Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Looking Ahead Post-2007 and into 2008

With several recent trades and other roster moves, here are the updated roster and salary projections for next off-season and 2008, as well as a list of Cubs minor leaguers assigned to the Arizona Instructional League, AFL, and HWL: POST-2007 PROJECTED 2008 PAYROLL(as of 9/7/07) SIGNED FOR 2008 (13-14): % has "no trade" or limited "no trade" Henry Blanco - $2.8M Ryan Dempster - $5.5M + $800K in performance bonuses Mark DeRosa - $3.75M % Scott Eyre - $3.8M + $300K in performance bonuses (player option, and has limited "no trade") Bob Howry - $4M % Jacque Jones – $5M (has limited "no trade") % Derrek Lee - $13M (has "no trade") Ted Lilly - $7M Jason Marquis - $6.375M Will Ohman - $1.6M + $250K in performance bonuses % Aramis Ramirez - $14M (has "no trade") % Jeff Samardzija - $850K (or $600K minor league split) % Alfonso Soriano - $14M (has "no trade") % Carlos Zambrano - $16M (includes prorated portion of $5M signing bonus, also has "no trade")  TOTAL - approximately $97.5M (plus $1.35M in potential performance bonuses)   POTENTIAL FREE-AGENTS AFTER 2007 (5-6): Scott Eyre ($3.8M player option – see above) Cliff Floyd ($5.5M plus $4.5M in incentives mutual option for 2008) Jason Kendall Steve Trachsel ($4.75M club option or $100K buy-out for 2008) Daryle Ward ($1M mutual option for 2008 or $50K buy-out if club option declined) Kerry Wood ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE AFTER 2007 (5): NOTE: 2007 salary in parenthesis - 20% maximum cut allowed for 2008 Neal Cotts ($825K salary in 2007 - 2008 minimum would be $660K) Craig Monroe ($4.775M salary in 2007 - 2008 minimum would be $3.82M) Roberto Novoa (auto-renewal in 2007 - very likely post-2007 “Super Two”) Mark Prior ($3.575M salary in 2007 - 2008 minimum would be $2.86M) Michael Wuertz (auto-renewal in 2007) AUTO-RENEWAL (PRE-ARBITRATION) FOR 2008: NOTE: 2008 MLB minimum salary will be $390K, minimum minor league split will be $62.5K ($31,250 minimum split for players on 40-man roster for first time) Ronny Cedeno Mike Fontenot Jake Fox Sam Fuld Sean Gallagher Angel Guzman Kevin Hart Rich Hill Carlos Marmol Sean Marshall Juan Mateo Matt Murton Angel Pagan Eric Patterson Billy Petrick Felix Pie Carmen Pignatiello Geovany Soto Ryan Theriot MINOR LEAGUE OPTION STATUS (as of SPRING TRAINING 2008): * Can only be optioned to minors after clearing Optional Waivers NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: Ronny Cedeno Geovany Soto ONE MINOR LEAGUE OPTION LEFT: * Neal Cotts Mike Fontenot Angel Guzman Rich Hill Carlos Marmol * Roberto Novoa Angel Pagan Felix Pie * Michael Wuertz TWO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: Jake Fox Sean Gallagher Sean Marshall Juan Mateo Matt Murton Eric Patterson Billy Petrick Ryan Theriot THREE MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: Sam Fuld Kevin Hart Carmen Pignatiello Jeff Samardzija PROJECTED CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER (post-2007) * bats or throws left # bats both PITCHERS (21): * Neal Cotts (eligible for salary arbitration) Ryan Dempster * Scott Eyre (player option for 2008) Sean Gallagher Angel Guzman Kevin Hart * Rich Hill Bob Howry * Ted Lilly Carlos Marmol * Sean Marshall Jason Marquis Juan Mateo Roberto Novoa (eligible for salary arbitration) * Will Ohman Billy Petrick * Carmen Pignatiello Mark Prior (eligible for salary arbitration) Jeff Samardzija Michael Wuertz (eligible for salary arbitration) Carlos Zambrano CATCHERS (2): Henry Blanco Geovany Soto (out of minor league options) INFIELDERS (6): Ronny Cedeno (out of minor league options) Mark DeRosa * Mike Fontenot Derrek Lee Aramis Ramirez Ryan Theriot OUTFIELDERS (9): Jake Fox * Sam