Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

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

42 players are at MLB Spring Training 

31 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 
11 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 

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

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith

OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1 
* David Peralta

OPTIONED:
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, RHP 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, RHP 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Dead or Not Dead

So ends the saga of Jake Peavy to the Cubs for 7 or more players. But is the deal really dead? In fact, even the Brian Roberts deal isn't exactly dead. These kind of non-transactions take a "life" of their own. So I thought we might play a little game. One of the more common cliche's is "the best trade is often the one not made". So I'm asking for you to reach back and see what you can remember as to rumored trades that never occurred but if they had been made, would have been one gigantic mistake for someone or maybe even a timeline changer in the course of baseball history. Sosa for Soriano circa 2000 comes to mind. I'm sure there are some good one's out there to remember. Please help.

Comments

I remember this rumor as much because of the number of people who wanted Hendry burned at the stake even for allowing the rumor to exist: Mark Prior (plus some combo of Pie/Cedeno/Hill) for Tejada and Bedard back in the 05/06 offseason. Mark Prior still hasn't pitched any meaningful innings since then. Tejada would have be a major upgrade from the Ne!f!/Cedeno combo and Bedard had 2 really nice seasons before being traded for most of Seattle's farm system. I think the Cubs would have been pretty happy had they found a way to make that work. Baltimore, not so much.

Jim Frey kicked around the idea of trading for Dave Winfield and the package would have included Dunston or Sandberg and I don't remember who else.

If I'm not mistaken, there was some discussion as to whether to trade Mark Grace instead of Rafael Palmeiro in the deal to Texas, circa 1988. This altered timeline gives me visions of Gracey with Canseco, followed by MG becoming muscle bound and homer happy. December 5, 1988: Rafael Palmeiro traded by the Chicago Cubs with Drew Hall and Jamie Moyer to the Texas Rangers for Mitch Williams, Paul Kilgus, Steve Wilson, Curtis Wilkerson, Luis Benitez (minors), and Pablo Delgado (minors).

The Cubs almost had Piazza in 1998, but the Mets outbid Lynch. ATLANTA What would it have taken for the Cubs to get Mike Piazza instead of the Mets? It may have been pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez, minor-league catcher Pat Cline and one of their last two first-round draft picks - pitchers Todd Noel and Jon Garland. But despite several conversations between Florida Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski and Cubs general manager Ed Lynch, the Mets came out of nowhere Friday to get Piazza with outfielder Preston Wilson and minor-league pitchers Ed Yarnall and Geoff Goetz. ====== edit: Pat Cline, who was going to be the next Johnny Bench. hahahahahahahahahah

Steve Wilson... __________________ is the Cubs current lead Far East/Asia scout.

not a trade, but didn't McFail say something like the Cubs wouldn't be outbid for Mike Hampton...and promptly were by the Rockies.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

that's absolutely retarded considering it's...ya know...early december. then again gambling is built on retardation. WHO WANTS LOTTO TICKETS?!?! NO, SERIOUSLY, POKER IS A GAME OF SKILL! heh...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

The Cubs are always a lousy bet in Vegas, because everybody wants to bet on them, so the house doesn't have to offer good odds. Turning this thread's question around a bit -- the best trade (or signing) that I thought was "blah" at the time --- Mark DeRosa. Honorable mention to Eric Karros and Jim Edmonds.

Santo almost traded to Angels... Santo was the first player to invoke his privilege under the "Ten and Five" rule, which states that a team cannot trade a player who has been in the league at least 10 years and been with that club for at least five, without his permission. In December, 1973, the Cubs wanted to trade Santo to the Angels for two young pitchers, but Santo refused. Less than a week later, the Cubs dealt Santo to the White Sox for Steve Stone, Ken Frailing, Steve Swisher and Jim Kremmel (December 18, 1973). Santo agrees to the deal. http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/santoro01.php

Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek for none other than Todd Hundley. Hendry's first Triumph. At the time it was our garbage for their garbage...who woulda thunk Grudzielanek would be still around. I'm surprised the Dbacks haven't knocked on his door yet.

Rick Morrissey from the Tribune now wants players (Bradley and Randy Johnson) who will punch him out and break his fingers. Cool, what a good idea! http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-14-morrisseydec1… Given the club's glee-club image, that unpredictability is exactly what the psychiatrist ordered for the Cubs... I want you to understand the personal sacrifice I'm willing to make here. Do you see the risk a sports columnist takes by championing a Bradley signing? One moment your faithful scribe could be writing a column that says Wrigley Field is a dump, and the next Bradley could be breaking all of said faithful scribe's fingers. All I do is give... I know how all of this sounds, especially coming from someone who regularly has bemoaned the crime-and-punishment motif of professional sports. But I'm not talking about the Cubs' need for thugs here. I'm talking about attitude... Johnson might be 45, but it's a mean 45...

