Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

42 players are at MLB Spring Training 

31 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 
11 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 

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

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith

OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1 
* David Peralta

OPTIONED:
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, RHP 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, RHP 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Thoughts on Cubs Offseason Moves

Some my own, some inspired by others...something to distract from the Jay Cutler bashing.

Matt Garza - I don't think anyone is particularly upset about the Cubs getting Garza, it's more a question of is he worth the 5 players they gave up. There seems to be the camp of why make this move now? Matt Garza doesn't make you a contender and he or someone similar will be available during the season. To that I say, the Cubs have to sell tickets in April. And also what's your definition of a contender? While the idea of needing a marketable product may be appalling to those that feel sports teams are owned by the city they live in, the Cubs would have been doing a bigger disservice to their fans with their only improvement being a .196 hitting first basement looking for a second chance.  Without the Garza trade, the Cubs are a mere afterthought when discussing the NL Central and I can't say that I'd make them the favorites now, but they deserve an invitation to the conversation at least. And that chance is what all fans are looking for come March and April, just a chance that the Cubs can contend and I think it's there now.

As for the prospects, fans like to value their teams' prospects much higher than the rest of the league does, so I try not to get too wrapped up in the original outcry. My overall feeling of the system is that while vastly improved of recent, there's not a lot of superstars in there(cross your fingers on Josh Vitters) and I don't think the Cubs traded any away. Diamond Futures had a take on the trade that I happen to agree with...to the selective excerpting:

Yes, maybe Chris Archer or Hak-Ju Lee was the best prospect in the Cubs' system. But given the current lack of elite talent in the respective systems that is exactly why now is the time to trade them. The reason that a team like the Rangers--with a much stronger group of top tier prospects--wasn't able to reach a deal with the Rays, can likely be found in the fact that when the Rays wanted the better prospects from Texas' system the Rangers found the price too high because they would be dealing better players. A similar ask by the Rays might have been Jurickson Profar, Engle Beltre, Robbie Erlin and Max Ramirez. So, instead of questioning Jim Hendry and Doug Melvin, Cubs’ and Brewers’ fans should be praising them for some brilliant acquisitions that should make baseball a lot more interesting around Lake Michigan this summer.

If you personally think Archer or Lee are nearly guaranteed to be All-Stars one day, you'll have a very different take on the trade. It also depends on how much you think Garza will improve getting out of the AL East. I think for three years of Matt Garza and presuming mid-3 ERA's and 200+ innings, the Cubs aren't going to miss any of those prospects. They may perform well for the Rays, but will they perform any better then the players the Cubs will be employing in their positions? My crystal ball never worked too well, but I don't see Chirinos being better then Soto or that much better than W. Castillo when considering the expected little playing time of a back-up catcher. I don't see Brandon Guyer or Sam Fuld doing much over say Reed Johnson or even Fernando Perez. Lee's probably my favorite prospect of the group, but the Cubs could draft a college shortstop with the #9 pick this year and he could be ready by the same time Lee would be to play in the majors. Archer's the real wildcard I guess and I certainly could see him being a real good pitcher in the majors by 2012, but I expect Garza to be a real good pitcher in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for the Cubs.

Carlos Pena - The Cubs didn't want to pay the sticker price on Adam Dunn and I certainly understand the hesitation. 4/$56M is a tough pitch to sell for a guy that no one but Adam Dunn thinks can play a capable first base. With money coming off the books next year and another year flush with first basemen on the open market, I think it was the wise move to go for the one year stop gap here. Whether Pena is the right choice (and apparently Berkman was the Cubs first choice) remains to be seen and this deal could go down in a blaze of failure not seen since Milton Bradley graced the Friendly Confines. That being said, there's things to like, Pena's skillset isn't all that different than Dunn's, both have power, patience and lots of strikeouts. Pena plays better defense, better "clubhouse" guy and cheaper, Dunn is considerably more consistent. Assuming unlimited budgets aren't a reality for the Cubs, it seemed to be the best choice out of the options available.

Kerry Wood - He signed for $1.5M, what's not to like?

Tom Gorzelanny - I would have preferred to keep him over say Carlos Silva if the Cubs just wanted to limit the decisions Mike Quade and Mark Riggins had to make about the rotation. But dealing Silva's weighty contract wouldn't have netted anything for the Cubs in terms of players and the haul they got for the Nationals, while not spectacular, certainly has some potential. Burgess immediately replaces Guyer in the system as the guy that can play all 3 outfield positions with some power. It's not meant to be a 1-to-1 comparison, but rather that they slide into the same  projected roles to the big league club down the line. Morris seems to have a good arm and a lot of work needed to make it useful, let's call him Ninja Jr. from here on out. Graham Hicks sounds like a stock character name for a BBC show, but can't have enough strikeout throwing lefties in your system. Presuming the Cubs had to make a trade to alleviate payroll issues, I think it was a decent haul for a non-descript starter that couldn't crack the Pirates bullet proof rotation just two seasons ago.

