Thursday, February 6, 2025
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Cubs Still Interested in Signing Another Free Agent Infielder

By
Aldo Soto
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Aug 10, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco (7) jogs off the field after the first inning against the New York Mets at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Jorge Polanco Re-Signs

Well, earlier this week Bruce Levine named free agent infielder Jorge Polanco as a potential target for the Cubs, who are reportedly still interested in signing another to provide more depth on the bench. Polanco, who played with the Seattle Mariners in 2024, has re-signed.

According to Ken Rosenthal, Polanco’s one-year deal is worth $7.75 million. The contract also includes an option for the 2026 season. It also appears as though the Houston Astros had strong interest in signing Polanco and starting him at second base.

The 31-year-old ultimately decided to stay in Seattle, where Polanco will be the primary third baseman.

(Previous Update)

Chicago baseball insider Bruce Levine dropped a handful of nuggets regarding the remaining offseason plans for the Cubs and it turns out that the team is still interested in signing another free agent infielder. While the Cubs are somewhat in the mix for Alex Bregman, waiting to see if the third baseman will re-think his position on a short-term contract, the front office is reportedly on the search for more depth on the bench.

Despite signing veteran infielder Jon Berti to a one-year deal the Cubs still want to upgrade the bench and Levine name-dropped a pair of free agents who could be on their radar.

Via Audacy.

The club is still interested in adding another veteran infielder, with the likes of Jose Iglesias and Jorge Polanco looming as potential names who could help their bench.

Iglesias, 35, hit .337 with an .830 OPS in 85 games for the Mets in 2024. Polanco, 31, hit .213 with 16 homers and a .651 OPS in 118 games for the Mariners last season.

Taking a quick look at the current Cubs roster you can project the Opening Day starting infield to be: Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson and Matt Shaw. However, the Cubs aren’t sure one way or another whether Hoerner will be fully recovered from his offseason surgery by the time the team kicks off the season with a pair of games in Japan in the middle of March.

Behind Berti the Cubs do not have much proven depth on the bench in case another injury pops up.

The team traded for Vidal Bruján earlier in the offseason and he’s the only other player on the Cubs’ 40-man roster with previous MLB experience. Bruján hasn’t produced much at the plate, posting a career .531 OPS in 201 MLB games. Benjamin Cowles and Gage Workman, the other two infielders on the 40-man, haven’t played above Double-A in their respective careers.

So, it makes sense that the Cubs remain on the lookout for another proven infielder in addition to Berti.

Although Jose Iglesias and his 137 wRC+ from the 2024 season with the New York Mets appears to be the more attractive option for the Cubs, I’m not quite sure how repeatable that is for the 35-year-old. Iglesias slashed .337/.381/.448, in 291 plate appearances, but he has a career 90 wRC+. The only season when Iglesias was an above average hitter with at least 300 trips to the plate came in 2013, when he had a 102 wRC+ in 382 plate appearances.

To be clear, adding Iglesias wouldn’t be a bad move for the Cubs. Not a lot of power, but plenty of contact, carrying a career .283 batting average that has boosted his OBP to a decent mark at .323. He can play second, shortstop and third base and rated positively as an overall defender in 2024.

Meanwhile, Jorge Polanco had a frustrating season with the Seattle Mariners. The switch-hitter dealt with a knee injury that limited him to 118 games. The 31-year-old eventually had surgery in October.

Polanco missed a month on the injured list and it took him some time to regain his timing when he returned, but he eventually turned the corner. From July 24 through the end of the season, Polanco slashed .232/.314/.432, with 10. home runs in 210 plate appearances. His 116 wRC+ during the final couple months of the season was more in line with his career 109 wRC+.

From 2021-23, Polanco hit 63 home runs with the Minnesota Twins. He slashed .255/.333/.462, a 120 wRC+ with a 10.1 BB%.

Unlike Iglesias though, Polanco is not known as a good defensive infielder.

I think Polanco would be the better acquisition, but he’s probably looking for more guaranteed playing time to re-establish his value following a down 2024 season.

The Cubs have previously been linked to free agent infielders Josh Rojas and Yoan Moncada. Rojas signed with the White Sox, while Moncada remains unsigned.