Fuld * Jacque Jones Craig Monroe (eligible for salary arbitration) Matt Murton # Angel Pagan * Eric Patterson * Felix Pie Alfonso Soriano FREE-AGENTS (5): Cliff Floyd, OF (mutual option) Jason Kendall, C Steve Trachsel, RHP (club option) Daryle Ward, 1B-OF (mutual option) Kerry Wood, RHP ========================================= POST-2008 POTENTIAL FREE-AGENTS AFTER 2008: Henry Blanco (vesting option or else club option with buy-out for 2009) Ryan Dempster % Scott Eyre (has limited "no trade" and player option after 2007) Cliff Floyd (has mutual option after 2007) Bob Howry % Jacque Jones (has limited "no trade") Craig Monroe (eligible for salary arbitration after 2007) Will Ohman Mark Prior (eligible for salary arbitration after 2007) Steve Trachsel (club option after 2007) Daryle Ward (has mutual option after 2007)  SIGNED BEYOND 2008: Mark DeRosa (thru 2009, then FA) Jason Marquis (thru 2009, then FA) % Derrek Lee (thru 2010, then FA)  Ted Lilly (thru 2010, then FA) % Aramis Ramirez (thru 2010 + 2011 player option and 2012 mutual option) % Jeff Samardzija (thru 2011 + mutual options for 2012 and 2013, player option if eligible for salary arbitration) % Carlos Zambrano (thru 2012 + 2013 vesting-player option) % Alfonso Soriano (thru 2014, then FA) PROJECTED ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY-ARBITRATION POST-2008: Ronny Cedeno Neal Cotts Rich Hill (projected 2+149 MLB ST post-08 - very likely “Super Two”) Sean Marshall (projected 2+132 MLB ST post-08 - possible "Super Two") Matt Murton Roberto Novoa Angel Pagan Michael Wuertz ==================================== CUBS MINOR LEAGUES: FALL 2007 2007 CUBS AZ INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE TEAM(Fitch Park): * bats or throws left # bats both PITCHERS (16): Ryan Acosta * Michael Bunton Jose Ceda Rafael Cova Marcus Hatley Yuri Higgins Chris Huseby * Casey Lambert Jordan Latham Matt Maradeo Mark Pawelek Hernan Ramos * James Russell * Chris Siegfried * Donald Veal Stephen Vento CATCHERS (5): Welington Castillo * Steve Clevenger Josh Donaldson Carlos Perez * Mark Reed INFIELDERS (8): Darwin Barney # Marwin Gonzalez Gian Guzman * Brian Jost Jovan Rosa Marquez Smith Tony Thomas Josh Vitters OUTFIELDERS (8): * Cliff Andersen * Kyler Burke * Tyler Colvin Brandon Guyer * Leon Johnson * Drew Rundle Ty Wright * Jonathan Wyatt ASSIGNED TO 2007 ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE (Mesa Solar Sox - HoHoKam Park): Matt Avery, RHP Justin Berg, RHP Sam Fuld, OF Grant Johnson, RHP Josh Lansford, 3B Rocky Roquet, RHP Joe Simokaitis, SS ASSIGNED TO HAWAIIAN WINTER LEAGUE: Ryan Harvey, OF Nathan Samson, SS ====================================== POTENTIAL MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS POST-2007: Federico Baez, RHP (6YFA) Cory Bailey, RHP Gary Cates, INF Robinson Chirinos, INF (6YFA) Jorge Cortes, OF Adam Harben, RHP Koyie Hill, C Ben Howard, RHP Geoff Jones, LHP Josh Kroeger, OF Mike Mahoney, C Mike Nannini, RHP John Nelson, INF Ryan O’Malley, LHP Carlos Rojas, SS (6YFA) Issmael Salas, INF (6YFA) Les Walrond, LHP John Webb, RHP ELIGIBLE FOR 2007 RULE 5 DRAFT IF NOT ADDED TO RESERVE LIST BY 11-20-07: + Minor League FA after 2008 season Alberto Alburquerque + Rafael Cova, RHP + Matt Craig, 3B + Brian Dopirak, 1B Darin Downs, LHP  + Alberto Garcia, 1B-OF Ryan Harvey, OF Jim Henderson, RHP  + Micah Hoffpauir, 1B  Grant Johnson, RHP Scott Koerber, LHP  Tim Layden, LHP J. R. Mathes, LHP Casey McGehee, 3B-C + Adalberto Mendez, RHP Leonel Perez, RHP Jose Pina, RHP Tony Richie, C + Alan Rick, C-1B + Joel Santo, RHP Paul Schappert, LHP Chris Shaver, LHP + Jemel Spearman, IF-OF Nate Spears, 2B  Chris Walker, OF Matt Weber, RHP (RESTRICTED LIST) Randy Wells, RHP ========================= PROJECTED 