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

Cubs Jump On Bears Bandwagon, Sign Another Wide Receiver

According to an NFL draft analyst Tony Paulino and confirmed by Jim Callis of Baseball America, the Cubs have signed Matt Szczur. The deal is reportedly for $1.5M (triple their original offer) and he will not participate in the NFL draft of course.

As long as a 40-man roster spot and a no-trade clause don't come with it, sounds like a wise deal.

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Comments

Very interesting. An incredible athlete. I know "character" does not win Pennants sans talent, but it seems that Matt is a winner and will succeed in life. Reading about him being a bone marrow donor to someone not a family member, just to help save a life is pretty compelling. Hope he works out better than the Wideout.

Hopefully Hendry learned his lesson about the roster slot and NTC for guys in A ball... but in this case, the guy can actually play some, it's not all about projection. It could be really interesting with him getting 600 PA's this year.

I would be surprised if Matt Szczur gets a "no trade" but I would not be surprised if he gets a major league conmtract and a spot on the 40-man roster. BTW, if Szczur were to sign a major league contract and is added to the 40, he would get four minor league option years.

"Carlos Marmol requested $5.65 million and was offered $4.1 million from the Cubs when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday." 5.65m? hell, i hope hendry does go to arbitration with this one. it seems like an easy win. 2yr - 12-13m settlement works, too...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 01/19/2011 - 12:56pm. believe he played QB, all 3 WR positions, RB and kick returner and I know AZ Phil referred to him as a WR. A few of the draft previews I've seen say he's a WR as well and WR makes the best joke though because of Samardzija. =================================== ROB G: Matt Szczur was a jack-of-all-trades at Villanova, primarily a wide receiver & punt returner, but he also played a lot of Wildcat-QB. That's how he was able to rack-up rushing yards and the occasional TD pass along with catching passes and returning punts (the proverbial "All Purpose Yards"). He also dry cleaned the team uniforms, painted the logo in the end zone, and popped the kettle corn.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110117&content_id=16448410&vk… Vitters #7
7. Josh Vitters, Cubs: Chicago pushed Vitters up to Double-A when it had a hole to fill, and while he didn't put up good numbers at all, the organization was pleased with how he prepared and dealt with the adversity. He still has the great swing, bat speed and raw power that made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 Draft. He hasn't been so great at making adjustments and doesn't draw walks at all. He's not great defensively, but has a good arm and should be able to stay at the hot corner. The 2011 season could be a big one for Vitters.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Couldn't agree more, it's make-or-break year for Vitters. If he doesn't make GENUINE progress this year, he's a busted prospect, plain and simple. We need to see a minimum 850 OPS in AA and improved defense, or the big league Cubs will need to make other 3B plans with Aramis expected to leave next year. I'm guessing if Vitters does bust, the Cubs quickly move LeMahieu over to 3B as Plan B. I suppose Marquez Smith or a holdover (Baker, DeWitt) is Plan C--ugh.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Josh Vitters is only 21 years old. As I've mentioned before, if Vitters had gone to college instead of signing with the Cubs in 2007, he would have finished his junior year at Arizona State last Spring and would have been eligible for selection in the 2010 Rule 4 draft, the first time he would have been eligible for selection in the June draft since HS If he had been drafted and then signed (let's say by the Cubs), he would have probably been initially assigned to Boise, and might have gotten an August promotion to Peoria. He probably would have been looking at playing at Daytona in 2011. Vtiters has been pushed very fast through the Cubs system, getting promoted at the first sign of success at a given level. This is NOT a "make or break year" for Vitters, although he is getting to the point where if he has a very good year at AA in 2011 it might influence the Cubs to give him a September call-up, since he has to be added to the 40-man roster post-2011 anyway (otherwise he will be eligible for selection in the December 2011 Rule 5 Draft).

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In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil, we are interested in prospects that can become major league impact players, or at least, can outperform the league average at their position once they hit the show. Even for HS draftees, if they eventually become ML outperformers, then they almost always (a) advance quickly through a system, and (b) look awesome while doing it. Look at the Youngs, Uptons, Drew, etc.. crowd. Yes, I think it's fair to compare Vitters to them, because Josh was a #3 overall pick. He's not close to the majors, and he has yet to post a single "Wow" minor league season. Those other guys did. I don't dispute for a moment your opinion that Vitters is still young, so he can still develop into a player that can make the major leagues. Sure. But why should we be excited about someone with a Vance Law, Steve Buechele-like production level? Because that is what the indicators suggest based on Vitters production as a pro ballplayer, not the Longoria, Wright, Ramirez type of production we are/were hoping for. Not ragging on the kid at all, I'm rooting for him bigtime, but I'm just being realistic given what he's shown since being drafted. I hope 2011 changes perceptions for him and the big league team, I really do.