Reds Nearly Landed Luis Robert Jr. In Blockbuster Trade

By
Craig Rowland
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Aug 19, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) hits an RBI single during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

After the White Sox traded Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox, the only player with significant value left on the team is Luis Robert Jr. All eyes were focused on Robert Jr. to see if he would be the next major player on the move, but at this point there hasn’t been a trade.

That isn’t for lack of trying, as the Cincinnati Reds were in discussions with Chris Getz for Robert Jr., as they have been linked to him for a while. According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, the Reds and the White Sox weren’t able to find common ground on a blockbuster trade that would have sent Robert Jr. to the Reds.

In his article, Rosenthal explains that the Reds and the White Sox could not come to terms on exactly which players should be included in the deal, or how much money the White Sox would retain on Robert Jr.’s 15 million dollar salary.

However, it is important to note that Rosenthal included that the Reds were discussing one of their top prospects, Edwin Arroyo, in the deal. This is significant, as there seems to be a framework laid out for a deal. In the newly released MLB Pipeline Top Prospects list, Arroyo was ranked as the 92nd best prospect in all of baseball.

Arroyo is a 21 year old shortstop that made it all the way to AA as a 20 year old in 2023, but he missed the 2024 season due to an injury. Arroyo has a bunch of potential and would be a very solid addition to the White Sox farm system. However, it is likely that the White Sox would be looking for more as a headliner for Robert Jr., or to take on less of his salary.

It seems that talks are dead as of right now, but Rosenthal was on the Foul Territory podcast and noted that the talks could easily be revived if newly signed Austin Hayes fails his physical with the Reds, as they now have a decent foundation for a trade.

In his interview, he seemed pretty confident that the White Sox will continue to explore a trade for Robert Jr., but the timeframe is uncertain. If there are any major injuries in Spring Training, especially on the Reds, teams could become more inclined to make a deal.

Robert Jr. is an interesting trade candidate, as he showed he had MVP potential in 2023, but was extremely underwhelming in 2024. Chris Getz is right to value him closer to his 2023 season, as Robert Jr. could easily be back to that form in 2025. If he does, expect the White Sox to get significantly more than the 92nd ranked prospect in all of baseball.

Unless the White Sox get what they are asking for, it would be smart to hold onto him until the deadline, especially if he gets off to a hot start.

Newest Update On Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic Trade Talks

By
Ryan Dauterive
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Oct 23, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) and center Nikola Vucevic (9) talk on a time out against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Chicago has been consistent through the first three months of this season that two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic is up for grabs. The 34-year-old center has a contract that expires in the summer of 2026, and his $20 million annual average is among the league average at the center position. His ability to shoot the three-point ball at a 40% clip at nearly five attempts per outing isolates him from the rest of the field. The stretch-five-player archetype is highly sought after in today’s three-point-driven offensive game, and he’s the only player in the trade market in that category. While early indications saw the Golden State Warriors as the most aggressive trade partner for Chicago’s center, Jake Fischer, Bleacher Report’s NBA Insider, provided the most up-to-date information on where Vucevic’s market activity lies.

Warriors, Lakers Likely Out On Vucevic

Per Fischer, in his live stream this afternoon, Los Angeles and Golden State will likely not be adding Vucevic by the deadline. This is mainly due to Chicago’s asking price of one first-round draft pick, a price too steep for a mid-30s center with only one year left before hitting unrestricted free agency, with minimal postseason experience or success. He also hasn’t earned an All-Star nod in four years, has never been named to an All-NBA team, and does not provide much value defensively.

Fischer notes that if the Bulls continue their lackluster month of January and slip entirely out of the playoff picture, this price tag could drop. The first team to jump on a discounted Vucevic would be Golden State, which is thought to be a destination the 6’10” would willingly join. His three-point abilities would fit seamlessly with Steve Kerr’s offense alongside Stephen Curry.