Gave Up Acquired

C. Archer

H. Lee

B. Guyer

R. Chirinos

S. Fuld

T. Gorzelanny

X. Nady

M. Garza

F. Perez

Z. Rosscup

C. Pena

K. Wood

M. Burgess

AJ Morris

G. Hicks

 

Other then Jeff Samardzija and Koyie Hill still being in the organization, I'd say the offseason was pleasantly surprising. Don't mistake that for some grand proclamation that this is the Cubs year, but I think Hendry did the best considering the mess he helped create. And if there's one thing Hendry has shown over his tenure, it's that he's better at quick fixing after a disaster then fine tuning his own masterpieces. He did it in 2003 coming off a dismal 2002 season and he did it again in 2007 after 2006. Here's hoping the pattern repeats in 2011.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

.510 with the Garza trade... if I had to predict today, I'd go Reds, Brewers, Cards, Cubs but I think they're all in the same 2nd tier of the NL. Ultimately it will come down to injuries and career years as it usually does. 1st Tier - Giants, Phillies 2nd Tier - Cardinals, Reds, Brewers, Cubs, Braves, Marlins, Padres, Dodgers, Rockies 3rd Tier - Nationals, Mets, Diamondbacks 4th Tier - Astros, Pirates (subject to change before Opening Day when I actually give it some thought)

i still dont get all the garza hate. yeah, if you want a guy like that and be able to pay him 6m in 2011 after his last few seasons...with 2 more years of club control after that...well, yeah. as a FA he'd probably command 12m+... brews got green-key, but they're also paying him 27m for the next 2 years...a decent deal, but not a hands-down bargain and he wasn't given away. you can at least count on garza to show up and pitch like dumpster...which is as close to a #1 guy as the cubs have.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Two factors to the Garza hate. He's a guy who's stuff is better than his actual production. 95% of Cubs fans are tired of filling the organization with those type of guys. The other problem is that deal was made to sell tickets. No one thinks the Cubs are going to win in 2011 with Garza. If two of the four prospects the Cubs traded Garza for work out in the majors like they're expected to, the Cubs are going to have to replace those players with FA players (or more Matt Garzas). Essentially they announced to the world "We have no plan, other than to try and stay on the 85 win treadmill".

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

well Red Sox are smart, Yankees have done it all the time though, or at least they use to. Check out the Diamond Futures link in the article for some examples. It all comes down to what the Cubs value their prospects. They seemed to be very high on Archer, but I'm sure they're very high on Garza and felt that was a wash. The rest all seemed movable to them from the beginning of the offseason. And yes, I agree, they have no plan, they never have. It's all very reactionary GM'ing by Hendry.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I pretty much said all that in an earlier comment, I get the trade and I'm even in favor of it. But if you haven't noticed the pattern over the last 9 years of Hendry overreacting each offseason with short term fixes rather than a long term plan on how to build a winner, I recommend actually reading some of the posts around here rather then just commenting on whichever awesome line some fringe prospect put up that day.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'm hoping that the moves Hendry has made are part of a more-than-one year plan. Adding Garza strengthens the rotation for the next three years, not just one. Also, signing Pena for one year rather than going "all in" on Dunn leads me to believe that Hendry plans on spending some big money on a first baseman in 2012. It seems to me that Hendry has built a Cubs team for 2011 that will be competitive, but probably not playoff worthy, with an eye toward making some big moves in 2012. At least that's what I hope is happening.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

