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

Easter Lilly in Full-Bloom at Fitch Park Sunrise Service

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Ted Lilly threw 5.2 IP (66 pitches – 46 strikes) for the Iowa Cubs this morning against the Angels AAA squad (Salt Lake) at Fitch Park Field #3, allowing one run on three hits, no walks, with four strikeouts.

Lilly was supposed to throw four innings/60 pitches, but he was so efficient with his pitches he ended-up working into the 6th inning before he hit 60 pitches, and even then he ended up going slightly over his pre-arranged pitch limit.

Lilly retired the first nine men he faced, and he generally threw strikes (he didn’t walk anyone, and he went to a three-ball count on only two of the 20 men he faced). While he had outstanding command of his fast ball and had a really good change-up today (same as last time), he had some difficulty commanding his curve, bouncing three in the dirt.

Here is Lilly’s INNING-BY INNING LOG:

1st INNING:
F-7 on 3-2 pitch
3-U on 2-0 pitch
K (swinging) on 1-2 pitch

2nd INNING:
F-9 on 1-0 pitch
F-9 on 1-1 pitch
K (swinging) on 2-2 pitch
 

3rd INNING:
5-3 on 0-1 pitch
P-3 on 2-0 pitch
K (looking) on 0-2 pitch

4th INNING:
Bunt single (ball bounced off plate and over Lilly’s head) on first pitch
F-9 on 1-0 pitch
Lilly balked – runner advanced to 2nd base (otherwise runner was picked-off)
Lilly threw wild pitch as breaking ball bounced in dirt in front of plate, runner advanced to 3rd base
F-7 SF on 1-2 pitch, runner scored easily from 3rd base
P-6 on 1-1 pitch

5th INNING:
F-9 on 0-1 pitch
K (looking) on 3-2 pitch
Line single to RF on first pitch
1-3 on 0-1 [pitch
 

6th INNING:
F-7 on 1-2 pitch
Triple into right-centerfield alley on 1-2 pitch
FC (6-2) on 0-2 pitch, runner thrown out at home

The Iowa Cubs didn’t do much offensively, scoring a run in the 4th on a Bryan Lahair lead-off double into the RF corner and two ground outs, and the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the 9th on a throwing error by the Angels 3rd baseman on a Darwin Barney infield single after Marquez Smith and Matt Camp walked. (The game ended in a 2-2 tie, as Micah Hoffpauir flied out to the warning track in left-center with the potential winning run on base).

While Lilly was throwing against the Angels AAA squad on Field #3, Cubs #5 starter Tom Gorzelanny was getting shelled by the Angels AA squad (Arkansas) on Field #2, getting knocked-out of the game in the top of the 4th after allowing two HR. His breaking ball was really sharp, but his fast ball had no life and he really got hammered.

Starlin Castro had two RBI triples in the game.

Today is “getaway day” for the Cubs full-season minor league teams (Iowa, Tennessee, Daytona, and Peoria), so all games started at 9 AM. The Boise/Mesa squad will be remaining at Fitch Park and becomes the Cubs Extended Spring Training squad, playing games most every morning Monday-Saturday (they get Sunday’s off) until mid-June.

Here is today’s abridged box score (Iowa Cubs players only):

NOTE: Jose Guevara was brought up from Boise/Mesa for today's game only, and utility infielder Jonathan Mota will be assigned to Extended Spring Training for a while as he continues to learn the art of catching.

