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

Here Come the Hawks, the Mighty... Boise Hawks!

Submitted by Arizona Phil on
6/15 UPDATE: BOISE OPENING DAY ROSTER HAS BEEN RELEASED (see COMMENT #11 below)

Arismendy Alcantara singled, doubled, and tripled, stole a base, drove-in three runs, and scored two more, Richard Jones and Wes Darvill had three hits a piece, and Alvaro Ramirez clubbed a two-run HR, but it wasn’t enough, as Kyung-Min Na had three hits, stole two bases, and scored twice, and Xavier Batista had three RBI, leading the upstart AZL Cubs (Mesa Cubs) to a 9-7 victory over the Boise Hawks at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning. The game was a pre-planned eleven-inning contest.

This was the final tune-up for the Hawks, who will fly from Phoenix to Boise tomorrow morning. Their first game will be Friday night at Yakima.

Some of the innings in today's game were terminated with less than three outs ("Roll It!") because the pitcher reached his maximum pitch limit for that inning, while other innings were extended beyond three outs ("Stay Out There!") to allow a pitcher to throw more pitches.

After the game, Boise Manager Jody Davis called Kyung-Min Na over to the Hawks post-game huddle from the Mesa Cubs bench ("Kyung-Min Na, come on down!"), as the speedy 18-year old Korean apparently won the Hawks' “4th outfielder” job (at least temporarily) with his outstanding play in today’s game. (Cody Shields would have been the 4th OF at Boise, but he will be left behind at Fitch Park after suffering a broken hand in an intrasquad game the last week of Extended Spring Training).

Infielder Brandon May was on the Boise bench today, but did not play due to a lingering sore left leg. I don't know if May will be traveling with the Hawks to Boise tomorrow, or if he will be remaining at Fitch Park for a few days to rehab the injury.

Also, 1B-3B Bobby Wagner will apparently be remaining at Fitch Park a while longer while he continues his conversion to catcher. He played with the AZL Cubs (Mesa) squad today, and he did not participate in the Hawks post-game meeting.

Here is today’s box score:

BOISE HAWKS

LINEUP:
1. Alvaro Ramirez, CF: 1-5 (5-3, F-7, 6-3, HR, F-7, 2 RBI, R)
2. George Matheus, 3B: 1-5 (6-3, 6-3, 2B, F-7, K, R)
3. Jesus Morelli, RF: 1-5 (5-3, L-3, 1B+E7, 6-3, 4-3, R)
4. Richard Jones, 1B: 3-5 (1B, 1B, P-7, K, 1B, R)
5. Arismendy Alcantara, SS: 3-5 (6-4 FC, 3B, 1B, 2B, 5-4 FC, 3 RBI, 2 R, SB)
6. Runey Davis, LF: 2-5 (1B, K, 2B, K, F-8, 2 RBI)
7. Chris Huseby, DH #1: 0-4 (6-4-3 GIDP, 5-3, 5-3, F-8, BB)
8. Jose Guevara, C: 1-5 (1B, F-7, K, F-8, FC+E6)
9. Wes Darvill, 2B: 3-5 (3-6 FC, 1B, 1B, F-8, 1B, R, SB)
10a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THROUGH ORDER
10b. Jeff Vigurs, DH #2: 0-2 (F-7, 4-3)

PITCHERS:
1. Chris Huseby: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/FO
2. Juan Yasser Serrano: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 6/6 GO/FO
3. Austin Kirk: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 7/4 GO/FO
4. Corey Martin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 BALK, 2/1 GO/FO
5. Carlos Rojas: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 3/1 GO/FO

ERRORS: 1
George Matheus E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base – eventually scored unearned run)

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jose Guevara: 0-3 CS

===================================================

AZL CUBS (MESA CUBS)

