The Chicago Cubs are in Tokyo before they start their regular season against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. Following their two-game series, the Cubs will return to spring training for several days before they resume their regular season against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 27.

The Chicago Cubs and free agent right-hander Lance Lynn are in negotiations on a one-year contract, USA Today reported Thursday.

The news lends to reporting from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney from earlier this week suggesting the Cubs were looking at Lynn and another former Cardinal, Kyle

With the team going with a bullpen day for their first exhibition game in Japan, Merryweather opened for the Cubs against the NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. And after a relatively subdued first half inning, the chants began soon after Merryweather took the mound for warmup pitches.

A cacophony of chants, horns, drums and cheers greeted Julian Merryweather as he faced the Hanshin Tigers, while the Chicago Cubs hitters experienced a very different atmosphere in the 3-0

The Cubs dropped their first exhibition game in Tokyo 3-0 to the Hanshin Tigers. In the first of two contests, the Cubs looked sluggish and jetlagged from the flight.