IOWA LINEUP:
1. Matt Camp, SS: 0-4 (Kc, 6-3, Ks, P-4, BB)
2. Darwin Barney, 2B: 2-5 (1B, E-3, F-8, F-7, 1B+E5)
3. Micah Hoffpauir, 1B: 2-4 (1B, 1B, 3-1, BB, F-8)
4. Jason Dubois, LF: 0-4 (L-7, F-7, 5-3, Ks)
5. Bryan Lahair, RF: 2-4 (3-U, 2B, 1B, Ks, R)
6. James Adduci, CF: 1-4 (1B, 4-3, E-4, Ks)
7. Chris Robinson, C: 0-4 (4-6 FC, E-4, 6-4 FC, F-8, RBI)
8. Marquez Smith, 3B: 0-3 (4-U FC, F-9, 6-4 FC, BB, R)
9a. Ted Lilly, P: 0-2 (4-3, F-7)
9b. Bobby Scales, DH: 0-1 (Kc)
9c. Jose Guevara, PH: 0-1 (Ks)

IOWA PITCHERS:
1. Ted Lilly- 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 4/9 GO/FO, 66 pitches (46 strikes)
2. Thomas Diamond – 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 17 pitches (8 strikes)
3. J. R. Mathes - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 10 pitches (6 strikes)
4. Jay Jackson – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 8 pitches (6 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE

Best I can tell, here are the Iowa, Tennessee, Daytona, Peoria, and Boise/Mesa rosters as they were yesterday:

UPDATED 2010 CUBS MINOR LEAGUE CAMP ROSTERS – SATURDAY 4/3:

IOWA (24):

PITCHERS (12):
Mitch Atkins
Casey Coleman
Thomas Diamond
* John Gaub
Jeff Gray
Jay Jackson
* Scott Maine
* J. R. Mathes
Mike Parisi
Blake Parker
Brian Schlitter
Jeff Stevens

CATCHERS (2)
Welington Castillo
* Mark Johnson (Inactive - player/coach)
Chris Robinson

INFIELDERS (6)
Darwin Barney
* Matt Camp
* Micah Hoffpauir
* Bryan Lahair
# Bobby Scales
Marquez Smith

OUTFIELDERS (4)
* James Adduci
Jason Dubois
* Sam Fuld
* Brad Snyder

TENNESSEE (27):

PITCHERS (15)
Austin Bibens-Dirkx
Todd Blackford
* Ryan Buchter
David Cales
Chris Carpenter (Limited Activity Only – Injury Rehab)
Marco Carrillo
Andrew Cashner
Hung-Wen Chen
Alessandro Maestri
Marcos Mateo
Craig Muschko
Jake Muyco
* Jeremy Papelbon
David Patton (Limited Activity Only – Injury Rehab)
* Dustin Sasser
* Chris Siegfried
* Luke Sommer

CATCHERS (2)
Robinson Chirinos
* Steve Clevenger

INFIELDERS (7)
Russ Canzler
Starlin Castro
* Ryan Flaherty
* Blake Lalli
* Jake Opitz
Nate Samson
* Matt Spencer (Disabled List – broken toe)
Tony Thomas

OUTFIELDERS (3)
* Tony Campana
Brandon Guyer
Ty Wright

DAYTONA (28):

PITCHERS (13)
Chris Archer
Alberto Cabrera
Rafael Dolis
Chris Huseby
* James Leverton
Oswaldo Martinez
Dan McDaniel
Mike Perconte
* Brooks Raley
Dae-Eun Rhee
* Chris Rusin
Ryan Searle
Aaron Shafer

CATCHERS (4)
Michael Brenly
Luis Flores
* Mark Reed
# Alvaro Sosa

INFIELDERS (6)
# Marwin Gonzalez
Junior Lake
D. J. Lemahieu
# David Macias
# Matt Matulia (Inactive - player/coach)
Josh Vitters
* Ryne White

OUTFIELDERS (5)
Smaily Borges
* Kyler Burke
* Brett Jackson
* Jason James
* Nelson Perez

PEORIA (24):

PITCHERS (12):
* Jeffry Antigua
* Jeffrey Beliveau
Steve Grife
Su-Min Jung
Jordan Latham
Corey Martin
Trey McNutt
Ronny Morla
Jon Nagel
Andres Quezada
Nick Struck
Robert Whitenack

CATCHERS (2):
Mario Mercedes
Jovan Rosa (ex-3B)

INFIELDERS (6):
* Justin Bour
* Matt Cerda
* Hak-Ju Lee
George Matheus
Greg Rohan
* Logan Watkins

