July 15, 2017

CSNChicago.com, Cubs Will Have To Earn More Additions At Trade Deadline And ‘Become The Team That Everyone Loves Again’ http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-will-have-earn-more-additions-trade-deadline-and-become-team-everyone-loves-again

CSNChicago.com, 9 Intriguing Cubs Stats From The First Half Of 2017 http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/9-intriguing-cubs-stats-first-half-2017-kris-bryant-contreras-baez-schwarber-happ-rizzo-arrieta

CSNChicago.com, Reports Emerge Indicating Cubs Are Going After Sonny Gray Even After Quintana Blockbuster http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/mlb-trade-rumors-reports-emerge-indicating-cubs-are-going-after-sonny-gray-even-after-quintana-jeimer-candelario-cubs-top-prospects

CSNChicago.com, Is Theo Working On Another Big Deal For Cubs? 'Ask Wetbutt' http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/theo-working-another-big-deal-cubs-ask-wetbutt

Chicago Tribune, Even Cubs were surprised White Sox would deal Jose Quintana across town http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-sullivan-around-baseball-spt-0716-20170715-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs blow 8-0 lead but survive to take 9-8 victory over Orioles http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-orioles-spt-0715-20170714-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Ecstatic Jose Quintana describes move to Cubs as 'best trade for me' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jose-quintana-thrilled-with-cubs-spt-0715-20170714-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs President Theo Epstein open to making more moves before trade deadline http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-notes-cubs-could-keep-adding-spt-0715-20170714-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' bullpen faces unfamiliar struggles in 9-8 win over Orioles http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-addison-russell-bullpen-20170714-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Theo Epstein on Cubs-White Sox trade: 'Both teams demonstrated the priority is winning' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-cubs-white-sox-trade-history-spt-0714-20170713-story.html

Chicago Tribune, John Lackey goes Hawaiian thanks to Red Sox pal Kevin Millar http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chicagoinc/ct-john-lackey-hawaii-chicago-inc-spt-0716-20170715-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Not much Gray area when it comes to value of Quintana contract to Cubs http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/not-much-gray-area-when-it-comes-to-value-of-quintana-contract-to-cubs/

Chicago Sun-Times, Jose Quintana embraces ‘pressure’ as Cub teammates embrace Quintana http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/jose-quintana-embraces-pressure-as-cub-teammates-embrace-quintana/

Chicago Sun-Times, Confident Brewers ‘not looking back at the Cubs,’ closer Knebel says http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/confident-brewers-not-looking-back-at-the-cubs-closer-knebel-says/

Chicago Sun-Times, Quintana and Cubs’ rotation get ‘fresh start’ after White Sox trade http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/quintana-and-cubs-rotation-gets-a-fresh-start-after-white-sox-trade/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs continue to show interest in Sonny Gray: report http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-show-interest-in-sonny-gray-report/

Chicago Sun-Times, Ricketts family receives OK to name Wrigley tavern after Budweiser http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/ricketts-family-receives-ok-to-name-wrigley-tavern-after-budweiser/

Daily Herald, Jimenez feeling less 'weird' about trade from Cubs to White Sox http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170714/jimenez-feeling-less-weird-about-trade-from-cubs-to-white-sox

Cubs.com, Russell wins it after Cubs' 8-0 lead vanishes http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/242190248/cubs-nudge-orioles-in-seven-homer-slugfest/

Cubs.com, Refreshed Cubs get 2nd half off to good start http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/242238620/refreshed-cubs-win-first-game-of-key-2nd-half/

Cubs.com, Quintana arrives with Cubs in Baltimore http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/242122850/cubs-jose-quintana-joins-up-with-new-club/

Cubs.com, Epstein keeping options open before Deadline http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/242128236/epstein-thinks-cubs-poised-for-big-2nd-half/

Cubs.com, Arrieta returns to Camden for first time as Cub http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/242119780/arrieta-returns-to-camden-for-first-time-as-cub

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs see Jose Quintana trade as commitment from front office http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20059775/chicago-cubs-players-welcome-front-office-commitment-jose-quintana-trade

-- CSNChicago.com Cubs Will Have To Earn More Additions At Trade Deadline And ‘Become The Team That Everyone Loves Again’ By Patrick Mooney BALTIMORE – It’s the middle of July and the Cubs still don’t really know what type of team they have. Sure, their fans streamed into the Inner Harbor, Baltimore’s downtown hotels and Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Most of their players own World Series rings. But trading for Jose Quintana became more about 2018, 2019 and 2020 than the rest of this summer. What’s next? Who knows? Cubs president Theo Epstein sat behind home plate during Friday’s 9-8 rollercoaster win over the Orioles, the beginning of a post-All-Star break evaluation period that will determine just how aggressive (or not) the front office and ownership will be leading up to the July 31 trade deadline. “We have to play better,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “That’s it. It’s plain and simple. We just have to play better baseball and become the team that everyone loves again.”

The Cubs got off to a roaring start during the first three innings against Kevin Gausman (6.39 ERA), when Willson Contreras and Kyle Schwarber blasted back-to-back homers into the left-center field bullpen, Ben Zobrist launched one onto the right-field patio deck and Jason Heyward crushed a ball onto Eutaw Street. Looking like all-in buyers with an 8-0 lead, Mike Montgomery couldn’t finish the fifth inning and the Cubs almost completely trashed the early rough drafts of the feel-good stories. The bullpen that had been such a first-half strength – and needs the Quintana reinforcement and seems due for a regression – watched Mark Trumbo turn it into an 8-8 game in the eighth inning when he hammered a two-run homer off Koji Uehara. And then Addison Russell delivered in the ninth inning, drilling Brad Brach’s 96-mph, first-pitch fastball into the left-center field seats, showing why the Cubs have so much faith in the core players they didn’t send to the White Sox in the Quintana deal. “The front office will tell us how it is,” Rizzo said. “They’re consistent. They believe in us, just as much as we believe in ourselves. They don’t blow smoke up us, and they back it up. “It’s a really good feeling as a player for us to come back with a brand new addition after a nice break. It’s just amazing. It’s a credit to them for pulling that off.” The issue with this team has been putting it all together night after night after night. Epstein won’t be fooled by one uneven win over a 42-47 Orioles team. The 44-45 Cubs will try to reach the .500 mark for the 21st time this season on Saturday when Jake Arrieta faces the organization that drafted, developed and traded him before he became a Cy Young Award winner. “It’s been that time,” Arrieta said. “We just haven’t really been able to kind of get a firm grasp on the way we’ve been playing. It’s just been kind of up and down throughout the first half. That seems like the story of the first few months of our season. “But we obviously need to gain some ground.” The Milwaukee Brewers won again to remain 5.5 games up in the National League Central, where everyone knows how the Cubs responded to a 97-win season in 2015 (by spending almost $290 million on free agents) and a 98.8-percent chance to make the playoffs last summer (by acquiring All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman). “We have a front office that’s willing to make moves if we show them we earn those moves,” Heyward said. “That’s what you have to do if you want things to happen. Whether it’s a trade or whether it’s advancing into the postseason, you got to earn that stuff.” -- CSNChicago.com 9 Intriguing Cubs Stats From The First Half Of 2017 By Chris Kamka While you’re waiting for the second half to begin (hoping for an improvement over the disappointing start to the season), why not take a moment to appreciate some of the interesting Cubs oddities and achievements over the first 88 games. Willson Contreras Contreras hit a leadoff HR in his first career start at leadoff on June 26th. He was the first Cub to hit a leadoff HR in first career start at leadoff since…Anthony Rizzo did it 13 days earlier. Rizzo was the first Cub to do it since Dee Fondy on June 12, 1951.

