Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Announced, To Be Without Another Key Player For At Least A Month. On February 25, the New York Mets bolstered their injury-depleted roster by acquiring outfielder Alexander Canario from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash. The team announced the trade Monday night.
Canario, 24, played 15 games for the Cubs last season, posting a .280 batting average with one home run and two RBIs. In Triple-A Iowa, he hit .243 with 18 home runs and 47 RBIs over 64 appearances.
The Cubs designated Canario for assignment last Thursday after signing veteran infielder Justin Turner. He originally joined Chicago in 2021 as part of the trade that sent Kris Bryant to the San Francisco Giants, along with pitcher Caleb Kilian.
To make room for Canario, the Mets placed Nick Madrigal on the 60-day injured list after he fractured his left shoulder during a spring training game against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Madrigal had been slated as a backup to Francisco Lindor.
The Mets will continue their spring training schedule with a matchup against the Houston Astros at 1:05 p.m. EST on Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Announced, To Be Without Another Key Player For At Least A Month.
Cubs’ Boyd Refocusing on Strengths for a Resurgent 2025 Season
As the Chicago Cubs prepare for the 2025 season, veteran pitcher Matthew Boyd is shifting his mindset—rather than overhauling his game, he’s leaning into the skills that made him successful. After years of battling injuries, the 34-year-old is determined to rediscover his form by playing to his strengths.
Boyd’s career has seen highs and lows, including a dominant 2019 season when he posted a 30.2% strikeout rate, ranking among the league’s best. However, struggles with home runs led him to make adjustments, including working with Driveline Baseball to refine his approach and develop a changeup. Unfortunately, those changes came at a cost, impacting the effectiveness of his other pitches and contributing to injuries that required two major surgeries.
Now fully recovered, Boyd is taking a simplified, strategic approach. He’s focusing on maximizing his fastball’s vertical approach angle, a trait shared by elite pitchers like Aaron Nola and Freddy Peralta, while sharpening his once-dominant slider. Instead of chasing reinvention, he’s doubling down on what works best.
With guidance from Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and the team’s development staff, Boyd is fine-tuning his mechanics with small but impactful adjustments. The Cubs believe a healthy, confident Boyd could be a key piece of their rotation. As the new season nears, both Boyd and the organization remain optimistic that his best performances may still be ahead.