OUTFIELDERS (4):
* Richard Jones
Jesus Morelli
* Alvaro Ramirez
# Jose Valdez

BOISE/MESA (52):

PITCHERS (29):
Frank Batista
Justin Bristow (Limited Activity – injury rehab)
Rogelio Carmona
Tim Clubb
Eduardo Figueroa
Jesse Ginley
Yohan Gonzalez
Gian Guzman (ex-SS)
* Cody Hams
Marcus Hatley (TJS rehab)
Dylan Johnston (TJS rehab)
Danny Keefe
* Austin Kirk
* Casey Lambert (TJS rehab)
Luis Liria
Toby Matchulat
* John Mincone
Tarlandus Mitchell
Arismendy Mota
Julio Pena
* Marcos Perez
Carlos Rojas
Melvin Rosa
Jose Rosario
* Drew Rundle (ex-OF)
Adam Spencer
Larry Suarez
Tzu-An Wang
Yao-Lin Wang

CATCHERS (6):
* Sergio Burruel
Jose Guevara
Jae-Hoon Ha
Garrett Maines
Jonathan Mota (ex-SS)
Carlos Romero

INFIELDERS (10):
# Arismendy Alcantara
* Ping-Chieh Chen
* Wes Darvill
# Rafael Disla
D. J. Fitzgerald
Derek Helenihi
Brandon May
Rebel Ridling (appendectomy rehab)
Charles Thomas
* Bobby Wagner

OUTFIELDERS (7):
# Vismeldy Bieneme
Runey Davis
* Francisco Guzman
Dong-Yub Kim
* Kyung-Min Na
Cody Shields
Blair Springfield

NOTE: The Boise/Mesa squad becomes the Cubs Extended Spring Training (EXST) team at Fitch Park April-May-June.

Tags
Ted Lilly
Cubs Minor Leagues
Tom Gorzelanny

Comments

Submitted by Rob G. on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 04:33 pm

Jason Dubois... he's the cockroach of Cubs minor league players.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 04:29 pm

Submitted by springs on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 7:14pm. Trey McNutt is one to watch -- sounds like if he could control his stuff, he would be one of our best pitching prospects. I think Az Phil spoke about Richard Jones having great power. Rosa should hit Peoria pitching pretty well and hopefully becomes a good catcher. ========================================= SPRINGS: From what I have seen of Trey McNutt, he should be the ace of the Peoria staff. He would have made the Daytona Opening Day roster, but it was loaded with starting pitchers who really can't go back to Peoria (Archer, Dolis, O. Martinez, Searle, Shafer, and Rhee, plus Rusin and Raley are there, too). McNutt is probably the Cubs #3 pitching prospect right now, behind only Cashner, J. Jackson, and Carpenter. At least I think so Peoria will be getting one more pitcher before Opening Day, and it almost certainly will be a lefty, probably either Brooks Raley moving down from Daytona, or John Mincone moving up from Boise/Mesa. Mincone has been throwing the ball VERY well the last week or so, BTW. He would be the perfect lefty for the Peoria pen (Jeffrey Beliveau is the only lefty reliever there now). .

Submitted by jacos on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 04:17 pm

My calender says today is Apri 4th Ted is 60 days early

Submitted by chattbaseball on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 04:15 pm

Phil, I notice there are three outfielders on TN roster (not including Matt Spencer who is on DL), and five on the Daytona roster. With Jackson and Burke in Daytona, do you think a callup - even if temporary - is likely?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 04:26 pm

Submitted by chattbaseball on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 8:15pm. Phil, I notice there are three outfielders on TN roster (not including Matt Spencer who is on DL), and five on the Daytona roster. With Jackson and Burke in Daytona, do you think a callup - even if temporary - is likely? ====================================================== CHATT: It doesn't look like it. Blake Lalli played 1B today (and Steve Clevenger has been playing 1B, too), allowing Russ Canzler to play corner OF in addition to 1B. So I guess the Smokies will just go with that arrangement until Matt Spencer returns, and even then, I don't know how much OF Spencer will play. I only saw Spencer at 1B in Minor League Camp, although he played mostly LF and RF last year with OAK in AA (Midland).