LINEUP:
1. Pin-Chieh Chen, 2B: 1-7 (1B, 4-3, 4-3, 1-3, F-8, F-9, 4-3)
2. Kyung-Min Na, CF-LF: 3-7 (1B, 2B, 4-3, 1B, F-8, 6-3, 4-1, 2 R, 2 SB)
3. Albert Hernandez, 1B: 2-6 (5-3, 1B, 6-3, K, 1B, E-5, RBI, 2 R)
4. Xavier Batista, RF: 2-6 (K, 2B, F-8, 6-3, 4-3, 1B, 3 RBI)
5. Sergio Burruel, C-DH: 0-5 (4-3, F-9, L-7, K, BB, 6-3, R)
6. Bobby Wagner, 3B: 2-6 (P-6, F-8, K, K, 2B, 2B, 2 R)
7a. Rafael Disla, SS: 1-5 (1-3, K, L-3, 3B, K, R)
7b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FINAL TIME THROUGH ORDER
8a. Blair Springfield, LF, 2-6 (HR, K, 1B, 1-3, 5-3, F-9, RBI, R, SB)
8b. Melvin Camarena, CF: PLAYED DEFENSE ONLY - DID NOT BAT
9. Carlos Romero, DH-C: 0-6 (4-3, F-7, 4-3, 5-3, P-4, 6-3, 2 RBI)

PITCHERS:
1. Jose Rosario: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1 BALK, 8/2 GO/FO
2. Jadel Mendez: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R (5 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 3/2 GO/FO
3. Alvido Jimenez: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2/5 GO/FO
4. Tzu-An Wang: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO

ERRORS: 2
1. Blair Springfield E-7 (throwing error at 3rd base on single allowed batter to advance from 1st to 2nd base)
2. Rafael Disla E-6 (dropped throw at 2nd base on force attempt allowed runner to reach 2nd base safely – did not score)

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Sergio Burruel: 0-2 CS, 1 PB

=================================================

ATTENDANCE: 7

WEATHER: Hot and sunny, with temperatures in the 90’s

==================================================

The Boise Hawks are the Cubs "Short-Season A" affiliate in the Northwest League. Besides the Cubs affiliate in Boise, ID, the other seven clubs in the league are the Tri-City Dust Devils (Rockies) in Pasco, WA, the Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks) in Yakima, WA, the Spokane Indians (Rangers) in Spokane, WA, the Eugene Emeralds (Padres) in Eugene, OR, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants) in Keizer, OR, the Everett Aqua Sox (Mariners) in Everett, WA, and the Vancouver Canadians (A's) in Vancouver, BC. All eight of the clubs have their minor league base in Arizona, so the players know the rival players pretty well from having played a lot of them in AZL, Spring Training, Extended Spring Training, and/or Instructional League games.

Per MLB Rule 51, a "Short Season A" club may have a maximum of four players on its roster age 23 or older, and a maximum of three players on its roster with three years or more of minor league service time coming into the season. (Seasons spent playing in DSL, VSL, Mexican League, or MLB international academies don't count toward minor league service time limit, the age limit does not apply to first-year players who sign after June 5th, and there is a one-year service time exemption for position players who are being converted to pitcher).

Generally speaking, players assigned to Boise would include college players selected in the recent Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft), and Latin, Pacific Rim, and U. S. high school and JC players who have "graduated" from Fitch Park (EXST Cubs & AZL Cubs).

Players assigned to Boise stay with "host families," which are local Boise residents who house and feed the young Cubbies (Hawks) during their stay in Boise. In return, the families receive complimentary season-tickets to the Hawks home games.

It's not unusual for players and host families to stay in touch for many years after the player has left and moved on to other things. Occasionally a player who stayed with a host family one year and another player who stayed with the same host family in a different season meet each other in later years and discover their "family connection."

The Boise gig is a lot different than Minor League Camp, Extended Spring Training, AZ Instructional League, or playing for the AZL Cubs in Mesa at Fitch Park. The players assigned to Fitch Park stay in the same motel (two players per room) with a curfew and no alcohol allowed in the rooms. Shuttle vans (maxi-vans) transport the players from the motel to Fitch Park and back, and road trips consist of maybe a 20-minute ride to another minor league complex in the maxi-vans.

But in Boise, the players are mostly on their own. They have to find their own way to the ballpark, and the Cubs rely on the host families to help keep the player on the "straight & narrow." (The Cubs probably wouldn't want a couple of meth freaks to be a host family). And Boise road trips consist of all night bus rides through the back roads and high deserts of Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, with pre-made peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and/or Dominos Pizza (usually the only "restaurant" open late in most of the Northwest League towns) the in-bus meal.

The Boise club has a 35-man Reserve List (which is like a major league club's 40-man roster) and a 30-man Active List (which would be like a MLB club's 25-man roster).

