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Last updated 3-17-2024
 
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PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
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Michael Arias, P 
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Porter Hodge, RHP 
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Keegan Thompson, P 
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Arbitration is Going to be the End of Jim Hendry

UPDATE: MLB Trade Rumors and Eddie Bajek updated their reverse-engineered rankings from two days ago and don't ask me how they changed but they did. Gregg and Grabow as Type A, Harden and Johnson as Type B. For what it's worth, Chone Figgins has been dropped to Type B status by their rankings. Muskat says Gorzelanny and Fontenot will qualify as Super Two status and the Cubs have 10 arb-eligible players total (Arizona Phil also has So Taguchi in his list on the right sidebar). The official Elias Rankings will be out soon enough.


 

From Bruce Levine's latest:

 The Cubs will not offer arbitration to Harden, who was their top strikeout pitcher in 2009.

I had mentioned earlier in the week that it looks like Harden will be a Type B free agent meaning it wouldn't cost the signing team any of their own draft picks, but the Cubs would get a supplemental pick between the first and second rounds. If Levine's statement turns true, the Cubs are betting that no team would offer more in a multi-year deal to Harden than he could get in a one-year arbitration case coming off an ERA above 4.

There's obviously a few criteria that have to hit first, Harden would need to officially be labeled a Type B free agent and the Cubs would officially have to not offer arbitration, but if that scenario does play out where Harden is a Type B free agent (hell a Type A free agent even) and the Cubs don't offer arbitration, well let's say I won't be a happy. The Type A status would make it a little sketchy, since teams would certainly hesitate a bit more if Harden cost them a first round pick, but considering John Lackey is the only other talented starting pitcher on the market, I think Harden will still get a few decent offers.

The article also states that the Cubs would like to sign John Grabow to a 2-year deal. Earlier it was mentioned that Grabow wants a 3-year deal. Chances are that means the Cubs would offer arbitration and be content if Grabow accepts for one year. If Grabow gets Type A status as expected, I see little chance any team would sign Grabow and cough up a first round pick. The Cubs could get lucky and a team with a protected first round pick or one that already signed a higher rated free agent would sign Grabow and not worry as much about losing a second round or lower draft pick, but it's a far more unlikely scenario.

There's some Milton Bradley talk and Levine also believes the Cubs won't have to pay as much of the $21M+ of Bradley's contract as many people believe...which is all of it. One deal discussed was a disgruntled Bradley to the Rays for the statuesque Pat Burrell who was a major disappointment for the Rays this year. At least it would be a helluva bench bat for the Cubs.

There's some talk about Chone Figgins although no whispers of the Cubs interest level. And Jeff Baker and Reed Johnson should be back at the right price.

Comments

I will be calling for Hendry's head if Harden isn't offered arbitration. There is absolutely no excuse not to, especially if he is a Type B. He is the 2nd best starter this year. He won't be next year. He would not accept arbitration, and his list of suitors would grow exponentially if the signing team didn't have to give up their first round pick. This also begs the question, "Why didn't Hendry deal him to the Twins, then, if he had no intentions of keeping him?" We were pretty much out of the playoff race when the waiver claim took place, so if that is his excuse, it is ridiculous. We will have essentially let Harden go for nothing, when we could at least have had a mediocre prospect for him from the Twins. This better not be true.

Fire this clown NOW!!!! I'm convinced that Jim Hendry pays full retail price, when he goes to Garage Sales. Seriously, NO GM in Baseball is worse with Player and Contract leverage. The guy literally acts like he is scared of any and all confrontation. This has to be how Milton got 30 Million from Hendry. He simply asked for it.

I called this before the trade deadline and to be honest, I don't understand the outrage. Maybe I'm missing something. Also, my long-time man crush on Pat Burrell's approach in the batter's box is no secret. An approach that drove Philadelphia and opposing pitchers nuts with his near-refusal to swing until he gets two strikes. He had a wretched year based on the numbers, but well... those are just the numbers. I'm definitely on board with a Bradley for Burrell trade if TB covers the right amount of Milton Bradley money. Hell of a bench bat... sure, but can he play RF? Why not start him? Flame away.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

not sure I said Bradley was superior, at least not significantly...