One rumor I remember was the Orioles offering Milt Pappas to the Cubs for Billy Williams shortly after Leo Durocher was named Cubs manager post-1965, but Leo (who was the de facto player personnel boss) said no, and so the Orioles ended up trading Pappas to the Reds for Frank Robinson instead. Then F. Robinson proceeded to win the Triple Crown and A. L. MVP and led the Orioles to a four-game sweep over the Dodgers in the 1966 World Series (and I'm sure the Orioles were very grateful that Leo declined the deal!).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Also from early in Leo's time with the Cubs - I remember Durocher saying a deal to trade Billy Williams to the Orioles for, essentially, supposed can't miss prospect Mike "Superjew" Epstein was all but done and the Cubs backed out at the last minute. Durocher said he hadn't realized how great Williams was until he managed him.

Bradley = Carl Everett Good for a year or 2, then see ya before he loses his cool...

It's MB's injury history that worries me more so than his anger issues. As a hitter, he'll be a nice addition particularly as a switch hitter in the middle of the lineup. Career numbers... Everett (14 seasons): .271 .341 .462 Bradley (9 seasons): .280 .370 .457 and career RH vs LHP splits: .303 .387 .504 .890; LH vs RHP splits: .270 .362 .436 .799 Bradley is coming off of one of his best seasons (Arlington Stadium probably was helpful); But Everett in addition to anger management issues entered the realm of the really bizarre whereas MB's issues are mostly anger management. There was the incident with Jeff Kent (when he was with the Dodgers) questioning Kent's off field leadership. "At no time am I going to let somebody question my hustle, my injury or question my motivation for playing," Bradley said. "I watch him on the field, and I follow in his footsteps and the things he does on the field. As far as off the field, he has no clue about leadership. "If you're going to be the leader of the team, then the need to mingle with the team and associate with the team. I mean, you can't have your locker in the corner, put your headphones in and sit in the corner reading a motocross magazine. He's in his own world. Everybody else is in this world." http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2141482 ---------------- and I found this interesting blog for the NY Times Bradley wrote last year. It's about a really good moment in his life last year. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/07/milton-bradley-what-have-i-don… ---------------- from Wiki (on Everett): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Everett Everett is an outspoken man... (you think?) Perhaps the best-known of these was his denial of the existence of dinosaurs. He was quoted as saying, "God created the sun, the stars, the heavens and the earth, and then made Adam and Eve. The Bible never says anything about dinosaurs. You can't say there were dinosaurs when you never saw them. Somebody actually saw Adam and Eve. No one ever saw a Tyrannosaurus rex." Everett has also made controversial remarks about homosexuality. He once said that if he had an openly gay teammate that he would consider retiring, or, at the very least, "set him straight." In the 2005 season, he told Maxim that he has had gay teammates and accepted them, but, "Gays being gay is wrong. Two women can't produce a baby, two men can't produce a baby, so it's not how it's supposed to be. … I don't believe in gay marriages. I don't believe in being gay." In 1997, Everett and his wife Linda were charged with abusing their two children, Shawna and Carl IV. The criminal charges, which stemmed from allegations that Linda had applied "excessive corporal punishment" and that Carl had chosen not to intervene, were ultimately dropped. A judge in New York Family court, however, placed Shawna in the care of her maternal grandmother, where she currently remains. Everett is currently on the roster of the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Through July 22, 2008 Everett was hitting a remarkable .342 with 15 HR and 52 RBI in only 67 games.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

"It's MB's injury history that worries me more so than his anger issues." same. for all the talk over many many many years of "wtf bradley?" his teammates (most anyway) actually seems to have his back after his initial years of being a loner with his head down every time he's in the clubhouse. he's got anger/impulse issues, but they don't seem to be the result of some "i'm better than this" gangsta crap as much as it is him being unable to process and respond appropriately to being pushed into a corner...even if that "push" is stuff his peers have to deal with, too. it's been kinda...sad/creepy...his last couple incidents. he's cried to reporters (like, the kind with tears) over his frustration over living down his past vs. dealing with any new thing he creates for himself. a lot of it is his fault, but it doesn't seem to be a clubhouse distraction...oddly or not.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

If it were just the anger issues, I think management could take some steps to protect against a MB meltdown. What I'm afraid of most is the injuries. Plus, Wrigley is a pretty great place to play as long as you are playing well--once he gets hurt, though, the fans might turn on him, and then coming back could be difficult for a guy with anger/confidence issues.