Anthony Rizzo He’s only player in Cubs history with 20 HR and at least 10 more BB (54) than K (43) before the All-Star break (since the All-Star Game started in 1933). Rizzo is also the: first Cubs leadoff man to get on base to lead off a game in seven straight games since Richie Ashburn June 28-July 3, 1960 (happened to be Rizzo’s first seven career leadoff starts). Javier Báez On May 18th, Báez cracked his 30th career home run…it was also his third career grand slam. Báez is the first Cub with 3 grand slams within his first 30 career home runs since Kris Bryant, whose 30th HR (which came in 2016) also was a grand slam. Prior to Bryant & Báez, the only other Cub with three grand slams within first 30 career HR was Dom Dallessandro, whose fifth, seventh and ninth home runs were of the four-run variety (1941-42). John Lackey Despite his struggles, he’s the only Cubs pitcher age 38 or older with multiple 10+ strikeout games in a season. In fact, he has two of the three 10+ K games by a pitcher 38 or older in Cubs history. Greg Maddux struck out 10 at age 39 in 2005. Jake Arrieta While Arrieta has struggled on the mound this season, he has managed to do a few things at the plate (actually, he has a .405 OPS, but still…). Arrieta is the first Major League pitcher to hit at least one triple in four consecutive seasons since Ray Sadecki (1963-66) Arrieta is the first Cubs pitcher with at least one triple and one HR in three straight seasons since Bill Hutchinson (1889-92) & Pat Luby (1890-92) Ian Happ & Kyle Schwarber The record for most HR by a Cubs player in his first 50 career MLB games is 13 – by two players – Ian Happ & Kyle Schwarber. Happ hit #13 in Game #50 – as the first of back-to-back HR…with Kyle Schwarber. -- CSNChicago.com Reports Emerge Indicating Cubs Are Going After Sonny Gray Even After Quintana Blockbuster By Tony Andracki The Cubs may not be done yet. Just over 24 hours after the Cubs shocked the baseball world by trading for Jose Quintana, reports indicate Theo Epstein's front office still wants more young, controllable pitching: Sonny Gray won't turn 28 until November and is under team control through the 2019 season. The right-hander is 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.21 WHIP this season while striking out a career-high 8.5 batters per nine innings. Gray burst onto the scene in 2013 as a 23-year-old, finding immediate success to the tune of a 33-20 record, 2.88 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 76 games (74 starts).

But his career took a major blow during an injury-plauged 2016 when he went 5-11 with a startling 5.69 ERA and 1.496 WHIP. Gray's return to form this season has driven his trade stock up again and the Oakland A's have the next-worst record in the American League after the White Sox. The Cubs do have a need for starting pitching in 2018 and beyond, as only Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and now Quintana are under contract, though Mike Montgomery could retain a rotation spot. The question of course comes to who the Cubs would have to give up. With their top two prospects (Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease) now in the Sox system, the Cubs do not have any prospects on Baseball America's Top 100 list. MLB.com lists the Cubs' current Top 5 prospects as follows: 1. Jeimer Candelario - 3B/1B 2. Oscar de la Cruz - RHP 3. Mark Zagunis - OF 4. Trevor Clifton - RHP 5. Jose Albertos - RHP Even if the Cubs traded three or four of those guys, would that be enough to secure the next 2.5 years of Gray? Candelario is close to being ready for the big leagues, but he is not a deal headliner the way Jimenez, Cease or Gleyber Torres (traded to the New York Yankees last summer for Aroldis Chapman) are. So would the Cubs have to deal from their big-league stable of young players that includes Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, Javy Baez, Albert Almora and others? Theo and Co. are just treating this like Pokemon now with young pitching talent: Gotta catch 'em all. If the Cubs somehow pulled off that deal, here's what the 2018 could look like: Jon Lester Jose Quintana Kyle Hendricks Sonny Gray Mike Montgomery Not too shabby. -- CSNChicago.com Is Theo Working On Another Big Deal For Cubs? 'Ask Wetbutt' By Patrick Mooney BALTIMORE — Are the Cubs working on another big deal? “Ask wetbutt,” Theo Epstein said, crediting one of the Reddit users who scooped everyone this week on the blockbuster Jose Quintana trade between the Cubs and White Sox. Looking relaxed and sounding upbeat after the All-Star break, the Cubs president showed up Friday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where he got his start in professional baseball as a summer intern in 1992, the same year this classic stadium opened in downtown Baltimore.

The kid from Yale University is now the future Hall of Fame executive who’s ended 194 years of championship droughts combined between the Cubs and Boston Red Sox. For all the speculation about where Fortune’s “World’s Greatest Leader” will pivot after baseball, Epstein wants to build a dynasty on the North Side and believes Quintana can help make that a reality. No, the Cubs won’t stop looking to make deals when there are more than two weeks left until the July 31 trade deadline. But the latest Sonny Gray rumor sounds more like Epstein doing a favor for his buddy Billy Beane and trying to drive the price up for the Oakland A’s and maybe messing with the Milwaukee Brewers. The more relevant question for wetbutt23: Is it realistic to think the Cubs can land another frontline starter after Epstein just gave up his top two prospects (Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease) and doesn’t want to break up a World Series core? “I don’t know,” Epstein said. “Right now, we’re taking a step back. Take a breath and kind of understand our roster and payroll dynamic looking forward now that we have Quintana in the fold. We’ll certainly still be active with phone calls, at least this month. And anything we might want to try to accomplish this winter — it’s good to take a look and see if we might be able to get a head start and do that now. “We’re going to see how we play, too. It’s a really important two weeks. If we can get hot and start to play the way that we know we’re capable of, that probably puts us in a little bit more aggressive posture, trying to maximize all 25 spots on the roster and maybe even do some things just for this year. But if we don’t get hot, obviously, you have a little bit longer-term perspective. “I like the look in the guys’ eyes. I think everyone’s refreshed and ready to put the first half behind us while still being accountable for it. We’re ready to move on and play better baseball.” Whether or not the Cubs can close a 5.5-game deficit against Milwaukee and win a weak division, Quintana’s club-friendly contract creates some cost assurance and opens up even more possibilities for the future. With the All-Star lefty guaranteed $8.85 million next season — and under team options for 2019 ($10.5 million) and 2020 ($11.5 million) — the Cubs could splurge on a Yu Darvish this winter, pounce on the monster free-agent class headlined by Bryce Harper and Manny Machado after the 2018 season and stay flexible if an international superstar like Shohei Otani becomes available. “It’s really significant when you can acquire a really good player who’s got a very reasonable contract,” Epstein said. “You almost, in your head, start thinking of a slot being created for a second player, perhaps, in free agency that can come along with him that you can then afford because his contract is so manageable. “You don’t look at it as if you’ve already acquired that player. But in your mind, understanding the limits of the CBT thresholds and everything else that you have to work within (the luxury tax), it really does create a ton of options. “We’ll be able to pack more talent on the roster because of his contract. There’s no way around it.” -- Chicago Tribune Even Cubs were surprised White Sox would deal Jose Quintana across town By Paul Sullivan In December, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn made the rare move of addressing a rumor he would not consider trading Chris Sale to the Cubs. Hahn said he wouldn't rule out any partner if it was in the best interests of the Sox, but few believed him. Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer also chimed in, saying a deal between the Cubs and Sox was probably impossible.

"Deals in your own city are difficult to make, because you have a lot of writers covering the same things, and there's a lot of scrutiny," Hoyer said. Sale ultimately went to the Red Sox for a boatload of prospects, and no one even brought up Jose Quintana's name in Cubs rumors in the months after that episode. That's why the news of Quintana's trade to the Cubs on Thursday was so shocking to baseball, particularly locals who were under the impression the two teams couldn't agree on a deal because of the intense rivalry among their fans. One of those who thought it wasn't possible was Cubs President Theo Epstein, who had asked about Sale. Hahn told him National League MVP Kris Bryant had to be included to make it work. "There were a few waves of stories about how unlikely a deal was, and I had some quotes in saying the same thing. I thought it was unlikely," Epstein said Thursday in a phone interview. "That was based on the Sale-Bryant thing. But things changed. "Both teams acted with pragmatism and demonstrated the priority is winning. It's a very logical baseball trade. I'm impressed that that was the priority and superseded any other ancillary considerations." It's amazing the Sox and Cubs rarely make a deal because they're able to scout each other so easily from across town. But the fact is the bigger ones, like the ones centered around Sammy Sosa and George Bell in '92 and around Matt Karchner and Jon Garland in '98, didn't go well for one of the teams involved. In Chicago, fans have a long memory about bad trades, which is why Ernie Broglio remains an infamous Cub to this day. "I know the history," Epstein said. "Hopefully this is one that goes down in the books as working great for both sides." The approval rate for the Sox rebuild is high, and Sox fans are thinking rationally. Hahn told reporters Thursday that anyone who believed he wouldn't make a deal with the Cubs because Sox fans would criticize him if it went sour was deeply misinformed. "That kind of sells White Sox fans short," he said. "They're smart enough and resolute enough to understand what we're trying to accomplish and why. The vast majority I've interacted with or who have left me voicemails at 2 a.m. or emails or letters have been far and away very supportive with everything we've done." Now that they've pulled one deal off, maybe Epstein and Hahn can work on another before the July 31 trade deadline. Strike it up: Is it possible anyone will break the all-time record of 20 strikeouts in a game this second half? Indians ace Corey Kluber, who missed out on a chance last year when he was removed after the eighth inning of a game with 18 strikeouts, believes so. "It just seems like strikeouts are up, so there's always that possibility," Kluber said. Perhaps even Kluber? "No, that's a tall task," he said. The biggest impediment may be the fact high pitch counts convince managers to remove starters before they get the chance to get to 20.

