Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

2010 Catcher Rankings by WAR

We've had a bit of a discussion lately about back-up catchers with the trading away of Robinson Chirinos, the signing of Max Ramirez and the head-scratching re-upping of Koyie Hill via the arbitraton process. Reader WISCGRAD put together a spreadsheet of catchers by Baseball Reference's WAR values which does include a defensive component.

             

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Team Starter WAR Back-Up WAR Total

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Braves Brian McCann 4.7 David Ross 1.4 6.1

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Twins Joe Mauer 5.6 Drew Butera 0.0 5.6

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Phillies Carlos Ruiz 4.4 Brian Schneider 0.6 5.0

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Reds Ramon Hernandez 2.4 Ryan Hannigan 2.4 4.8

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Padres Yorvit Torrealba 2.8 Nick Hundley 1.5 4.3

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Blue Jays John Buck 3.0 Jose Molina 0.6 3.6

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Red Sox Victor Martinez 3.0 Jason Varitek 0.5 3.5

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Cardinals Yadier Molina 3.1 Jason LaRue 0.1 3.2

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Indians Lou Marson 0.9 Carlos Santana 2.2 3.1

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Orioles Matt Wieters 2.5 Craig Tatum 0.2 2.7

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Giants Buster Posey 3.0 Bengie Molina -0.3 2.7

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Rays John Jaso 2.4 Kelly Shoppach 0.2 2.6

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Dodgers Russell Martin 1.9 A.J. Ellis 0.6 2.5

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Diamondbacks Miguel Montero 1.4 Chris Snyder 0.9 2.3

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White Sox A.J. Pierzynski 1.2 Ramon Castro 1.0 2.2

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Cubs Geovony Soto 3.2 Koyie Hill -1.0 2.2

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Yankees Francisco Cervelli 0.3 Jorge Posada 1.6 1.9

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Mets Rod Barajas 0.5 Josh Thole 1.4 1.9

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Athletics Kurt Suzuki 1.2 Landon Powell 0.5 1.7

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Rockies Miguel Olivo 1.6 Chris Iannetta -0.1 1.5

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Royals Jason Kendall 1.0 Brayan Pena 0.3 1.3

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Angels Jeff Mathis -1.3 Mike Napoli 2.0 0.7

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Marlins Ronny Paulino 0.6 Brad Davis 0.1 0.7

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Nationals Ivan Rodriguez 1.0 Wil Nieves -0.3 0.7

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Tigers Alex Avila 0.5 Gerald Laird -0.1 0.4

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Astros Humberto Quintero 0.6 Jason Castro -0.3 0.3

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Brewers Jonathan Lucroy -0.2 George Kottaras 0.3 0.1

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Pirates Ryan Doumit 0.3 Chris Snyder -0.2 0.1

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Rangers Matt Treanor 0.0 Bengie Molina -0.3 -0.3

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Mariners Adam Moore -1.4 Rob Johnson 0.3 -1.1

Soto and Hill lined up at #17 last year with Soto being the 4th best catcher in just 97 games played if Koyie Hill wasn't dragging him down.

As for that defensive component, here's what BR.com states on their website.

Catcher data looks at stolen bases allowed, caught stealing, errors, pickoffs, passed balls, and wild pitches. I split the data by pitcher handedness (otherwise a catcher will look better if he catches more lefthanders than normal.) Once again, everything is compared to league averages and converted to runs.

Fangraphs also has a WAR value, but last I checked their defensive component for catchers only factors in stolen bases.

What neither site seems to explicitily state is how much catcher reputation is factored in, which would seem easy enough to approximate by just looking at the number of stolen base attempts against that catcher. There are of course other factors, like the pitcher on the mound, how good his move, how quick his delivery is or whether he's a right or a lefty. Without looking at the formulas, that may be factored in, but I don't know for certain. I was just curious myself and if you start at this comment in the Max Ramirez thread, you can follow my math, but here's what I came up with for some of the NL catchers from last year.