Ken Rosenthal on finalists for Bradley. Cubs vs Tampa Rays. ------------------- For Bradley, the choice appears simple. The Rays' Joe Maddon almost certainly would be a better manager for him than the Cubs' impatient Lou Piniella, and staying in the American League would allow him to protect his oft-injured body by serving as a DH. With the Rays, Bradley could bat cleanup between Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, offer above-average defense in right field and fit well on a young, high-energy team. The question is whether the Rays will meet Bradley's price. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8938060/Yanks-shedding-salaries-to-g…

Brewers trying to downgrade from Cameron to Melky Cabrera and the Yanks trying to send Igawa their way too (according to Rotoworld). Sounds great to me. Get that done, Melvin.

Seriously, I mean wow, how fast have the Brewers taken it on the chin? For most of 2008, they're the NL's 2nd best team, now for 2009, they'll be fortunate to post a 500 record. This team now looks like a repeat of the 2006/2007 bunch, only with Ben Sheets and a bullpen subtracted. Prediction: Pain.

Is Willie Taveras a possibilty now that he was NT'd? He stole 67 bases last year, in a down year for him.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

"He stole 67 bases last year, in a down year for him." That could be a somewhat misleading statement. It was a down year for him in batting average (hits per AB are just about his only stat that is really down--his isolated slugging is about in line with his career and he walked twice more than his previous career high), but his 67 bases this year is nearly double his previous high of 34. Is the chance of him rebounding as a hitter worth bringing him in as a 4th (ermm... 5th/6th if the Cubs sign a RF) outfielder? His career BABIP is .334, last year's was .296. In 2007, when he hit .320 for the Rockies, his BABIP was .370. In 2006, when his BABIP was at .330 and closest to his career average, he hit .278 and had a .333 on-base percentage. With his speed and defense, that would be a damn good backup CF. But we already have Reed, right? I just think there are better fits for Taveras. Like, Colorado. Oh.

San Diego Writer, Tom Krasovic who covers the Padres, describes what gap in the players discussed lead to the Braves leaving the Peavy trade talks...then he gives this about LouPa: – By one unofficial count, Cubs manager Lou Piniella, amidst his wanderings throughout the Bellagio hotel at the winter meetings, said at least 23 times that getting a left-handed hitter was far more important to the Cubs than getting Peavy. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/13/padres-notes-winter-… I hope Lou gets his LH hitter soon.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

If you could have any left-handed or switch hitter in baseball, who would you want? I have to say, I think I'd like to have Curtis Granderson over just about anyone else. Sizemore has him beat on offense, but Granderson is a phenomenal fielder too. *sigh* How much more would it take to acquire either of those guys than Peavy?

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Ruth. Especially since he plays RF. But if he's not available, I'd take Markakis (who, like Ruth, was also a pretty good pitcher). As a hypothetical-- who would you be willing to trade to get Markakis?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

I am getting a little impatient with Lou: What wins playoff series is usually TWO STUD PITCHERS . . . I see this "I need a left handed hitting left fielder more than Peavy" bullshit as some kind of scapegoating of Lou/s and the team's performance in the playoffs the last two years. Hey Lou the reason the Cubs lost so pathetically this year was threefold: 1.) The Cubs peaked too early and lost swagger when their top two pitchers talent wise (Zambrano and Harden) went down in August. 2.) The manager's approach to a short series underestimated the importance of game one: shouldn't have left Dempster in past the 3rd inning. 3.) The team was not emotionally prepared for the series and were not prepared for the pressure and expectations. That said if you were able to throw Peavy and a healthy Zambrano, (Dempster, Harden and Lilly arent bad either!) out there regularly you are gonna win some playoff games. Anyway ain't gonna happen now anyway.

Submitted by Charlie on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 11:39pm. If you could have any left-handed or switch hitter in baseball, who would you want? ============= Hamilton?