SIGNED FOR 2012: + has NO TRADE rights + Alfonso Soriano - $18M + Carlos Zambrano - $18M + Ryan Dempster - $15.5M player option (includes $1.5M in deferred salary) + Aramis Ramirez - $16M mutual option or $2M club buy-out Carlos Silva - $12M or $2M club buy-out option Marlon Byrd - $6.5M Sean Marshall - $3.1M + Jeff Samardzija - $3M club option Carlos Pena - $5M deferred from 2011 salary TOTAL - $87.1M for nine players (including $5M deferred salary FA Carlos Pena), and I am presuming at this time that the Cubs will exercise 2012 club option to retain Ramirez, Dempster exercises player option to remain with Cubs in 2012, Cubs decline Silva 2012 option and pay $2M buy-out, and Cubs decline to exercise 2012 club option on Samardzija, making Samardzija an "auto renewal player" for 2012 unless he is outrighted post-2011 or is non-tendered on 12/2. PROJECTED ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY ARBITRATION POST-2011: Jeff Baker Kosuke Fukudome (see NOTE) Matt Garza Koyie Hill Carlos Marmol Geovany Soto Randy Wells NOTE: Kosuke Fukudome is technically eligible for salary arbitration post-2011, but he can demand Outright Release if he is not signed to a 2012 contract by 11-15-2011 TOTAL: Very hard to predict right now, but I would say it's very likely that Fukudome won't be back, and it's possible that Baker and/or K. Hill will get non-tendered. That leaves Garza, Marmol, Soto, and Wells (1st time eligible), and let's say for our purposes here that K. Hill and Baker are tendered, and each player eligible for salary arbitration has basically the same kind of year in 2011 that they had in 2012: Matt Garza - $8.5M Carlos Marmol - $7M Geovany Soto - $5M Randy Wells - $2.5M Jeff Baker - $1.5M Koyie Hill - #1M PROJECTED TOTAL: $25.5M So that means $112.6M for 14 players, with 11 slots to be filled by auto-renewal guys, so that's another $6.5M estimated for auto-renewal players on the 25-man roster and on optiional assignment to the minors, for a grand total of... $119.1M Not knowing what the Cubs 2012 payroll budget will be (it looks to be around $130M in 2011), Hendry might have only about $10M to spend on payroll additions (players acquired via free-agents or trade) However, if Randy Wells is traded or non-tendered and is replaced on the 25-man roster by an auto-renewal player, that would take the projected 2012 payroll down to $117.1M. And if the Cubs also decline their $16M 2012 club option on Ramirez (which is possible if he has another year like he did in 2011), pay him the $2M buy-out, and replace him with an auto-renewal guy, the 2012 payroll goes down to $103.6M (or $104.1M if Wells returns in 2012). So if all this comes to pass (but with Ramirez, Baker, K. Hill, and Wells back in 2012), here is the probable $119.1M Cubs 2012 Opening Day roster... PITCHERS: Chris Carpenter Andrew Cashner Casey Coleman Ryan Dempster Matt Garza Jay Jackson Scott Maine Carlos Marmol Sean Marshall Marcos Mateo Randy Wells Carlos Zambrano CATCHERS: Welington Castillo Koyie Hill INFIELDERS: Jeff Baker Darwin Barney Starlin Castro Blake DeWitt Aramis Ramirez Geovany Soto OUTFIELDERS: Marlon Byrd Tyler Colvin Brett Jackson Fernando Perez Alfonso Soriano Clearly 1B will need to be addressed by trade or FA, unless Colvin or Soto moves there, but then that creates a hole someplace else. And 3B will also need to be addressed (if in-house, probably with either Marquez Smith or Josh Vitters) if Ramirez does not return in 2012. If Brett Jackson does a Starlin Castro and forces his way into the lineup sometime in 2011, either Colvin could be moved to 1B, or Marlon Byrd could be traded (and if Byrd is traded, that saves $6.5M in payroll). The starting pitching staff could probably withstand the loss of Randy Wells, any one of a number of Cubs minor leaguers or minor league FAs could likely fill back-up roles if Baker and/or K. Hill are non-tendered, and there should be an abundance of in-house auto-renewal candidates for middle-relief jobs. The bottom-line is, even if Ramirez returns in 2012, the Cubs will probably have a hole in the lineup somewhere, and it looks like it will be at 1B and the #3 or #4 hole in the batting order.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I dont even know what that statement means Jacos. In his prime Sosa was a .275+ hitter. Sure he struck out but he took his walks crushed alot of HR's and knocked in alot of RBI. Carlos Pena is coming off his 3rd straight season of hitting .247 or below. And it seems the more he plays the worse he hits. Carlos Pena at his absolute best is a very poor version of Sammy Sosa. Sosa's crap year that made people hate him was a .253 BA 35 HR and 80 RBI. Carlos Pena is arriving with a .196 BA, 28 HR's and 84 RBI. And people are kinda cool with that. Were the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 hoping he has something left in the tank. Ya us i guess.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