2008 ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART (as of 9/7/07) * bats or throws left # bats both CATCHERS: CUBS: Henry Blanco/Geovany Soto IOWA: Tony Richie/Chris Robinson/Casey McGehee TENN: * Mark Reed/Jake Muyco/* Steve Clevenger DAYT: Welington Castillo/Blake Lalli/Matt Canepa PEOR: Josh Donaldson/Mario Mercedes/Luis Bautista/Roberto Sabates EXST: Carlos Perez/* Matt Hudgins/Alvaro Sosa/Jose Guevara FIRST-BASEMEN: CUBS: Derrek Lee IOWA: * Micah Hoffpauir TENN: Brian Dopirak/* Alan Rick/Alberto Garcia DAYT: Russ Canzler/* James Adduci PEOR: * Marc Sawyer/Derek Schermerhorn/* Luke Sommer EXST: * Bryan Jost/Patrick Brooks SECOND-BASEMEN: CUBS: Mark DeRosa/* Mike Fontenot IOWA: * Nate Spears/Jemel Spearman TENN: * Jeffrey Rea DAYT: Tony Thomas/* Ryne Malone PEOR: Nathan Samson/Bill Moss EXST: # Marwin Gonzalez/Elvis Lara/Junior Lake THIRD-BASEMEN: CUBS: Aramis Ramirez IOWA: # Matt Craig TENN: * Kyle Reynolds DAYT: Josh Lansford PEOR: Marquez Smith/* Billy Mottram EXST: Jovan Rosa/Josh Vitters/John Contreras SHORTSTOPS: CUBS: Ryan Theriot/Ronny Cedeno IOWA: Joe Simokaitis TENN: # Matt Matulia DAYT: Darwin Barney/Jonathan Mota PEOR: * Dylan Johnston/# Jose Made EXST: Gian Guzman/Cesar Valentin/# Robert Bautista LEFT-FIELDERS: CUBS: Alfonso Soriano IOWA: * Eric Patterson TENN: * Tyler Colvin/Alfred Joseph DAYT: Ty Wright/* Brian Leclerc PEOR: Brandon Guyer/* Clark Hardman EXST: * Drew Rundle/* Luke Sommer/Andy Soto CENTER-FIELDERS CUBS: * Felix Pie/# Angel Pagan IOWA: * Sam Fuld/# Chris Walker TENN: * Matt Camp DAYT: * Jonathan Wyatt PEOR: * Leon Johnson EXST: * Cliff Andersen/Sammy Baez/# Andres Quezada/# Nelson Pierre RIGHT-FIELDERS CUBS: * Jacque Jones/Matt Murton IOWA: Jake Fox TENN: Ryan Harvey DAYT: * Jeff Culpepper/Yusuf Carter PEOR: * Kyler Burke/Andy Lopez EXST: * Nelson Perez/Jesus Reyes/Chih-Hsiang Wen/Edgar Herrera STARTING PITCHERS CUBS: Carlos Zambrano * Ted Lilly * Rich Hill Jason Marquis * Sean Marshall Mark Prior (likely post-2007 non-tender) IOWA: Kevin Hart Sean Gallagher Juan Mateo Mark Holliman * J. R. Mathes TENN: * Donald Veal Jeff Samardzija Mitch Atkins Justin Berg Joel Santo DAYT: Jake Renshaw Jose Pina Robert Hernandez Marco Carrillo Greg Reinhard PEOR: * James Russell Chris Huseby * Arik Hempy * Dustin Sasser * Mark Pawelek EXST: Alberto Cabrera Larry Suarez Oswaldo Martinez BULLPEN: CUBS: Ryan Dempster (closer) Bob Howry * Will Ohman Carlos Marmol * Scott Eyre Michael Wuertz Angel Guzman * Neal Cotts (likely post-2007 non-tender) IOWA: Rocky Roquet (closer) Matt Avery Billy Petrick * Carmen Pignatiello Grant Johnson Jim Henderson Randy Wells Roberto Novoa (likely post-2007 non-tender) TENN: Adalberto Mendez (closer) Jesse Estrada * Tim Layden Mike Phelps * Paul Schappert Rafael Cova * Scott Koerber Adam Harben (rehab) DAYT: Jose Ceda (closer) Alessandro Maestri * Jeremy Papelbon Chuckie Platt * Darin Downs Matt Maradeo * Jayson Ruhlman PEORIA (competing for PEOR bullpen, or else EXST) * Casey Lambert (closer) Alberto Alburquerque Jon Mueller * Chris Siegfried Donny Walters Miguel Cuevas * Zach Ashwood Scott Meyer Brad Clipp * Michael Bunton John Muller Jordan Latham Stephen Vento Audy Santana Yuri Higgins Marcus Hatley Julio Castillo Hong-Wen Chen Blake Parker Brandon Taylor Andrew McCormick Corey Bachman Chris Rivera Craig Muschko Michael Christl Simon Lee Harol Tolentino Francisco Acosta Kevin Kreier Junniol Lami Cedric Redmond Hernan Ramos Brett Summers Ryan Searle * Jeffry Antigua Julio Pena Ramon Reyes Jose Severino Arturo Florentino Manolin de Leon Wily Garcia Ramon Rache Edilmar Infante Gregorio Rodriguez Kitt Kopach (rehab) Brett Jackson (rehab) Michael Cooper (rehab) Todd Blackford (rehab) Billy Muldowney (rehab) Taylor Parker (rehab) Rafael Dolis (rehab)