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In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

The Cubs have been very aggressive with Vitters, and it is the reason you haven't seen a "Wow" year from him (along with some injuries). As a 18 year old at Boise, he had a very nice 61 game stint, hitting .328/.365/.498. He then struggled upon getting promoted to Peoria. The next year, at 19, he started at Peoria again and absolutely raked for 70 games, hitting .316/.351/.535. The Cubs, once again, promoted him midseason and he struggled at Daytona. He started last year at Daytona again and has been the pattern, he hit well in 28 games, going .291/.350/.445 (FSL is even one of the toughest hitters leagues in the minors). So, naturally, the Cubs promoted Vitters instead of letting him have a full year at one level, and, naturally, Vitters struggled mightily in his 63 game stint at AA last year. Although it should be noted that he was killing the ball in his last 10 games before breaking his finger getting hit by a pitch. I fully expect Vitters to come out and hit reasonably well at AA next year, assuming he is healthy. And finally, I believe the Cubs would give him a full year at one level that he is comfortable at. He made decent strides with his walk rates last year to where they were up to 7.7% in the AFL. I think 2011 puts Vitters back on the prospect map. Of course, I might just be optimistic.

I do not know if you folks saw this, but MLBTR has an "Arbitration Tracker" up that allows you to see settlement amounts and figures exchanged. I somewhat shy away from this site, but this is pretty nifty if they did the programming: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/arbtracker2011

OT, but I am thinking of plunking down for one almanac, or "digest" this year that will cover MLB, MiLB, a little prospect action, a little of this and that. IS the BA Almanac the way to go still, here? Its up to $27 in the "spiral" edition. Any other suggestions, boys?

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In reply to by The E-Man

I'm always stumped who these athletic guys who can't play baseball are. Are they still talking about Pie and Patterson? Wilken didn't draft those guys, and I will swear that Felix Pie does not swing the bat like a guy Wilken would draft. Look at Pie's swing compared to Colvin's or Vitters'. Brett Jackson looks good but can't play baseball? Has LeMahieu disappointed? Guyer was an athletic guy, and it turned out he could play baseball. When Barney puts on a glove and goes to short or second, he looks like he belongs there, and his swing is not half bad, either. What's the problem? Not to call anybody out, but MikeC and Aaron B. should specify who they're talking about. It's true that Wilken doesn't draft defensively challenged power hitters who have a one-in-fifty chance of turning into Adam Dunn or Prince Fielder. But the guys he does draft can play, including offensively.

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In reply to by MikeC

Many people think that Castro will be an all star. I suppose fewer people believe the same about Colvin, and I'm not going to convince the sceptics on this blog; but I would argue that a player who can play three outfield positions, who according to his manager was the fastest man on the team, and who hit 20 homers in his rookie season has all-star potential. Those 20 homers were in spite of his hitting a wall on about 8/1, when he already had 16 HRs. Colvin hit 1 HR in September. Scouts seem to be very high on B. Jackson. And the Cubs just traded two of their three or four brightest prospects, so that's a couple more players who are athletic and toolsy and can also perform at a high level.

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In reply to by navigator

Submitted by navigator on Wed, 01/19/2011 - 2:07pm. Considering his age(29), problematical minor league and independent league record, and the fact that he didn't play full time last year (only 176 AB's), HOW does this guy show up on any team's radar...much less the Cubs? It's a mystery. ===================================== NAVI: The Cubs usually bring one or two indy guys to Minor League Camp each year as injury insurance depth and to provide some additional competition, but they almost always get released prior to Opening Day. Why they chose this particular player (Urick) is unknown, but he probably has some prior connection to or relationship with somebody in either the Cubs scouting or player development department.

Twitter-"PWSullivan All those Milton Bradley defenders from various Cubs blogs conspicuously silent today. Rat got your tongues? " Rat? What a dick.

to Cardinals on a minor league deal Brian Fuentes 2/$10.5M to the A's

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In reply to by The E-Man

Dodgers always do well attendance wise, team should be decent this year so doubt that will be an issue. If they declare bankruptcy they would just be forced to sell which is where they're headed to anyway once all the appeals get sorted out. Frank is desperately trying to maintain control of his finance cash cow after losing round 1. I don't think anyone cares for the McCourts out here and there was talk of the O'Malley's buying them back which the die-hards would love.