Pena's trend is going down, and coupled with how inpatient Cubs fans have become the last few years, I think that could turn out to be a bad marriage. Just remember how frustrating it was to see DLee struggle last year. Pena hits more hr's than Lee but hits at least fifty points less. Hopefully Pena does get off to a good start, because if the team is going to be mediocre AND have constant booing, they're be no fun to watch at all.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Last year Pena struggled with injury. He had a bad year average-wise. He did manage to get a .325 OBP...bad, but not horrific. He has never been a high average hitter. If he manages even a return to the .227/.356/.537 of 2009, and hits 30 HR's while playing decent 1B for his salary....That wouldn't be a good year for what he's getting? I'm just not going to judge a player solely on batting average, or ignore Pena's 144 HR's over the last 4 season. He's been a solid power hitter, and for the most part, a decent 1B for the last 5 years. He'll strike out a lot...walk a good amount...and hit home runs. For 1 year? This was a nice pickup.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

According to Fangraphs rather dubious value calculation, if he repeats his 2009, the Cubs would be getting about what they pay for. Strikeouts weren't really his problem, last year, in comparison to his better years, it was his horrorific BABIP - part of that he causes by being slow and attempting to hit through a shifted defense. Hopefully with cheap HR's at Wrigley to be had in left center, Jaramillo will get through to him.

[ ]

In reply to by Stevens

I remember reading articles about Pena back after he had his breakout year with the raise that framed the narrative as his career pretty much as follows: Player who had great promise but whose game was seen as having significant drawbacks. Coaches tried to teach him how to remove those drawbacks, and it screwed up the things he was doing well. Bounced around organizations. Found success when he got back to his own game, not what coaches told him. If Pena sees himself that way too, I wouldn't count on Jaramillo making a big difference, unless he manages to find something to say to Pena that Pena likes too.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

No need to be confrontational. You're familiar with park factors, TRN? They can be developed not just for runs scored, but for home runs, singles, etc. That's the link in my previous comment. Further, they can be developed for splits on those stats. So you can see which parks have a higher park factor for RH or LH home runs. Which will tell you which parks are more favorable (and therefore offer more cheap HR) to left- or right-hand hitters. I have seen a report, and I cannot find it now, that showed Wrigley's park factor for righty HR is high, but its park factor for lefty HR is low. So, it's easier to hit HR for righties than for lefties in Wrigley. Therefore, more "cheap" HR for righties.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I couldn't agree more...Red Sox makes deals to win championships, Cubs make deals to give the appearance of contending. I personally believe the Cubs had a higher chance of winning a championship during the next decade before the Garza trade than after. And I don't believe that adding Garza makes our chance of winning next year or 2012 more than the neglible level it was already.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Is it an announcement if everyone already knows? kidding aside, my guess at the motivations to the trade, besides the obvious we have to answer the Greinke trade, is the Cubs felt they could absorb the loss of all those prospects for a little immediate help. Archer::Garza Chirinos::Castillo, Soto Lee::Castro, Flaherty, LeMaheiu, etc Guyer::Burgess, so on Fuld::Perez now of course they gave up the better prospect (at the moment) in the cases of Lee, Chirinos and Guyer but I have a feeling the Cubs like some of these other guys as much or nearly as much.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

i dunno how garza is some disposable "that type of guy" when he...by the numbers...out produces what we even have. it's not like he's 30+, either. he's pitched in the AL East, has postseason experience, seems like a lock for 200ip, and turns in sub-1.30 whip while doing it. i guess if you're not a dumpster fan you're not gonna like garza...not like they're super-comparable, but it's as close as we have on this team and he can hold his own.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I don't think the Garza trade was made to sell tickets. Does anyone really think Ricketts or someone in the front office approached Hendry and told him to make a deal to help sell tickets? No. I think Hendry is an optometrist, probably as all GM's need to be, and also didn't want to completely waive the white flag for an entire year. Are they likely to contend? No. Are they more likely to contend with Garza on the team? Of course. And, as I said when the deal was made, while I don't really think the Cubs are going to contend in the next couple of seasons, I think Hendry took a look at the larger landscape of available and possibly available starting pitchers over the next couple of seasons (after Lee had signed and Greinke was traded) and realized Garza was not only the best guy that will likely be available in 2011/2012, but that Hendry also had the means, both in talent and dollars, to make a deal for him. As much as I complain about Hendry, I'd much rather have an aggressive GM that is trying to win, even if I disagree with his method of roster construction, than have another GM who sits on his hands and builds perennial 75 win teams.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