Comments

rolling the RF dice should be fun. marshall's expendable...guzman is "interesting" even if his value is around mitre-level currently...trashell coming on board?...what to be done with prior/wood?...blanco/soto? at least the cubs have the luxury of having the SP taken care of (with multiple offseason options in their hands) cuz its a bare market there.

JP: Sorry there bro, I didn't see you post over at Road to Wrigley or I would have just posted a link to it. I got my Cubs AZ Instructs list from a slightly different source than your's, but apparently it's one-in-the-same. Mine didn't come with "positions," which is why I have Burke and Rundle listed as outfielders (the position they played in 2007). I am surprised to see Rundle and Burke listed as first-sackers, however, especially Burke, because he has a plus-arm that would be wasted at 1B. However, it's certainly not unusual for guys to try new positions in the Instructs. So apparently Rundle and Burke (and newcomer Bryan Jost) will be tried at 1B (a "black hole" in the Cubs system), although I believe Josh Donaldson will be playing 1B full-time by 2009, and will become the heir-apparent to Derrek Lee (I see Donaldson as potentially another Paul Konerko), and Josh Vitters might end up at 1B, too (if he ever gets his bat unpacked)! And then Marquez Smith and Jovan Rosa (and possibly Kyle Reynolds as the LH platoon, if he keeps hitting dingers) will battle it out to replace Aramis Ramirez in 2011 or 2012. I also fully-expect Dylan Johnston to be moved from SS to 2B by next season. BTW, one of the pitchers assigned to the Cubs Instructional League team is a 25-year old Venezuelan RHP named Rafael Cova. Some of you may remember Cova as a one-time hard-throwin' Mets prospect (he even got an NRI to ST with the big club in 2006) who got suspended and then released last season, before ending up at Tijuana in the Mexican League in 2007. He's been in pro ball since 2002 (he was with the Phillies before the Mets got him), so I guess he would be considered a "reclamation" project.