[ ]

In reply to by mjmiller73

it's amazing what a drug addiction and finding Christianity will do to a guys reputation...and the HR derby.

all left-handed/switch hitters I'd take before Hamilton

Utley, Markakis, C. Jones, L. Berkman, C. Beltran, Teixeira, Morneau, Sizemore, Bradley's probably a tie with Hamilton

and that's not even counting guys I would take just as hitters: Fielder, Dunn, Howard for example... 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I was assuming guys like Chipper, Berkman, Teixeira and Morneau were off the table because we can't fit them onto our current club configuration. Just read the questions differently, I guess.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

# Re: Dead or Not Dead Submitted by John Beasley on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 12:57pm. I was assuming guys like Chipper, Berkman, Teixeira and Morneau were off the table because we can't fit them onto our current club configuration. Just read the questions differently, I guess. ============ Yeah, I was kind of viewing it like Hamilton would be a nice fit if we could acquire him now. While I have no idea what the cost would be, something makes me think it would be more do-able than Utley. But, yeah, if it's like a Christmas gift and we're starting from scratch, I'd definitely agree with Utley over Hamilton, no question. But assuming we get to keep the player for future years, vets like Chipper and Berkman would be lower than Hamilton for me.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I'm basing it on that Josh Hamilton is a better story than he is a baseball player.

He's good and yes, would be great in RF or CF for the Cubs right now, but if we could have any left-handed hitter out there, there's quite a few I'd pick ahead of him.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

on talent alone Hamilton is better than "good", the only tool he doesn't have is base stealing ability but he's not a slow runner either. I'm not going to compare him to the more veteran players based on a year and a half of production but he's at least on par with Markakis offensively, if one wants to rate his power vs Markakis' base stealing abilities. I'd put Hamilton slightly above Morneau as well. Morneau's numbers in 07 were mediocre - .271/.343/.492 and as good as he was this year RBI wise he still didn't reach a .500 SG% despite racking 47 doubles.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

yet he's too good to go play indie ball. there's a top dollar paycheck (in the indie leagues) waiting for him from many teams out there if he could manage to be a superstar in a small pond rather than a huge distraction of a superstar on the main stage. rickey henderson loved the game and it showed no matter how egotistical he was. i miss henderson's brand of self-worth over the pampered/privileged brand of self-worth.

"One rumor I remember was the Orioles offering Milt Pappas to the Cubs for Billy Williams shortly after Leo Durocher was named Cubs manager post-1965, but Leo (who was the de facto player personnel boss) said no, and so the Orioles ended up trading Pappas" Durocher confirmed the almost Williams trade to the Orioles (in his autobiography, "Nice Guys Finish Last"), but stated that Earl Weaver (also the de facto GM of the club at the time) backed off at the last minute. Durocher cornered him at the Winter meetings, called him an SOB, but later thanked the heavens that Weaver backed out.

[ ]

In reply to by Dmac

"Durocher confirmed the almost Williams trade to the Orioles (in his autobiography, "Nice Guys Finish Last"), but stated that Earl Weaver (also the de facto GM of the club at the time) backed off at the last minute. Durocher cornered him at the Winter meetings, called him an SOB, but later thanked the heavens that Weaver backed out." According to the Bill James Historical Abstract - O's GM Hank Bauer thought he could get Billy Williams cheap after Williams batted .276 in 1966. The Cubs demanded phenom Mike Epstein be part of the trade and Bauer backed out. I had it backwards in an earlier post thinking the Cubs backed out. This is a different trade than the one AZPhil referenced involving Milt Pappas since the Pappas trade was between the '65 and '66 seasons. Seems like the O's really wanted Williams even after getting Frank Robinson. Robinson, Williams and Blair would have been quite the outfield.

playing for Team Japan in WBC via Rotoworld

Anyone heard if there is any progress with the Peavy talks?

there is a shocking lack of "sizemore" in that whole "what lefty would you want" fantasy question. he is 26, ya know.

"The Cubs peaked too early and lost swagger when their top two pitchers talent wise (Zambrano and Harden) went down in August..." I don't understand the premise here at all - are you saying that even though they wound up winning their division, all of a sudden they started on a precipitous slide? Granted, they didn't look like world - beaters at the end of September, but they didn't look like they'd fold immediately in the first round, either.

Abreu seeking 3 years\$48 million according to Rosenthal. Good for him if he can get it, but some scouts apparently feel that while he still has a RF arm, he has lost RF wheels.

[ ]

In reply to by Adam

"Word from WSCR 670 in Chicago is that the Cubs will sign outfielder Joey Gathright. We've heard the same from a source." lol..."we've heard the same from a source." yeah...WSCR 670. ah, mlbtraderumors...you so crazy!

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I would guess it's a minor league deal to compete with the other three for CF time in ST. It could mean that the Cubs are giving up on the big name FA outfielders and are going to sign Furcal with their $10 million. Or it could mean that the season ticket sales are going shitty and they just dropped their projected payroll. Or it could be a baseless rumor.

