The World Series champion Chicago Cubs return their core but didn't rest on any laurels as they open a new season with a title to defend for the first time since 1909.Chicago not only has the ingredients for a second straight 100-plus victory season and National League Central title but enough to possibly make it back-to-back World Series appearances for the first time the opening decade of the 20th century.These 21st century Cubs start with the reigning NL Most Valuable Player (third baseman Kris Bryant), a World Series MVP (second baseman-outfielder Ben Zobrist) and not one but three Cy-Young caliber starting pitchers and four hurlers with 15 wins or more.Chicago also had one of baseball's best defensive groups with five Gold Glove finalists, a plus-282 run differential that was by far the best in the majors, and was tough to beat at home, going 57-24 at Wrigley Field for a franchise record for wins there.While the Cubs rate the early edge, manager Joe Maddon recognizes the road back... [More]

The Chicago Cubs signed 2016 National League MVP Kris Bryant to a $1.05 million, one-year deal, making him the highest-paid player in a second year of service time in major league history.The third baseman's deal reported Thursday night breaks the previous record set by Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who re-signed with his team for $1 million in 2014. FanRag Sports first reported Bryant's new contract and it was later confirmed by multiple media outlets.The 25-year-old Bryant was rewarded after hitting .292 with 39 home runs and 102 RBIs in only his second season, helping the Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years.Bryant was set to make to $652,000 this season and he won't be eligible for arbitration until the 2018 season. MLB players can become eligible for free agency after their sixth year of service time.Bryant has played two full major league seasons, but he has not officially hit second-year service eligibility because of the controversial delay by the Cubs on his initial call-up as a rookie in 2015.The Cubs gained an extra year of service out of Bryant before he can become a free agent when they kept him in the minors for 11 days before his debut on April 17, 2015.Bryant unanimously won the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year award in his first season after he hit .275 with 26 homers and 99 RBIs.

3B Kris Bryant followed up a 2015 Rookie of the Year campaign with production that ranked among NL leaders in home runs (third, 39), runs (first, 121), RBIs (sixth, 102), on-base percentage (ninth, .385), slugging (fourth, .554) and WAR (first, 8.2).

CHICAGO -- The 2016 World Series champions are favorites to do it again in 2017.The Chicago Cubs, who captured their first title since 1908 in a roller coaster seven-game World Series victory over the Cleveland Indians, are also in a good spot to remain contenders for the foreseeable future.Cubs fans who endured numerous losing seasons, several near-misses and a perceived curse on their team were finally rewarded.However, manager Joe Maddon was never one to also shoulder that century-plus burden. From the start, he embraced the present."I love tradition, I think tradition is worth time mentally, and tradition is worth being upheld," he said during the World Series, "but curses and superstitions are not. So it's really great for our entire Cub-dom to get beyond that moment and continue to move forward, because now based on the young players we have in this organization, we have an opportunity to be good for a long time, and without any constraints, without any of the negative dialogue."This... [More]

3B Kris Bryant homered in Game 5 and Game 6, becoming the first Cubs player to homer in consecutive games in a single World Series. He went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored two runs in Game 7, finishing the series with a .269 average.

3B Kris Bryant homered in Game 5 and Game 6, becoming the first Cubs player to homer in consecutive games in a single World Series.

3B Kris Bryant had four of the Cubs' 13 hits in Game 6 of the World Series, including a solo home run in the first inning. He homered for the second consecutive game. Bryant said the Cubs, who are attempting to become the sixth team in history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series, are feeling confident going into Game 7. "When we were down 3-1, it was take it a game at a time and try to get to Game 7, and we got there," he said.

3B Kris Bryant homered and stole a base in Sunday's game, becoming the third player age 24 or younger to do so in a World Series game. He joined Mickey Mantle (1956) and Jose Canseco (1998). He was also the first Cubs third baseman to hit a home run in the World Series.