An interesting stat I came across today...Kerry Wood has hit more more batters (81) than Wins (71).

coin flips were done to determine where tiebreaker games will be played NL Central: brewers @ cubs cubs @ cardinals there's more including Wild Card tiebreakers where Cubs are away (Pads, Dodgers and Phils) except against the Rockies and Brewers...seems like the Braves were excluded even though they are 1/2 game ahead of StL. http://tinyurl.com/3y2md5

Coin flips for tiebreaks happened today. Here's the tiebreak scenarios for a possible central tie: MIL @ CHC CHC @ STL STL @ MIL Seems quite unlikely that a WC bid could happen, but if so, better pull for the Rockies. Here's those coinflips as well: CHC @ SD CHC@ LAD CHC @ PHI COL @ CHC

Areas in which we concentrate in the off season: - bullpen - an outfielder

So much now seems to come down to who draws which starters. Brewers face Arroyo and Harang in the first 2 in Cincy, while we get Gorz, Snell and Morris in Pitt. Cards get Webb tonight, then Owings and Davis in the desert. If the rotations hold, we should miss Oswalt in Houston again, but will face the doomsday duo of Wandy and Woody..

Might want to think about a better option from the left side. Piggy may work. If there's a dependable lefty out there, it may not hurt. Maybe Eyre will magically fix himself or maybe he won't.

Bullpen: Cubs will have to make a decision on Wood, and if they need to try to find a lefty.

Maybe Eyre will magically fix himself or maybe he won’t. Hasn't he already somewhat fixed himself? His control has still been pretty poor, but since the beginning of July he has been quite effective. And I am convinced that they need a lefty. Marmol, Dempster, Howry, Wood, and Wuertz can ALL get lefties out.

Well sure, but I wouldn't put Eyre in there in the 7th in one-run game tonight. Would you? Those guys can get lefties out, but operating without a solid left-handed option is even making me nervous right now, let alone if we had to go a whole season.

Agreed. A solid lefty and maybe even trade Dempster for something useful and get a closer from somewhere.

Hi Guys, I was wondering what everyone's reaction is to Ankiel and Troy Glaus being outed for HGH and steroids. And I'm also curious what your reaction would be if they named a big Cubs player, like DLee or Aramis in something like that? I read the prosecutors in Albany, NY turned over a list of 45 current and former players who purchased HGH and/or steroids from those two online pharmacies that got busted to MLB this spring, and MLB hasn't done a thing about it. The names have started getting leaked to the press. What would people think if a Cubs player was on the list?

Great recap, AZ Phil, as always......thank you. I would put Hendry's top off-season needs at determining if Pie can/cannot play CF everyday and making a catching decision: re-sign Kendall or let Soto platoon with Hank White. I would use Cedeno, Murton, E. Patterson, Ohman among others to find a LOOGY or make that his FA priority for 2008. These positions would seem to be a lock: SP - Z, Lilly, Marquis, Hill RP - Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Marmol, Wuertz 1B - Lee 2B - DeRosa 3B - Ramirez SS - Theriot LF - Soriano CF or RF - Jones Bench - Blanco, Fontenot, Ward (I think Hendry picks up his option).

And if it's a three-way tie in the N. L. Central? The records of the three teams in common games versus each other (only) are used. At present, the N. L. Central "standings within the standings" go something like this: CHC 16-10 STL 11-12 MIL 11-16 The Cardinals still have five games remaining with the Cubs and three remaining with the Brewers, but let's say the "three-team standings" end in the same order as they are right now. The Cubs would get to choose whether to play the Brewers on Monday 10/1, or take a bye. If the Cubs choose to play the Brewers, the game is at Wrigley Field and the Cards get the day off. If the Cubs select a bye, then the Cardinals play the Brewers in St. Louis on Monday and the Cubs don't play. The winner of the Monday game then plays the team that got the bye on Monday in the home park of the team that won on Monday. So if the Cubs opt for a bye on Monday (as they almost certainly would), they must play a road game (either at STL or at MIL) on Tuesday. Three team ties in the Wild Card are resolved in a similar fashion, but a four-team tie in a division or in the Wild Card causes a special playoff, where the four teams play a single-elimination "tournament," with "first-round" home games played on Monday at the home stadiums of the two teams with the best records within the sub-group, and then the "finals" are played on Tuesday at the home park of the surviving team with the best record within the sub-group. If the N. L. Central teams finish in a two or three-way tie where they are also tied with the Wild Card leader from another division, then the N. L. Central Division tie-breaker "playoff" is played first to determine the N. L. Central winner, and then N. L. Central loser(s) proceed onward to the the Wild Card tie-breaker "playoff," and it is played the same way the division tie-breaker playoff is played. Games won or lost in a tie-breaker play-off are not added or subtracted to/from the regular season standings, although the stats count in regular season stat totals. Also, clubs may use their "Expanded September roster" (up to 40 players) in the tie-breaker playoff games, because they are considered part of the regular season.

