Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Wells and Ramirez Lead Iowa Cubs to Victory

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Aramis Ramirez crushed a towering home run over the left-centerfield fence onto 8th Street and Randy Wells threw six innings (85 pitches) of shutout ball, as the AAA Iowa Cubs defeated the Sacramento River Cats (Oakland A's AAA squad) 2-1 in ten innings at cool & breezy Fitch Park Field #3 this afternoon in Mesa.

Wells was masterful today, at one point retiring 13 batters in a row. He allowed just three hits (two singles and a double), and struck out seven while walking none.

Here is the abridged box score for the AAA game (Iowa versus Sacramento)

NOTE: Aramis Ramirez hit 2nd in each inning one through four, and then he hit 3rd in the 5th inning because Randy Wells got an AB in the #2 slot to try and bunt a runner to 2nd base (Wells bunted into a DP, and then Ramirez hit his HR).

IOWA CUBS LINEUP:
X. Aramis Ramirez, DH: 1-5 (Ks, 4-3, P-3, 6-3, HR, R, RBI)
X. Randy Wells 0-1 (2-6-3 GIDP)
1. Brandon Guyer, CF: 1-3 (1B, 6-3, F-8, HBP, SB)
2. Matt Camp, SS: 1-2 (Ks, 1B, BB, P-6, R, SB)
3. Smaily Borges, RF: 0-4 (5-3, 6-3, P-8, Ks)
4a. Ty Wright, LF: 0-2 (F-8, 6-3)
4b. SKIPPED
5. Bryan Lahair, 1B: 2-3 (1B, 2B, Kc)
6a. Welington Castillo, C: 0-2 (Ks, 6-3)
6b. Steve Clevenger, C: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
7a. Jake Opitz, 3B: 0-2 (F-9, 6-3)
7b. David Macias, 3B: 0-1 (F-9)
8a. Nate Samson, 2B: 0-1 (P-3)
8b. Tony Thomas, 2B: 0-2 (P-4, E-6, SB)
9a. Brad Snyder, DH-LF: 0-3 (6-3, Ks, F-7)

IOWA CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Randy Wells - 6.0 IP, 3 H,0 R, 0 BB, 7 K, 6/4 GO/FO, 85 pitches (57 strikes)
2. Casey Coleman - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/FO, 42 pitches (21 strikes)
3. Scott Maine - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 14 pitches (11 strikes)
4. Marco Carrillo - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO, FO, 14 pitches (10 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Welington Castillo: 1-1 CS
2. Steve Clevenger: 0-1 CS

Meanwhile, Xavier Nady got the start in RF in the AA game (AA Tennessee Smokies versus the A's AA Midland RockHounds) on Field #2, going 1-3 (K, 6-4-3 DP, 2B, and HBP), and then leaving the game earlier than planned after being hit flush on the top of the left hand with a pitch.

I don't have the final score or the abridged box score for the Tennessee game, but the Smokies starting lineup today was Brett Jackson CF, Tony Campana LF, Starlin Castro SS, Russ Canzler 1B, D. J. Lemahieu 3B, Ryan Flaherty 2B, Jason James DH #1, Mario Mercedes C, and Luis Flores DH #2, with Oswaldo Martinez the starting pitcher, and Josh Lansford, Ryan Buchter, Todd Blackford, David Cales, Robert Hernandez (called up from Daytona for the game), and Chris Siegfried pitching in relief. Hernandez (in particular) was hit hard, and Castro made two errors at shortstop.

Nady got one AB in every inning before leaving the game after the 4th inning. He had no defensive chances in RF while he was in the game.

Because the minor league games were rained out yesterday, the Cubs also played a minor league intrasquad game on Field #1 to get the pitchers who were supposed to pitch yesterday their scheduled work.

