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Arizona Phil's Archives
2024 Cubs Spring Training
3/25 UPDATE:
The Cubs have optioned RHP Hayden Wesneski and OF Alexander Canario to AAA Iowa, C Joe Hudson has been assigned to Minor League Camp, and C Jorge Alfaro has elected free-agency (he had a contractual opt-out).
So there are now 30 players ACTIVE at Cubs MLB Spring Training (28 on MLB Reserve List and two NRI).
3/24 UPDATE:
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Hector Neris Stops By for a Brief Visit on the Riverview Backfields
Cubs 2018 3rd round draft pick Jimmy Herron (traded to Colorado for International Signing Bonus Pool space in July 2019) drilled a two-run HR, Hunter Goodman (Rockies # 12 prospect) belted a solo HR and doubled and scored, and SP Andrew Quezada tossed four innings of one hit shutout ball, leading the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies) to an 8-5 victory over the Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) on Field # 6, and Yanquiel Fernandez (Rockies # 3 prospect) slugged a towering two-run HR off the top of the RF "foul pole," Adael Amador (Rockies # 1 prospect)
Imanaga & Wicks Bank 21 Strikeouts on the Backfields
Shota Imanaga threw 5.1 IP of one-run ball with 13 strikeouts (eight swinging) and Ed Howard singled twice, stole a base, scored a run, and drove-in two more, as the South Bend Cubs (Chicago Cubs Hi-A affiliate) edged the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants Hi-A affiliate) 3-2 on Field # 6, and Jordan Wicks hurled six innings of two hit / no run ball with eight strikeouts (all eight swinging) and combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) blanked the San Jose Giants (Lo-A affiliate of the Giants) 4-0 on Field # 5, in Cactus League
Madrigal Goes Deep & Peralta is Everywhere on Cubs Backfields
Jimmy Glowenke and Victor Bericoto each smacked a two-run HR, Heliot Ramos and Will Wilson belted solo home runs, and Brett Wisely doubled twice, scored a run, and drove-in another, as the Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco Giants AAA affiliate) rallied to edge to the Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) 9-8 on Field # 6, and SP Carson Ragsdale and four relievers combined to hurl a two-hit shutout as the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants AA affiliate) blanked the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) 1-0 on Field # 5, in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training game action Tues
Happ & Madrigal Are Kept Busy on the Backfields
Anderson Suriel belted an RBI triple and a two-run HR, Christian Olivo doubled twice, stole a base, scored one run, and drove-in another, Yohendrick Pinango drilled a triple and a single, and SP Dom Hambley hurled three innings of no-hit ball with four strikeouts, helping the Hi-A South Bend Cubs defeat the Lo-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans 7-5 on Field # 5, and SP Connor Noland fired three innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts and Carter Trice drilled a two-run single, as the AA Tennessee Smokies defeated the AAA Iowa Cubs 5-2 on Field # 6, in Cubs Minor League Camp intrasquad game
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Ed Howard Leads the Way at Riverview
Ed Howard and David Avitia each smashed a three-run HR (Howard's a high-flying bomb over the right-centerfield fence, and Avitia's a big fly down the LF line), Yohendrick Pinango singled twice, doubled, and scored a run, Brett Bateman reached base four times (three walks and an HBP), stole a base, and scored a run, and SP Marino Santy hurled three innings of one hit / shutout ball, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to an 8-3 victory over the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants Hi-A affiliate) on Field # 6, and Javier Castillo drilled an RBI triple and a sing
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Javier Assad Dominates Smokies at Riverview
SP Javier Assad walked across the street from Sloan Park to the Cubs backfields, and, pitching for the AAA Iowa Cubs squad and facing the AA Tennessee Smokies, hurled five innings (50 pitches - 34 strikes) of one-hit shutout ball with six strikeouts and 7/1 GO/AO, in Cubs Minor League Camp intrasquad squad game action Tuesday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
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Ben Brown Wows the Crowd at Riverview
Ben Brown fired 3.2 innings of perfect baseball with eight strikeouts (seven swinging), and Jonathon Long (RBI single), Christian Franklin (RBI double), and Jefferson Rojas (RBI single) stroked run-scoring hits, to highlight intrasquad game action at Cubs Minor League Camp Monday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
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2023 MLB Rule 5 Draft Preview
12/6 UPDATE:
PLAYERS SELECTED BY CUBS IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE OF 2023 RULE 5 DRAFT:
NONE
CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE OF 2023 RULE 5 DRAFT:
NONE
PLAYERS SELECTED BY CUBS IN AAA PHASE OF 2023 RULE 5 DRAFT (1):
Hayden Cantrelle, INF (selected by AAA Iowa from San Francisco Giants AA Richmond roster)
CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN AAA PHASE OF 2023 RULE 5 DRAFT (4):
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Love Me Some Non-Tender
11/17 UPDATE:
The Cubs did not tender 2024 contracts to RHP Codi Heuer, LHP Brandon Hughes, or RHP Ethan Roberts, so the trio are now free agents, eligible to sign an MLB or minor league contract with any club, including the Cubs.