Once it became clear that Gorz was ticketed out of town for budget relief, I was hopeful that the Cubs would target a good AA 1B prospect who (1) was blocked by a Teixeira-esque star at the ML level, and (2) was advanced enough to provide a viable option to Carlos Pena in 2012. My reason for (1) was that the blocked prospect would hopefully be available in trade and would have a price tag somewhat equal to Gorz's. AZ Phil, if Pena continues his decline and is kicked to the curb after 2011, do the Cubs have any in-house candidates (aside from Colvin) who could step in to play 1B? Or is the plan to pay the hefty (no pun intended) FA price for Prince Fielder? Many thanks.

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In reply to by Seamhead

Pujols and Fielder at the moment... if not Pena, Berkman and Lee go back in the market next year as well and I'm sure some trade options will open up.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Also, if the Mets were to make a play on Prince or Pujols, Ike Davis could be made available. Same story with the Dodgers (Loney). Royals might make Billy Butler available if both Hosmer and Ka'aihue excel. IOW, there should be several external options for the Cubs in 2012 if they don't want Pena back.

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In reply to by Seamhead

Submitted by Seamhead on Wed, 01/19/2011 - 4:32pm. AZ Phil, if Pena continues his decline and is kicked to the curb after 2011, do the Cubs have any in-house candidates (aside from Colvin) who could step in to play 1B? ============================ SEAMHEAD: Probably nobody who is playing 1B right now, but the Cubs might move somebody there from another position, like Geovany Soto if his shoulder doesn't bounce back, or Colvin, or Ryan Flaherty if he has a good year at AA, or maybe Josh Vitters if he hits but struggles with his throws at 3B. Personally I think the Cubs will look outside the organization for a 1B post-2011, and they could very well spend whatever available cash they have this time next year on a stud FA 1B (like Fielder). I don't think the Cubs were particularly enamored with the 1B FA crop that was out there this off-season, plus Hendry did not have much cash to spend. The Cubs will probably have more money available to sign a high-profile FA post-2011 than they did post-2010.

Bruce Levine's chat from yesterday: http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chicago/chat/_/id/36596 Darwin Barney says, say it ain't so...(BL, one toke over the line?)
Hey Bruce, do the Cubs look to go after another second baseman with a trade or do they stick with DeWitt and Baker for the time being? Is there any talent in the minors that could possibly make the roster come Opening Day? Bruce Levine (1:03 PM): The only move I can see the Cubs making is signing a veteran who may have fallen through the free-agent process. Orlando Cabrera would be a nice addition.
hope not...
Any word on whos the favorite to replace the late great Ron Santo in the radio booth? Bruce Levine (1:47 PM): The Cubs were said to have done an interview over the weekend at the Cubs convention. Candidates are presumed to be Gary Matthews, Doug Glanville, Dave Otto and Keith Moreland. My gut is Otto is the favorite.

For the sake of disclosure. Matt Szczur sounds like a really great kid, along with a decent prospect. My only complaint is that we reached 2 rounds on Simpson in the top half of round 1 for signability. Then proceeded to go cheap the rest of the draft except for 3 guys. I'd have rather used the 1.5 to offer an extra 100-300k to 5-15 extra signability guys last summer. Without the football aspect lurking this kid wouldn't have gotten 500K.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Manny was back the other day, but he's hardly missed with our new broken record. College pitchers who throw 95 with command of three pitches don't last until pick number 65 in the draft. It's that simple. Here's a little snippet about Keith Law's top 100 players for the draft: "Similarly, the Citadel's Asher Wojciechowski was unranked back in Febrary, but sits at #28 in Law's latest list." So this kid went from the 3rd round+ to the first round (wound up 41st)...why? Because of scouting. The job of scouts is not to find guys and trumpet to all the baseball publications how great he is... it's to find guys and shut up about them. The guy who scouted Greg Maddux thought he should have been a first round pick, he staked his reputation on it. Instead the Cubs went with the consensus and took Drew Hall... That's who you are, the guy championing Drew Hall over Greg Maddux.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Apparently the Cubs had a legitimate reason to believe that if they didn't take Hayden Simpson with their 1st round pick that the Angels would take him with one of their extra picks before the Cubs had a chance to select again in the 2nd round. That said, my big problem with the Cubs gambling on a questionable "1st round talent" like Simpson in the 1st round was that a big-time proven D-1 college power bat like left-handed hitting 3B Zack Cox (U. of Arkansas) was still on the board. Of course the Cubs signed Simpson for just over a million, while Cox would have cost $2M and a major league contract (and thus a spot on the 40-man roster). But it's just too much like 2007 when the Cubs took Josh Vitters instead of a more-proven college hitter like Matt Wieters. You cannot gamble like that with a 1st round pick if you want to "build from within."