"Maybe, but also you see a lot of guys like (Clayton) Kershaw, who had 13 strikeouts (last week) and threw a complete game," Kluber said. "So there are definitely guys who get strikeouts without getting the pitch count out of control." The guess here is Chris Sale, who had 178 strikeouts in the first half, will be the first to do it. Fish Tale: Michael Jordan is joining Derek Jeter's group to buy the Marlins, while rapper Pitbull (Armando Christian Perez) is teaming up with Jeb Bush's group. Another group is led by Jorge Mas, a local businessman who may be the favorite. No matter who wins the bidding, the real winner if Jeffrey Loria, the current owner who will get $1.2 billion or so for a team that never has been able to develop a strong following. "We have three viable bidding groups that are essentially in the same place in terms of price," Commissioner Rob Manfred said, adding he was "pretty confident that it will happen in the relatively near future." Three up Jose Quintana: After six seasons of excelling on the South Side, Quintana gets a shot to pitch for a contender. Nelson Cruz: Mariners DH helped liven up a dull All-Star game when he asked Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina to take a picture of him and umpire Joe West. Justin Bour: Marlins first baseman nearly took down Aaron Judge in the Home Run Derby. Three down Pablo Sandoval: Red Sox designate "Kung Fu Panda" for assignment, even though he still is owed $49 million through 2019. Tim Anderson: He finished first half with only nine walks and a .263 OBP. Ubaldo Jimenez: Cubs' Sunday opponent posted 6.67 ERA in first half with Orioles. Left-handed hitters have 1.041 OPS against him. The list Best run differential at the All-Star break (since 1933; source: Dodgers). 2017 Dodgers+163 1944 Cardinals+159 1976 Reds+154 1942 Dodgers+151 1975 Reds+151 Fact check 4 — Cubs starting pitchers — including Jose Quintana — among the top 13 in total innings pitched over the last three calendar years (July 10, 2014 through the 2017 All-Star break). The quartet: Jake Arrieta (eighth, 613 2/3), Jon Lester (ninth, 613 1/3), Quintana (11th, 606 2/3), and John Lackey (13th, 585 2/3). --

Chicago Tribune Cubs blow 8-0 lead but survive to take 9-8 victory over Orioles By Mark Gonzales Anthony Rizzo noticed a spark in the Cubs coaches who seemed as invigorated by participating in the All-Star Game as the players did shortly after learning of the acquisition of prized left-hander Jose Quintana. "Winning is addicting," Rizzo said. "We want to get back to the top and be the best. There's going to be no room to slack now." But even an eight-run lead wasn't good enough Friday night for the Cubs, who gradually sank into a vortex of failures before Addison Russell's one-out home run rescued them in the top of the ninth for a 9-8 victory over the Orioles. "We got through it," manager Joe Maddon said. "We'll take it. It's not always going to be an oil painting. I'll take it. It's a nice first step. "It's really important under the circumstances. We had such a wonderful lead and then forfeited that led. That's the part that would have made it more difficult." The victory saved the Cubs (44-45) from what would have been an embarrassing loss after building an eight-run lead through 2 1/2 innings. It also backed up the faith President Theo Epstein displayed in them when he acquired Quintana from the White Sox for four prospects. Quintana should enhance their chances of catching the Brewers in the National League Central and strengthen their rotation for the short and long term. "Sometimes you can get so wrapped up in what's happening in the moment, with the tough first half we had, that we failed to take a step back and realize that not only can this be a winning group, it is a winning group," Epstein said before the game. "These guys just won a World Series, and our goal is to win more World Series with this team. We all felt to do that, we had to add starting pitching." The return of Kyle Hendricks, which is expected to occur on the Cubs' next homestand that starts Friday, could alleviate their most recent problem. Mike Montgomery couldn't pitch five innings despite being staked to the eight-run cushion and he has allowed 11 earned runs on 14 hits in 6 2/3 innings in his last two starts. Montgomery's struggles nearly nullified an impressive power surge by the Cubs. Willson Contreras and Kyle Schwarber hit consecutive home runs that landed in the Cubs' bullpen in the first for four runs, Ben Zobrist pulled a two-run shot in the second and Jason Heyward ripped a two-run blow that landed on Eutaw Street well behind the right-field wall in the third. But the bullpen, which finished the first half with a 3.26 ERA, was constantly on the ropes. Justin Grimm was charged with two runs in relief of Montgomery in the fifth, and Pedro Strop was pulled after walking two batters in the sixth. Koji Uehara allowed two-run, game-tying homer to Mark Trumbo in the eighth. Rizzo knows what's at stake as the Cubs try to cut their 5 1/2-game deficit in the National League Central. "If we tank, which we don't plan on doing, (the front office) will make the appropriate moves to better the organization," Rizzo said. Saturday night's starter, Jake Arrieta, whose inconsistent first half mirrored the team's struggles, knows the Cubs are in a stretch where they need to step up.

"We obviously need to gain some ground," said Arrieta, alluding to the fact that the Brewers held a 5 1/2-game lead entering play Friday with the Cardinals tied for second with the Cubs. "We need to win several games in a row and try to do that often, and try and shorten the gap and maybe get ahead of these guys within the next month." -- Chicago Tribune Ecstatic Jose Quintana describes move to Cubs as 'best trade for me' By Mark Gonzales After exchanging hugs with fellow left-hander Jon Lester and handshakes with President Theo Epstein and several new teammates, Jose Quintana expressed his glee over moving from the White Sox to the Cubs. "I wanted to come to play for the Cubs," Quintana said Friday while wearing his new team's colors for the first time. "I'm so happy to move to the other side of the city and stay in Chicago. I think it was the best trade for me." The benefits of joining the Cubs aren't lost on Quintana, 28. He never has pitched in the playoffs and Chicago is the only major-league city he is really familiar with since he reached the majors in 2012. "We have a really good chance (of playing in the postseason)," Quintana said. "(Manager) Joe Maddon said just come to play every day. I know we're two games below .500 but plenty games are ahead." The trade also alleviated any stress and uncertainty Quintana had over his future as he came to realize his time on the South Side was soon to end. "It's over," Quintana said, smiling. "That's good. It's a fresh start and like I say every time, I want to do my job and make the playoffs. I've never been to the playoffs, and I have a good chance here." Quintana said he enjoyed pitching at Wrigley Field while with the Sox and relishes the challenge of fulfilling fan expectations for the World Series champions. "I know the Cubs have a lot of fans," Quintana said. "That's special when you play every single day with a lot of people pushing you. That's fun." Maddon described the acquisition of Quintana as "definitely an injection." "There's definitely energy involved," Maddon said. "(Making the playoffs) is more believable with him around here right now." Maddon gushed over the Cubs' ability to add a quality pitcher under team control for the next 3 1/2 seasons, even if it cost them top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease in a four-player package. Maddon believes Quintana can help the Cubs embark on a long winning streak they have been seeking since the start of the season. "He gives us a much better chance of doing that on a consistent basis," Maddon said. "(He's) exactly what we needed to bolster (our rotation), and we maintained the integrity of the bullpen. "He's almost like the perfect acquisition right now." First baseman Anthony Rizzo said he was informed via text message from Epstein that the Cubs acquired Quintana while he and his fiancee were scouting out wedding locations in South Florida.