Who really needs a LOOGY? Why on earth should we trade a legitimate piece of the future puzzle for a bullpen part that the most successful bullpens (Anaheim/San Diego) do not even employ? Lou hasnt shown the slightest inclination of knowing how to use a LOOGY properly even when he has one.

I agree, in a somewhat less critical manner, aaronb. Lou clearly doesn't like LOOGY's, so we don't need one. Some guys do, and that's different. I'd put a LOOGY in my bullpen, but some guys wouldn't. Still do think we need a lefty we can depend on, though.

A loogy may be a nice to have. Quite useful to get a jj or uncle cliffy type person out.

To be clear. Righties are also extremely able to get those guys out. Stats suggest that lefties are more effective etc.

Think we go with Soto next year by the way. Seems like a better option financially than the free agent options.

will ohman is under contract next year...unless he's got some busted limbs the cubs are probably counting on him to some extent. unless he's already toasty (for whatever reason) they're probably expecting him to show up to compete even if he's not guaranteed a job. he's not exactly a loogie, but he can fill the role. eyre's been viewed as an "innings" guy no matter how ineffective.

But here is the question... Would you rather have a mediocre loogy (i.e. Eyre, Ohman) or a good righty who is very capable of getting lefties out? I would prefer the good righty over the mediocre loogy, and there simply are not that many good loogies (hehe... you can't really make an acronym plural, can you?) out there. Maybe the Cubs could sign Wes...

What an amazing post. I usually tease you, Phil, but this guide is a winner.

AZ Phil, I see no mention of Rafael Dolis in your projections (not even on the rehab list). Any (bad) news on him? I would think Robert Hernandez would be at Daytona next season - he might have only had about 100 innings at Peoria but I thought he did well enough to warrant a promotion to high-A.

You think E-man was pissed at Ohman... wait until I get ran out there.... I'd make Will Ohman look like Warren Spahn.

Righties are also extremely able to get those guys out. Stats suggest that lefties are more effective etc. Kind of. But again, a good righty is probably better than a mediocre lefty. Put it this way - I would probably rather have Marmol facing a tough lefty than Will Ohman or Scott Eyre. Marmol has a similar WHIP and a better BAA against lefties than both Eyre and Ohman.

you dont need much to get floyd out Floyd's .362 OBP since the All Star Game would say that it isn't as easy to get Floyd out as you think. He may not be hitting for ANY power, but he is still reaching base at a pretty high level.

We are stuck with Eyre and Ohman next year regardless. So unless we are going with 3 righties and 3 lefties ( Not a good idea in my opinion). A loogy is probably not going to fit.

But dave, my point was that if there's a good lefty reliever out there, we kinda need one. We don't need mediocre lefties (such as Jeremy Affeldt, the class of the lefty '08 FAs), but if we had one would depend on (like Eyre was SUPPOSED to be this year) that would be an improvement.

And I didnt mean to sound critical of you George. Just in a bad mood about the cubs because they suck right now.

Eyre will pick up his one way option. It's a virtual lock. Ohman is owed at least 1.4 mil. I don't see that getting dumped before the season starts. Where will a lefty fit?

Should hopefully be easy enough to find a power bat for the outfield, especially if Sori would consider a move to RF if necessary ... Dunn, Abreu, Torii, AJones, Bradley, Jose Guillen.

"especially if Sori would consider a move to RF" love to see that, myself. sure as hell would solve some problems. as far as potential trades go...azphil sees a dempster trade happening, perhaps...myself, i see j.jones going with monroe/pie filling that slot. monroe gets to be the 3-position "bench" OF'r and pie gets his chance to start at CF with a somewhat decent backup.

I would love to see an outfield of sori, torii and pie. Bradley, abreu and dunn, I can do without. Don't see us getting Andruw.

mark, a dempster replacment would almost certainly come from within, and would like be marmol. But since you asked, here are your FA closers: Benitez Borowski F. Cordero Dotel Gagne Izzy Todd Jones Al Reyes Rivera Wickman

appx. 100m committed to those coming back and the "kids" min/near-min pay. as of now they can literally take care of 08 in-house pruning/trading/options considered...with multiple outcomes possible. all that would take the team in the 110m area at worst. now its down to who's valued in the pool of players they got and how much that organizational value is gonna be applied to these players. ...what they wanna do with traschell/monroe/prior/floyd...who's in the trade plans...how much $$ they get to spend next year...