Here is the updated Iowa Cubs (AAA) roster:

IOWA (33):

PITCHERS (19):
Mitch Atkins
Austin Bibens-Dirkx
Andrew Cashner
Hung-Wen Chen
Casey Coleman
Thomas Diamond
Jay Jackson
Jeff Kennard
Alessandro Maestri
* Scott Maine
* J. R. Mathes
Jake Muyco
Blake Parker
* Jeremy Papelbon
Vince Perkins
Gregory Reinhard
* Dustin Sasser
Brian Schlitter
Jeff Stevens

CATCHERS (3)
Welington Castillo
* Steve Clevenger
* Mark Johnson (Inactive – player/coach)
* Blake Lalli

INFIELDERS (6)
* Matt Camp
* Bryan Lahair
# David Macias
* Jake Opitz
Nate Samson
Tony Thomas

OUTFIELDERS (5)
Smaily Borges
Jason Dubois
Brandon Guyer
* Brad Snyder
Ty Wright

Tags
Minor League Camp
Cubs Minor Leagues
Randy Wells
Xavier Nady
Aramis Ramirez

Comments

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 03/24/2010 - 03:38 pm

great...the last thing he needs is consistent AB's. it's not like he's having trouble working counts or choosing pitches. it's not like he's swinging at everything. 5th OF'r...killer. -edit- well...umm...okay, i guess. i hope he does see good time, though i'd like him to see regular work in AAA a lot more. it's not like the team is in some dire need of a bench OF'r. "First, Colvin has had an outstanding spring," Piniella said. "He has played well enough to make this team. The concern is we don't want this young man to make this team and just sit. So if he's on our Opening Day roster, he's going to get some playing time. He's not just going to sit."

[ ]

Submitted by MikeC on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:01 am

Yes because a .277/.323 OBP for his career in the minors is gonna be an awesome upgrade from Soriano. You guys will really latch onto the shittiest minor leaguers in our system to be starters. Colvin = defensive replacement only, and thats his peak value. No one is drooling over watching some kid with no power and no speed, no ability to take a walk to be on their team, except some Cubs fans who think he is the second coming of god or something.

[ ]

Submitted by Dusty Baylor on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:24 am

Ok...MikeC...take a deep breath. Colvin is still only 24 years old. After some injuries in the minors, he's come back a little stronger this spring, and is raking the ball. His numbers in the minors aren't eye-poppping, .277/.320/.465..sure. He needs a bit more patience to be a starter at the major league level, but he looks like he can hit a little, he's hit double digits in HR every season in the minors, and may thrive without having to work on taking pitches, and just hitting. He may never get to a .360 OBP..but calling him just a defensive replacement player, at best? It's a little early still isn''t it?

[ ]

Submitted by MikeC on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:06 pm

Our minor league "best" players aren't other organizations best players. Step outside this organization to understand what a farm system is. Desmond Jennings over in Tampa, .305/.391 OBP in the minors, walks about as much as he strikes out and has very good speed. Nolan Reimold - .286/.383 has plus power, was hitting .394 when called up to the majors. Getting close to walking about as much as he strikes out. Andrew McCruthen - .286/.362 has good speed and overall ability. Another guy with his walk rate approaching his strikeout rate. Chris Davis .952 career OPS in the minors, off the charts power. Needs to work on his strikeout to walk rate, might have corrected it in his last minor league stop, 25 walks, 39 strikeouts. Jason Heyward - .318/.391 career line, the dude is so good he was hitting .354 in AA, and has a walk rate that matches his strikeouts. Tyler Colvin the next best thing in our minors ready to step in, comes in with a lifetime .277 average and a .320 OBP. He is no where even close to bringing his walks in line with his strikeouts. The very fact that he is the next best thing ready for the majors for this franchise is sad. And shows you how poor this organization is at talent evaluation, and drafting. They seem to do ok with pitchers and drafting catchers that can pitch but whoever it is scouting hitting, this franchise hasn't had a clue in that department in decades. After Colvin it's his twin brother Josh Vitters who walks even less and strikes out just as much, but hey he plays 3rd base! Yay?!?! Granted he is only 19 but i am not liking a guy with a .286 average and a .319 OBP. He needs a lot of work. But where is our stud prospect waiting in the wings? The problem is that player doesn't exist at any level in our minors.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:32 pm