"I was never a fan of facing Quintana," said Rizzo, who is 3-for-12 lifetime against the left-hander. "His stuff is that good. It's a great addition for us." The cost certainty of Quintana's contact through 2020 "changes the whole outlook of our rotation going forward in years to come," Epstein said. The Cubs will pay the Sox's opening day starter only about $33 million over the balance of his contract if they exercise club options for the final two years. Rizzo is delighted the front office displayed such faith in the team with the acquisition of a top-caliber pitcher such as Quintana. "They believe in us just as much as we believe in ourselves," Rizzo said. "They don't blow smoke and they back it up, which is nice." Ben Zobrist said he had forgotten Quintana was ejected for throwing behind him in a game in 2012 when Zobrist was playing for the Rays. "I forgot he was the guy who did that," Zobrist said. "Thanks for reminding me. "I didn't even think about that, to be honest. I just thought 'Awesome, we're going to get a good pitcher.'" -- Chicago Tribune Cubs President Theo Epstein open to making more moves before trade deadline By Mark Gonzales If the Cubs display the form they did in the first three innings Friday, when they hit four home runs on the way to an 8-0 lead against the Orioles, President Theo Epstein could stay busy until the July 31 trade deadline. "If we can get hot and start to play the way we're capable of, it puts us in a more aggressive posture, trying to maximize all 25 spots on the roster and do some things just for this year," Epstein said before the game. "But if we don't get hot, we'll have a longer-term perspective. "I like the look in the guys' eyes. I think everyone is refreshed and ready to put the first half behind us and being accountable for it and ready to move on and play better baseball." It's no secret the Cubs are searching for another starting pitcher, but that search could last into the offseason. The Cubs also would welcome a veteran catcher and perhaps a reliever. Return trip: Jake Arrieta admitted he wonders what his career would have been like had he stayed with the Orioles instead of being traded to the Cubs midway through the 2013 season. Arrieta will pitch in Baltimore for the first time since the trade Saturday. He faced the Orioles at Wrigley Field on Aug. 22, 2014, a 4-1 Cubs win in which he allowed four hits and one run in seven innings. "There's no perfect formula or equation for success at this level," Arrieta said. "It just took me quite a while to figure some things out. It would have been nice to have a better landing here and gain some traction and be here for a long time, and never play for another team." Arrieta, who was 20-25 with the Orioles, admitted he "underperformed" before he was traded to the Cubs with Pedro Stropfor Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger for the Orioles' playoff run. "And the rest is history," said Arrieta, who won the 2015 National League Cy Young Award and is 62-28 with the Cubs. Butler to bullpen: Eddie Butler will move to the bullpen after the acquisition of Jose Quintana from the White Sox.

"I've been through it where a team needed a guy to be ready in three hitters, so it's not that big of a deal," said Butler, who threw two innings in relief Sunday. "It's a different intensity on how you get ready for the game. "Whatever they bring me into, I'm ready for." Reliever Dylan Floro was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Quintana on the 25-man roster. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' bullpen faces unfamiliar struggles in 9-8 win over Orioles By Mark Gonzales The Cubs escaped what would have been an embarrassing outcome Friday night, as Addison Russell's home run in the ninth inning was the difference in a 9-8 win over the Orioles. Much of the anxiety prior to Russell's homer was the lack of the control by a Cubs bullpen that posted a 3.26 ERA in the first half. The relievers were responsible for five of the seven walks issued, and many of the walks added stress in the latter innings as the Orioles erased an 8-0 deficit. "We can’t walk that many folks," manager Joe Maddon said. "We walked way too many folks. I want to believe it’s the rust from the layoff, but the layoff is necessary. It's one of those Catch-22 moments. It just the way it is. "We got through it. I’ll take it. We did play well. We did a lot of good things tonight. We did not pitch well out of the bullpen, which has been our strongest point of the first half." The bullpen threw 312 innings in the first half, and Maddon has been careful not to tax them in preparation for the final two months. "It would have been very difficult to lose this game," Maddon said. "I will not deny that. But we didn’t. We won. The bullpen guys, take a break like that, they’ve been throwing a lot. You try to save them. "We got through it. Let’s come back (Saturday night)." -- Chicago Tribune Theo Epstein on Cubs-White Sox trade: 'Both teams demonstrated the priority is winning' By Paul Sullivan The history of White Sox-Cubs trades is relatively brief, mostly because of the possibility one team will have to wear their mistake in public for years to come. Sammy Sosa came to the Cubs for George Bell when the Sox were going for it in 1992. Bell was out of baseball in a couple of years, while Sosa owned Chicago from 1998-2003, until it all went bad. Jon Garland went to the Sox for Matt Karchner when the Cubs were going for it in '98. Cubs general manager Ed Lynch could have gotten Karchner without trading his best prospect, but as they said in the '90s "That's Ed." Karchner was a milk dud and out of baseball in three years, while Garland helped pitch the Sox to a World Series championship in '05. Cubs and Sox fans have long memories, and rumor is they don't like each other. That's one reason why few, including the Cubs' brass, thought a major trade between the two teams such as Thursday deal of Jose Quintana

for a four-player package that included the Cubs' top over prospect Eloy Jimenez and top pitching prospect Dylan Cease actually could happen. "I know the history," Cubs President Theo Epstein said. "Hopefully this is one that goes down in the books as working great for both sides." The approval rate for the rebuild is high, and Sox fans are thinking rationally. Sox general manager Rick Hahn said anyone who believed he wouldn't make a deal with the Cubs because Sox fans would criticize him if it went sour was deeply misinformed. "That kind of sells White Sox fans short," he said. "I think they're smart enough and resolute enough to understand what we're trying to accomplish and why. The vast majority that I've interacted with or that have left me voicemail at two in the morning or emails or letters have been far and away very supportive with everything we've done." Epstein hadn't gauged Cubs' fan reaction Thursday afternoon, but was satisfied with his staff's reaction to the deal. He lauded Hahn for his willingness to do what was best for his organization without worrying about the old Cubs-Sox thing. "Both teams acted with pragmatism and demonstrated the priority is winning," Epstein said. "It's a very logical baseball trade. I'm impressed that that was the priority and superseded any other ancillary considerations." -- Chicago Tribune John Lackey goes Hawaiian thanks to Red Sox pal Kevin Millar By Phil Thompson John Lackey bought a vacation home in a luxury beach and golf community on Kona, Hawaii's "big island," this summer. The Cubs pitcher will also have a few celebrity neighbors. Three-time Grand Slam tennis champion Lindsay Davenport, Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House and two-time Masters champion golfer Ben Crenshaw also own property at the 450-acre Kohanaiki development. According to a source, Lackey took a trip to Hawaii with former Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar, who introduced him to Kohanaiki general manager George Punoose in January. Millar and Lackey played golf there with Vijay Singh in early February. -- Chicago Sun-Times Not much Gray area when it comes to value of Quintana contract to Cubs By Gordon Wittenmyer BALTIMORE — If you believe every tweet you read, then you probably believe Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray was scratched from his start Friday in Oakland, even though he actually pitched. Despite reports Friday that the Cubs had Gray in their sights for their next swift, bold move after their Jose Quintana blockbuster, sources said there’s been no recent movement on the Cubs-Gray front. And it’s not even clear what the Cubs could offer to get such a deal done, after shipping their top two prospects to the White Sox for Quintana. Ask Cubs president Theo Epstein what his next move is, and he’ll tell you to “ask Wetbutt” — the mysterious Reddit user Wetbutt23, who had the Quintana scoop Wednesday night.

