Cubs rumors: Japanese pitcher on offseason radar?

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Cubs were among 10 MLB squads on hand to watch a recent start by Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto as he took the mound for the Orix Buffaloes. Also on hand were Chicago's division rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the New York Yankees and Mets, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers.

With plenty of intrigue surrounding Yamamoto as he expected to be posted and have plenty of MLB suitors, the 25-year-old right-hander threw seven scoreless innings, likely causing the scouts in attendance to salivate over the prospect of having him in the rotation in 2024 and beyond.

While Shohei Ohtani is expected to draw much of the attention this offseason, don't overlook the tussle there will be to acquire Yamamoto's services. It appears the Cubs could be in on the bidding as well and has some recent experience in the process, signing Seiya Suzuki (after he had played nine NPB seasons) before the 2022 campaign to a five-year, $85 million deal.

Cubs rumors: A weekend of moves on tap in Pittsburgh?

With the series starting in the Steel City, the Cubs fortified their bullpen on Friday by calling up right-hander Keegan Thompson, who has pitched in 15 games for the Cubs this season, but none since being lit up by the Houston Astros for three runs without recording an out on May 17.

Thompson returns after posting a 5.56 ERA in 11.1 innings over six August appearances for Triple-A Iowa. While the numbers may not be that impressive as a whole, the Cubs are in need of an arm and Thompson has been better of late, allowing only two earned runs and one walk in his last 8.1 innings with eight strikeouts.

With Thompson coming up, the Cubs optioned reliever Michael Rucker to Iowa.

While Thompson is a part of the Chicago bullpen for now, don't be surprised if it doesn't last long. It's possible that he could be there for a short time with Jordan Wicks rumored to make his MLB debut by drawing a start in the Sunday series finale.

The first-round draft pick in 2021 has done well at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season and was scratched from his start earlier in the week for what was described as a non-injury-related reason, meaning he could be getting the call from the Cubs.

Cubs news: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs farm system get some love

ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel recently updated his MLB farm system rankings, and the Cubs scored high, coming in second on the list behind only the Baltimore Orioles.

One of the reasons for the high ranking is Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was taken by the New York Mets as the 19th overall pick in the 2020 draft before being swapped to the Cubs at the 2021 MLB trade deadline in a deal that sent Javier Baez to Queens.

Ranked 15th on McDaniel's midseason list of prospects, he writes that, "...PCA still chases a bit too much, but he has the rest of the package you're looking for in an elite prospect. He has solid bat-to-ball ability, above average potential, plus speed and plus defense in center field."

The 21-year-old Crow-Armstrong entered Friday's action slashing .266/.356/.506 in 79 Triple-A bats since being promoted to Iowa on August 1. Ranked as the top prospect in the Cubs organization by MLB.com, Crow-Armstrong is projected to make his MLB debut next season.