Tags
Cubs Minor Leagues
Boise Hawks
AZL Cubs

Comments

Submitted by Ross_Barnes on Mon, 06/14/2010 - 06:08 pm

Brett Jackson hit for the cycle tonight (in extra innings), including a walk-off home run to win the game. It's still early, but he might be the most exciting offensive player to come through the system in many a year.

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:09 am

who hasn't signed yet somehow... http://cubs.scout.com/2/976666.html says he sits between 93-94 most of the time..
I throw a changeup and I’ve yet to see anybody throw it the way I throw it. It’s hard to explain, but I throw it two different ways – one way to right-handed batters where it drops straight down and another way to lefties where it runs away and goes down. And I throw a two-seam fastball that’s more like a sinker; an overhand 12-6 curveball; then the four-seam fastball and then I throw a slider that’s two different ways as well.
and
was being recruited by Division I schools. They wanted to see me pitch again at the end of the spring and I more or less just wanted to get that over with because I knew we had a really good team in high school that year, and we were trying to win a state championship. I threw a one-hitter in the state championship game and got beat, 2-1. That was not good, but I felt like [going to Southern Arkansas] was the best for me and it turns out it was a very good decision and it’s hard to argue with what happened. I think that was the best decision that I could have made at the time, and looking back at it now, knowing what I know, I’d have made the same decision.

Submitted by Ryno on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:25 am

Parachatters will appreciate this bit of news... Quicksand Jesus struck by lightening and caught on fire...
Charred remnants remained this morning, June 15, of the large Jesus statue iconic to Interstate 75 that was destroyed following an apparent lightning strike during a thunderstorm late Monday night.
The photo of the giant Jesus statue on fire is kind of Revelations-esque.
“God struck God, I like the irony. Jesus struck Jesus,” said Dawn Smith, 25, of Hamilton, who was among those standing outside the vehicles along Union Road. “I had to see it. What else are you going to do on a Monday night?”
Haha... life in Dayton, Ohio... "What else are you going to do on a Monday night?" Go to bed so you can get up for wo... whoops, nevermind. Sorry, carry on.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:36 am

BOISE HAWKS OPENING DAY 26-MAN ROSTER HAS BEEN RELEASED. There are four openings for players who sign in the next few days, plus some players on the Hawks Opening Day roster will likely get sent back to Fitch Park to make room for the new draft picks as they get moved up from Fitch Park. BTW. the player I saw in the Boise post-game on-field meeting yesterday who I thought was an infielder was actually RHP (ex-2B) Joe Zeller (Cubs 2010 28th round pick out of The Master's College). Zeller and Jeff Vigurs (the only other 2010 draft pick on the Boise Opening Day roster) are (were) both college seniors, so they had virtually no leverage. (Northwestern C Chad Noble, U. of Delaware 1B Ryan Cuneo, and Lambuth U. LHP Brent Ebinger are the only other college seniors drafted by the Cubs). NDFA OF Anthony Giansanti (Siena U.) was signed by the Cubs after the draft (Giansanti also is a college senior). * bats or throws left # bats both PITCHERS (15): Rogelio Carmona Marcus Hatley Chris Huseby Danny Keefe * Austin Kirk Corey Martin * John Mincone Tarlandus Mitchell * Marcos Perez Andres Quezada Carlos Rojas Juan Yasser Serrano Alvaro Sosa (ex-C) Yao-Lin Wang Joe Zeller (2010 28th round pick) CATCHERS (2): Jose Guevara * Jeff Vigurs (2010 22nd round pick) INFIELDERS (5): # Arismendy Alcantara * Wes Darvill * Richard Jones George Matheus Brandon May OUTFIELDERS (4): Runey Davis Jesus Morelli * Kyung-Min Na * Alvaro Ramirez Also, OF Cody Shields (broken hand) will almost certainly be placed on the Boise "Inactive List."