I think they're about the same player in overall output...

both started in 2002, Bradley's career WAR is 22.8, Burrell's 20.7 (WAR is cumulative btw), OPS+ is 116 for Bradley, 115 for Burrell

Burrell gets on-base, has more power (his park sure helped), been healthier, doesn't seem like too big a jack-ass and has no business playing defense

Bradley gets on-base, has less power, has had significant injury problems, is a total ass and plays solid defense in RF and could play CF and LF.

if they can make the deal work and not have to pay too much for Bradley, might as well pull the trigger...there's a good chance both will have much improved years next year.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

my response was to Ryno's saying he liked how Burrell worked pitchers, but Ryno has consistently been saying that Milton's OBP means nothing. I was amused by the dichotomy.

I think it's clearly been shown by my other post that minus jack-ass issues, Bradley and Burrell basically have outputted the same amount over their careers...

and this is where someone brings up Burrell's RBI totals (which btw kind of suck for a guy with 30 HR power and in the phillies lineup)

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

my response was to Ryno's saying he liked how Burrell worked pitchers, but Ryno has consistently been saying that Milton's OBP means nothing. I was amused by the dichotomy. Yeah, I see what you're saying. In fact the last two years Milton Bradley has had a far better OBP than Pat Burrell: Milton BradleyPat Burrell2008.436.3672009.378.315
But it's a game of nuance and OBP isn't quite the same as "making a pitcher work". Just one example is NP/TPA: Milton BradleyPat Burrell20083.994.1920094.054.05 How can that be when Milton Bradley has the superior OBP? I assume it's because MB takes so many close 2-strike pitches where Pat Burrell fouls them off. And we saw it in '08 how long at bats and making the opposing pitcher work helped the entire lineup. So my Pat Burrell-love is half in jest, but also founded on the belief that a single batter that makes a pitcher work can help an entire lineup hit better.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

How can that be when Milton Bradley has the superior OBP? My guess would be it is because Bradley is more likely to put the ball into play and Burrell is more likely to miss or foul off pitches. I've never looked for it, but I would bet that someplace keeps fouling off pitches data. Edit* - I pulled a Navigator.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

that's a hell of nuance since they saw the same # of pitches this year. Burrell has shown a more consistent approach to taking pitches over his career though. Anything over 4 p/pa is considered excellent though and that's where Bradley's been the last 3 years.

I don't think it's fouling off pitches as much as Bradley tends to swing at first pitches a little more often. Burrell also strikes out at a higher rate, hence suppressing the all powerful RBI totals.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I guess I'm having a hard time figuring out how you AREN'T outraged by this moronic move by Hendry. You offer arbitration to Harden and the worst possible scenario is that we have a very good pitcher on a 1 year, $10 million deal. Best case scenario, we offer Harden arbitration, he declines, signs with someone else, and we get another top 50 pick in the draft, something that would greatly help replenish our farm. But the real kicker is why he didn't just deal him to the Twins if he knew he wasn't going to offer arbitration. Was Hendry delusional and thought that we still had a reasonable chance at the playoffs at the time? This fat, waste of space needs to go.

If the Rays bailed on talented headcase Elijah Dukes and drug troubled Josh Hamilton, why should I believe they would take on Uncle Milty's act? I thought they changed policy to no longer try straightening out troubled souls. Seems like the Nats are the one team cornering that market...which if you follow that ass-u-mption, leads to...Anno Domini

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

The Brewers have no interest in helping the Cubs getting better offense and defense from SS, in return the Cubs have no interest providing Braun and Fielder a decent pitching staff.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

JJ Hardy is selling low for Wells and Marshall? I suspect Marshall is more well regarded among baseball people than Wells. I suspect Wells is Kent Bottenfield 2.0 Better to sell high for the 1st time in 6 years than sell low for the 483rd consecutive cubs transaction.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

JJ Hardy is selling low for Wells and Marshall?

yes, is there a different JJ Hardy w/o a career 94 OPS+? I think he'll bounce back somewhat next year, he had awfully low BABIP, but his power disappeared as well. 

I'm all for trading Wells in the right deal, but the concept of sell high is to trade him for more than he's worth. You're trading two good, albeit unspecactular pitchers(let's say average) for one mostly average to below average shortstop, who will probably be more expensive.