LaVine Talks Remain Silent, He Wants To Stay

During his NBA trade deadline rundown, Fischer also detailed that LaVine’s status remains unchanged. He wants to stay in Chicago despite being dangled in trade talks for much of the last two years, and the Bulls don’t have any legitimate suitors. There have been murmurs around the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, or Los Angeles Lakers potentially adding the two-time All-Star guard. Still, with his stellar play this month and Bradley Beal and Jimmy Butler being older and more expensive, he might’ve become the most valuable star guard over the next week. Chicago most recently asked for three first-round draft picks if a deal with Phoenix would happen.

Over the next week, does Chicago move either of their former All-Stars and begin a full-scale rebuild? Can the Warriors land either of the two Bulls and help aid a playoff run?

Cubs Sign Former Royals Pitcher Hated by White Sox Fans

By
Aldo Soto
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May 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller (56) pitches during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs have signed Brad Keller, who is mostly known from his time as a starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. The right-handed pitcher had reportedly agreed to a contract with the Lotte Marines of the NPB in Japan last November, but that deal fell through and now the 29-year-old has signed on with the Cubs.

Cubs Insider writer Jacob Zanolla first reported the deal on Wednesday. Keller made 16 appearances in the majors last year, when he began the season with the Chicago White Sox and then joined the Boston Red Sox in late May.

Keller will be one of several pitchers on minor league deals that will be in spring training, competing for a roster spot with the Cubs.

Originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013, Keller made it up to the big leagues with the Royals in 2018. As a rookie, Keller split time in the bullpen and starting rotation, finishing the season with a 3.08 ERA in 140.1 innings.

From 2018-2020, Keller appeared in 70 games and posted a 3.50 ERA in 360.1 innings. Out of those 70 games, 57 were starts. Nothing was really dominant on paper, as Keller only recorded a 16.8 K% during that stretch, but he was able to limit major damage by producing a 52.1% ground ball rate.

However, things went south for Keller following 2020. The strikeout rate didn’t improve much, he started to allow more home runs and more walks as well. He recorded a 5.39 ERA in 2021, 5.09 ERA in 2022 and in 2023 Keller only pitched in 11 games, missing most of the year with shoulder impingement syndrome.

The right-hander signed a minor league deal with the White Sox last season and made five total outings, including two starts. Keller had a 4.86 ERA in 16.2 innings before he was designated for assignment in May. The Red Sox then scooped him up, but Keller wasn’t any better as a multi-inning reliever, posting a 5.84 ERA in 11 games with Boston.

I mean, Keller still gets a ton of ground balls, 52.8% ground ball rate in the past three seasons, so maybe that’s what caught the attention of the Cubs.

One last note on Keller. You’ll probably remember him from the time he hit White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson during a game in 2019. Anderson hit a home run, tossed his bat emphatically and then Keller drilled him. Keller was eventually suspended five games for intentionally hitting Anderson with a pitch.

In 720.1 innings in MLB Keller has a 4.34 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. Can he recapture his effectiveness from his early days? I guess we’ll see what Keller has left in the tank during spring training and if he sticks around in the organization once the regular season begins.

Four Months Down: Blackhawks’ Biggest Surprising/Disappointing Players Through January

By
Isaac Nielsen
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Jan 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) celebrates his goal with center Frank Nazar (91) against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Blackhawks still have one game left in January when they visit the Hurricanes Thursday night, but at this point in the season, we’ve got a good idea of where every player on the team is in their overall play. The Blackhawks are still one of the worst teams in the NHL (but actually have one more point in the standings than the Sharks for the moment), but Chicago has gotten a lot more fun to watch lately, with nine skaters aged 23 and younger on the active roster.

A handful of the Blackhawks’ long-term assets are turning into pleasant surprises, but others couldn’t be having more disappointing seasons. As we flip the calendar to February, it’s time to check in on this season’s biggest surprises and disappointments through January.

Surprises

Tyler Bertuzzi

Bertuzzi struggled out of the gate this season, with many questioning his status on the Blackhawks’ top line. Then, in mid-December, something finally clicked between Bertuzzi and Connor Bedard. Since December 19, the 29-year-old has nine goals and 15 points in just 18 games, moving him all the way up to fourth in points on the team – and he’s still climbing. Bertuzzi has enjoyed a terrific season as a result of his net-front presence, using his stick or skate to redirect shots into the net. If he can continue this production, he’ll represent one of Chicago’s biggest wins from last summer’s free agency spending spree and earn himself a spot on the future roster, especially since his contract doesn’t expire until 2028.