David Ortiz added another trophy to his collection Wednesday as the retired Boston Red Sox designated hitter was named the winner of the 2016 Hank Aaron Award as the best the hitter in the American League.Ortiz was presented with the award before Game 2 of the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians. The award is decided by fans and a panel of Hall of Famers that includes Roberto Alomar, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Ken Griffey Jr., Eddie Murray and Robin Yount.Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant received the award for being the National League's top hitter."I congratulate David Ortiz and Kris Bryant on earning the 2016 Hank Aaron Awards," commissioner Rob Manfred said. "David created an extraordinary legacy with the Red Sox. Fans will never forget his consistent excellence at the plate and his performances on the game's greatest stages."Ortiz concluded a 20-year career in Boston's Game 3 loss to Cleveland on Oct. 10. In his final season, he batted .315 with 38 home runs and... [More]

3B Kris Bryant recorded his 10th career postseason extra-base hit, extending his club record. Bryant was 2-for-5 with a run driven in against the Dodgers in Game 5. Bryant has been one of the Cubs' most consistent hitter in the playoffs, batting .316 with three doubles and two RBIs in the NLCS.

3B Kris Bryant was 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the first inning Saturday to extend his hitting streak to six games. He is the first Cubs player since Derek Lee (2007-08) to have a playoff streak hit six games. Bryant is now the Cubs all-time leader in extra base postseason hits with eight.

3B Kris Bryant hit a two-run, game-tying home run in the top of the ninth inning of the Cubs' eventual 6-5, 13-inning loss to the Giants. The game-tying homer was the first for a Cub in the ninth inning of a postseason game since RF Sammy Sosa bombed one against the Florida Marlins in Game 1 of the 2003 National League Championship Series. Bryant had three hits in the game.

3B Kris Bryant had a spectacular follow-up to an impressive 2015 rookie-of-the-year season. The versatile 24-year-old NL All Star -- he played five field positions and also as designated hitter this season -- was just the fourth player in franchise history to collect at least 120 runs, 35 doubles, 39 homers and 100 RBIs in a single season, and just the second in the last 85 years. An iron man performer who played in 155 games -- tied for the team lead with Anthony Rizzo -- Bryant closed the regular season with a .292 average and his team-high 39 home runs were third in the league.

Close calls: we've had plenty of them in this baseball season. The final playoff spots and postseason seedings came down to results of games on the final day of the regular season.In forecasting who will win the major MLB awards this year, there are plenty of close calls, too. There were a half-dozen players who could have a case for the American League MVP and nearly as many for the National League MVP. The AL Rookie of the Year might be the toughest call of all.Here, then, are our predictions for how things will shake out when voting by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America is complete. As with the ballots that will be cast we have a top 10 for the MVP awards, top five for the Cy Young awards and top three for both the Manager of the Year and Rookie of the Year. (All statistics are entering play on Sunday).AL MVP1. David Ortiz (Red Sox) 2. Mike Trout (Angels)3. Jose Altuve (Astros)4. Mookie Betts (Red Sox)5. Manny Machado (Orioles)6. Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays)7. Adrian... [More]

3B Kris Bryant was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer. That put him into triple digits in RBIs with 101. His previous career best was 99. "Now there's nothing for him to shoot for next year. He's got his 100th RBI," manager Joe Maddon said.

3B Kris Bryant (2-for-4 with a walk) collected his 41st multi-hit effort. Bryant recorded a hit in 10 of his last 11 games dating to Sept. 11. He's gone 13-for-49 in that stretch and is batting .297 for the season with 38 homers and 99 RBIs.

3B Kris Bryant hit his 38th home run of the season and 10th against the Reds this year, the most by a Cubs player all-time against Cincinnati. His 38 homers are the most by any Cub since Aramis Ramirez clubbed 38 in 2008.

LF Kris Bryant was 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run. He has hit safely in 14 of his past 15 games, going 25-for-58 (.431) in that stretch. He collected his fifth multi-double game of the season and 12th game with three or more hits.

On his second day in instructional league camp, Tim Tebow had the No. 1-selling jersey on MLB.com. The uniform top, with T-E-B-O-W stitched on the back above the No. 15, is available from Majestic, which signed Tebow to a separate marketing deal when the New York Mets agreed to a $100,000 minor-league deal with the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner.A similar t-shirt, made to look like a jersey with name and number on the back, was second only to the Chicago Cubs National League Central champions t-shirt in MLB.com sales. Tebow's jersey sells for $119.99 and the t-shirt goes for $29.99. Cubs MVP candidate Kris Bryant is second in jersey sales, per MLB.com.

INF Kris Bryant drove in a run with a triple on Saturday against the Brewers. He has 96 RBIs this season. His 115 runs scored lead the majors.