Not a bad crop? I feel more comfortable with Dempster than I do: Benetiez Borowski F. Cordero Dotel Todd Jones Al Reyes Wickman And Rivera leave New York? Never.

Thanks Wes! Not a bad crop. Yea it is. I would take Dempster over anyone on that list except Izzy and maybe Rivera. But Izzy has an option that the Cards will almost assuredly pick up.

Navin — September 7, 2007 @ 3:37 pm AZ Phil, I see no mention of Rafael Dolis in your projections (not even on the rehab list). Any (bad) news on him? I would think Robert Hernandez would be at Daytona next season - he might have only had about 100 innings at Peoria but I thought he did well enough to warrant a promotion to high-A. ========================== NAVIN: I accidentally clipped Rafael Dolis off the very bottom of the list where I had the rehab guys. But I fixed that. Thanks for noticing! As for Robert Hernandez, I have him listed at Peoria temporarily and only because of a numbers crunch from above and that fact that he's so young, but I am quite sure that a number of pitchers who have stalled and/or are too old to be projected as prospects any longer will get released during the off-season (and then more of them at the end of ST 2008), and that will open up slots at higher levels for younger pitchers like Hernandez. I actually think that a number of postion players could get jumped up two levels next year, because there is a logjam at 3B and in the OF, and there is a vacuum at SS. Depending on how things go in ST with Josh Lansford (who is going to the AFL to see if he can jump over Daytona), Jonathan Mota, and Alfred Joseph, I wouldn't be at all surprised if 3B Marquez Smith, SS Darwin Barney, and/or LF Ty Wright jump over Daytona and open 2008 at AA Tennessee, with 2B Tony Thomas and CF Jonathan Wyatt quite possibly going directly from Boise to Daytona without stopping first in Peoria. Smith, Barney, Wright, Thomas, and Wyatt all appear ready to make the type of double-move Eric Patterson made 2005-06 and Tyler Colvin made 2006-07 (and Jeffrey Rea made almost immediately after signing with the Cubs). Also, if Josh Donaldson were to move to 1B immediately (and I think it will happen eventually, but probably not until, 2009), I believe he would pass over Peoria and go directly to Daytona next year, too, but as long as the Cubs keep him at catcher (and I believe they will for another year, hoping he will improve his defense), he won't get past Peoria to open 2008, because Welington Castillo will almost certainly get promoted to Daytona next season, and I would think the Cubs will want both W. Castillo and Donaldson to get maximum PT behind the plate in 2008. Welington Castillo and Carlos Perez (the most improved player in the organization) have evolved into the top two catching prospects in the organization, and I think it would be great if C. Perez could be the #1 catcher at Peoria in 2008, but he'll probably end up in EXST again and then get the #1 backstop slot at Boise next June. I also was surprised that Dylan Johnston is not on the Instructs list, if for no other reason than he needs to learn a new position (probably 2B). I just can't see him remaining at SS for another season. It's not working out for him there, and I suspect his defensive problems are having a negative impact on his hitting. He's very athletic and has lots of raw talent, but he also has one scatter-gun arm. He can't stay at SS.

Thanks! I was fearing the worst with Dolis! Good to hear the rave reviews for Carlos Perez too. There are 37 names going to instructs - aren't there normally 40?

There is supposed to be a really good Japanese free agent right fielder named Fukudome.

What is the consensus opinoin on this board about Hendry? To me he is the worst GM that has a payroll this big. I know he did good things with acquiring Nomar, DLee, Aram. Even this year with Lilly, Marquis, Derosa as good signings, he's made so many blunders.

You can book Donaldson wont be going to 1st base at least for two years and not sure what position they're going to find for Johnston! It looks like they're also going to pair up Barney and Thomas and make them bookends to each other starting with Instructional League.

#50, The general consesus has been that Hendry sucks. As a general rule his approval rating stays between "bad but bearable" to "He must have incriminating photos of Dennis Fitzsimmons"

t

Based on performance to date it looks like Kevin Hart could be in for serious consideration on the upside!

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.