I don't think the Garza trade was made to sell tickets. Does anyone really think Ricketts or someone in the front office approached Hendry and told him to make a deal to help sell tickets? No. not so blatantly... I think Hendry could see the landscape after the Greinke trade and even losing Berkman to the Cards that he needed to make a move to contend and I'm sure there's a prevalent theme of please keep us relevant from the owners. I'll put it like this, I don't think he includes Archer if the Brewers don't get Greinke. my take on it...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think there's a very real possibility that a conversation close to that happened. "Jim, we've seen the Brewers make some pretty good deals, any chance we could do something like that?" And the end of the day - it's a 2 win trade, and it cost us $3 million in payroll. I just think those four prospects, $3 millon, and Gorz, are worth more than 2 wins and the prospects we got back. There's really no justification for this trade, outside of selling tickets. I am not sure who's going to be available over the next two years, but I'll tell you one guy who won't be... Chris Archer.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Archer's upside is, at least, as high as that of Garza. Archer also may never reach the majors. When you are not in contention, you are interested in future upside. When you are close to winning the championship, Garza's current production is more important. Guyer was our best hitter in the minors last year at an age appropriate level. Lee was our best middle infield prospect and a potential leadoff hitter better than anything we have. Chirinos was a catching prospect who hit well at AA. These are all valuable. If this were the offseason for the Cubs after 2003 or 2008, then this trade might make sense. After 2010...I'd rather have the potential Archer, Guyer, Lee and Chirinos than Garza.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

that's a 12.5% drop I believe, which would come to .48 ERA dip for Garza. If you take a 3 year averages, it was a 20% drop for Halladay. For Garza that would make a 3.05 ERA. Lilly dropped 11% on his ERA from one year to the next when joining the Cubs, 15% from his 3 year Toronto averages to his first year with Chicago and 18% from his previous 3 year Torono averages to first 3 years with Chicago. AL run scoring dropped off from 2009 to 2010 by .35 runs/per game(4.85 to 4.45) while NL went down just .10 runs/per game. I don't know if that's a trend or just an anomaly yet, Garza's numbers stayed the same from 2009 to 2010 and faced 3 of the top 6 offenses (although they're R/G went down as well). He'll getting something similar with Reds, Brewers and Cards, but Reds and Brewers didn't quite pace the field as much as Yanks and Red Sox did. He also gets Astros and Pirates instead of just the O's on the bottom feeders. The wind might blow out for everyone of his starts and he'll put up a 3.90 - 4 ERA, but I certainly can see him improving a half run and I'm sure that's what the Cubs are expecting.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Lilly and Hallady both went from bad defensive teams to good (ish in the case of the Cubs) defensive teams. Garza is moving in the opposite direction. It's not like I make up the numbers at three seperate websites to win hypothetical arguments. There's lots of things that are possible, but I think if you expect Garza to pitch a lot better than he did last year, you're going to be in for a surprise. In 2009 he dominated the Yankees and Red Sox, yet his ERA was essentially the same. It won't take the wind blowing out at every one of his starts for him to have a greater than 4 ERA. All it will take is him to do exactly what he did last year.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Is bad defense going by defensive efficiency or FIP? by FIP, Lilly and Halladay look worse then their ERA's just like Garza before the move. By defensive efficiency, I can see where you're going, although Lilly in 2006 had the 10th defense to the Cubs 6th defense that ended up the top defense in 2007. I don't think we know where the Cubs defense will be in 2011, (probably not the top). I also could easily see Garza's walk rates improving drastically just by not having a DH and seeing the pitcher, just like Lilly and Halladay, which in turn would improve his FIP dramatically.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

He's also moving from a park which was the best to pitch in last year, to one of the worst. It could happen, but if you crunch the numbers, a lot more than any of us are doing here, it doesn't seem like it should be expected to happen, and it's certaintly not a slam-dunk to happen. In Toronto Lilly wasn't a guy who constantly beat his FIP. In Garza we've got a guy who has got to both beat his FIP, and improve his FIP to improve. *and I meant bad defense by my recollection of defensive efficiency.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Technically Gorzellany pitched 124 innings last year and 141 the year before, but you're making a strawman argument. I said "pitcher who pitched just as well, if not as long." By ERA+, Gorzelanny pitched better. By xFIP, Gorz pitched better. I would guess by SiERA may like Garza's season a little better than Gorz's last year, but baseball prospectus has him worth less than one more win (and that's not a rate stat, that's a counting stat). Garza is going to have to deal with the Brewers, the Reds and the Cardinals this year, while pitching in Wrigley and in front of a not-very good defense. Don't expect Garza to drop a half run off his ERA.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Ah..so we're going to count minor league innings..my mistake. Mea Culpa. I'm sure Gorz's 6.66 ERA in 2008 and 5.55 ERA in 2009 were both due just to bad fielding and luck. I am also willing to wager, that if you polled MLB executives, players, managers, batboys, etc...most would say that Garza is a better pitcher. No, I'll take the guy who is less durable, and more likely to get shipped to AAA. because he pitched well in a stetch of games last year. I'll just ignore his career, and go by last season. Over Garza's career, he gives up fewer walks per 9 innings, strikes out more batters, gives up fewer hits/9 and his career ERA+ is 107 to Gorz's 93. But I'm wrong. Sure Oh...and Gorz made it 7 innings or more 4 times last year to Garza's 16...so he doesn't go deep into games either? Ok whatever.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