Epstein suggests he’ll take more of an “aggressive posture” toward the July 31 trade deadline to help the ’17 playoff push if the team’s play in the next couple of weeks dictates. He also suggested the search for another controllable, quality starting pitcher will continue this month — though it could carry into the winter and possibly involve a look at free agents. “Right now we’re taking a step back, taking a break,” Epstein said before the Cubs’ post-break opener Friday against the Orioles at Camden Yards, “to kind of understand our roster and payroll dynamic looking forward now that we have Quintana in the fold. “We’ll be active. And we’re going to see how we play, too,” he said. “If we don’t get hot, obviously we’ll have a little bit longer-term perspective. I like the look in our guys’ eyes. I think everyone’s refreshed and ready to put the first half behind us, while being accountable for it, ready to move on and play better baseball.“ Quintana’s contract — which includes an $8.95 million salary next year and a pair of $10.5 million club options after that — could be a key to anything the Cubs do with their roster and payroll over the next year or more as they try to stay under disproportionately low luxury-tax thresholds. By contrast, the two free agents they expect to lose from their rotation — Jake Arrieta and John Lackey — make more than $33 million combined this season. “It’s really significant when you acquire a really good player who’s got a very reasonable contract,” Epstein said. “You almost start thinking of a slot being created for a second player, perhaps in free agency that can come along with him that you can then afford because his contract is so manageable.” That could be especially huge with core players entering arbitration years next winter and a potentially loaded free agent class coming a year later. “It really does create a ton of options,” he said, “and we’ll be able to pack more talent on the roster because of his contract, there’s no way around it.” NOTES: Kyle Hendricks, who has been on the disabled list since June 5 because of tendinitis in his hand, makes a second minor-league rehab start Monday, after which he’s expected to be activated. That could put him back in the rotation for the home series against the St. Louis Cardinals next weekend. • To make room on the roster for Quintana, reliever Dylan Floro was sent to Class AAA Iowa — for the fifth time this season. • With Quintana joining the rotation, Eddie Butler moves to the bullpen as a long man, for now. • John Lackey (plantar fasciitis) played catch Friday and remains on track to return from the DL on Tuesday in Atlanta. • Maddon said ace Jon Lester was moved to the back of the rotation out of the break for “just purely rest.” Left unsaid: He also has been dealing with a sore ankle. -- Chicago Sun-Times Jose Quintana embraces ‘pressure’ as Cub teammates embrace Quintana By Gordon Wittenmyer BALTIMORE — When Cubs manager Joe Maddon met with Jose Quintana on Friday, he told his new left-hander he has few team rules and advised him to just be himself.

And then this: “I told him he’s got a great opportunity to impact this team in the second half,” Maddon said. “And when you say that, some guys give you the wrong look. He was very good with that thought. He was very comfortable with that thought.” It wasn’t small talk. Quintana, 28, is going just a few miles, from one side of town to the other, after Thursday’s unusual blockbuster trade between city rivals. But make no mistake: He’s also going to a different baseball universe after spending the last 5½ seasons in the baseball shadows of Chicago toiling for a White Sox team with a fraction of the fan base, national attention and media scrutiny that his new club has. “You’re always concerned about who accepts the word ‘pressure’ well or not,” Maddon said. “To me, it’s a good word. I thought he accepted it really well.” Quintana and the Cubs will find out soon enough about his big-stage mettle. He hasn’t pitched in the playoffs and, until this year, played second fiddle (or third) to Chris Sale on his own staff. As the de facto ace for the Sox this year, he got off to a 1-7 start with a 5.60 ERA before righting his season in June. Quintana seems eager to step under the brighter lights. “It’s an honor to be part of that,” he said. “I’m excited, and I can’t wait to do my things. I know the Cubs have a lot of fans. That’s good. I think that’s special when you play every single day and a lot of people are pushing you. That’s very fun.” He said he wanted to play for the Cubs once he knew he was on the trading block and that they were among the rumored teams interested. “We’ve got a good chance to go to the playoffs, and I’m excited for that,” he said. He wasn’t the only one in the clubhouse with that reaction to his arrival, as the woebegone Cubs — 43-45 in the first half — look to redefine their season. “For us to come back with a brand new addition after a nice break, it’s amazing,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “You look at Jose’s record, he’s as consistent as they get — one of the most underrated left-handers in all of baseball. He’s an amazing player who I think will get a chance more to shine over here, where over there, with Chris Sale going every fifth day for the White Sox for so long, he was just kind of the forgotten guy.” Even though the Cubs view the trade mainly in terms of its long-term value (Quintana is under contract through 2020), “it could be exactly what we’re looking for in the second half,” Maddon said. “It’s definitely an injection. There’s definitely energy involved. It’s more believable with him around here right now. You can’t do this without pitching.” World Series MVP Ben Zobrist called the move “refreshing,” then doubled leading off the Cubs’ four-run first inning Friday night and homered in the second. “The timing is great, too, because everybody’s excited about turning the page from the first half,” Zobrist said. “So not only do you have everybody coming back with a fresh perspective anyway, but to be able to add a guy like that to your 25-man roster just adds to that feeling that we’re a different team now than we were in the first half.” Said Jason Heyward, who hit a homer onto Baltimore’s Eutaw Street in the third inning: “It should show everybody in this clubhouse what [the front office] thinks of this team and what we’re capable of.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Confident Brewers ‘not looking back at the Cubs,’ closer Knebel says

By Steve Greenberg From the All-Star break through the end of last season, the Cubs outplayed the Cardinals by 10½ games and the Brewers by 16 games. Raise your hand if you’d bet on history repeating itself to such a full-blown extent. Anyone? Didn’t think so. Yet those numbers might give some comfort to fidgety fans of the Cubs, who started the second half tied with the Cardinals at 5½ games behind the first-place Brewers in the National League Central. The big addition Thursday of former White Sox lefty Jose Quintana, who’ll make his Cubs debut Sunday in Baltimore, only increases the talent edge that still undoubtedly favors the defending World Series champions. That edge won’t disappear no matter who else — Sonny Gray? Chris Archer? David Ross? (kidding) — enters the division mix. That’s not to suggest the 2017 Cubs are striking fear into their rivals. “No,” All-Star Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez said over the break in Miami. “We are a team that’s playing well. And we feel we can beat anybody.” The Cardinals have won 10 of their last 15 games, a blistering tear by Central standards. But the more serious threat to unseat the Cubs seems to have risen in Milwaukee, where the Brewers — despite having only one All-Star, 25-year-old closer Corey Knebel — are bent on winning the division for what would be only the second time in 20 seasons since they moved from the American League. “We’re not looking back at the Cubs,” Knebel said. “We’re not looking back, period. We’re just going to keep moving forward. Even if Chicago is right there, or St. Louis or Pittsburgh, we’ve got to keep our heads on right and keep moving forward. And that’s the great thing about our team. That’s exactly what we’ll do.” The Cubs have won five of nine games against the Brewers this season, but the last one — an 11-2 Brewers victory at Wrigley Field on July 6 — might’ve been a message about what’s to come. The Cubs’ guests were none too pleased to be playing a makeup game on what should’ve been a day off, and they went off for seven angry runs in the third inning. It was a great coming-together moment for the Brewers, who had noted the ridiculousness of the Cubs’ postponement of the originally scheduled game on a day when nary a raindrop fell. Their dugout was the kind of party scene Cubs fans routinely enjoyed glimpses of a year ago. “You know what? That’s it right there,” Knebel said when asked about that day. “We have great talent, but talent doesn’t always win. What we really have is great chemistry. If you don’t have a family, then sometimes it doesn’t work. “You saw that with Chicago last year. Honestly, I was a big fan of the way they [enjoyed] themselves. David Ross, especially; the guy was awesome. They had such a great chemistry. Chemistry wins — always.” Of course, winning and good chemistry tend to go together, probably in a chicken-or-egg sort of way. There’s no doubt the young Brewers’ overall vibe is a better one this season. There’s no doubt the Cubs’ vibe isn’t what it was. According to Knebel, these Brewers were influenced — not envious of, but motivated — by the wall-to-wall Festival of Cub last season. And there are several pieces in the lineup that weren’t there this time last year for the Cubs to kick around. Stars or not, shortstop Orlando Arcia, third baseman Travis Shaw, right fielder Domingo Santana and first baseman Eric Thames have moved this team forward. If the Cubs could win a World Series, why can’t the Brewers win a division? “That’s all we’re thinking about, especially after what the Cubs did last year,” Knebel said. “It was awesome, and they did it with such a young team. We’ve got the same thing this year.”

