Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Marmol and Berg Make Pilgrimage to Fitch

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Carlos Marmol threw a nine-pitch 1-2-3 1st inning (K, F-9, P-5), Jose Valdez singled, tripled, stole two bases, scored two runs, and drove-in another, and D. J. Fitzgerald clubbed a two-run HR onto 8th Steeet, leading the Daytona Cubs to a 4-1 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels Advanced Class “A” affiliate) on Field #3, while Justin Berg allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in his one inning of work, as the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Angels Class “A” affiliate) drubbed the Peoria Chiefs 9-1 on Field #2, in Cactus League Minor League action at Fitch Park this afternoon. 

Marmol and Berg had their scheduled outings rained-out yesterday, which is why both threw in games at Minor League Camp today.

Cubs 2010 7th round draft pick RHP Ben Wells (Bryant HS – Bryant, AR) was the most impressive pitcher at Fitch Park today, following Berg to the mound on Field #2 and throwing three shutout innings for Peoria, allowing just an infield hit, a bunt single, and a walk, while striking out two, and doing it all on just 29 pitches.

Conversely, RHP Tarlandus Mitchell had a very poor outing for Peoria, getting just one out while allowing a single and walking the bases loaded before getting pulled from the game. Although he throws in the mid-90's, the 5'8 Mitchell has struggled with his control since signing with the Cubs and has yet to pitch in a full-season league.

Pitching for Daytona on Field #2, RHP Justin Bristow (2008 5th round draft pick out of East Carolina) saw his first game action since 2009 (he missed all of last season with an elbow injury), loading the bases on a double and two walks before being relieved without retiring a batter.

Cuban defector Rubi Silva played CF for Peoria today and drew two walks. He also grounded out twice. The 21-year old lefty hitting Silva played for the Cuban Junior National Team prior to defecting, and he is very fast and a Gold Glove caliber CF with a plus-arm. He received a reported $1M bonus when he signed with the Cubs in December.

After a work-out on Field #4, several players from the Extended Spring Training squad (3B Wilson Contreras, OF Reggie Golden, SS Marco Hernandez, and C Brian Inoa) got some late game action with Peoria or Daytona, and two others (OF Xavier Batista and INF Gioskar Amaya) traveled with the Tennessee and Iowa squads to the AA and AAA road games at Tempe Diablo Park. Catcher Hector Suarez, INF Vismeldy Bieneme, and outfielders Dong-Yub Kim, Blair Springfield, and Oliver Zapata were on the bench at Fitch Park but did not play. (Position players from Extended Spring Training are used as late-inning replacements in the minor league games).

Catcher Yaniel Cabeza (another defector from the Cuban Junior National team who signed with the Cubs in December), 1B Richard Jones, 2B Pin-Chieh Chen, ex-Villanova football star Matt Szczur, and OF Kyung-Min Na are assigned to the Peoria squad but did not play today, and catcher Chad Noble is the only position player assigned to Daytona who did not play today. (Cabeza and Noble were the bullpen catchers for their respective squads today).

Here are today’s abridged box scores (Cubs players only):

FIELD #2 (CLASS “A” - Peoria vs. Cedar Rapids)

PEORIA LINEUP:
1. Rubi Silva, CF: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, BB, 4-3)
2. Arismendy Alcantara, SS: 1-4 (F-8, 1B, F-7, 5-3, R, SB)
3a. Anthony Giansanti, RF: 1-3 (5-3, 1B, 5-3)
3b. Brian Inoa, PH 0-1 (F-7)
4a. Ryan Cuneo, 1B: 1-3 (F-8, 4-3 FC, 1B, RBI)
4b. Wilson Contreras, PH: 0-1 (6-3)
5a. Chris Huseby, DH-LF: 2-3 (1B, K, 1B)
5b. Reggie Golden, PH: 0-1 (1-3)
6. Max Kwan, C-DH: 1-3 (P-4, 1B, 4-6 FC)
7. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 0-2 (4-3 GIDP, L-9, HBP)
8. Wes Darvill, 2B: 0-3 (F-9, 3-U, 3-1)
9. Cody Shields, LF-DH: 0-3 (5-3, K, F-8)
10. Johan DeJesus, DH-C: 1-3 (1B, 4-3, 6-3)