"I'm sure Gorz's 6.66 ERA in 2008 and 5.55 ERA in 2009 were both due just to bad fielding and luck." Well, the ERA in 2008 was probably mostly due to just coming back from a shoulder injury, and his FIP in 2009 (when he struck out a batter per inning, more than Garza, and also beat Garza in BB/K ratio) was pretty good. But keep living in 1986, if that makes you happy. "Oh...and Gorz made it 7 innings or more 4 times last year to Garza's 16...so he doesn't go deep into games either." Dude, which word was too big for you to understand in "a pitcher who pitched just as well, if not as long"? Seriously, I want know. The longest words only had six letters and in baseball discussion "pitched" and "pitcher" are used quite often. (By the way, the AL teams pitched two more complete games, per team on average last year than NL teams, but averaged four fewer shutouts. Your apply my baseball knowledge and logic test for this off-season will be to explain why that happened).

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Ok..I'll take a pitcher that can be counted on to pitch deep into games..to make 30 starts, and pitch 180-200 innings ever year. You can have the guy who struggles to stay in the majors, doesn't make a full season of starts, and puts up inflated ERA's most years. 2009?? Gorzelanny made 7 whole starts in MLB..I'm soo excited. Career #'s: Gorz: ERA+ 93, K/9 6.6, BB/9 4.1, WHIP 1.491, Hits/9 9.3 Garza: ERA+ 107, K/9 7.1, BB/9 2.8, WHIP 1.315, Hits/9 8.7 Garza also has pitched 170 more innings, and made 23 more starts in 1 less season. I liked Gorz as the 5th guy. But to say he's as good as Garza is hilarious.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

No, I never get punched, idiots tend to get a clue much quicker in real life than they do at TCR. Did you score very low on the reading comprehension of standardized testing? It's a rhetorical question. 9 times in this thread in this thread you've misquoted me, and then proceeded to argue with it. I've never said that Gorz has been as good as Garza for the length of their careers, or that he pitched as many innings as Garza did last year. All I said, was that last year when he pitched, he pitched as well as Garza. (Defining "pitching" as over the things which a pitcher has control.) If Gorzelanny was in the Rays rotation last year, he likely would have had a 3.70 ERA. What part of "shoulder injury" do you not understand, while we're at it?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Lol...Gorz wouldn't make the Rays rotation. I like discussing this with you TRN....but I usually try to take great pains to NOT INSULT YOU, OR ANYONE ELSE I discuss with. You, on the other hand, take every opportunity to do it. My point has been this:Who cares if Gorz pitched "as well" as Garza last year, but in fewer innings, fewer starts, and against weaker opponents?" Garza is a better pitcher, and is more reliable. So who gives a shit about losing tom Fucking Gorzelanny.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

I think it will be more obvious to you as the season plays out. The Cubs went from the fourth best team to the fourth best team - and weakened their farm system, and spent extra money to do it. In 2011, the difference between Gorzelanny and Garza doesn't push the Cubs into the playoffs. In 2012 to 2015, the difference between Garza and the guys we lost may keep us out of the playoffs. There's no real upside.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

You could lose $100 on that one, if anyone remembers. (Edit: maybe you didn't promise $50 each.) Everybody thinks that Cub prospects can't be starters in the majors unless they're top picks or phenoms like Vitters and Castro. What about Casey McGehee? He's no all star, but he's the Brewer 3B. Marquez Smith was better in the minors than McGehee: look at their last year (both at age 25) at Iowa. I could give you a decent-size list of Cub prospects who could be everyday players, though maybe not with the Cubs: Barney, Chirinos, Guyer, Smith,Tony Thomas, Flaherty, Ridling. Then you have guys the Cubs like for certain positions: Vitters, Jackson, LeMahieu, Castillo. Burgess I've gotten more sceptical about. Campana I'm not sure, but he's a type of player the plodding Cubs could use. He's better than Sam Fuld.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Chirinos may be an MLB starter by June of this year. Teams don't covet backup catchers, and the Rays certainly coveted Chirinos. The more I look at Guyer's progress since he joined the Cubs organization, the more I like what I see. Take a look at those AA numbers again, they're really sick and it's not like they came from the Texas league. Yes both guys were older than you like a top prospect to be for their leagues, but they didn't dominate the SL by spending three years there and learning all the pitchers. I think that's a truism that the Rays may be on to that other organizations are a little slow to catch up to. Lee I would agree has too many holes in his game (aka his swing) to earn a MLB job by next year, but he's got no one in front of him either.