-- Chicago Sun-Times Quintana and Cubs’ rotation get ‘fresh start’ after White Sox trade By Madeline Kenney Before going on the DL he compiled a 4-3 mark with a 4.09 ERA.Left-hander José Quintana was relieved the trade rumors were finally over. “[It’s a] fresh start and I just want to do my job and make the playoffs,” Cubs newly acquired pitcher said Friday. But the fresh start isn’t just for Quintana, who recorded a 4-8 record with a 4.49 ERA for the White Sox this season. The Cubs’ rotation, which has struggled this season with a combined 4.66 ERA, also needs to push the restart button heading out of the All-Star break. Manager Joe Maddon said the Quintana addition will help re-energize the pitching staff. “It’s definitely an injection. It’s definitely about energy. It’s more believability with [Quintana] around here. You cannot win without pitching,” Maddon said. “[Quintana is] almost like the perfect acquisition right now.” Some of Quintana’s new teammates think the Cubs’ front office made the right move — trading four prospects to the White Sox, including power-hitting outfielder Eloy Jimenez and right-hander Dylan Cease. “To come back with a nice new addition after the break is amazing,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “I think it’s a great move.” Right fielder Jason Heyward said the trade should “show everybody in this clubhouse what [the front office] thinks of the team.” “From day one, they’ve done everything they can to meet us more than halfway,” Heyward said. But Quintana is only part of the answer to the Cubs’ rotation woes. MLB.com’s Jon Morosi tweeted Friday morning that the Cubs are still interested in acquiring right-hander Sonny Gray. Gray is 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA this season for the Oakland Athletics. With Quintana added to the roster Friday, righty Dylan Floro was optioned back down to Class AAA Iowa again. Note: Kyle Hendricks is expected to make his second minor league start Tuesday for Class AA Tennessee. Hendricks has been on the disabled list since June 8 with right hand tendinitis. Before being placed on the DL, he compiled a 4-3 mark with a 4.09 ERA. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs continue to show interest in Sonny Gray: report By Madeline Kenney Even after Thursday’s blockbuster trade with the White Sox, the Cubs have continued to show interest in another pitcher. MLB.com’s Jon Morosi tweeted Friday morning that the Cubs are still interested in acquiring right-hander Sonny Gray.

The Cubs paid a hefty price for lefty José Quintana, and could do it again for Gray. For Quintana, White Sox received the Cubs’ No. 1 prospect Eloy Jimenez, a power-hitting outfielder, and No. 2 prospect Dylan Cease, a 100-mph right-hander, along with minor-league infielders Matt Rose and Bryant Flete. Gray is 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA this season for the Oakland Athletics. The Cubs’ rotation has continue to struggle all season, despite leading the majors with a 2.96 ERA last year. This year, the team has produced a measly 4.66 ERA, which is good for eighth in the National League. The Cubs sank to 43-45 at the All-Star break and remain 5½ games behind the first-place Brewers. -- Chicago Sun-Times Ricketts family receives OK to name Wrigley tavern after Budweiser By Staff “Hey, Hey!’’ The Ricketts family received the green light to name a bar outside of Wrigley Field the “Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern.” The Illinois Liquor Control Commission approved the plan Thursday after hearing where the plan was blocked but then passed, Crain’s Chicago Business reported. The hang-up was the Illinois regulation that prohibits a “tied-house.” Originally passed in 1934 in Illinois, they attempted to ban a bar from exclusively selling alcohol from one brewery. “By granting gifts and loaning money to retailers, manufacturers, distributors and importing distributors had effectively “tied” themselves to retailers to the point of excluding competitors,” according to the regulations. According to Crain’s, Hickory Street Capital, a real-estate development company owned by Ricketts family, inked an 11-year deal with AB InBev — Budweiser’s parent company — for naming right’s to the establishment. There is an exemption for sports and entertainment venues (Remember the formerly named Captain Morgan Club at Wrigley?), but the state commission argued that new tavern would not fall under that because you patronized the tavern without having a ticket to Wrigley Field. Hickory Street Capital said the Budweiser name alone didn’t exclude other alcohol brands. They’ve struck a separate deal with Four Corners Tavern Group to operate the bar. They are the ones — not HSC — to determine the alcohol. The two-story, 15,000 square-foot restaurant and bar, which is named for Cubs’ broadcaster Jack Brickhouse, opened June 27 outside of Wrigley Field at the Park at Wrigley. -- Daily Herald Jimenez feeling less 'weird' about trade from Cubs to White Sox By Scot Gregor After being traded on Thursday, Eloy Jimenez merely had to cross the playing field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. That is the location of the Chicago Cubs' high Class A farm team. The Pelicans were preparing to play Chicago White Sox affiliate Winston-Salem when Jimenez and three other Cubs prospects were swapped for Jose Quintana before the second of a four-game series.

"I felt weird at the beginning," Jimenez said through Sox interpreter Billy Russo. "It was kind of a surreal situation, but you know, once the game started and I was on the field, it was just baseball. "It was a connection of course, but at the moment of the game starting it was just baseball and I started feeling more comfortable. The situation was less weird for me." Jimenez, the game's No. 5 overall prospect per Baseball America, joins the White Sox's organization along with Dylan Cease, an intriguing pitching prospect, infielder Bryant Flete and first baseman Matt Rose. In his Winston-Salem debut Thursday night, the 20-year-old Jimenez helped the Dash beat Myrtle Beach 3-2 with a 2-run single. Friday night, Jimenez was 1-for-3 with 2 walks in Winston Salem's 4-3 win over the Pelicans. Jimenez was caught off guard initially, but he has quickly processed the trade. "It was a little surprising in the beginning," Jimenez said. "But like I said at the beginning of the season, too, you never know where you are going to find happiness. Right now, you can be playing for a specific organization but you also have to play for the rest of the organizations in the major leagues because this is a business." Jimenez is already well known for taking care of business as a hitter, and the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder has 64 doubles, 32 home runs and 175 RBI in 255 minor-league games since 2014. He has been compared to Jermaine Dye, a standout right fielder for the White Sox from 2005-09. After missing the first six weeks of the current season with a sore right shoulder, Jimenez is back playing at a high level. "It hasn't been as difficult as I would have expected," he said. "But it's something that of course has taken me time to get to the point where I know that I can still perform. I think it's just part of the process when you have an injury, you need time to get to your rhythm and the point that you used to be before." Jimenez performed well enough with Myrtle Beach to earn his second straight invite to the All-Star Futures Game. He played on the World Team Sunday for the second straight year with Yoan Moncada, the White Sox's top prospect. "I can tell you he is a really nice guy and a great baseball talent," said Moncada, a second baseman for Class AAA Charlotte. "I'm really happy to have him with us in the White Sox organization." Jimenez is close friends with another White Sox prospect -- low A Kannapolis outfielder Micker Adolfo. "He is a great human being and a nice, humble, disciplined person," Adolfo said. "He never changes his mood and is always happy and positive no matter his situation or his results. He is always trying to make the people around him better and giving them advice. He will be a great teammate. "As an athlete, he is great. He is an outstanding baseball player. I talked to him (Thursday) after the trade and I told him all the good things about this organization. I'm excited to play with him." -- Cubs.com Russell wins it after Cubs' 8-0 lead vanishes By Brittany Ghiroli and Carrie Muskat BALTIMORE -- If the Cubs are going to have a chance to defend their World Series championship, they're going to need a lot more offensive nights like Friday.