PEORIA PITCHERS:
1. Justin Berg: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 23 pitches (13 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
2. Ben Wells: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 29 pitches (18 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO
3. Jeffry Antigua: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 33 pitches (23 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO,
4. Robinson Lopez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1 PO, 19 pitches (9 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO)
5. Tarlandus Mitchell: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R ( 2 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 BALK, 25 pitches (9 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
6. Larry Suarez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 29 pitches (17strikes), 0/3 GO/FO

PEORIA ERRORS: 2
1B Ryan Cuneo: E-3 – errant throw to pitcher covering 1st base
2B Wes Darvill: E-4 – dropped pop fly

PEORIA CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Max Kwan: 1-3 CS

PEORIA OUTFIELD ASSIST:
RF Anthony Giansanti threw out baserunner 9-5 trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on single  

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

FIELD #3 (CLASS “A” ADVANCED - Daytona vs. Inland Empire)

DAYTONA LINEUP:
1. Evan Crawford, DH-CF: 1-4 (6-3, 5-3, 3-U, 2B)
2a. Dustin Harrington, 2B: 0-3 (P-4, K, F-9)
2b. Pierre LePage, 2B: 0-1 (P-5)
3. Matt Cerda, 3B-DH: 0-3 (BB, 1-3, 4-3, F-8)
4. Justin Bour, 1B: 0-3 (K, 6-3, F-8, BB)
5. Greg Rohan, DH-3B: 0-4 (K, K, 5-3, F-9)
6a. Francisco Guzman, CF: 0-1 (HBP, 6-3)
6b. Jesus Morelli, RF: 0-2 (F-8, 6-4-3 GIDP)
7a. Sergio Burruel, C: 1-2 (1B, 4-3)
7b. Micah Gibbs, C: 1-1 (1B, R)
8. Jose Valdez, RF-DH: 2-3 (F-7, 1B, 3B, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB)
9a. Elliot Soto, SS: 0-0 (BB, F-8 SF, RBI)
9b. Marco Hernandez, SS: 0-1 (K)
10a. Alvaro Ramirez, LF: 0-2 (F-8, 5-3)
10b. D. J. Fitzgerald, LF: 1-1 (HR, R, 2 RBI)

DAYTONA PITCHERS:
1. Carlos Marmol: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 9 pitches (6 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
2. Graham Hicks: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 34 pitches (20 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
3. Justin Bristow: 0.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 16 pitches (7 strikes)
4. Marcus Hatley: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 22 pitches (18 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO)
5. Danny Keefe: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 25 pitches (16 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
6. Jordan Latham: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 11 pitches (6 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO

DAYTONA ERRORS: NONE

DAYTONA CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Sergio Burruel: 1-5 CS

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

ATTENDANCE: 68

WEATHER: Sunny, with temperatures in the 70’s

 

Tags
Carlos Marmol
Cubs Minor Leagues
Justin Berg

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 03/22/2011 - 03:18 pm

Jim Hendry, Oneri Fleita, Gary Hughes, and Greg Maddux were present at Fitch Park today. Hendry sat with Fleita up in the tower between the fields, but Maddux was in uniform on the Daytona Cubs bench. Hughes chauffeured Marmol from the clubhouse to Field #3 in his golf cart. Not everybody gets to ride in Gary Hughes' golf cart, though. Justin Berg had to walk to Field #2 (which is located further away from the clubhouse). Marmol got out of the golf cart, threw about 20 warm-up pitches in the bullpen, worked his one inning (throwing nine pitches), walked off the field, gave out a few high-fives to the D-Cubs, got back into the golf cart, and was driven back to the clubhouse, all in the space of about ten minutes. (Who was that masked man?) And a swarm of bees passed low over Fitch Park in the 8th inning. The players on the field at the time hit the ground like a "live" hand grenade had been thrown in their direction, and the fans scattered in all directions. The queen bee apparently didn't like what she saw on the ground, though, and the swarm kept moving, last seen headed eastbound toward Mesa Drive.