And I think the Cubs already indicated they're not looking for a shortstop, nor would I expect a deal of young players between division rivals.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

It always surprises me how some people on the team get a pass around here. Marshall is one. Reed Johnson is another. Both are "pluggers" but have no discernible talent. Johnson was released by the Jays. I doubt that Marshall has any suitors. If I had to say three good things about Marshall, I could only come up with one: his curve ball has a better-than-average drop to it.

let's at least get a gauge of harden's health before we lament not offering him arbitration. lowest he could get paid if he accepted arb. would be 5.6m (i think). the guy threw 12 innings in Sept. before being shut down 2+ weeks ago. cubs are also trying to pay someone to take a perfectly good hitter off their hands while trying to pick up a "power bat" to boot. the team probably needs every penny it can snag. maddux stinging ATL years ago still sticks in some people's head. maddux actually accepting and taking his arb. case forced ATL to start making trades. cubs have 4 starters to begin with at least...Z, lilly, dumpster, wells (ha...wells...amazing).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Yes crunch because a pitcher suffering from arm fatigue and being shut down like dozens of other pitchers is the same as Milton Bradley in Texas faking injuries to not play in the middle of a pennant race, and faking injuries in Chicago to come off the field in the middle of games and refusing to pinch hit. They are so similar that they have nothing in common.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

your faking injuries thing is getting old, but you need something to cover your view on the "lazy" issue.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Its not old crunch, its just the truth. And whats the lazy issue? I know the man is a lazy piece of shit. You can listen to all of his bullshit about how great he thinks he is, how awesome of shape he is in every year. But when push comes to shove the man is either the most frail man on planet earth or the biggest pussy in baseball. The man doesn't give one crap about winning baseball games. And if you think he does, you don't know Milton Bradley. Money is his top priority, getting respect is next, and so on. At about step #20 he might care about giving it his all for the team. He will walk over anyone and anything to get what he wants. But none of it has to do with a desire to win baseball games.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

you call things "truth" that you're speculating on...you also seem to be convinced you have his personality profiled in an interesting manner that ignores what he does with his free time. you seem to have him confused with a gun toting rap star.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Did Milton admit he didn't want to play in games in Texas to preserve his stats? And because they didn't commit money and years to him? I think he did crunch. He faked injuries to preserve his stats. Thats a given fact crunch admitted by Bradley himself. I don't care what Milton does in his free time, I care what he does for the team and the organization to win games. I warned about his attitude before and after he was signed, hoped he would finally turn over a new leaf (a small hope), but i never confused him with what he was. A pure grade A Asshole in the league of a Terrell Owens, but without any history of being a productive player. He is going to say whatever you want to hear to get what he wants in life but he is never going to change who he is. On top of that he will use race to excuse his actions at every turn to play the victim. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1574709&type=story An old ESPN story from 2003, has anything changed in 2009? I havent seen anything change in Miltons attitude over the years despite all of his claims of the latter. Bradley makes no apologies; changing his personality would be like taking a jungle fighter's knife. Call him arrogant. Never let him live down two of his most notorious incidents in the minor leagues, when he poked one umpire in the mask and spit his gum at another. Make fun of his name, which even his friends don't know the ugly story behind. To Milton Bradley, it all just adds coal to his furnace. His personal mantra, "I like it hard," might as well be carved on his forehead for all to see. "I don't play this game to make friends," Bradley says. "I didn't always follow the rules. I didn't always do it the way it's supposed to be done. But I did it." And yes he has been lazy his whole career.... The old, combustible Bradley exploded himself when he didn't take to Murray's suggestion that he hold the bat differently, and "went off on me," in Murray's words. "He just doesn't get it," says Murray, a Hall of Famer with 504 lifetime home runs to Bradley's 19. "You can't put up with the way he treats people and the way he treats me." Even Burks has some misgivings about Bradley. "The only thing I would like to see Milton do a little more is hustle," he says. "Other than that, Milton has everything it takes to be a superstar in this game."

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

"He faked injuries to preserve his stats. Thats a given fact crunch admitted by Bradley himself." no, it isn't...you keep saying it, though. he's also lazy based on some stuff you like to attribute to laziness for some reason. not listening to others isn't laziness...it's being a stuborn baby. at least you didnt call me a "statfag"...thanks for that.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I hate to get in the middle of this lovefest, but I wanted to share the following quote from the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram:
Bradley got along well with his teammates, and Washington still wishes he had a hitter with the plate discipline Bradley showed last year. But opinions cooled some in March, when he told Gil LeBreton that he could have played at times last year but opted to sit out to make his stats look better for potential suitors. That didn’t sit well some players and management, especially when Young was playing with broken fingers on each hand. Bradley pushed himself way down the wish list with those comments, and probably pushed himself off it completely.
http://www.star-telegram.com/284/story/1634376-p2.html I'm not taking sides. I just figured as long as the information is available out there on the Internets, we might as well use it.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