so you're comparing guys that have been ranked in the top 15 of all baseball prospects (except Reimold) to guys who haven't in Colvin and Vitters. Well-done. Anyway Castro is considered the "next best thing" among Cubs prospect. After Colvin it's his twin brother Josh Vitters who walks even less and strikes out just as much well you got half that right. I'm sure you'll ignore this, but most of the buzz on Colvin has nothing to do with his past numbers (which are decent albeit very 4th OF'ish), but the hope and projection that the extra muscle he put on over the offseason will make him more of a power threat and hence a better player. And he's shown a little of that during spring training. Although the lack of a walk and just 6 xbh's makes me think he's been luckier than people want to let on.

[ ]

Submitted by MikeC on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:16 pm

You can keep going with the list and other organizations and most have that "it" prospect lighting up their system. Where is ours at? I only got so much post space and time and just went with ones off the top of my head. Colvin is doing everything he should do in Spring Training and thats a good thing, but i don't see anything special from the guy. If he played SS i would be excited, but the OF? He has to bring more to the table than what he is currently showing. I was going more with the theme of walk to strikeout ratio = better indicator of major league success than the Vitters and Colvin route. If you have a poor walk to strikeout ratio in A ball, those tends trend to get worse as you move through the system and become a detriment if you ever get to the majors. I am not saying you can not succeed, look at Mark Reynolds, but examples of those guys are few and far between. I am not handing Colvin anything, if all the better guys before him get injured then by all means give him a shot, but i don't want his ass starting just cuz someone is in a slump. He doesn't warrant that, he isn't good enough to bench someone.

[ ]

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:49 pm

I think what Mike C and others forget (or, do not care about) is the benchmark for what the minors are supposed to deliver and what GM's talk about: 1. getting players to the major leagues to contribute, 2. to serve as a developmental pool to develop players for trades. In listening to Randy Bush discuss this on Bruce Levine's show, only a infinitesimal number of players become consistent All Stars as home-growns, and the rest get to participate in the "show" with the other 400 or so Major League brothers out of the myriad of players in all of the minor leagues. So, "Teflon Tim" as NAVIGATION refers to him, is on track to doing his job. If Starlin castro, or Josh Vitters become impact MLB players, it is icing on the cake. While we may not have "stars" left and right now graduating, the Cub's minor league system has recently developed very legitimate players who have been useful as starters, role players, or trade pieces which - as I state above - is the MAIN objective. Why is that a bad or unrecognized thing for some of you?

[ ]

Submitted by Pat Kane on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:36 pm

Awesome...that has to go up there with Remlinger breaking a finger sitting in a rocking chair in the clubhouse, Wood's hot tub injury, Gaudin falling back into a trash can, etc. Isn't there a compliation of some of the most ridiculous baseball injuries somewhere?

Submitted by Ryno on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:02 pm

Great now I get to hear the whining and belly aching about "why is Soriano starting instead of Colvin?" Meh, I would keep Colvin in AAA for that one reason. I mean he might be good, but he's no Matt Murton. *eye roll*

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:22 pm

mat murton couldn't find a 4th/5th OF'r job in COL... he in japan or something now?

[ ]

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:48 pm

Finding someone an opportunity isn't the same as not having the ability to play. Colorado and Oakland were more about promoting their own young kids over giving a shot to a mid/late 20's Corner Outfielder. We gave up on him because we were on a quest for Left-Handedness for two years.

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:06 pm

So, would you rather have Blanco, and Tracy, if Fontenot can play emergency short, or Blanco and Millar? Or, no Blanco, and keep the old dudes? Blanco reminds me of Augie Ojeda - don't ask me why. But better in that he has more range. It would be really cool if the team had one real specialist back-up at the most important infield position. He is gifted with the glove, and would save runs the same way putting Fuld in as a defensive specialist would. What is the big deal with Millar? Management already uses the Red Sox business model. Isn't that enough! The dude would be fine if you rolled back the clock three or four years.