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In reply to by Hrubes20

Submitted by Hrubes20 on Thu, 01/20/2011 - 10:51am. I'm not sure I've heard Zack Cox and "proven D-1 college power bat" mentioned in the same sentence before. Most believe Cox will have average power, and some don't even think he'll get that. If he moves to 2B, his power would play better, but at 3B, he's not a good bet to be an impact player. Agree 100% on the Vitters/Wieters pick, though. I wanted Wieters something fierce. ============================= HRUBES: Zack Cox hit 22 HR in just 115 college games, and then he hit two HR in his last four AFL games, one of which was a 450-ft+ bomb at Peoria. From what I saw of him in the AFL, he will be an impact player. My main point about taking a proven D-1 bat in the 1st round (presuming one is available) is that a 1st round pick should not be an over-reach (Simpson) and should not be a long-term developmental project (Vitters). That doesn't mean I don't think Simpson or Vitters can make it to the big leagues and do well, just that a 1st round pick should be as much of a sure thing and as close to being MLB-ready as a 1st round pick can be. Then use picks in later rounds to reach for the less-proven high-ceiling prospect, even if it means paying an over-slot bonus to sign him.

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In reply to by Rob G.

It may be that he was worth $7 million a year ago, but then with two years left on his contract, you were asking another team to cough up $14 million. This year, while his averages (BA, OBP, SLG) stayed constant, his raw numbers went down as Colvin took his starts away: doubles dropped from 38 to 20, total bases from 210 to 157. When you have an overpaid starter and you stop playing him, his trade value drops with his numbers. It's a real bind. If Fukudome is coming off 38 doubles, maybe you can trade him. But then where would Colvin be? That's the cold logic, by the way, behind Quade saying that Soriano gets treated differently from DeWitt.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

You're not crazy. You are just doing rank speculation, and then acting as if your speculation was established fact. There is substantial reason to believe that Simpson would have not lasted until the next Cub pick, and that belief does NOT come only from Cub sources. Nor is there any reason to believe that the pick was for any other reason other than the one Wilkin gave - that he believed he was the best pick available. Wilkin has been consistantly goaded for the great "reach" for Colvin, and even after Colvin reached the majors and played rookie of the year calibre baseball, no one admitted to being wrong. They merely moved on the the next unprovable complaint. The system has improved greatly under Wilkin, just as it did in his job at his former team. There comes a time when the constant "If the Cubs did it, it must be wrong" whining to ease up a little.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

I'm not really slamming the guy. Obviously there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff we aren't privy to (budgets, push from marketing dept, etc.). That said the guy really seems to like to reach on athletes and fastballs. Case in point. Look at his 1st rounders: Colvin was considered a 3rd round talent by BA. Vitters was fairly highly regarded, but Weiters was the higher rated, more expensive obvious pick Cashner was OUR 17th rounder the previous season and a College SR. BJackson Was considered a slight reach at the end of round 1. Looks like a good pick thus far Simpson Was considered a 3rd-5th round talent by BA. Signed under slot, even though he was our highest draft pick since 2007. Not sure if the guy is a contrary guy who just want to prove everyone wrong or what?

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

What did Wilken's signing and drafting of amateur talent have to do with Maddux or Wood? I think the Cubs liked Samardzija and had no picks for 3 rounds and used that money to take a chance on a first round talent in the 5th round, which seems to be what you want them to do, except when it doesn't fit whatever you're trying to argue at the moment which I admit I'm lost on. the average Cubs fans couldn't tell you one Cubs minor league player, less who they drafted that year. I doubt Wilken or anyone else gives two shits how it goes over. I have Vitters, Colvin, B. Jackson and H. Simpson picks to back that up. You have a conspiracy theory.

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In reply to by Rob G.

