Good morning!

We're one day from domestic opening day. To celebrate, the CHGO Cubs show is making a big announcement later today.

I'm pretty sure I'd get in trouble with my bosses if I spoiled the surprise, but I'll say this: Plenty of folks worked incredibly hard to get this right, and I hope you'll enjoy the fruits of their labor.

And if you're reading this after they've made their announcement... Wow! Isn't that great? I can't believe we're Hey, thanks for reading.​

The Cam Smith Conundrum

Houston Astros top prospect—and the Cubs' first-round draft pick last summer—Cam Smith has made the club's Opening Day roster and will begin the season in right field.

• Smith, 22, who was selected by Chicago with the 14^th overall pick last July, was dealt to Houston in December as part of the trade that brought Kyle Tucker to the Cubs. Houston also received 3B Isaac Paredes and RHP Hayden Wesneski.
  

• Only 18 position players in MLB history have made it from the draft to an Opening Day roster in fewer than 100 games between the minor and major leagues. Smith is the third-fastest to accomplish the feat, doing so in 32 games, behind only Pete Incaviglia (0 games, 1986) and John Olerud (6 games, 1990).

I'm sure everybody will be totally normal about this.

It's an incredible feat for Smith, especially when looking at the other names on that list. I doubt the Astros expect everything to immediately click, but the hope is that Smith is one day held in the same regard as players like Dave Winfield, Robin Yount, Ozzie Smith, and Paul Molitor.

But not everybody on that list of fast risers is headed to Cooperstown, either. Smith could just as easily end up like Andrew Vaughn, who made the White Sox's 2021 Opening Day roster despite just 55 minor-league appearances before COVID canceled the 2020 MiLB season.

That's why Smith's success really shouldn't affect Cubs fans...yet. This only becomes a larger story if the Cubs are unable to extend Kyle Tucker. Tucker's a superstar, and Chicago's lineup has been super-starved for an elite bat since trading Kris Bryant almost four years ago.

Should the Cubs find a way* to keep Tucker in the mix beyond 2025, the haul sent to Houston shouldn't matter. But if Tucker is a one-and-done—or worse, traded at the deadline—then any positive in Smith's career will be looked at as "what could've been" had Chicago been in a position to practice patience with their playoff timeline.

However, time might not be on Cubs POBO Jed Hoyer's side as he enters the final year of his five-year contract. Chicago has failed to make the postseason since Hoyer replaced Theo Epstein atop the franchise's baseball decision-making hierarchy.

Hoyer needs Tucker, not just for his projected 30 homers and 4.6 fWAR in 2025, but also to take the heat off the Cubs exec. if Smith is destined for early stardom.

That asterisk next to "way" a few paragraphs up wasn't a typo, either. The way to keep Tucker is a nine-figure dollar amount that likely starts with a three.

Tucker was always going to cost a hefty chunk of change, but if Hoyer can guarantee the superstar spends the rest of his career on the north side, Cubs fans won't remember who drafted Smith by the time Tucker's contract expires.

GO DEEPER: Tune in to today's CHGO Cubs podcast at 2:30 on YouTube for more on Smith!

Quick Hits

• Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a wrist injury against the St. Louis Blues last Saturday. Dickinson, 29, signed a two-year extension last January that should keep him in Chicago through next season. In 59 games this year, Dickinson tallied just seven goals and 16 points, but he tied Connor Bedard for the team lead in goals (22) in 2023-24.

• MAILBAG: Have any questions about free agency, the upcoming NFL Draft, or anything Bears? Hit reply, ask away, and I'll do my best to answer them in another CHGO Bears Mailbag this Friday!

Today!

• 📺 CHGO Bears @ 12 on YouTube

• 📺 CHGO Cubs @ 2:30 on YouTube

• 📺 CHGO Bulls @ 5:30 on YouTube

• 🥅 Blackhawks vs. Devils @ 6:30 on TNT

• 📺 CHGO Blackhawks POSTGAME on YouTube

I'll talk to you tomorrow!