2010
Soto -.221% 95 Stolen Base Attempts in 97 games started (.979 attempts per game)
McCann - .300 120 SBA in 129 GS (.93 A/G)
Molina - .485 68 SBA in 130 GS (.523 A/G)
Pudge - .344 64 SBA in 102 GS (.627 A/G)
Martin - .386 70 SBA in 79 GS (.787 A/G)
Hill - .178 45 SBA in 60 GS (.75 A/G)

2009
Soto - .28% 82 SBA in 92 GS (.891 A/G)
Hill - .40% 50 SBA in 69 GS (.724 A/G)

Stolen Base Attempts against McCann and. Soto

McCann
2005: .551 A/G (half a season)
2006: .771
2007: .685
2008: .90
2009: .806
2010: .93

Soto
2008: .718
2009: .891
2010: .979

Total NL League Stolen Base Attempts
2005: 1909
2006: 2126
2007: 2070
2008: 2029
2009: 2020
2010: 2043

I can't reach any definitive conclusions with such narrow research, but we can see that teams are running on Soto more and more and McCann, a similar catcher better known for his bat than throwing ability, has seen a similar pattern despite the league numbers not really changing much over that time period. It's all a roundabout way of saying it's not too big a surprise why the Cubs would value a back-up catcher that can throw guys out and is better defensively than Soto. Whether Koyie Hill is that guy anymore is the better question.

Comments

catcher WAR...if you hit 20hr and/or have a good ob% it doesn't matter how crappy your D is. high 5's for victor martinez. you can call it a flaw or you can say catcher D, esp. holding runners, isn't that important as long as you can hit. *shrug*

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I was thinking about this at the gym... is holding runners on all that important? If you're throwing out 25% of 1 attempted steal a game, that's 40 free outs on the season. If you throw out 40% of half an attempt per game, that's only 32 outs, so the crappy throwing catcher actually garners more outs for his pitching staff. Of course, those outs come at the expense of 89 extra bases, if my head math is right.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I don't understand this kind of analysis. It's 1-1 in the eighth against the Cardinals. Their catcher has your runners frightened and clinging to the bases. Meanwhile their runners take every possible liberty with Max Ramirez. But that's okay, because Ramirez won a game last Thursday with a home run? At a mininum, you would want Ramirez out of this particular game at this moment. But then you have to consider whether you really want a catcher you have to sub for defensively in close games. Subbing for the catcher is not like subbing for Soriano in left.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Do you think the Cubs won't be tied with the Cards in the eighth inning this year? It's one example, as you say, but sometimes it's referred to as "playoff baseball." You've picked the right team to root for. In terms of overall defense, holding runners, etc., the Cubs were ahead of their time. Even when other teams cared about this stuff, they didn't. I thought Maddux liked catchers with strong arms who did that part of his job for him. And would Maddux tell other pitchers not to hold runners?

[ ]

In reply to by Newport

See now, that's what I'm talkin about! ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░▐▌░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒░░░▐▌░ ░░░░▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒░░████ ░░░░▒██▒▒▒████▒▒▒████▒▒▒██▒░░░██░ ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░██░ ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒████░ ░██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█████████▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░██░░░██░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░██████░░░██████░░░░░░░░░░

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Crunch, thanks to Google Books I think I tracked down the source of your comment, a book Mazzone wrote in 1999 titled "Pitch Like a Pro." I can't cut and paste the online selections, but here is the link to the relevant page. What he says sounds reasonable to me. I wouldn't characterize his advice as not "worrying about runners," as you do. He is mostly talking about not throwing repeatedly to first. The slide step and the quick release, two techniques that he recommends, are occasioned by "worrying about runners." Since Maddux had a minimal kick--a natural slide-step--and a quick release, he practiced what Mazzone preached in terms of runner control, and should probably not be used as the poster boy for pitchers who don't worry about runners. Talk of the slide step and the rest of this reminds of a recent Cub pitcher whose brief and promising career was possibly destroyed by his inability to control runners--Rich Hill. Hill was 11-8 in 2007, his first full season, with 183 strikeouts and 63 walks; but he had trouble pitching out of innings where the opponent got a baserunner early, and so he started working with Larry Rothschild on a slide-step, which he sometimes showed us in games late in the season. Apparently Hill needed the big kick to be effective, and he didn't have a quick release. According to Mazzone, what was he supposed to do? Chronology is not cause and effect, but after the experiments in slide-stepping and whatever else they tried to teach him, he lost his control and never regained it. I suppose my conclusion would be that a righty pitcher can slide-step, like Maddux, but a lefty needs a good pickoff motion.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

"I thought Maddux liked catchers with strong arms who did that part of his job for him." No, he liked catchers who called the pitches he wanted to throw in the correct locations. And yes, Maddux probably tells other pitchers not to worry about the guy stealing 2nd - just to get the guy out. Hate to break the news to you, but the 2010 Cubs with Y Molina behind the plate and Soto at it, don't make the playoffs.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Well, that's sort of the point of the endeavor, to figure out how much your improved offset outweighs your poor defense... that's something people have been trying to figure out for 120 years. Hill and Soto and Castro were all bad at it last year. Let's hope that Soto our new backup catcher and Castro improve this year, and the staff as a whole takes it a little more seriously.

