Cheerful and carefree is simply not how Counsell rolls. That focused attitude will influence how the Cubs approach the July 31 trade deadline. The contrarian manager is an extension of Jed Hoyer’s front office, which obsesses over depth and knows from experience that things can quickly go sideways.

The Chicago Cubs are expected to make some real upgrades over the course of the next week ahead of the trade deadline. They have been the center of rumors for m

The rookie third baseman came out of the All-Star break with four hits, including a homer, in three games against the Red Sox, but is that enough to keep the Cubs from shopping for a third baseman?