Nice try, but that quote proving in his own words that Milton Bradley takes himself out of games to make his stats look better has been posted more than once before.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

General manager Jim Hendry said he expected Harden to pitch again when he was skipped in the rotation last week, but ultimately left it up to Harden. "If you want to pitch, we're going to pitch you," Hendry said he told Harden. "If you don't, you don't have to." Harden said it was "kind of a mutual decision. "It'd be a lot different if we were in it and they needed me to pitch," he said. "I'd be out there in a second and I'd be fine. I'm still healthy, feeling good and took that as a positive for this season." ----- ...this from a guy who's last appearance in a cubs uniform was one of his ugliest outings. that said...if his medical checks out, arb. his ass. http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/09/r…

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

thanks.

yeah, i don't care either way, but if you're gonna bitch about Bradley taking himself out, that sure does sound like someone trying to preserve some free agent clout.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

just bringing up a minor point. if i felt like driving it as a "thing" i would have brought it up long ago. i wonder what his real health is, honestly. i know the cubs payroll has to be a major concern in the issue vs. what changes they want to make to the team...and the whole 4-good-starters-already-here thing...but i wonder how much his health is playing into it, too. i seriously don't think his decision to shut down early plays any, if much, issue into why he may not be offered arb.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I actually thought it was a bad move by Harden, unless he was hurting so bad he knew he couldn't make a passable start - in which case he shouldn't have been pitching. When you've got a history of arm trouble you don't want to go into Free Agency effectively on the DL. Him having a 'serious' shoulder issue is the only way you can possibly justify not offering him arbitration. Even if he accepts you go to arbitration and lose and he gets his $10 million - wait until the first contending starter tears his UCL in March and trade him. Offer him arbitration, Hendry. This is how you make a good organization.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Burrell career: .254/.363/.475...162 game avg. of 31 2B, 30 HR, 101 RBI, 79 runs Bradley career: .277/.371/.450...162 game avg. of 32 2B, 20 HR, 76 RBI, 86 runs Bradley is a better fielder. Burrell will actually play a full season. I think that MB is better than he showed last season. If he could ever play 145 games or so at his potential, he would be a very good player. Throwing out last year, and the year before in Texas, I think you get MB: A .275 hitter...gets on base really well around .360-.370...slugs around .450 or so..and struggles to play in 100 games in a season.

http://apps.wbez.org/blog/?p=6549 haven't listened to it, but the description says something about '84 being the first time folks used the rooftops to watch games. I'm 65% sure that is untrue. I'll have to check my Unauthorized Wrigley Field biography, but pretty sure it started before that.

"We won 97 games and we lost six consecutive playoff games," Hendry said in his season-ending news conference. "I think I did what you people would expect of me. Or (what) the people, the great Cubs fans that we have, (expected). I tried to find a solution to get us to the championship level. Obviously the things I thought would work better, and (make us) hit better than we did. ... We didn't. At the same time, the day I stop trying to go for the whole thing, I shouldn't be sitting here. Basically admitting he shot his wad for a more balanced playoff lineup and forgetting you have to get there first.

Not offering arbitration to Harden is absolutely asinine, I am sick of the fat moron Jim Hendry. Get fired. Please. Can we talk about getting rid of Fukudome? Huge disappointment. Please, no Pat Burrell. I'd just as soon take a flyer on old man Jermaine Dye before I went the Burrell route. Dick Stockton and Chip Caray. Why? One other thing, what is Heileman's status for next year, are the Cubs off the hook?

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I agree that the one concern with offering Harden arbitration is that he accepts the offer and receives a one year, $10 million award. Clearly, that does not seem to be part of management's vision for 2010. But, with his history of injury, I think Harden may be adverse to a one year deal despite the minimal salary increase he may receive by accepting arbitration and emerging successful. Pitchers are particularly sensitive to the injury risk inherent in one year deals, especially ones carrying injury baggage. If offered, I think he may very well decline arbitration and seek a two or three year deal which provides a small degree of insurance against significant injury. Considering the free agent SP market, I would be shocked if Harden couldn't find one or more suitors willing to go two or possibly three years. To me, Harden qualifying as a Type B FA was an absolute godsend. Harden is far more likely to receive a multi-year deal now that the signing team doesn't have to walk away from a first round selection. That fact will most certainly not be lost on Harden, or his agent, in determining whether to accept arbitration. To me, it seems the decision to offer Harden arbitration has been gift wrapped for Hendry. There appears to be little downside and a significant amount of upside. Also, as several posters have mentioned, if Hendry knew he wasn't going to offer Harden arbitration, he should have simply let Minnesota have him and saved $1 million. Hendry will establish a new height of stupidity if he fails to offer arbitration to Harden!