Adam Moore and Jeff Mathis must really suck if theybhave lower WAR's than Koyie Hill...and they are both listed as starters?

WISC and ROB G: Thanks for eliciting dialog about catchers WAR. Especially during these boring Cub days. Mauer and McCann are f'ing studs according to this.

Eric Burdon should have a better WAR than J. Mathis, as long as he doesn't spill the wine and it's not misty outside.

Gonna be curious how Chirinos performs this year, if he's given the opportunity. He's better defensively than Jaso, has a bit more pop than Jaso, has a bit more speed than Jaso, and has similarly strong discipline.

Raphael Soriano signs with Yankees as setup man, 3/$35, per Heyman tweet and Rotoworld... plus Yankees give up a 1st round draft choice to Rays. agrees to be paid in counterfit dollars

Cubs screw the fans again. If you wanted to buy tix to any of the Yankees games, forget it. the Cubs decided to only make those available in a 13 game package. You have to buy all 13 games to get any tix for the Yanks series. So let's see, if someone wanted two tix to a game, at say, 100 bucks each, that's 200 bucks. But instead it would cost at least 2600. They put the 13 game package on sale a month before the single game tix are available. And if you think it's just smart marketing, the scalpers will have bought up the 13 game packages long before the public gets any shot at buying those tix.

[ ]

In reply to by Newport

Yankees tix aren't going to be available from scalpers for $100. You must not go to games often. The last time they hosted the Yankees, not sure what year that was, 2003, maybe? We went to see the Cardinals the weekend before and paid $20 for parking at the Red Top lot. The next weekend vs the Yankees the Red Top lot was charging $50. Tickets were being scalped for over $1000. I know we were good then, and the Yankees had more star power, but scalpers always charge outrageous prices. I don't plan on going this year, I'm just pointing out that Ricketts and the Cubs continue to make buying tickets as inconvenient for fans as possible.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

I've been to at least 100 games in the last 5-6 years. I've sat in every area of the park, from obstructed view UD to suites. If you pay $50 to park you are either lazy, handicaped, or retarded. Just park anywhere west of Ashland(on Marshfield for example)and WALK. There are about a dozen seats available on stubhub right now for the Friday game for <$100. A few on Sunday too. Not the best seats, but not SRO. You can get seats on Saturday for just over $100. If you wait for the rest of the tickets to hit the market, like from new season ticket holders, prices will go down.

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In reply to by crunch

It's just a really good example of why you can't worry about small sample sizes. Based on 2010, Garza is going to be a world beater if you get him away from the Yankees and Red Sox. Based on 2009, he's a #4 starter if you get him away from the Yankees and Red Sox. The moral of the story is that you can't get too worked up about any 9 starts a pitcher makes in a given season.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

FWIW, this was a second hand account from my teacher friend at the time, not someone telling the story 8 years later. She had met him in a bar along with ARam. She was with some other female teacher co-workers and for some reason Alou liked her. But it means nothing now. I remember at the time I was a little pissed that a Cubs player was supposedly texting instead of concentrating on the game.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Baseball is a sport where texting from the clubhouse probably won't affect anything, and if it keeps him relaxed and sane during a 162-game season might even help. Don't we all love to hear stories about practical jokes in the locker room, hot shoes, etc? Baseball players are always dicking around in the dugout, and if he's not supposed to be on deck I can't imagine why sending a text message is that big of a deal.