[ ]

Submitted by thedirtbag on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 03:50 am

If you keep Blanco, what do you outright Baker? I do not think that Lou is worried about SS to be frank. I am thinking that if a DL stint for Theriot happens, Castro would get the reps over Blanco anyway. The staff feels that Fontenot can handle the SS gig to give Theriot a breather. Baker and Tracy are more valuable to the roster only because of the health concerns of Ramirez and the lack of depth at 3rd in the Cubs system. One could argue that having Tracy on the roster and Blanco would be sufficient over Baker. Blanco's injury in spring did not helo him.

[ ]

Submitted by jacos on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:30 pm

"light. He's 2010's Lenny Harris." The one word I would never associate Lenny Harris with. And I agree Lou doesn't have clue. Tracy can play the corners and bat left handed. Is the "Baseball Bunch" still on TV? Millar can replace Johnny Bench as host and sodomizer of the San Diego Chicken.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:39 pm

RBI single off Haren in the first, Adducci (plus a SB) and Fontenot also with hits and the Cubs score 2. Gorz gives up a HR to Conor Jackson.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Sat, 03/27/2010 - 03:30 pm

Soto and Fukudome, one all-star game appearance each. Not exactly perennial. These guys have a grand total of two full seasons in the MLB each. Do you want all starting 8 to be veterans who have appeared in All-Star games in more than 50% of their seasons? The Cubs have scrubs at 2nd, on the bench, and in the bullpen. They've got average, slightly below average, or slightly above average players at SS, RF and CF. They have high reward players at C and LF who are coming off poor years. They have above average players at 3B and 1B. They have probably a somewhat above average starting rotation. That sounds a lot like the Cubs going into 2008. But I'll admit the success in 2008 was somewhat a stroke of luck overall--great performances from DeRosa, Edmonds, and Fontenot--better than anyone could have reasonably expected from those players. Breakout rookie performance from Soto. Phenomenal year from Marmol and a solid performance out of Wood. And a career year from Dempster. That's a lot of good fortune. The Cubs will need that sort of good fortune this year too.

[ ]

Submitted by Sweet Lou on Sat, 03/27/2010 - 03:33 pm

Charlie -- I'm not sure if you were agreeing with me or disagreeing with me. Fukudome and Soto have each been around two years and they have each been to one all-star game a piece. I've seen enough of Fukudome to know that he is not a perennial all-star. The jury is still out on Soto. Was 2008 the real Soto or a fluke. We'll see. Regardless, my point is that with a $140 million payroll, the Cubs should have more than three above averages position players (Soriano, Ramirez, Lee). The rotation is lacking an ace, which, considering the payroll, is a big oversight. Z, Dempster, and Lilly are good 2-3 starters on most teams, but things fall off quite a bit from there. Wells may repeat his rookie campaign or may fall on his face. We'll see. I don't mean to be completely negative here. The team is not trash. But it's also not the cream of the crop in the NL Central, which it should be.

[ ]

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:52 pm

"Speaking of Colvin, RBI single off Haren in the first." A walk wouldn't have driven in the run, but it would have impressed some people around here. I can easily show that a walk is better than a hit. Colvin is 24 for 53 (.453). His OBP is .453. Colvin doubters on this blog are not impressed. Turn 5 of those hits into walks. Now he's 19 for 48 (.396). His OBP is exactly the same (.453). But after five walks, the doubters are starting to warm up to him! Logically, they must think that it's the outs that you turn into walks. To some extent, maybe, but I'm pretty sure that Milton Bradley turned extra-base hits into walks. Otherwise, where did they all go?