I agree with most of your sentiments, except I don't particularly mind Hill or Samardzija. I still have a tiny bit of hope for Jeff. You never know when the light bulb is going to go on. I have a little more hope for Burgess than TRN does, since I'm sure there are pretty good players who struck out a ton in the minors. The one who came immediately to mind was Derrek Lee, who struck out 170 times in AA at the age of 20. Neither of the two Ryan H.'s, Howard or Harvey, ever struck out that often (in the minors). Granted, Lee hit 34 dingers that year, which Burgess hasn't done. But when Burgess K'd 162 times at age 19, he did hit 24 HRs. Last season his K's were a manageable 116 but his power fell off a bit. We shall see. I don't like anything about Perez except his speed, including his poems, videos and essays. He's no Brandon Guyer, and I hope he loses his job, if there is one, to Campana, who can match his speed and is three years younger, and who, by the way, has earned a shot. But that's a minor issue. My big disappointment in an otherwise intriguing offseason is if I have to see Fukudome in Cubby blue again. This guy really has to be untradeable to still be around.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I don't mind Samardzija, but I don't mind Jeff Blauser either. Both are water under the bridge. At this point, it's not reasonable to expect Burgess to make the majors. Maybe he'll "figure it out" or get a new batting coach or whatever, but he's not in Derrek Lee's class as a prospect, and never was. If he hits 34 HR's in the Southern League like Lee did (two years younger), and puts up a 900+ OPS, then we'll talk.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

On further review, I think I'm going to concede this one to you. It wasn't easy to find other examples besides Derrek Lee of good hitters who struck out a lot in the minors. Ryan Howard should probably not be used as a model; and Chris Young, with all his strikeouts, has to hit HRs AND steal bases--which Burgess doesn't do--to keep his job. Burgess looks like a real longshot.

Good summary. I agree with most of what was written. However, you forgot to account for the -8 VORM the Cubs put up between 4/5 and 8/22. If everything goes right, this is a 90-win team. Everything never goes right, especially for this franchise; I'll place my bet around 80-85 wins in an improved NL Central.

82 to 85 win range sounds about right. Team is setup for 2012 anyway, if they're just interesting-enough to watch in 2011 and play reasonably competitive ball, then I'm satisfied I guess. The Cubs team to watch in 2011 isn't in Chicago anyway, it's in Tennessee, that's where nearly all the top prospects will be. I disagree a bit with Rob on the quality of the Cubs system, I think it's certainly top 10 in the bigs even after the Garza trade. Name me more than a half-dozen teams that have a more interesting top 10 than this: B. Jackson, McNutt, Vitters, Carpenter, LeMahieu, J. Jackson, Sczcur, Castillo, Golden, Simpson. That's pretty damn good, and Simpson rates just a 10 right now only because we haven't seen him pitch pro ball yet due to his mono. If he lives up to his gaudy college numbers, he'll shoot up to where Archer was rather quickly.

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In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

Guess it depends on your opinion of B. Jackson, but I only see vitters with the potential to be a regular all-star in that group. The rest could be good, but I don't see greatness there. That's not to say the system is poor, but the cubs stars are past their prime at this point and they need replacements quick. But if you include Castro and cashner, things are a lot rosier.

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In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

OMG, I have to say I side more with TRN on this Garza trade. More from the direction that I don't understand how it gets the team deep into the 2011 Playoffs. It's hard not to see it as a ticket selling move. I have no problem trading any of these guys if this is the move that puts them over the top. Garza is a good pitcher who's immediately a Top 3 pitcher on this staff. But where is this team going to be around October 10th -- watching the playoffs, right? I think the problem I have (and maybe others here) is that Hendry has a plan which, of course, he doesn't.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

3 years of Club control makes it understandable. Especially as we start to phase out of the Silva, Dempster, Zambrano contracts over those 3 years. Chances are we have a good NL 2/3 starter for 3 years and 2 first rounders when he leaves. Last year at this time, not one guy we dealt was in our top 10 Prospect lists. Honestly not one guy in the deal was in most top 15 lists.