Submitted by craig on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 04:14 am

Thanks for the roster info, Phil. Q's: 1. Thomas, Opitz, and Samson joining Castro and Flaherty, does that probably mean Flaherty will primarily play 3B and let the others share 2B? (When Marquez Smith was with Tenn, I'd figured Flaherty primarily for 2b.) Rotation questions: 1. Nick Struck: does he seem slotted for rotation or relief. Have you seen or heard anything about him? He got some superslot money, McNutt-level I think, so I'm curious how much they like him? 2. Iowa: which of these 6 is *not* in the rotation? I'm guessing Mathes starts as the token lefty, and it's Atkis or Parisi to the pen? 3. Tenn: With Cashner and Patton hurt, and Rusin dropped to Daytona, I'm puzzling for their rotation. Cashner, Bibens, Muschko, Chen, and Papelbon? Or will there be some surprise reliever-used-in-rotation deal, with Blackford or Carrillo or Mateo or something? 4. Daytona: as you noted, a lot of names. I'm assuming Archer, Cabrera, Dolis, Raley, Rhee, Rusin, and Searle are the 7 rotation candidates, and even that is a surplus; or will on of the Shafer/Leverton/Martinez group surprise me and be starting and crowd it even more? Dropping Raley to Peoria could alleviate some of the glut, I'd think... 5. Peoria: without Raley, I see Jeffry Antigua
 Trey McNutt
 Nick Struck
 Su-Min Jung
 Ronny Morla Robert Whitenack and Jon Nagel as seven rotation/piggy-back possibilities, and Raley could add an 8th. Am I missing anybody for rotation? And are there any of my rotation possibilities who are definitely going to be used in relief rather than rotation, based on what you've seen? Struck, or Morla, or Jung, or somebody? Thanks much for all your input. Fun to look forward to the upcoming minor league season.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 04/06/2010 - 04:09 pm