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:04 pm

if I calculated it correctly, he has a .535 BABIP so far this spring. Go ahead and show me someone who has kept that up over a season. I'll wait. And he's still striking out about 17% of the time fwiw. even if he could magically maintain a .360 BABIP, which is about as high as any major leaguer will do, yet rather uncommon, he'd be hitting .278 right now with a .278 OBP. Knock him to the .300/.320 range and well I assume you can pick up where this is going. And I'm actually one of the ones excited for his future now, but let's temper that enthusiasm a bit with reality. He'll get eaten alive unless he starts putting some balls in the seats or look to work the count. It's just not a sustainable way to be a major leaguer.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:15 pm

Which is why he should start the season in AAA. I'm with you, Rob. That BABIP is due in large part to luck. But the 0 walks are coming from a fairly small sample size too. Let him continue to develop until the Cubs actually have room for him. If he still looks like 20+ HR centerfielder at that time, we'll be glad we didn't trade him for bullpen rental and we'll like him through his first and maybe second arbitration years.

[ ]

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 03:18 am

Not every hitter has the guts to strike out 223 times in a season, but Mark Reynolds figures they'll just remember the home runs. He's a BABIP baby: .338 last season, .343 over three seasons. Nothing to do with hot streaks or luck, everything to do with a conscious decision to become an unreliable hitter who makes big bucks. It's just another stat, which in Reynolds' case, is very forgiving in terms of how many times you K, how seldom you hit to the opposite field, how you do when you're behind in the count. It would seem to favor good hitters and guess hitters like Reynolds who are not so good.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:21 pm

4 K's (Reynolds, Haren, LaRoche, Drew) through 4, HR & 2b by C. Jackson, 2B by Reynolds so far and just one run. Adduci 3/3, Colvin 2/3 with a K now.

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:25 pm

Is there ANY chance Millar will not make this team (say yes...say yes...say yes...)?

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:39 pm

5 IP, 1 ER, 4 K, 1 BB, 3 XBH's -edit- double to Kelly Johnson and a sac fly by M. Reynolds in the 6th off Gorz, 6 IP, 2 ER

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:42 pm

Grabow goes 2 scoreless, Russell 1 scoreless and Cubs win 7-2. Colvin goes 2/4 with a double and an RBI and 2 Runs scored

[ ]

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:04 pm

Isn't Russell's spring ERA 0.00? who was the last reliever to have a zero spring training ERA? I'm guessing it was Carmen Pignatello in 2008? ...and he made the team on opening day that year (and lasted about a week and got into 2 games)

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:31 pm

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100325&content_id=89…
It was Ryan O'Malley, who I saw Wednesday in Surprise, Ariz.. He's now a Minor League coach for the Rangers. That one game was Aug. 16, 2006, in Houston, when he was called up from Triple-A Iowa (the team happened to be in Round Rock, Texas). He threw eight scoreless innings, gave up five hits, walked six and struck out two. The Cubs had played an extra-inning game the night before and were out of pitchers. A Springfield, Ill., native, O'Malley made one more start Aug. 22, 2006, and went 4 2/3 innings but was injured. He did not pitch in the big leagues again.

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:42 pm

Brruuucce (Miles)...
It’s looking more likely, according to Lou, that reliever Jeff Gray, won’t make the club out of spring training. Gray hurt his groin at the start of camp. He made his spring debut yesterday against Texas and pitched a scoreless inning. The Cubs don’t want to rush him.
It’s also likely the Cubs will get down to 12 or 13 pitchers by tomorrow and to 16 or 17 position players. It’s getting close. If Fontenot can sub at short, things start looking better for Kevin Millar and Chad Tracy and worse for Andres Blanco.
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/3695

[ ]

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 03:27 am

Well, Millar is outhitting Hoffpauir now, and Hoffpauir can be optioned. So if they keep him, worst case scenario, Millar stinks it up pinch-hitting for the first 2-3 weeks and is simply released and Hoffpauir is called up. Best case scenario, Millar does well off the bench, which is not easy to do, brings experience to the clubhouse, etc., while Hoffpauir gets regular at-bats so when Lee's neck acts up and he hits the 15-day DL he is ready to go.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

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