Chicago's bats, down across the board in 2017, came alive in the second-half opener. Four early home runs staked the Cubs to an eight-run lead, and after the Orioles chipped away, Addison Russell delivered the fifth and final blast to give Chicago a 9-8, rain-delayed win in Baltimore. "We started off on the right foot -- this is a big one for us right there," Cubs designated hitter Kyle Schwarber said. “We faced a little adversity and we were able to come through and it's a great feeling." The victory, which early on had the makings of a blowout, wasn't without some serious late-inning drama, as Chicago watched an eight-run lead shrink in the middle innings, finally disappearing completely with Mark Trumbo's two-run, eighth-inning homer off Koji Uehara. But Russell's ninth-inning, one-out homer off Orioles reliever Brad Brach has the Cubs -- bolstered by the arrival of new starter Jose Quintana, who's slated to start Sunday -- inching back to .500 (44-45). "Everybody pitched well, even Brad," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He had one ball he got over the plate and guy cheated on him and popped him, but what a great job by our guys to come back to tie that ballgame. It takes a lot for you to get there and then it's tough to get over the hump. We were hoping to get one more shutdown inning, but that's asking a lot of a bullpen. It really is." Willson Contreras, Schwarber, Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward also homered in the slugfest, as the Cubs -- after waiting out a 49-minute delay -- posted a four-run first inning and were able to chase Orioles starter Kevin Gausman after three. Gausman turned in one of his worst outings, tying a career high by allowing eight runs over three innings and giving up a career-high four homers. "Yeah, it's frustrating. Obviously, I wanted to come out here and hit the ground running going into this second half," Gausman said. "It was just bad. I kind of became a two-pitch pitcher out there. When you're a starter trying to do that, some days you can get away with it. Most days you can't. It was just bad execution." The O's offense had a valiant rallying effort, scoring five runs during Cubs starter Mike Montgomery's 4 1/3 innings and another pair off of reliever Justin Grimm. With the score 8-6 in the bottom of the eighth, the drama unfolded as Trumbo's blast tied the game up and gave Baltimore momentum for the first time all night. The Cubs' bullpen had been a strength in the first half, but manager Joe Maddon blamed the layoff during the All-Star break for the relievers' struggles. "It would've been very difficult to lose that game, I will not deny that, but we didn't; we won it," Maddon said. "You take a break, you play catch a little bit, and they've been throwing a lot in the first half. It's one of those catch-22 moments. We got through it." The Orioles' mojo was short-lived, however, as Russell clobbered Brach's first pitch for his eighth homer of the year and Cubs closer Wade Davis had a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his 17th save. "The biggest thing for me is to make sure I see the pitch, track it and get a good swing on it," Russell said. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Trumbo ties it up: After All-Star second baseman Jonathan Schoop hit a blooper to right just out of Heyward's reach, Trumbo made Uehara pay. The one-out, two-run blast into the left-field seats completed the O's turnaround and marked his 15th of the year. "The problem is, you have to do a lot," Trumbo said, of being in a big hole early. "You get three or four runs, and you still have to double it to get back in some of these games. It really tests the willpower a little bit."

Contreras' crush job: The Cubs wasted no time jumping on Gausman, setting the tone early with Contreras' three-run blast. The homer, followed by Schwarber's solo shot, gave Chicago the cushion to weather some pitching issues, and put the hot-hitting Contreras at 44 RBIs on the year. QUOTABLE "We need to play good baseball, obviously win, but show some of the signs of life that we did tonight. We did everything we could for it to go our way, but they just did a little bit better." -- Trumbo, on what the Orioles have to do to stay in postseason contention SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Heyward's third-inning homer landed out on Eutaw Street, the 92nd time that's happened in Camden Yards history (52nd by an opponent). It was the first Eutaw Street homer for Heyward. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Jake Arrieta will make his second career start against his former team and first since Aug. 22, 2014, when he takes the mound on Saturday. Arrieta pitched 3 1/2 seasons with the Orioles before he was traded to the Cubs in 2013. He's had an inconsistent first half as evidenced by his last two starts. On July 2, he held the Reds to one hit over seven scoreless innings. He followed that on July 8 by allowing three earned runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings against the Pirates. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT. Orioles: The Orioles will send Wade Miley to the mound for Saturday's game against the Cubs. Miley ended the first half of the season on a positive note against the Twins. He finished one out shy of his first quality start since June 1, as he allowed one run off eight hits. -- Cubs.com Refreshed Cubs get 2nd half off to good start By Carrie Muskat BALTIMORE -- During the All-Star break, Anthony Rizzo went on a boat trip to Bimini, Javier Baez enjoyed family and the beach in Puerto Rico, and Jake Arrieta returned home to Austin, Texas. Collectively, the Cubs hit the re-set button on the season. "I like the look in the guys' eyes," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said prior to a 9-8, Interleague win over the Orioles. "I think everyone is refreshed and ready to put the first half behind us as well as being accountable for it." The Cubs nearly spoiled it. They opened an 8-0 lead on home runs by Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward, but the bullpen, which had been a strength in the first half, couldn't maintain that cushion and the Orioles tied it at 8 on a two-run homer by Mark Trumbo in the eighth. Addison Russell then delivered the game-winner, hitting a solo homer with one out in the ninth off Brad Brach. "That's what we did see [from Russell] last year -- the home run, the RBI, the big hit," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the shortstop, who drove in 95 runs in 2016, but has just 30 so far this season. "I would like to believe he's going to gain some confidence from that." Russell's blast sparked the postgame celebration, the first for newcomer Jose Quintana to witness. The Cubs acquired the left-hander on Thursday from the White Sox, knowing the rotation could use some help to get the team over .500.

"I feel like, as a team, we know the type of goals we have to hit as a team," Russell said. "It's clear we're not first in the division, but that's one of the goals. We're trying to be at the top." That message was shared by others. "We have to play better -- that's it," Rizzo said. "It's plain and simple. We have to play better baseball and become the team everyone loves again." "We haven't been able to get a firm grasp on the way we've been playing and it's been up and down," Arrieta said. "We obviously need to gain some ground. We need to win several games in a row and try to do that often, try to shorten the gap and maybe get ahead of these guys in the next month." The Cubs have blown an eight-run lead before -- they did that against the White Sox on June 28, 2002 -- but to come off the All-Star break wanting to open the second half strong, get a huge lead and then blow it might have been hard to recover from. "It would've been very difficult to lose that game, I will not deny that, but we didn't; we won it," Maddon said. So, forget the first half, Cubs fans. Schwarber has. "The first half is a wash for me," Schwarber said. "It's just [a matter of] going out there and getting back to competing and focusing on my at-bat and focusing on the team at-bat and focusing on the team, period. We started off on the right foot -- this is a big one for us, right there. We faced a little adversity and we were able to come through and it's a great feeling." -- Cubs.com Quintana arrives with Cubs in Baltimore By Carrie Muskat BALTIMORE -- When Joe Maddon met on Friday with his newest starter, Jose Quintana, the manager encouraged the left-hander to be himself and pointed out that the Cubs don't have many rules. Maddon also told Quintana this was a great opportunity to have an impact on the Cubs in the second half. "When you say that, some guys give you the wrong look," Maddon said. "He was very good with that thought and very comfortable with that thought. You're always concerned about who accepts pressure, and I thought he accepted it really well." Acquired Thursday from the White Sox for four Minor Leaguers, Quintana joined the Cubs on Friday, threw a bullpen and said he was excited and relieved to be with the team. "It's over and that's good," Quintana said of the trade rumors. "It's a fresh start. I just want to do my job and make the playoffs. I've never been to the playoffs and I have a good chance here." The lefty will start Sunday against the Orioles and will be the third pitcher to make starts for both the Cubs and White Sox in the same season, joining Bob Miller (1970) and Steve Renko (1977). Quintana called it a perfect trade because he didn't have to move -- he'll just be driving north from his downtown Chicago apartment to Wrigley Field, and not south. Quintana was 4-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 18 starts with the White Sox, averaging better than a strikeout per inning for the first time in his career (109 strikeouts in 104 1/3 innings pitched). He is on pace for his fifth consecutive 32-plus start, 200-plus inning season in his career. The Cubs like all of those qualities and also feel the addition of Quintana can inject some energy into the team, which has been playing .500 baseball most of the year.