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:51 am

And here is the current AZL CUBS roster (22 players). With a 35-man roster, there are still 13 openings for 2010 draft picks on the AZL Cubs roster. * bats or throws left # bats both PITCHERS (12): Eduardo Figueroa Jesse Ginley Gian Guzman * Cody Hams Alvido Jimenez Dylan Johnston (ex-OF) Luis Liria Hector Mayora Jadel Mendez Jose Rosario * Drew Rundle (ex-OF) Tzu-An Wang CATCHERS (3): * Sergio Burruel Carlos Romero * Bobby Wagner (C-1B-3B) INFIELDERS (4): # Vismeldy Bieneme (3B-2B) * Ping Chieh Chen (2B-SS) # Rafael Disla (SS-2B-3B-LF) Albert Hernandez (1B-LF) OUTFIELDERS (3): Xavier Batista Melvin Camarena Blair Springfield (LF-2B-3B-1B) Because more than half of the players who were at Fitch Park have left for Boise, there will be no more intrasquad games for a while (only sim games). Also, LHP Casey Lambert is still on a rehab assignment at Fitch Park, although he will likely move up to Daytona or Tennessee before the AZL Cubs begin league play next Tuesday.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:00 pm

THIS JUST IN.... The AZL Cubs will be playing their home games (all night games) at HoHoKam Park this season, rather than at Fitch Park. So the kids will get to play baseball on a genuine major league (albeit Spring Training) field, and have the use of the Cubs "big league" clubhouse, too. So starting next week, Fitch Park will be used only for players on injury rehab, and as an "induction center" for newly-signed draft picks.

[ ]

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:51 pm

This year is actually going to be really interesting because many NL players are struggling and many big names in particular are struggling. I took a quick look at the fan voting so far, the player/coaches voting from last year, and roster requirements, etc. I would expect the fan voting to put in: C: Molina 1B: Pujols 2B: Utley 3B: Wright (trailing now, but should overtake Polanco) SS: Ramirez OF: Braun OF: Heyward OF: Ethier (It's possible Heyward drops - he really wouldn't deserve it - and Werth moves up and takes it) Coaches/Player voting is tough to predict. It is partly based on performance and partly on respect. A pitcher might not have many wins because he plays for a crappy team, but hitters considering him difficult to face, etc. Based on last year's voting and this year's performance, I would except something like: C: McCann (basically no NL catchers deserve to be All-Stars this year, but I would guess he and Molina are the two again like last year) 1B: Gonzalez 2B: Phillips 3B: Zimmerman SS: Tulowitzki OF: Werth OF: Hart??? OF: Byrd??? (These last two OF slot are difficult. If Hart is still leading the league HRs he might get in, as might Byrd if he is batting over .330 still and because of his defense and hustle. There are just no no-brainers for these slots. I picked Hart and Byrd out of a group of OFs having good seasons that includes Andres Torres, Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Gonzalez, Colby Rasmus, and Johnny Gomes. This just doesn't look like a list of All-Stars, so it is difficult to predict who the players/coaches vote for here) SP: Jiminez SP: Halladay SP: Johnson (voted in by players last year and doing very well again this year) SP: Pelfrey (9-1, w. 2.39 ERA) SP: Wainwright RP: Bell RP: Broxton (both were voted in last year and are dominating again this year) RP: Marmol (I think he has a shot here. Last year the third closer was K-Rod, who could be it again this year, but players and managers take notice of dominance like Marmol has had) At this point the manager has to select the DH for the NL, 3 position players, and 5 pitchers. And in doing so has to make sure all teams are represented. That means a Pirate, Astro, Giant, and D-Back. I think Rolen, with the year he is having, will be added and named the DH if he is not chosen ahead of Zimmerman by the players and already on the roster. Either way, I expect him to start if Wright or someone else wins the player vote. The position players will probably include: 2B: Kelly Johnson (only logical D-Back IMO) OF: Garrett Jones (or possibly McCutchen, the only logical Pirates IMO) SS: Juan Uribe (after Tulo and Ramirez he has the third highest OPS among shortstops and the drop to 4th is big. Managers like to have 3 shortstops on the roster, and he is the most logical Giant for position players) ***But Manuel has said publicly that he likes Prado of the Braves who is having a good year, so it is possible he is picked here over Uribe and Manuel simply goes with a Giant pitcher for the SFO roster spot. The remaining 5 pitchers are a crapshoot. Expect Lindstrom to be taken as the token Astro. I can't think of really anyone else on the roster deserving at all. Oswalt is pitching well, but you don't usually go to the AS game with a 4-8 record So of the 4 remaining he might take K-Rod if the players selected Marmol above, or Marmol if they selected K-Rod. But Brian Wilson would be another good closer candidate if he wants a 5th closer after the 3 voted in and Lindstrom. The remaining starters that would be considered include Cain, Lincecum, and Zito from the Giants, Carpenter, Silva, and Hudson, and maybe a couple more depending on how the last few weeks go. Also remember that MLB has a new rule that any starter scheduled the Sunday before the All-Star can be selected but is automatically ineligible to pitch and replaced on the roster. So do not be surprised if the managers use this to spread the love a bit and avoid flak for not picking someone. For example, if Cain pitches Sunday, Manuel might pick Cain and name Lincecum his replacement. A nice two for one. Those are my thoughts, but a lot can happen between now and then, and there are too many people's opinions involved in the selection process to have any hope of predicting it very accurately.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:41 pm

