the last two weeks and honestly I don’t have the results that I want,” García said. “My mind is always get a hit. Try to get a hit and that’s what happened.”AdvertisementTeammates were glad to see García deliver in that spot.“That was awesome,” Sox starter Lance Lynn said. “He’s had a little struggle early on this year. He’s not going to shy away from that, but he gets his work in every day. He’s ready to play, wherever you tell him to go play, whatever part of the lineup.“For him to get that knock there, hopefully that kind of gets the weight off his shoulders and now he can just relax and go play and be the player that we all know he is.”The Chicago White Sox’s Leury García is greeted by catcher Reese McGuire after the team’s 1-0 win against the San Francisco Giants, July 1, 2022, in San Francisco. (Eric Risberg / AP)Lynn put the Sox in position for the win, allowing three hits, striking out five and walking two in six innings.“As a competitor you love the back and forth, no runs scoring,” Lynn said. “But you’d like a couple of runs there just to give yourself some wiggle room. But it’s fun to compete. I’ve pitched against (Giants starter) Alex (Cobb) a long time, so that was fun to compete against him and we were able to come through there at the end.”Lynn escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first and then settled in, at one point retiring 12 consecutive batters.AdvertisementLynn made his fourth start of the season after returning from right knee surgery in the spring to repair a torn tendon.“That’s part of the process here,” Lynn said. “Once you get into the flow of what you’re doing and your pitches and everything like that, everything starts rolling a little bit different.“With the wind blowing in, I was able to let the elements work for me.”There was a brief scare in the third.Giants left fielder Joc Pederson called for time just as Lynn went into his windup.Lynn stopped before throwing and walked behind the mound.AdvertisementThe training staff, La Russa and pitching coach Ethan Katz checked on Lynn, who remained in the game after throwing a warmup pitch. La Russa said he tweaked the knee “a little bit” but he was OK.“When you’re in the middle of going and try to stop, with a couple of less tendons it will do that,” Lynn said. “(Pederson) said ‘My bad’ (after the at-bat) and I said ‘All good.’ It’s part of the game.”Lynn allowed a two-out double in the fifth, but LaMonte Wade Jr. flied out to left. Lynn gave up a one-out single in the sixth, but retired the next two. He struck out Yastrzemski, his final batter of the night.Joe Kelly and Tanner Banks both struck out one, pitching the seventh and eighth respectively. Banks, who was credited with the victory, induced a double play during his inning.The Sox took advantage of the error in the ninth, and Haseley exhibited solid base running to score on García’s single.Kendall Graveman pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save. The final play was a grounder to García.Advertisement“Coming off an off day (Thursday) after losing two of three (to the Los Angeles Angels), we have to find ways to win games,” Lynn said. “A 1-0 win on the road, that’s a nice win for us.”Adam Haseley (51) of the Chicago White Sox scores sliding past the tag attempt from San Francisco Giants catcher Austin Wynns during the ninth inning July 1, 2022, in San Francisco. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

Sports

With USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten, conference realignment makes another seismic shift in college sports