"It should show everybody in this clubhouse what they think of this team and what we're capable of," outfielder Jason Heyward said. Maddon was at dinner with his wife Jaye on Wednesday night, enjoying an abbreviated All-Star break after having to manage the National League team in Miami. "I've always liked [Quintana's] body of work," Maddon said. "To plug him in there with the rest of our guys could be exactly what we're looking for in the second half. ... He's almost like the perfect acquisition now." The Cubs rotation ended the first half with a 4.66 ERA, which ranked 16th in the Majors. Last year, they had the best ERA among starting pitching at 3.09. "I'm so excited to be with this team," Quintana said. "I just want to help this team and do my job." The Cubs began the second half 5 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central Division. They've got some work to do. "The trade should be read as a vote of faith in this group," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "Not only can this be a winning group, it is a winning group. These guys just won a World Series and our goal is to win more World Series with this team." Quintana arrived in Baltimore on Friday morning and was recognized by some Cubs fans at the baggage carousel at the airport, where he posed for photos. A few teased him because his gear was in a White Sox bag. "I have to get a new one," Quintana said, smiling. -- Cubs.com Epstein keeping options open before Deadline By Carrie Muskat BALTIMORE -- Now that the Cubs got a head start on the other Major League teams by trading for Jose Quintana on Thursday, are they finished making deals? The non-waiver Trade Deadline is July 31. "I think right now, we're taking a step back, take a breath, try to understand our roster and payroll dynamic," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "We'll still be active with phone calls this month. Anything we might want to accomplish this winter, it's good to take a look and see if we can get a head start now. "We'll see how we play, too. It's an important two weeks. If we can get hot and play the way we know we're capable of, it puts us in a more aggressive posture. If we don't get hot, we have a little bit longer-term perspective." The Cubs began the second half 5 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the National League Central Division. "I like the look in the guys' eyes," Epstein said. "I think everyone is refreshed and ready to put the first half behind us as well as being accountable for it." Said Jason Heyward: "We have a great opportunity to still be in it. We're still playing meaningful games. Right now, we just have to look in front of us and take it one game at a time." Worth noting • What's Cubs manager Joe Maddon's scouting report on Quintana?

"I thought he was an aggressive strike thrower," Maddon said of the left-hander, who will make his Cubs debut on Sunday against the Orioles. "He liked to pitch with his fastball. Eventually he got better with the offspeed stuff as he got in the league a little longer. I saw an assertive pitcher, a guy who went after hitters and who was very aggressive. I always liked that about him. "He's young and he'll keep getting better," Maddon said. "He's kind of a workhorse, too, and can pick up some innings." • To make room on the roster for Quintana, the Cubs optioned right-handed reliever Dylan Floro to Triple-A Iowa. Floro, 26, gave up seven earned runs over 9 2/3 innings in three outings with the Cubs this season. Right-hander Eddie Butler, who was 4-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 starts, goes to the bullpen now, Maddon said. • Kyle Hendricks, on the disabled list since June 5 with inflammation in his right hand, will make a second rehab start on Monday with Double-A Tennessee. He threw 45 pitches this past Monday with the Minor League team. If all goes well in his second outing, Hendricks could be activated for the Cubs' upcoming homestand against the Cardinals and White Sox. • Registration is now open for the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation's sixth annual 5K Walk-Off for Cancer, to be held Dec. 3 in Parkland, Fla. Last year's event raised more than $500,000 for families battling cancer and cancer research. Funds from the walk will support the Hope 44 programs at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, cancer research. Go to Rizzo44.com to register. -- Cubs.com Arrieta returns to Camden for first time as Cub By Mandy Bell Jake Arrieta is looking to bring his Cubs success back to Baltimore on Saturday in his first start at Camden Yards since being traded in 2013. "There's still several guys over there who I played with who I want to get out," Arrieta said of pitching against his former team. "It's going to be neat to pitch here against these guys and guys I've played with for a long time and guys I've watched from afar. It's going to be enjoyable. I'm looking forward to it." Arrieta (8-7, 4.35) was 20-25 with a 5.46 ERA and 277 strikeouts over four seasons with the Orioles from 2010-2013. Since his departure to Chicago, the righty has gone 62-28, posting a 2.78 ERA and 732 strikeouts. "I think Jake sooner or later would have reached his level, wherever he would've been," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "I pull for Jake every time him pitches, except against us. I'm happy for him. He's done some things you'd like to think he could've done here, but I think talent plays. It always comes out. An old manager told me one time that try as you may, you can't screw up the good ones." Arrieta has started against the Orioles just once, back in 2014, when he picked up the win in a 4-1 Chicago victory. The righty went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Opposing Arrieta will be Wade Miley, who is looking to carry the momentum from his last outing against the Twins to start the second half of the season the way he started the first half. In April, the lefty was dominant, posting a 2.32 ERA, and following that with a 3.97 ERA in May. But June and July took a turn for the worse as his monthly ERAs skyrocketed to 7.48 in June and 9.82 in the first half of July. Three things to know about this game

• Of the Cubs who have faced Miley, outfielder Jon Jay has found the most success, slashing .714/.714/.857 with a double and an RBI against the Orioles lefty. • The Orioles have seven players who have faced Arrieta since he left Baltimore. Combined, the O's are hitting just .167 (5-for-30) against the Cubs righty, with Seth Smith hitting the only homer. • Despite the fact that Arrieta has thrown nearly 200 more innings at Wrigley Field than Camden Yards, the righty has allowed 29 home runs in Baltimore in 187 2/3 innings -- which is the most of any stadium he has pitched in -- and just 20 in 353 innings in Chicago. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs see Jose Quintana trade as commitment from front office By Jesse Rogers BALTIMORE -- Chicago Cubs players, as well as manager Joe Maddon, understand what the front office provided for them during the All-Star break and are committed to doing their part after a lackluster first half. The addition of lefty Jose Quintana from the Chicago White Sox -- one year after the Cubs added closer Aroldis Chapman also in July -- means management isn't messing around. "They're consistent," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said Friday afternoon after welcoming Quintana to the team. "They believe in us just as much as we believe in ourselves...We have to play better. It's plain and simple. We have to play better baseball and become the team that everyone loves again." The Cubs are far from the darlings of baseball they were a year ago as teams like the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers might be able to claim the title of "best young team" along with the real title of World Series winner. The Quintana trade could provide for a wake call to the still defending champions. "Anytime you feel like the front office is trying to add to your team and help you make a push that should send enough of a message," outfielder Jason Heyward said. "From Day 1 they've done everything they can to meet us more than halfway...We just have to do our job." At 43-45 entering play in the second half the Cubs have decidedly not done their job to this point. They trail the upstart Milwaukee Brewers by 5.5 games, never showing the kind of play that made them world champions in 2016. Team president Theo Epstein has doubled down on his core players after trading away his top three prospects over the last two Julys. "Not only can this be a winning group, this is a winning group," he stated on Friday. "They just won a World Series." The team won a championship on the backs of their starting pitchers but this season has been very different. Ranked 8th in ERA in the National League it's been a struggle on the mound. They lead the league in first inning runs given up after ace Jon Lester could not get out of the opening inning in the first half finale last Sunday. The Cubs trailed 10-0 before coming to bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates -- hence a need for Quintana. "I'm a little surprised (by the trade to the Cubs) but I'm so happy to go to the other side of the city and stay in Chicago," Quintana said. "I just want to help this team." Help is what they could use considering the disarray in their rotation. John Lackey and Kyle Hendricks are on the disabled list while others like Brett Anderson and Eddie Butler have been ineffective. Perhaps Quintana can be that stabilizing force the team has been looking for. One player can't make all the difference but he can have an effect on the rest of the team.

Maddon isn't used to getting what he wants or needs at the trade deadline, having come from Tampa Bay, but the Cubs front office isn't playing around, not when they have a window to win more than one world title. "It's definitely an injection," Maddon said. "There's definitely energy involved. It's more believable with him around here right now. "It's wonderful to know if you need something you're able to get it. It's not just plugging holes, it's about reinforcing the whole thing. It's nice to be in that kind of position. I cannot deny that." A strategy Heyward concurs with. "They aren't out here trying to do anything secretive," Heyward said. "They want to win." As for what's next, it all depends on the next couple of weeks. The Cubs are taking a step back as they evaluate their team with Quintana. "We're going to see how we play," Epstein said. "It's a really important two weeks." A move towards first place might mean a more aggressive approach to helping the roster for the final two months. A step back and the Cubs will be thinking about the future. The good news is the Quintana deal -- with his team friendly contract -- addresses both needs. "You cannot do this without pitching," Maddon said. "He gives us chance to do that more on a consistent basis." One bonus for Epstein, as well as Sox GM Rick Hahn, was that the deal for Quintana didn't leak except for a Reddit user named WetButt. When asked if the Cubs had other deals in play, Epstein quipped, "Go ask WetButt." --