It is what I want them to do. I want them to do it consistently. If the "Plan" is to build from within. Build from within. Don't go cheap on the draft. Don't pick an under slot bonus guy with the 13th pick. Spend to sign a guy like Cashner when you get him in the 29th round. Draft a power bat once in a while. All that said, I think Wilken has done a fine job as SD. I just wish we'd cast a little larger net.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

The Cubs 2nd round pick was a power bat. It's not football where you can trade picks, you take the guy you like the most, unless you're reasonably certain he's going to be there for your next pick. Signing bonus may or may not play into it. Following your argument, the Cubs would have been better suited to give Simpson a $3 million bonus, then the pick would have been legitimate... (from the same guy who is complainging about the Cubs giving more money than necessary to players). If the guy was your #1 guy on the board, and he wasn't going to be around for your next pick - what would you do? Pick the guy Baseball America says (Drew Hall) and pay him slot? The worst Wilkens pick he's made in the first round so far, was the #2 guy on Baseball America's big board when they picked - and he cost $7 million less than the #1 guy. The Orioles, had no 2 or 3rd round picks that year - so they had more money to blow on a first if they wanted. They've graduated 2 guys to the majors, and have one more guy from that draft in their top 20 prospects. The Cubs have graduated 2 guys to the majors, traded a third (college power bat!) that is in the majors with a different team and four more guys in their top 20 from that draft, and the Cubs still have a better system.

That's who you are, the guy championing Drew Hall over Greg Maddux. Man, that is so funny and so well put. And indeed the ones in organizations that pick winners over disasters have such a long-term effect. Look at the Cardinals, for example in our own Division. They seem to be in the "hunt" year after year.

Apparently Tim Wilken and Marti Wolever were talking and it led to the Cubs hiring one of the Phillies scouts, Tim Kissner, and making him the Cubs' west coast crosschecker. So now we have Big Tim and Tiny Tim. Tiny Tim offers insight into why he was hired, "we really believe in scouting tools as opposed to statistics." and the beat goes on...

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In reply to by DavidP

He's ours through 2014, but I have never thought that the Cubs would keep him that long. If you haven't traded him by winter 2012, just let him go. Having his salary drag the team down is one thing. Having his presence drag the team down--that can be put an end to. Recently Rob expressed surprise when Jim Callis put someone not named Soriano (Vitters, I think) in LF for the Cubs in 2014. But now Hendry has done the same thing in the reports of his dinner conversation with Szczur. (Hendry had Jackson in left.) Hendry said recently that he thought Soriano could still hit 30 HRs. It reminded me that last year I wrote that if Soriano could hit 30 HRs two years in a row, he might be worth $10 million to someone for 2012, and then the Cubs would just pay the $36 million for 2013-14. Nobody is going to pay Soriano for those two seasons. But a $10 million rebate is better than nothing. He didn't hit 30, he hit 24. He'll get enough at bats this year to hit 30, but then the curtain will start to come down, like it did for Fukudome last year. I would predict that Soriano will not be a starter in 2012 and will not be on the roster after that. Ricketts knew what contracts he was buying!

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

yes, I'd be surprised if they ate enough of his contract and got him to agree to a NTC, and no I don't think they'll just waive him. They wouldn't consider that unless he became a clubhouse nuisance and by all accounts he's well-liked (as long as he's playing). Is it possible that he'll be gone? Sure, but not realistic. what Hendry says in trying to recruit an amateur baseball player to get him to quit football has as much bearing on the actual future as our comments on this blog.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I agree with your last point to the extent that as soon as B. Jackson gets comfortable in center, he'll be hard to dislodge, in the same way that Castro was not going let H-J Lee push him over to second. The position goes to whichever young phenom gets there first. So Hendry was whispering sweet nothings in terms of which OF position Szczur would likely play. But I would say that Hendry was thinking out loud about a very attractive outfield configuration that will not be affected one way or another by Soriano's contract. I've heard that one before about Soriano being well liked. He may be a decent fellow, but he's not appreciated by Cub fans, and I imagine his teammates notice that he doesn't get off the elevator on the same floor they do, since he gets a penthouse suite in every hotel the team stays in. (That isn't included in the $136 million.) He doesn't do enough on the field to deserve that special treatment, and it must get pretty old by now.

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In reply to by Rob G.

After just seeing today that someone was moronic enough to pick up Vernon Well's Soriano-like awful contract, well, anything is possible a year or two from now Rob. If Soriano posts a 30-35 HR season, they might be able to pawn him off on someone. And that would be very kewl, yes....

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.