Conference realignment in college sports has been going on since 1984, when the Supreme Court invalidated the NCAA’s national television contract for football.The conference juggling has gone through ebbs and flows through the years since, from small schools bumping up to power programs switching to other major conferences.AdvertisementThe latest move — USC and UCLA bolting the Pac-12 for the Big Ten — could be part of a tectonic shift. Not just because of the marquee schools involved but because it happened at a time when the NCAA is looking to take a more decentralized approach to governing college athletics, handing more power to schools and conferences.“You might think this is more seismic because it’s involving wealthier schools — and arguably it is — but also it’s seismic because of the underpinnings of the system, the foundations of the system, are being challenged at a time when the financial structure is exploding,” Smith College economics professor Andrew Zimbalist said Friday. “It may have larger ramifications, but it is a process that’s been ongoing.”AdvertisementThe decisions by USC and UCLA to join the Big Ten in 2024 come roughly a year after Texas and Oklahoma announced they were leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.[ Big Ten votes to add USC and UCLA as members starting in 2024, marking a seismic shift in college athletics ][ [Don’t miss] What’s next for conference realignment after USC, UCLA join Big Ten?  ]While surprising, even to Pac-12 officials, the announcement Thursday gives the Los Angeles schools stability and exposure in a shifting collegiate sports landscape.“It’s huge for our student-athletes, just from a national-exposure perspective,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said. “They’re going compete at the highest level in a major elite conference in different time zones. UCLA is always national, but now we have the ability for student athletes to showcase their talent across the country. That’s exciting.”For all the other benefits, the bottom line to the defections is the bottom line.The SEC has become a college football behemoth that distributed $54.6 million to each of its member schools in the 2021 fiscal year. The Big Ten has tried to keep up and had a per-school distribution of $46.1 million last year.The Pac-12 had the lowest distribution number among Power Five schools, paying its member institutions $19.8 million in 2021.At the core, it’s all about TV.UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, tries to get by USC forward Isaiah Mobley on March 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. USC and UCLA are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in a seismic change that could lead to another major realignment of college sports. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)The SEC has a $3 billion deal with ESPN that’s set to kick in in 2024, and the Big Ten is negotiating a massive media-rights deal. The Pac-12 has floundered when it comes to TV as the conference’s network has struggled to gain footing while many of its games are played late at night.AdvertisementWith costs to run college athletic programs have climbed in recent years, exacerbated by the pandemic, moving to an even bigger conference provides more financial stability. For the Big Ten, adding UCLA and USC gives the conference a foothold in the nation’s second-largest media market.“Money talks,” said Tom McMillen, President and CEO of Lead1, which represents Football Bowl Subdivision athletic directors and programs. “I was on the board of regents when Maryland jumped in to the Big Ten, and there were all kinds of arguments about it was academics and it was this and that, but ultimately it came down to money. I think that’s the same case here.”The defections will create two mega conferences that will hold the majority of power and money, leaving the rest scrambling to keep up.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.The tiering could stratify even more if the SEC and the Big Ten continue to expand, which could be the next step.The future power structure could consist of two, maybe three mega conferences of up to 20 schools at the top, with the Power Five joining the Group of Five conferences in the tier below but still above the Football Championship Subdivision.More schools in the Pac-12 and Big 12, along with the ACC, could look to bolt for more stability.AdvertisementConferences losing members likely will face two options: combining to form a mega conference of their own or expand on the current membership. The Pac-12 said it plans to take the expansion route, issuing a statement Friday that said it is exploring all expansion options.“You have exploding costs on one end and your revenue sources are being decimated, which is a tremendous pressure,” Zimbalist said. “On the other hand, what do you do? Well, something pretty radical I think is going to have to happen.”Uncertainty is the only thing that’s certain at this point.Associated Press reporter Joe Reedy contributed from Los Angeles.

Lifestyle

Viburnum leaf beetle is a relatively new pest to Chicagoland gardens. Here’s how to treat an infestation.