WGN radio is going to make some live, podcast, and video available for those of us unable or unwilling to attend the Cubs Convention. Tickets are being discounted 50% right now on Craigslist. Here's the WGN radio coverage: Friday, WGN Sports Night with Brian Noonan and Judd Sirott, 7-9:30 p.m., live broadcast 7:00-7:30 p.m. Tom Ricketts, Jim Hendry and Mike Quade 7:30-8:00 p.m. Andrew Cashner, James Russell and Randy Wells 8:00-8:30 p.m. Len Kasper, Bob Brenly and Pat Hughes 8:30-9:00 p.m. Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson and DJ LeMahieu Saturday, Meet Cubs Baseball Management, 10-11 a.m. The combined number of years spent working in baseball between these four men would rival any team’s top baseball management group. They have the experience, work ethic and passion it takes…but do they have the right mix of players and luck on their side to get it done in 2011? General Manager Jim Hendry, Assistant General Manager Randy Bush and Manager Mike Quade are joined by Assistant to the GM and future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux as they discuss the current state of the Chicago Cubs and what fans can look forward to this year and beyond. Hosted by WGN Radio’s David Kaplan. (Video and audio of this session will be available at wgnradio.com after the convention) Saturday, On the Road with #10, 1-2 p.m. Anyone who has listened to Cubs games on WGN Radio over the past 15 years knows that Ron Santo and Pat Hughes had a very special relationship. They were more than just radio partners; they were a unique duo who could make you cry from laughter as often as they could paint a perfect picture of what was happening on the field. Fans won’t want to miss this incredible hour as Pat Hughes is joined by current and former members of the WGN Radio team, including Judd Sirott, Cory Provus and Andy Masur, as they share some of their favorite stories about life on the road with #10. (Video and audio of this session will be available at wgnradio.com after the convention) Saturday, Off the Field and Off the Cuff, 2:30-3:30 p.m. WGN Radio’s John Williams and Nick Digilio talk with current and former players to give you a peek inside the day-to-day life of a major league baseball player. What’s it like on the road? How often are they recognized? What crazy superstitions do they have? Get an insider’s look at what it’s like from a player’s perspective… off the field. Featuring Sean Marshall, John Grabow, Mike Bielecki, and Todd Walker. (Video and audio of this session will be available at wgnradio.com after the convention) Saturday, Sports Central with David Kaplan and Jim Memolo, 4-6:50 p.m., live broadcast 4:00-4:30 p.m. Keith Moreland, Lee Smith and Tim Stoddard 4:30-5:00 p.m. Koyie Hill and Sean Marshall 5:00-5:30 p.m. Oneri Fleita and Tim Wilken 5:30-6:00 p.m. Carlos Peña and Fernando Perez

Former Cub Clay Rapada released by Texas, any interest? Cubs need a bona fide LOOGY, and that's Rapada's gig. I thought AZ Phil really liked Rapada when he was in the minors.

[ ]

In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Fri, 01/14/2011 - 3:46pm. Former Cub Clay Rapada released by Texas, any interest? Cubs need a bona fide LOOGY, and that's Rapada's gig. I thought AZ Phil really liked Rapada when he was in the minors. =================================== JIM H: No question Clay Rapada is the prototypical LOOGY. You don't want to let him anywhere near RH hitters. I would be inclined to sign him to a minor league contract and give him an NRI to ST, even if he doesn't have a spot at Iowa. Scott Maine was always tougher on LH hitters than RH hitters in the minors, but he didn't show that in his limited MLB work with the Cubs in August-September. But Maine is certainly more of a lefty specialist than Grabow (for example). John Gaub was a really good LH relief prospect this time last year, but he went into the crapper at Iowa and spent the last half of the 2010 season at Fitch Park trying to hit the broad side of the clubhouse. The Cubs best lefty relief prospect right now is Jeffrey Beliveau. He has a NASTY breaking ball. He'll be eligible for the December 2011 Rule 5 Draft, so he's a virtual lock to get added to the Cubs 40-man roster by the 11-20-2011 deadline (if not sooner). RHP David Cales (a Chicago native) is another decent relief prospect who will likely get added to the 40 before the next Rule 5 Draft. The side-armin' Cales pitched well in the AFL and chould get an NRI to Spring Training. He's very tough on RH hitters--sort of a right-handed version of a LOOGY, so I guess he's kind of a "ROOGY."

CCO has a report on Cubs Convention Day 1. All the usual stuff, particularly the report on the WGN traditional radio broadcast. The broadcast was for the first time in quite awhile not hosted by David Kaplan who will be busy in the saturday festivities. this note caught my eye:
On a negative note, Carlos Silva appears to have put on weight this winter.
The Cubs modern day version of Rick Reuschel, Silva's pitching and his weight may be contrarian indicators. The more they complained about Reuschel's weight the better he pitched. Of course, if Silva goes into the bullpen, he needs to wear thick glasses and grow a Paul Reuschel moustache so we can tell which evil twin we've got on the staff. http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2011/01/2011cubscon1.php

WGN Radio's web is full of Convention pictures and currently has 4 audio links to the broadcasts from last night 1) Cubs Brass: Tom Ricketts, Jim Hendry, Mike Quade. 2) Young Arms of the Cubs: Andrew Cashner, David Wells, James Russell 3) Voices of the Cubs: Bob Brenley, Len Kasper, Pat Hughes 4) The Future: DJ LeMahieu, Jay Jackson, Chris Carpenter, Oneri Fleita http://www.wgnradio.com/sports/baseball/cubs/convention2011/

