The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers face each other this weekend at Wrigley Field, but a year from now they'll likely be doing the same in Japan to open the 2025 season.

MLB has yet to make that official, but Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Sadayuki Sakakibara said Wednesday that MLB has slated March 19 and 20 for next year's season-opening series.

But Sakakibara did not reveal who will be playing. In the meantime, this weekend's three-game set will be highlighted by matchups of four prominent Japanese-born players.

The Chicago Cubs will likely be without Justin Steele until May due to a left hamstring strain.

Steele left his start against the Texas Rangers on Thursday with hamstring tightness in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Craig Counsell said Steele is dealing with a Grade 1 strain.

"You're thinking that it's just a shame," Counsell said. "He's pitching really, really well. Obviously an important member of the team, and it looks like we're gonna miss him for a little bit here." 

Steele went down after successfully fielding a Leody Taveras push bunt for an out at first base.

The Chicago Cubs placed left-hander Justin Steele on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain Saturday after their Opening Day starter was injured fielding a bunt against the Texas Rangers.

The Cubs recalled right-hander Ben Brown, 24, from Triple-A Iowa, with Brown in line to make his major league debut after getting two starts among five appearances in spring training.

The Chicago Cubs and first baseman Garrett Cooper have agreed to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to big league camp for spring training.

The Cubs announced the deal Saturday.

As the offseason progressed, Cody Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, pivoted from seeking a long-term deal to something shorter with more flexibility.

Bellinger signed a three-year, $80 million deal to return to the Chicago Cubs earlier this month. He can opt out of the pact after the 2025 season.

"There are variables," Boras said of Bellinger's free agency. "We have some irregularity going on in this current market. We have close to 11 teams that are spending less money than they did a year go ... in light of the fact we have record revenues in baseball."

Center fielder Cody Bellinger and the Cubs are in agreement on a three-year, $80 million contract, sources told ESPN, ending a prolonged free agency with a return engagement after his excellent 2023 season with Chicago.

Bellinger, 28, has opt-outs after the first and second years of the deal, sources said. He will receive a $30 million salary this season, $30 million in 2025 (if he doesn't opt out after the first year) and $20 million in 2026 (if he doesn't opt out after the second year), according to sources.

Eric Hosmer, who helped the Kansas City Royals win the 2015 World Series, announced his retirement Wednesday.

Hosmer, 34, made the announcement on social media while promoting his new media company, saying "the playing days are unfortunately over but I'm committed to giving back to the baseball community."

Cody Bellinger remains unsigned as clubs prepare for their first games of Spring Training.

Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said Monday that the two sides have had "some discussions, but it hasn't become a negotiation yet."

"We’re just waiting. Waiting for whenever he and his agent are going to engage," Ricketts added. "It could be any time now or it could be a few weeks. We’ll see where it goes."

The Chicago Cubs are signing reliever Richard Lovelady to a deal.

The contract is presumably a Minor League pact with an invitation to Major League spring training.

Lovelady, 28, is a former 10th round pick of the Kansas City Royals.

Right-handed reliever Hector Neris and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a one-year, $9 million contract that includes an option, sources told ESPN, bolstering the back end of Chicago's bullpen with the top reliever remaining in free agency.