The Chicago Cubs' annual fan convention is set to proceed without the team's players or front-office personnel, reflecting an unusually quiet offseason in Major League Baseball.
The event, typically a highlight of the winter calendar, will lack the usual appearances by Cubs stars and executives, underscoring a "hot stove" period that has seen minimal player movement across the league.
Columnist Paul Sullivan notes that the absence of the Cubs from their own convention fits a pattern of inactivity during what is traditionally a busy time for trades and free-agent signings.