If we're going to trade with the Rays to dump MB and get Burrell, can't we maybe try to get Crawford along with him? A Burrell/Fuku platoon would be expensive but very effective. Theriot Crawford Lee ARam Fuku/Burrell Sori Soto Bake The only downside to that is that might involve moving Sori back and forth from left to right, which might make him dizzy or nauseous, like me when I watched him try to hit this year. Oh offseason, it's fun to live outside of reality.

The reason I've made the suggestions I have is because of the likely budget limitations, the cubs face. Signing top shelf free agents just ain't happening this offseason. Too many backloaded deals paying the piper. However trading Milt for Dontrelle gets us out of year 3 of miltons 3/30. Trading Marshall and Fontenot in deals for Hermida and Hardy is swapping arbitration guys, and keeping monies close to the same. None of the guys being picked up will require big deals. None of these guys will be under contract past 2010. Tons of options

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

because we know for sure that the other teams may want Fontenot and marshall...

didn't detroit and leyland already say they have no interest in bradley whatsoever....

and hardy is in his 3rd year of arbitration and made $4.65M last year, and you almost never get a paycut in arbitration, at least not a significant one. The Cubs could not offer him arbitration and hammer out a cheaper deal but then he's a free agent. And the Brewers would probably never trade him to us.

Hermida made $2.65M last year in his 1st year of arbitration. Rumor once upon a time was the Marlins were asking a lot for Hermida...that can always change. At minimum I guess the two make $6M next year if not a little more...

Font/Marshall in their first year will (my guess) be in 2.5 to 3M range.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a 100% sure upgrade. However we can safely speculate that 1. The Cubs are going to be up against it payroll wise 2. Milton Bradley CANNOT return this club in 2010. The suspension killed that 3. Any upgrades will have to come on a shoestring. JJ Hardy- Plus defensive SS. Moves Theriot out of SS full time. Averaged 25 HR 77 RBI in 2007-2008. 2010 will be his age 26 season. Great Buy Low opportunity Jeremy Hermida- Fair defensive Rfer, Lefthandedness that Lou insists upon, moving out of Fla ballpark should help his power numbers. 2010 will be his age 26 season. Excellent buy low opportunity Plus, both guys will be under club control for 2010 and 2011. So we could go year to year with each guy. Much better scenerio than Jim Hendry backloading another deal to a 30 something Proven vet in decline. Who else is out there?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Marlins are supposedly AGAIN looking to slash payroll. Uggla,Cantu,Hermida and a couple of pitchers are all arbitration eligible. Hermida has been mentioned as a non-tender candidate. So he should come cheap (Tyler Colvin cheap) Hardy will probably require a bit more. But the Brewers best prospect is a SS in Escobar. They have tight payroll and are looking to add 2 starting pitchers. Hence the Marshall,Wells ideas. It's not having a pulse of the market. It's just reasoning the situations.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

well reasoning the situation would come to the conclusion that J.J. Hardy is probably not gonna get traded to the Cubs. It's one thing when the Pirates who are obviously in rebuilding mode make a deal within the division, another when the teams involved  think they're just a few players away on both ends.

also reasoning the situation would be the few reports saying the Cubs aren't looking for a shortstop.

Hermida is worthy buying at a good price and not relying on him to be a starter.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Fair enough, If you remember last offseason. I was a big proponent of getting Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen from Florida. If we'd have done that instead of the direction we did, we could have avoided Milton and the trading of Marquis and DeRosa all together. 20/20 Hindsight.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Olsen had a great year...um...wait.

Willingham had a brutal April, I wonder if he would have gotten boo'd? May-July were pretty awesome though. I'm a pretty big fan of Willingham myself, but not left-handed enough last year. :)

ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY ARBITRATION: Jeff Baker, 2B-3B-probably him or Fontenot Mike Fontenot, 2B-probably him or baker Tom Gorzelanny, LHP-offer Neal Cotts, LHP-non tender Angel Guzman, RHP-offer Aaron Heilman, RHP-borderline Koyie Hill, C-non tender Carlos Marmol, RHP-offer Sean Marshall, LHP-offer So Taguchi, OF-non tender Ryan Theriot, SS-offer

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 

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    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. 

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  • 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).