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Submitted by Tony S. on Tue, 03/22/2011 - 03:57 pm

Hilarious! Fwiw, I was at the big club's game from about the second through the top of the seventh. Highlights from the lawn seats? #3 for LA (Paul?) made a couple highlight reel catches in CF, Fuk helicoptered into the ground pretty bad at one point, and a startling turn of Cubbery when DeWitt tripled to lead off an inning and was followed by K, K, BB (Fuk), and K. That said, I got to shake hands at Sluggo's after Sunday's game with Moreland, Dernier, and Willie Wilson. Class acts all of them. Granted, he's on the payroll, but Bobby D expressed a lot of enthusiasm about the youngsters coming up the next few years, told me to 'Keep the faith.' Made me wanna be able to come back here every year. Bobby Dernier was who you pretended you were stealing bases when I was a kid. Awesome people, Zonk told a great story about a death threat he got in NY in (I believe he said) '84.

Submitted by toonsterwu on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:10 am

Thanks for these updates. Some quick questions: How has Ben Wells velocity been this spring? IIRC, last fall, you mentioned that, since Wells was slowly working his way back, he was working only in the upper 80's/low 90's. Pre-draft reports suggested that he was able to run it up to the mid-90's on occasion. Was wondering if his velocity was better now. Looks like a poor outing for Bristow, but how has he looked overall? I remember the end of 2009, when he was looking like a really nice prospect with some breakout potential and was running his fastball in the mid-90's. I know Fleita has reportedly said that he's good to go, but curious what your take is. I know Gioskar Amaya has been said to be a good athlete, but not a quick-twitch type. Do you think he has a shot of sticking at short? Profile sounds loosely similar to some of the recent young Cubs Latin American middle infield talent.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:12 am

Submitted by toonsterwu on Tue, 03/22/2011 - 11:10pm. Thanks for these updates. Some quick questions: How has Ben Wells velocity been this spring? IIRC, last fall, you mentioned that, since Wells was slowly working his way back, he was working only in the upper 80's/low 90's. Pre-draft reports suggested that he was able to run it up to the mid-90's on occasion. Was wondering if his velocity was better now. Looks like a poor outing for Bristow, but how has he looked overall? I remember the end of 2009, when he was looking like a really nice prospect with some breakout potential and was running his fastball in the mid-90's. I know Fleita has reportedly said that he's good to go, but curious what your take is. I know Gioskar Amaya has been said to be a good athlete, but not a quick-twitch type. Do you think he has a shot of sticking at short? Profile sounds loosely similar to some of the recent young Cubs Latin American middle infield talent. ================================================= TOONSTER: I don't know how hard Ben Wells was throwing today, but he is defintely throwing harder now than he was at Instructs. His fastball has good movement and he throws all of his other pitches for strikes and mixes it up pretty good. He also has lost some weight, which was a bit of an issue when he reported to Instructs last Sept. Justin Bristow looked very uncomfortable on the mound today. He had a lot of trouble throwing strikes. I'd be surprised if he's 100%. Gioskar Amaya played some SS at Instructs last year and he handled it OK. Not a lot of range or much of an arm, though. He looks better at 2B. I would say he will probably end up being a 3B-2B type who can play SS in a pinch. But speaking of shortstops, Arismendy Alcantara made two outstanding stops & throws at short today. Highlight-reel stuff. Even the Angels fans who were there applauded. He is a true SS, too. A defensive Play Maker with plus range and a plus-arm. He will not have to be moved to 2B. Now he just needs to hit, and use his speed to get on base. I saw him a lot last year, and he tends to hit the ball in the air a bit too much, probably because he has above-average power for a guy his size. But he improved at the plate over the course of 2010 season, and I wouldn't be surprised if he excels at Peoria in 2011. BTW, there will be additional downward roster movement as soon as the Cubs make their final 15 cuts and the full-season minor league affiliates get down to their Opening Day roster limits. Some players will get moved down a level, and others will get released. As of today D. J. Lemahieu (2B) and Ryan Flaherty (1B-2B-3B-SS-LF) were still with the Iowa squad, Logan Watkins (2B), Jae-Hoon Ha (CF-RF), and RHP Rob Whitenack were still with Tennessee, and RHPs Aaron Kurcz, Kevin Rhoderick, and Dallas Beeler, LHP Brent Ebinger, catchers Micah Gibbs and Sergio Burruel, 2B Pierre LePage, SS Elliot Soto, INF Dustin Harrington, and RF Jesus Morelli remain with the Daytona squad. Any one of them could open the season where they are now, and if so, that would be one level higher than where each was expected to start the 2011 season. A lot will depend on who the Cubs send down to Iowa in the coming days. Conversely, OF Reggie Golden (with conditioning issues) has already been demoted to Boise/Mesa (Extended Spring Training), and OF Matt Szczur and RHP Robinson Lopez and LHP Jeffry Antigua were moved down to Peoria at the start of the Minor League ST games last week. R. Lopez pitched today and had absolutely nothing, but Antigua looked good. He has a really deceptive pick-off move to 1st base, too (he nailed one today - totally froze the sucker). 2010 #1 draft pick RHP Hayden Simpson was assigned to the Peoria squad when he reported to camp, and he still is assigned to Peoria.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:55 pm