Frank Nazar

Nazar hasn’t done a ton in the scoring column in 21 games since he was called up, scoring three goals and eight points. Still, he’s doing more than enough on a nightly basis to get Chicago excited about his future career. Nazar is earning a spot on the top line next to Bertuzzi and Bedard, and his standout skating speed makes him fun to watch whenever he’s on the ice. The 21-year-old faced high expectations after being a 13th-overall pick, but it’s certainly a pleasant surprise to see him playing at such a high level already.

Arvid Soderblom

Easily the biggest surprise of this season, Soderblom has somehow transformed into Chicago’s future true No. 1 goaltender. Before the season, he was seemingly left behind, with Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit expected to share the NHL net and Drew Commesso given the starting job in Rockford. With Brossoit out for most of this season, Soderblom has taken full advantage. After another excellent performance on Tuesday, the 25-year-old now boasts an incredible .910 save percentage on the season, putting him above the likes of Igor Shesterkin and Lukas Dostal. The Blackhawks could have some problems if and when Brossoit comes back, but after a shocking career turnaround, Soderblom is at no risk of losing his job.

Disappointments

TJ Brodie

There was always a chance Brodie wouldn’t pan out after a questionable season in Toronto a year ago, but the Blackhawks took a chance on him anyway with a two-year contract. That’s clearly been a disappointment for Chicago, as Brodie is often the worst skater on the ice. He’s picked up nine points in 45 games and often finds himself clearly out of position. There’s a case to be made for a veteran presence like Brodie in the lineup, but there’s a reason he’s starting to find himself being a healthy scratch more often – it’s much more beneficial for the Blackhawks at this point to give players like Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro more ice time and send him to the press box.

Philipp Kurashev

Speaking of players spending time in the press box, perhaps no one has been more disappointing on the Blackhawks than Philipp Kurashev. It was no secret that the 25-year-old reaped huge benefits from playing next to Bedard last season, scoring a career-high 54 points. After last summer’s free agency window, Kurashev was squeezed out of the top six, but many expected him to continue his development in a bottom-six role and continue to produce. That projection couldn’t have been further off, as Kurashev has underperformed to the point where he spends half the time as a healthy scratch. He’s picked up just eight points in 35 games, and with his contract set to expire this summer, his time in Chicago should be nearing its end.

Dennis Allen Promises One Major Change To Bears Defense

By
Erik Lambert
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dennis allen

Probably the biggest addition new head coach Ben Johnson made to the Chicago Bears staff was his defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen. The man brings plenty of pedigree with him as a two-time former head coach who has produced five top-10 defenses since 2011. His best work came in New Orleans, where he helped return the team to the status of Super Bowl contenders in the late 2010s. While his stint as head coach didn’t end well there, almost everybody around the league believes he has a bright future as a defensive coordinator. That is why Johnson reached out to him at the end of December.

Allen met with the media for the first time on Thursday. He was asked about how things would go with him running the defense moving forward. One thing was made crystal clear from the start. Don’t expect the Bears to sit back and let offenses dictate the tempo anymore.

“We want to be an attacking, aggressive style of defense. We want to take the fight to the offense and not let the offense dictate the tempo to us. We’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to challenge everything, we’re going to play the game the right way, we’re going to play a tough, physical brand of football, I think the brand of football you come to expect at the Chicago Bears.”

The numbers back up Dennis Allen.

Blitz percentage became an official stat seven years ago. Throughout his time in New Orleans as defensive coordinator between 2018 and 2021, he blitzed on 28.27% of the plays. By contrast, Matt Eberflus blitzed an average of 22.85% during his two years running the defense for the Bears in 2023 and 2024. That pretty much guarantees there will be a considerable uptick in extra attackers each week. Expect cornerback Kyler Gordon to lead that charge. Allen loved using the nickel corner as a chess piece in blitz looks with the Saints. Gordon had nine pressures and a sack on 48 blitzes this season.