Submitted by craig on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 10:14am. Thanks for the roster info, Phil. Q's: 1. Thomas, Opitz, and Samson joining Castro and Flaherty, does that probably mean Flaherty will primarily play 3B and let the others share 2B? (When Marquez Smith was with Tenn, I'd figured Flaherty primarily for 2b.) CRAIG: Ryan Flaherty played mostly 2B in Minor League Camp, although his future is probably as a multi-positional supersub (he really struggles against LH pitchers). I'm not sure what the Cubs intend to do with Tony Thomas. He literally played himself right off the Iowa roster. He is a streaky hitter and a below-average defensive 2nd baseman with no apparent versatility to play other positions, although I guess OF is always a possibility. The Cubs might even just trade him for someone else's misfit. Rotation questions: 1. Nick Struck: does he seem slotted for rotation or relief. Have you seen or heard anything about him? He got some superslot money, McNutt-level I think, so I'm curious how much they like him? CRAIG: Nick Struck was a starter in Minor League ST games and he pitched OK, although Trey McNutt is better. (McNutt is probably the Cubs #4 pitching prospect right now). 2. Iowa: which of these 6 is *not* in the rotation? I'm guessing Mathes starts as the token lefty, and it's Atkis or Parisi to the pen? CRAIG: Mitch Atkins had a bad Spring, and will probably begin the season as the long-man in the Iowa pen. Atkins is also now the #1 candidate to get dropped from the 40-man roster whenever the Cubs get to the point where they need a slot (which could be a while, because the Cubs 40-man roster is presently at 39, and Angel Guzman can be transferred to the 60-day DL if a second slot is needed). 3. Tenn: With Cashner and Patton hurt, and Rusin dropped to Daytona, I'm puzzling for their rotation. Cashner, Bibens, Muschko, Chen, and Papelbon? Or will there be some surprise reliever-used-in-rotation deal, with Blackford or Carrillo or Mateo or something? CRAIG: Cashner, Chen, Bibens-Dirkx, Muschko, and Papelbon were the Tennessee starters the last week of Minor League Camp. Cashner absolutely blew the Giants AA squad away (devastating slider) in one game I saw. Cash just needs to throw strikes more consistently. 4. Daytona: as you noted, a lot of names. I'm assuming Archer, Cabrera, Dolis, Raley, Rhee, Rusin, and Searle are the 7 rotation candidates, and even that is a surplus; or will on of the Shafer/Leverton/Martinez group surprise me and be starting and crowd it even more? Dropping Raley to Peoria could alleviate some of the glut, I'd think... CRAIG: There is indeed a logjam of potential starters at Daytona. Although I believe Chris Archer will eventually be moved to the bullpen, he'll probably be a atarter at Daytona in 2010. Rafael Dolis is a mess and will probably work out of the bullpen (set-up) because he can't throw strikes right now (that's why he got demoted to Daytona). Alberto Cabrera will probably work in middle relief. Dae-Eun Rhee is probably a 3-4 inning pitcher right now and so another pitcher (Shafer or O. Martinez) might have to "piggy-back" with him for a while. So the rotation will probably be Rusin-Archer-Searle-Raley-Rhee (Rusin just missed the cut at Tennessee), with Dolis-Huseby-Sommer-Perconte-Siegfried the short relievers, Cabrera in two-inning middle-relief, and Shafer and O. Martinez the long-men in the pen (although both could get some starts, too). 5. Peoria: without Raley, I see Jeffry Antigua
 Trey McNutt
 Nick Struck
 Su-Min Jung
 Ronny Morla, Robert Whitenack and Jon Nagel as seven rotation/piggy-back possibilities, and Raley could add an 8th. Am I missing anybody for rotation? And are there any of my rotation possibilities who are definitely going to be used in relief rather than rotation, based on what you've seen? Struck, or Morla, or Jung, or somebody? CRAIG: If I had to guess, I'd say the Peoria rotation will probably be McNutt-Antigua-Nagel-Whitenack-Struck, with Ronny Morla and Su-Min Jung piggy-backing if one or two of the five can't go longer than 3-4 innings in April. Morla could be a starter, too, if one of the five (like Struck) pitches in the back-end of a piggy-back. Jordan Latham, Steve Grife, Corey Martin, Jeffrey Beliveau, and Andres Quezada (and whoever is the 13th pitcher) will be the 1-2 inning relievers. Martin (who throws sidearm/submarine, BTW) and Grife are probably the closers (as they were in Instructs), although Latham has closer stuff, too, and could get some chances. Beliveau had a really bad Spring control-wise right from the outset, which is why he got dropped from Daytona to Peoria just a few days into Minor League Camp. He was never really considered for Daytona, and they needed lefty relievers there, too. Beliveau is the closest thing to Mark Pawelek in the Cubs system (high risk/high reward). Wild lefties make the Cubs Player Development people really nervous for some reason.

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 04:42 pm

This may be a dumb question or one that has already been answered (if so, my bad), but why isn't Starlin Castro going to Iowa? It seems that the Cubs see Castro as the starting SS of the future and Darwin Barney as more of a backup/utility guy. If so, and if the Cubs want Castro to keep developing, why not send him to Iowa and face better pitching and have Barney back him up there? Are they trying to keep Barney fresh and ready to be promoted as the first middle INF call-up during 2010 if someone gets hurt at the big-league level?

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 04/06/2010 - 04:51 pm

http://cubs.scout.com/2/960139.html differences I spotted... T. Blackford & D. Patton aren't on the AA roster L. Sommer and C. Siegfried will start with Daytona C. Lambert is on the Tennessee DL (along with M. Spencer as noted) no sign of J. Leverton, D. McDaniel, J. James, L. Flores, or A. Sosa, all of whom Phil saw assigned to Daytona. I assume some were cut and some stay back in extended spring training.

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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