Submitted by Jumbo on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 3:15am. Phil Have you seen Simpson throw a pitch yet? I'm anxious to see him finally throw and see if his stuff is as advertised after the draft. Hopefully he won't feel too much pressure after being picked early and then not throwing for the team for a year. ====================================== JUMBO: I've seen him throw with other pitchers in the 10-PAC (10 Mounds - Pitch and Catch) bullpen behind the clubhouse, but I haven't seen him throw on a field yet, although I understand he has been throwing "live" BP in preparation for working in Minor League ST games. It will be interesting to see how he performs in games, since he hasn't pitched in a competitive situation for almost a year.

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:33 pm

Thanks for the response. In terms of downward movement and potential releases, is there anyone in minor league camp that you've seen or heard about that might be at risk, like say a Dan McDaniel last year, who if I recall correctly, was one of the final cuts. Disappointing to hear Lopez look bad, but not that surprising. If I recall the SAL reports, he was very inconsistent. Quick query on Antigua - do you think he has the chance to add any velo? He's what, 88-92ish on the fastball?

Submitted by tim815 on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:52 am

You have no idea how happy I am to see these back. I'm tired of reading about Koyie Hill wasting at bats. I'm happy to hear Rubi Silva is transitioning well. The Cuban Cannon? Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for Ben Wells. Burruel with Daytona's team. Maybe he'll play full season ball this year. Sweet. Golden looking 'better' yet? Thanks, as always.

Submitted by Hagsag on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:54 am

Thanks for the info Phil. On one of the broadcasts over the weekend Kyler Burke pinch hit for the Cubs. Bob Brenly said that he heard from probably his son Michael, that Burke hit in the worst luck ever last year. What group is he with this spring and how does he look?

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:50 pm

Submitted by Hagsag on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 7:54am. Thanks for the info Phil. On one of the broadcasts over the weekend Kyler Burke pinch hit for the Cubs. Bob Brenly said that he heard from probably his son Michael, that Burke hit in the worst luck ever last year. What group is he with this spring and how does he look ====================================== HAGSAG: He is with the Tennessee squad right now. He looks about like he did in Minor League Camp last year. I don't think he has a whole lot of future as an outfielder, at least beyond AA. He should really consider converting to LHP (he was an OF/LHP in HS, and some MLB scouts actually liked him better as a pitcher going into the 2006 draft).

Submitted by Jace on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:18 am

Maine, Berg, Wellemeyer and Guzman sent down.... From Muskat..