For an attacking defense to work, you also need good pass rushers. Chicago has a couple with Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter, but they still lack a true dynamic presence on the line. It is safe to assume Dennis Allen will push to add another piece to the mix at some point between March and April. Once the Bears can start consistently pressuring opponents, their odds of winning games will go way up.

Cubs Eyeing Dylan Cease as Padres Look to Shed Payroll

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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Oct 9, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease (84) throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

The Padres are reportedly looking to move Dylan Cease this offseason, and trade talks with the Chicago Cubs have legs. 

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Cubs are a team to watch in the Cease sweepstakes. The Padres are looking for more payroll flexibility, so they are trying to move Cease and fellow right-hander Michael King. Cease is more likely to be traded between the two pitchers, given that he makes more money. 

The Cubs have already spoken to the Padres about a potential deal for Cease. Their farm system includes seven of MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects. Six of those seven prospects are expected to be ready for the big leagues in 2025, making them an ideal trade partner for the Padres. 

Cease is owed $13.75 million in 2025, making him a great value given the current starting pitching market. He has made 32-plus starts in each of the last four seasons, and his 716 innings are the seventh-most in the MLB during that stretch. His 17.2 wins above replacement are also the sixth-highest in the majors. The Cubs rotation could certainly use the boost. Cease’s 4.2 WAR  was higher than every starter in the Cubs rotation last season. FanGraphs also ranks their projected rotation of Shota Iminaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Tallion, Matthew Boyd, and Javier Assad to be the 20th-best in the MLB. 

A trade to the Cubs would be a reunion of sorts for Cease, who was selected by the organization in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. The Georgia native soon established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball before getting traded to the White Sox along with outfielder Eloy Jimenez, first baseball Matt Rose, and infielder Bryant Flete in exchange for left-hander Jose Quintana. At the time of the trade, Cease was considered the No. 5 pitching prospect in baseball.

In five seasons on the South Side Cease owned a career 11.8 WAR and 3.83 ERA. He finished runner-up in the 2022 Cy Young voting after posting a 2.20 ERA and a career-high 227 strikeouts. He also ranked inside the MLB’s top ten in strikeouts during his final three seasons in Chicago. 

The Actual Reason Ryan Poles Keeps Failing On The Offensive Line

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan poles
Oct 27, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) scrambles from Washington Commanders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

People have tried to figure out why Ryan Poles has failed to build the Chicago Bears offensive line so spectacularly over the past three years. It was supposed to be his area of expertise. He played offensive line in college, so one would think he’d have a good eye for talent in that area. Yet he just watched a unit he built surrender 67 sacks and block for the 28th-ranked rushing attack in the NFL. That is about as bad as it gets. It is easy to understand why many fans don’t trust him to fix things going into this off-season.

The truth is there isn’t much nuance to Poles’ failures. Much of it stems from his stubborn refusal to stick with programs with proven track records for producing good offensive linemen. Here is a list of schools that have produced a Pro Bowl offensive lineman in the draft since 2020.

  • Iowa (2)
  • Ohio State
  • Wisconsin
  • Oregon
  • Alabama
  • Oklahoma
  • Northwestern
  • Tennessee
  • Tulsa
  • Nebraska

Here are the schools of every offensive lineman Poles has drafted since he took over in 2022.

  • Southern Utah
  • San Diego State
  • Illinois
  • Southern
  • Tennessee
  • Yale

It probably isn’t a coincidence that Darnell Wright, by far the best pick from that group, came from the most proven school (Tennessee).

Ryan Poles must stop trying to be the smartest guy in the room.

It feels like he’s leaning way too much into his own background, trying to find that diamond in the rough others fail to spot. He was an undrafted rookie out of Boston College and may still feel he never got a proper shot. That is not how to operate when running a draft room, especially with such a vital part of the roster. The most successful era of Bears offensive line play was the 1980s, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why. That great unit comprised guys from USC, Iowa, Pitt, and Notre Dame.

Not a small school guy to be found.