“The leaves of my arrowwood viburnums look like they have been shredded, and the small pieces of leaves that remain have turned completely brown. This has not happened in previous years. I had always thought that this viburnum was trouble-free and easy to grow. What is this problem and what should I do?”— Gail Westerman, HighwoodAdvertisementYour description sounds like your viburnums have been attacked by the viburnum leaf beetle, a relatively new insect pest for the Chicago region. I have been seeing lots of arrow wood viburnums in home gardens, with lots of damage this year, including my own plants, since the arrowwood viburnum is a favorite of this insect. The Chicago Botanic Garden monitors its viburnum collection for this pest each year now and treats it as needed. AdvertisementYou will need to control the insect on your viburnums, as well as provide supplemental water during dry periods this summer if you want to save them. The plants should leaf back out this year if they were healthy before being damaged.Damage from viburnum leaf beetles, a relatively new insect pest for the Chicago region. (Tim Tiddens/Chicago Botanic Garden)The viburnum leaf beetle is a heavy feeder that can completely defoliate viburnums. It happened very quickly on the viburnums in my garden. Both larvae and adults feed on the leaves and remove leaf tissue between the midrib and larger veins. The leaves will then have a skeletonized appearance, which will look like they have been shredded. Plants may die after two or three years of damage from very heavy infestations. This insect’s feeding is limited to viburnum species, so you do not have to treat other plants in your garden. Monitor any other viburnums that you are growing, though, for this insect.The viburnum leaf beetle prefers viburnums with smooth leaves (little hair or pubescence). Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) and American cranberrybush viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) are commonly planted viburnums that are preferred hosts and will likely be killed over a course of two to three years if no control treatments are made. Other widely planted viburnums such as burkwood viburnum (Viburnum burkwoodii), blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) and fragrant snowball viburnum (Viburnum carlcephalum) have varying degrees of susceptibility to damage but generally are not destroyed. Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlessii), Judd viburnum (Viburnum juddii) and doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum) tend to be resistant to feeding. There generally will be more damage on any viburnums that are grown in the shade.Viburnum leaf beetles overwinter as eggs on twigs of the host plant. In May, larvae hatch from the overwintered eggs and begin feeding on the host plants — this is the damage you have recently noticed on your plants. The larvae are greenish-yellow and develop dark spots as they age. They are usually found feeding in groups on the leaves. The larvae drop to the ground and pupate between early and mid-June and remain in the ground for about 10 days before emerging as adults in mid- to late July, so you may not see them at this time. The adult beetle is small, ½ to ⅜ of an inch long and is a golden-brown color with sheen when in the sunlight. Adults will remain active until the first frost. Development from egg to adult takes eight to 10 weeks.AdvertisementIn late summer and fall, females will begin laying eggs. They chew holes in the bark of twigs to deposit eggs and then cover them with excrement and fragments of chewed bark. A female can lay up to 500 eggs. One effective way to control viburnum leaf beetle is to prune and destroy infested twigs after egg laying has ceased in the fall in October, up until April. But pruning alone will not be enough. You will need to spray an insecticide such as spinosad, acephate, carbaryl or malathion when larvae first appear in early May for good control. Acephate will have a degree of residual activity, as it will move into the leaves. A second application in mid- to late summer on feeding adults may be helpful if damage is excessive, but a strategy of just treating adults will not provide effective control. You should only spray your viburnums if you find this insect and follow all directions for proper and safe use of the product that you are using. Provide supplemental water to the affected viburnums during any dry periods for the rest of this year to help reduce stress on the plants.For more plant advice, contact the Plant Information Service at the Chicago Botanic Garden at plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org. Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Sports

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges is charged with felony domestic violence, LAPD says

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges was charged with felony domestic violence stemming from an incident earlier this week, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Friday.The LAPD posted on Twitter that Bridges was arrested for “intimate partner violence with injury,” a felony, on Wednesday after an incident two days earlier in West Los Angeles.AdvertisementHe was released on $130,000 bond and has a July 20 court date. The LAPD said it does not release police reports on domestic violence arrests.Mychelle Johnson, the mother of Bridges’ two young children, addressed the incident on Instagram on Friday, posting several pictures of injuries and a medical report that read “adult victim of physical abuse by male partner; Assault by strangulation, Brain concussion; Closed fracture of nasal bone; Contusion of rib; Multiple bruises; Strain of neck muscle.”Advertisement“I hate that it has come to this but I can’t be silent anymore. I’ve allowed someone to destroy my home, abuse me in every way possible and traumatize our kids for life,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “I have nothing to prove to the world, but I won’t allow anyone who could do something so horrible to have no remorse and paint a picture of something I’m not. I won’t allow the people around him to continue to silence me and continue to lie to protect this person.”Bridges’ agent, Rich Paul, did not return phone calls to the Associated Press, and it was unclear whether Bridges has an attorney. Attempts to reach Johnson also were unsuccessful, and AP could not locate an attorney of record for her.Bridges, 24, is a restricted free agent who is expected to command big money this summer following a breakout season.The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Bridges was the Hornets’ leading scorer, averaging 20.2 points and seven rebounds in his fourth NBA season.The Hornets extended Bridges a qualifying offer earlier this week, allowing them a chance to match any offer sheet made by another team. The team indicated earlier this week — before knowledge of Bridges’ arrest — that it wanted to re-sign him.The Hornets released a statement Thursday, indicating they are looking into the incident. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said “we are in the process of gathering more information.”