Sullivan articles from the convention http://bit.ly/hb1LFB http://bit.ly/f425KI Silva quotes:
"I'm not a kid. I'm not a rookie anymore. I know how everything works. But I showed this team what I can do last year. Everyone is saying they're looking for a fourth and fifth starter. I think that's ridiculous. "If I'm not going to be in the rotation (at the start of spring), I'm going to win my spot," he said. "I trust myself. I know what I can do. I'm feeling great and looking forward to this season."
Keith Moreland quotes:
"There's nobody who can replace Ron Santo," Moreland said. "He's irreplaceable. Yes, I'd love to warm the seat to sort of keep it in the (Cubs) family. It would be something. "I've spent a long time over the last 20 years getting myself in a position to maybe broadcast full time for a team. I've done the University of Texas for a long time and it's something I feel like I'm ready to do. I can't make those decisions. All I can be is Keith Moreland."

From Levine: The Cubs are also in the midst of trying to purchase property in the Wrigleyville area, where they can make money as landlords for retail business, or redevelop and rezone areas for new business ventures, possibly in the hotel industry. The Ricketts family recently gained control of one of the buildings and skyboxes on the Sheffield side of the ballpark near the right field foul pole. http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs Also says Cubs get $450K per Comcast broadcast. And now getting money for spanish radio boradcasts.

Was listening to Tim Wilkin on WGN Radio. He said something about the Cubs signing a Cuban player this offseason. I think he said his name was Rudy Silva - but I may not have got that right. Anyone hear anything?

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Probably OF Ruby Silva (or Rudy Silva, I've seen it both ways). Silva defected in November 2009, but was still a free-agent by the end of the 2010 MLB season. Silva played for the same Cuban team (Los Vaqueros de Habana) as OF Juan Carlos Linares, who defected at about the same time as Silva (November 2009) and signed with the Boston Red Sox last July. I saw Linares play in the AFL, but I wasn't aware that the Cubs had signed Silva. The Cubs did sign Cuban defector RHP Juan Yasser Serrano last year, and he made his U. S. pro debut this past June.

Thanks AZ Phil. I think he did put a B sound in there. But that was a foreign sound to my brain. Wilkin also spoke of Marwin Gonzalez. His US numbers don't pop out at you. But he had a strong VWL. Do you see him developing into anything?

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Submitted by QuietMan on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 12:08am. Thanks AZ Phil. I think he did put a B sound in there. But that was a foreign sound to my brain. Wilkin also spoke of Marwin Gonzalez. His US numbers don't pop out at you. But he had a strong VWL. Do you see him developing into anything? ========================================== Q-MAN: I think Marwin Gonzalez has the potential to be a decent MLB IF-OF super-sub. He's a switch-hitter with gap power, and he has the versatility to play just about anywhere, having already seen time at all four infield positions as well as LF and CF. He reminds me of Geoff Blum. I saw him a lot at Fitch Park in 2006-08, and he is an OK defender no matter where he plays. He doesn't have a lot of range at SS-2B, but he can make all the routine plays. I would say 3B is his best position. He hasn't shown much HR power so far, but he has the type of frame where he could put on some muscle and maybe develop some HR power. Gonzo had hit just 249/293/337 in 386 career minor league games through the 2010 season, but then he had a break-out post-2010 winter league season, hitting 324/412/419 with 33/31 BB/K in 248 PA (59 games) in the Venezuelan Winter League (he was 3rd in the VWL in RBI, 4th in AVG, 5th in OBP, and 6th in doubles), and I thought because of his strong showing in the VWL (which is considered equivalent to AA) that he might get selected in the Rule 5 Draft, but he did not. Because of his age (he turns 22 in March) he probably will be back at AA Tennessee in 2011, but it is possible that he could win a job at Iowa with a strong Minor League Camp. He also has an outside shot at getting an NRI to Spring Training.

Good stuff in a comment on Mile's Blog from the Convention: http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080#comment-101787 Including info on Camp Colvin: "D. J. LeMahieu has put on 20 lbs, and I could see it: it looks like most of it is upper body. They were working with him this fall to turn on the ball more, so it will be interesting to see if the power turns on. Darwin Barney reportedly added 18 lbs.; he looks a bit more solid, but I would never have guessed as much as 18 lbs. Strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss runs the camp: his results are getting around, and Fleita said he's been bombarded with calls from players and agents asking to get in. There are 38 players in Fitch Park now."

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    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.