Every sign points to the Bears being aggressive at rebuilding the offensive line this spring. That includes free agency and the draft. Ryan Poles has four picks in the top three rounds this year. He has only spent two in that range on linemen to this point, and one of them was injured and came from Yale. The mining for gold needs to stop. Stick to the programs that have done this before. Alabama, Ohio State, and LSU have some excellent prospects in this class. Don’t overthink it.

Miguel Vargas Expected To Improve But Faces High Expectations

By
Craig Rowland
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Sep 22, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas (20) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

In less than two weeks, pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training for the White Sox, officially transitioning to the 2025 season. It will signal the end of the dreadful 2024 season, allowing the players who still remain on the roster to purge the historically bad season from their minds. 

The Opening Day roster will look very different than it did last year, and as the year progresses, some of the White Sox top prospects will join the roster as they earn promotions to Chicago. There are many variables to how a player will perform in a given season, but certain baseball reference websites try to give their best evaluation on how a player will perform for the upcoming season. 

Each year, FanGraphs releases their Steamer projections on how they believe each player will perform in the upcoming year. We will be taking a look at each player’s 2025 projections as we approach Spring Training.

We have recently covered Luis Robert Jr. and Andrew Vaughn’s projections, now we move to one of the biggest wildcards on the team, Miguel Vargas.

Vargas was the main piece the White Sox received at the trade deadline in the three team trade that saw Michael Kopech go to the Dodgers, while Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham went to the Cardinals.

At the time of the trade, the return felt a bit underwhelming, but Varags was a consensus top-40 prospect in all of baseball just a year prior, so there was plenty of potential for him to unlock with the White Sox.

That wasn’t the case, as Vargas slashed .104/.217/.170 with the White Sox, adding two homeruns and seven RBIs. This wasn’t what the White Sox were looking to get out of Varags, but he still is only 25 and only has 500 at-bats under his belt, so there is plenty of room for development.

FanGraphs believes that there will be improvement this year, as they project a .227/.325/.382 slash line with 12 homeruns, 44 RBIs and nine stolen bases. While that would be a significant improvement from his numbers last season, that would still be slightly disappointing to see from Vargas.

If Varags can bring up the average, that wouldn’t be an awful season, but hitting in the low 200s with a .325 OBP would not be ideal for a player who is known to get on base by taking his walks. This is a huge year for Vargas, as there is plenty of competition for at-bats both at third and at DH, so if he doesn’t play well he may find himself out of playing time.

Lions Player Warns Bears Aren’t Ready For The Maniac Ben Johnson Is

By
Erik Lambert
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ben johnson
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson celebrates a play against Minnesota Vikings during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

After bragging about culture for three years with Matt Eberflus, it became evident the former Chicago Bears head coach didn’t have the personality to hold a locker room together. Much of that came from his constant inability to handle end-of-game situations, constantly costing his team victories. Players lost faith in him. That is why GM Ryan Poles was forced to fire him. He knew the team needed a culture shock with whoever the next guy was. That was how the Bears landed on Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Some people were skeptical. Nobody doubts the man is an offensive wizard. He should be great at developing Caleb Williams. However, they wonder if he has charisma and a single-minded purpose to grab the attention of players as a leader. Veteran offensive lineman Dan Skipper was around to watch Johnson’s rise in Detroit. He knows exactly the type of coach the Bears are getting, and he sent a warning to the players via Kalyn Kahler of ESPN. Stay out of his way if you know what’s good for you.

Ben Johnson is the jolt this team needs.

It is evident from watching him that he is big on details. Every player is required to know their exact responsibilities from play to play. If they don’t execute with proper precision, he will let them know it. That may sound harsh, but football isn’t called a game of inches for no reason. The smallest mistakes can have devastating consequences. That is why the best head coaches often don’t let the little things slide. Don’t expect to spend much time on the field if you’re not on top of things on every play.

Ben Johnson brings that to the table. Eberflus had a bad tendency to let things slide. Players complained about it this past season, saying guys were too lax in practice about the little things. That won’t fly under this head coach. Johnson will root those players out right away, which might explain why his agent hinted there could be more roster turnover than fans are expecting. It was the same thing that happened with Mike Ditka all those years ago. Only those ready to put in the work will stay.

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