[ ]

In reply to by Adam

Heard a WSCR report about this a couple of hours ago that explicitly stated (conjectured) that Gathright would be "taking Pie's roster spot" and that Pie was "on his way out." And now, some grains of salt: . . . . . . . . . .

Cubs dump Fukudome (after eating some money) and Gathright becomes one of the two reserve OF-ers? Count me in. Pie has speed, but has not learned to translate it into successful SB ability. Gathright can. He's also a fine defensive OF, not quite Pie level, but reasonably close. He'd be a fine bench player.

skim82 posted this insight on Gathright (on mlbtr.com)... As a Royals fan who has seen Gathright play for the last few years: pros -he's really fast -he can jump over cars (youtube him) it's amazing http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200806112890432&c_id=kc (two great catches, ranked him #2) -he's a great guy -he puts pressure on the opposing infield (shift) cons -he takes bad routes to the ball in the outfield -his OBP is horrible -he's a slap hitter with no power -although he's really fast, he can't really steal many bases. He's a great 4th outfielder or 5th outfielder. That's about it. We gave up J.P. Howell to the Rays for Gathright..DOPE!

wscr has been covering monday night football so if they did a report it must have been before 7pm cst tonight...

for those with XM, Gary Hughes is going to be interviewed by Holden Kuchner momentarily.

Gary Hughes (special asst to the GM) interview on XM: Disappointed over the Peavy non-deal. Can't get into names on the table but overwhelming as to what they were being asked to give up. LH bat, Milton Bradley... tremendous talent. Hughes seen 2 of Bradley's most famous games including when he tore his ACL and threw a plastic bottle. LH bat, hopes we'll get the Fukudome he scouted back. Doesn't know what it was that went wrong, he just didn't finish well. Bullpen, How ready is Marmol? He will be an outstanding closer but Kevin Gregg will be a factor. Also resigned Chad Gaudin, expect him to be a big factor for us. Loves Sean Marshall. Neal Cotts also a factor. Reed Johnson, GH grandson dove for a ball reminding him of the Reed Johnson play. He was a great pickup for us. Micah Hoffpauir, he'll take DWard's role. Some time at 1B backing up DLee plus OF on occasion. UnGodly year at Iowa. Another LH bat. We're going to add a speed guy too (Joey Gathright reference?) Discussed scouting players with declining skills (ie. Garrett Anderson, Omar Vizquel) Is there a lineup he can fit in? What happens if he can't hit, Vizquel certainly can still field. Felix Pie, often youngest guy on any team he's been on. 23 yrs now. Felix needs to separate himself on the positive side. Playoffs. Bang we hit a wall. Block that out of your mind for next year. Shark. Starter role? He could be a starter or reliever based on our need. He could even start at Iowa until the team needs a starter.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Regarding Shark, I hope the Cubs take a page from the Twins and how they treated Johan Santana. The first 4 seasons he saw MLB time, he split time between starter and relief, slowly increasing his MLB innings pitched. He didn't make 30+ starts/200IP until his 5th season(2004)and he has hit those marks every year since.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

If the Cubs are going to add someone to the roster in order to add some speed, it makes a lot more sense to try to sign Taveras than Gathright. Gathright has never stolen more than 22 bases in a season in the majors, and he currently sports about a 75% success rate to Taveras's 82+%. Pie makes more sense on the roster than does Gathright. Pie is 4 years younger, a better defender, has outslugged Gathright in his young career and has nearly matched his OBP (plus he looks to improve). Gathright just doesn't make sense, unless he's on a minor league contract.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

For that matter, Pie makes more sense on the roster than Fukudome does. Fuku isn't just a bust, he's a bust for the ages. And if history is a guide, he's going to be worse in 2009. Only one active Japanese position player did better at the plate in his second MLB season. As for Gathright, he had a grand total of 4 extra base hits in 279 AB's in 2008. I thought Hendry said he was going to improve the team.

I like Hughes saying Fukudome finished poorly. To me, finishing poorly means maybe a bad September or final six weeks. But to stink from Memorial Day until October, two-thirds of a season, is one hell of a bad finish. One might even say it makes for a shit season. Although finishing poorly does sound more hopeful.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Whoops, missed the topic change. Anyway, it wasn't that pitchers suddenly figured Fukudome out (the logic that MLB pitchers are smarter than NL pitchers is flawed at best), it was that Fukudome un-figured himself out.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!  

    And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).