Patrick Wisdom signed a $2.725M one-year "pre-tender" contract to avoid being non-tendered.
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Cubs 2023 Rule 5 Draft & Minor League Free-Agency Watch List
11/6 UPDATE #2:
RHP Yovanny Cruz, LHP Stephen Gonsalves, RHP Carlos Guzman, RHP Ben Hecht, C-INF P. J. Higgins, LHP Brailyn Marquez, RHP Nick Neidert, OF Yonathan Perlaza, and RHP Samuel Reyes were declared MLB Rule 9 minor league free agents at 5 PM (Eastern) on Monday.
When the Skies of November Turn Gloomy
At 9 AM (Eastern) on Thursday 11/2 (the day after the final game of the 2023 World Series), 3B-1B Jeimer Candelario, RHP Tyler Duffey, and RHP Shane Greene will be automatically declared Article XX-B MLB free agents and will be removed from the Cubs MLB 40-man roster. They do not have to file. It is automatic. At that same time, RHP Michael Fulmer will be reinstated from the MLB 60-day IL and will be declared an Article XX-B MLB free-agent.
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Projected Post-2023 MLB Super Two Players
An unsigned player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who has accrued at least three but less than six years of MLB Service Time is automatically eligible for salary arbitration.
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Cubs 2023 Arizona Instructional League Stats - Final
2023 Cubs Arizona Instructional League - Final Stats
There is no Official Scorer at AZIL games, so all stats are unofficial
Arizona
Scoring
Service
"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen"
AZIL CUBS RECORD: 5-10-1 (16 games)
NOTE: Stats from AZIL Cubs intrasquad games are not included
Hope Goes Deep But D'backs Prevail at Talking Stick
Ruben Santana belted a bases-loaded bases-clearing double and scored a run, Jackson Feltner hammered an RBI triple and scored a run, and Luis Caicuto drilled an RBI single, walked twice, and scored a run, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League game action Wednesday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.
Recent comments
crunch (view)
happ, right hamstring tightness, day-to-day (hopefully 0 days).
he will be reevaluated tomorrow.
Childersb3 (view)
I guess I'm not looking for that type of AB
Just a difference of opinion
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.
I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.
Childersb3 (view)
Tauchman gets a pinch hit RBI single with a liner to RF. This is his spot. He's a solid 4th OF. But he isn't a DH.
He takes pitches. Useful. I still believe in having good hitters.
You don't want your DH to be your weak link (other than your C maybe)
crunch (view)
bit of a hot take here, but i'm gonna say it.
the 2024 marlins don't seem to be good at doing baseballs.
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
Phil, will the call up for a double header restart that 15 days on assignment for a pitcher? Like will wesneski’s 15 days start yesterday, or if he’s the 27th man, will that mean 15 days from tomorrow?
I hope that makes sense. It sounds clearer in my head.
Charlie (view)
Tauchman obviously brings value to the roster as a 4th outfielder who can and should play frequently. Him appearing frequently at DH indicated that the team lacks a valuable DH.
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
Totally onboard with your thoughts concerning today’s lineup. Not sure about your take on Tauchman though.
The guy typically doesn’t pound the ball out out of the park, and his BA is quite unimpressive. But he brings something unique to the table that the undisciplined batters of the past didn’t. He always provides a quality at bat and he makes the opposing pitcher work because he has a great eye for the zone and protects the plate with two strikes exceptionally well. In addition to making him a base runner more often than it seems through his walks, that kind of at bat wears a pitcher down both mentally and physically so that the other guys who may hit the ball harder are more apt to take advantage of subsequent mistakes and do their damage.
I can’t remember a time when the Cubs valued this kind of contribution but this year they have a couple of guys doing it, with Happ being the other. It doesn’t make for gaudy stats but it definitely contributes to winning ball games. I do believe that’s why Tauchman has garnered so much playing time.
Arizona Phil (view)
Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical).
And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical).
And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day.
That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled).
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
Indeed they do TJW!
For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.
That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.