Al didn't write it. Try reading. and as I mentioned, it was the 2nd time I've come across info that Ramirez and Z are being difficult, the other having nothing to do with Al or the person who posted that comment. and you know, it was labeled gossip. Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others. It forms one of the oldest and most common means of sharing (unproven) facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and other variations into the information transmitted. ...

[ ]

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:55 pm

First, relax dude, I'm just giving you a hard time. Second, I don't ignore it, I just still do not fully understand your point. Is it that some managers are good at making in-game decisions and managing a clubhouse and some are not, but the difference in pay between the former and latter is not worth the advantage gained in wins by making good in-game decisions and having a sound clubhouse? So you would prefer the manager be good at these things, but would rather pay $1 million for someone who is bad than $3 million for someone who is good, because you think the $2 million gains the team very little? Is this it? If so, it makes sense. I certainly don't have any data to show that having Bobby Cox is worth 4 wins above a replacement manager, or something like that. I wish we did. But we don't really have that data, so your gut from watching baseball for a long time is that managers don't matter much, especially $2-3 million dollars as much. My impression is that they do. We can feel free to agree to disagree on the value of MLB managing. But what I don't get, and why I keep ribbing you, is if you believe this, then why complain at all about managers if they matter very little or not at all for wins and losses? Yet every time Lou does something you don't like you complain about it. But who cares? Right? If you think the impact of managing is not even worth a million or two a year, then these decisions should be inconsequential and not worth your time complaining about. It would be like me complaining every singly home game about the small, crappy clubhouse in Wrigley and its effect on the team. Then when someone suggest spending money to fix it up, I turn around and say that I don't think the team should spend any money on fixing it up because it doesn't matter for wins and losses. That's where my confusion lies. It seems on one hand that you care a LOT about managing, and then on the other that everyone who thinks managers matter is foolhardy.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:32 pm

"Yet every time Lou does something you don't like you complain about it" ...not...even...close. not even a shred of close. check out lou follies vs. crunch posts. you're not gonna find a lot. you will find the only thing i care about is a clubhouse who's players know their role and know who the 'boss' is and going to work for these guys isn't a chore. if i wanted to bag on lou i could lay out a laundry list...just i could for dusty...just like i could for baylor...for torre...for bobby cox...for bobby valentine...etc etc etc you don't wanna see that...though some thought it was a sport bigger than the one they were watching when trainspotting dusty was more fun than the game.

[ ]

Submitted by Sweet Lou on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:39 pm

If Al says he believes it, then it must be true... When Dusty was the manager, I voiced my opinion several times about how he wasn't doing his job. He didn't lead, he didn't motivate, and he didn't discipline. I've been a big supporter of Piniella's up until now, but I'm having a harder and harder time distinguishing between how Dusty responded to an underperforming team in his final year and how Piniella is responding now. If the story from BCB is true, then the Cubs (and Piniella) have much more serious problems than Theriot's OPS.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:16 pm

probably not, a story was related to that person and they shared it. I'm sure that is what they were indeed told, just like when Chad was told something from someone he trusted that Peavy was being traded to the Cubs, it just didn't turn out to happen. We're not the NYT here. i got an email from someone I talk to regularly who was told something very similar a few weeks back about Aramis and Z being issues (nothing about not taking practice or anything), but a friend of a friend stories I tend not to pass on unless I hear it more than once.

[ ]

Submitted by The Joe on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 06:10 pm

Not a slight on you Rob. I'm glad you posted it, I'm just hopeful that it isn't true. This also isn't a rumor sight, like, uh, other places...where there are loads of "my anonymous source tells me such and such" that turn out to be untrue, where scoops outweigh legitimacy. I also think there is a difference between someone saying that trade is about to happen (which might be true even if it doesn't) and someone saying that people are acting a certain way (if they aren't). fart

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • 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.

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