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In reply to by Rob Richardson

List of Starting Pitchers who could be free agents after 2011 season: (thanks, MLBTR http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/2012-mlb-free-agents.html) There's nobody even remotely close to a Garza-quality SP on the list who realistically becomes a free agent. Mark Buehrle (33) Chris Carpenter (37) - $15MM club option with a $1MM buyout Bruce Chen (35) Aaron Cook (33) - $11MM mutual option with a $500K buyout Kyle Davies (28) Ryan Dempster (35) - $14MM player option Zach Duke (29) - mutual option Jeff Francis (30) Jon Garland (32) - vesting option Aaron Harang (34) - mutual option Rich Harden (30) Livan Hernandez (37) Edwin Jackson (28) Kenshin Kawakami (37) Scott Kazmir (28) - $13.5MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout Hiroki Kuroda (37) Paul Maholm (30) - $9.75MM club option with a $750K buyout Jason Marquis (33) Sergio Mitre (31) Scott Olsen (28) - $4MM club option Roy Oswalt (34) - $16MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout Vicente Padilla (34) Brad Penny (34) Oliver Perez (30) Joel Pineiro (33) Nate Robertson (34) Wandy Rodriguez (33) C.C. Sabathia (31) - may opt out of remaining four years, $92MM Carlos Silva (33) - $12MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout Javier Vazquez (35) Adam Wainwright (30) - $10MM vesting option for '12, $12MM for '13 Tim Wakefield (45) Chien-Ming Wang (32) Brandon Webb (33) C.J. Wilson (31) Chris Young (33)

Everything for 2012 depends on Jackson, Vitters and LeMahieu. If they have great 2011 seasons in AA, the Cubs could use them to replace Ramirez, Fukudome, and the 2nd base carousel. Hendry then goes all-in on Pujols or Fielder. I like, if the young players can get it done.

BTW, seen on Twitter while catching up on TCR posts--Cubs to sign Todd Wellemeyer to a major league deal, though NOT guaranteed. I'm guessing this means he gets Arizona in March to win a middle relief job or go somewhere else. Wellemeyer would be better than Justin Berg or Thomas Diamond in a middle relief role, I guess....

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

This game will always stand out in my memories of Cubs games over the years. May 15, 2003, and the Cubs had taken a 4-2 lead in the top of the 17th inning at Milwaukee but had run out of pitchers, so rookie Todd Wellemeyer (just brought up from Iowa and making his major league debut) was pressed into service, and struck out the side 1-2-3 for the save. The Cubs ended up winning the N. L. Central, and that game seemed to give the Cubs the spark, lift, and confidence they needed to play championship baseball (at least up until the 8th inning of game #6 in the NLCS...).

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In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Tue, 01/25/2011 - 12:34pm. BTW, seen on Twitter while catching up on TCR posts--Cubs to sign Todd Wellemeyer to a major league deal, though NOT guaranteed. I'm guessing this means he gets Arizona in March to win a middle relief job or go somewhere else. Wellemeyer would be better than Justin Berg or Thomas Diamond in a middle relief role, I guess.... ============================================= JIM H: The Todd Wellemeyer contract is now being reported as a minor league deal in all of the MLB transactions lists.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove10/columns/story?columnist=stark_… 10/$30M per is what he's asking for from Cardinals...they claim he's serious about not negotiating past the opening of spring training. In the what if game, Cubs, Mets, Angels, Cardinals, Astros, Rangers, Mariners as the potential suitors, maybe Giants? I guess I wouldn't count out Yankees, don't ask me how. Red Sox I assume will be more than happy with Gonzalez. Dodgers will be in the middle of a sale at that point.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Unless he can hit .400, I don't see any first baseman being worth $30 million a year. I don't really see any player being worth $30 million a year until payrolls go up over $200 million outside of NYC. I'm aware this is only my opinion and not the opinion of major league GMs in a game where Ryan Howard makes the kind of money that Ryan Howard makes right now.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

"Would you rather have 8 guys worth $10 million each and 5 bench guys worth $10 million, or 8 every day players worth $15 each and five minimum salary guys." Reminds me of an article I can't find (I think from Baseball Prospectus) from many years ago that asked the question if "Stars & Scrubs" teams did better than all-around teams. The author's contention was that each path was valid and successful teams came out of both ideas about the same, but the Stars & Scrubs would be faster to put together.

This one is for Stevens, #149. I just wanted to get it out of the right-hand border. Since for one reason or another--none of them good--the Cubs have not had a pull-hitting lefty slugger (before Colvin) for many years, but have instead had opposite-field types (or an occasional straightaway type) like Choi, Hollandsworth, Burnitz, Jones, Edmonds, Fukudome, and Bradley in some combination at Wrigley field for every game--wouldn't that skew the park home-run statistics? In that case, you're not really talking about the park, you're talking about the GM.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!  

    And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).