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:47 pm

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 10:21am. ...and Max Ramirez getting an MRI on his left wrist. Apparently he's had problems with that wrist before. (per Rotoworld) Might they be able to sneak Mighty Max to Iowa in a few weeks with a season start on the DL? ============================================ CUBSTER: They actualy could just stash him on the DL for the entire season if it's that type of injury (recurring & lingering soreness). MaxRam probably wouldn't mind, because if he were to spend most of the season on the DL (and then do a 20 day minor league rehab in August and get reactivated on September 1st), he'd get a full year of MLB Service Time and make about $415K. He could spend April-May as the DH at Extended Spring Training, and then hang-out with Angel Guzman at Fitch Park in June and July. And then he would be back in the same place this time next year, but maybe Koyie Hill will be elsewhere by then and/or the roster configuration would be different, allowing the Cubs to keep him on the 25-man roster. If M. Ramirez can hit like he does with a wrist that isn't 100%, imagine how he would hit when it's healthy.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:57 pm

Submitted by DavidP on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 12:34pm. Phil - is there any serious effort or mechanism that MLB uses to try to ensure that teams do not hide healthy young players on the DL rather than lose them? I assume that there is peer pressure against that sort of thing, but does MLB management play any type of police role to try to prevent it. I am not saying that there is no injury to Ramirez in particular. I am just wondering about the general situation. ============================================ DAVID P: If there is a complaint about a healthy player not being activated from the DL when he's eligible to be activated, it would really have to come from the player. It would also be more of an issue if a player claimed an injury during the course of a post-season series where the player can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on the Active Roster before the conclusion of the series by another player, as long as the player plays the same position (pitcher replaces pitcher, et al). . But if a player is placed on the DL during the regular season or prior to the start of the season and just remains there indefintely, as long as the player doesn't say anything or file a grievance, nobody will probably notice or care.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:44 pm

No Maine? a little surprising Rotation: Z, Dempster, Garza, Wells, Silva or Cashner Bullpen: Marmol, Wood, Marshall, Grabow, with Samardzija, Coleman, Russell, Stevens, Looper, Mateo and Silva or Cashner as the 3 other possibilities

Submitted by navigator on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:50 pm

Forbes out with an article online that will appear in the April 11 issue of Forbes Magazine "Inside Baseball's Debt Disaster" ( http://blogs.forbes.com/monteburke/2011/03/23/special-report-inside-bas… ) which for some reason doesn't feature the Cubs and their 75% Debt to Value ratio, worst in Major League Baseball, as exhibit "A." The Cubs' franchise page can be found here ( http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/33/baseball-valuations-11_Chicago-Cubs… ). They have the Cubs worth $773 million. If they're right and that's questionable since they got other things wrong like the Ricketts' purchase price wrong (Ricketts' paid $845 million not $700 million) then the club is worth $72 million less than it cost them. What surprised me (besides claiming Ricketts' paid $700 mil): Forbes' analyst doesn't seem to know that baseball head coaches are called managers. Cubs rank 24th in tv ratings?? Is that due to CSN having no audience?

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:31 pm

They have the Cubs worth $773 million. There's only two "real" ways to properly value a corporation, when a business isn't being sold. The first, which is the quick and dirty, is the market cap, which can only really be used if the business is pubically traded. The second, is by depreciating it's future cash flows. The Cubs aren't presently pubicaly traded, so you can throw the market cap method out. That means to get a value for them, you're going to have to use the second method, and you're going to have to do it without things which are pretty important to actually know, like say, income. The "stock market" moves up and down, and stocks move up and down based on what full time analysts think of the dispartiy between market capitlization, and net future cash flows. So every time you see a stock traded, you have someone in the "know" thinking that the company is over or under valued, and again, these are companies that have to release quarterly reports to the public. The idea that anyone without inside financial information "knows" what the Cubs books look like, is well, naive at best. Even if all the information was available, you would still have full time experts give you divergent values for the team, and I am talking like $200 million differences. Not to say the Forbes stuff isn't interesting, but take it with a grain of salt. It should not be treated as gospell. It's not like the Ricketts walked in with a copy of Forbes when they went to buy the Cubs.

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Submitted by Ryno on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:29 pm

I missed a lot of the second half of last season because I lost interest, but the half I did watch, Silva's game appeared to be to keep the ball low, throw strikes, and make the batter earn it. It's not inconceivable that he'd be rusty and leave some pitches up the first few starts of spring training and he's not a guy that can make an occasional mistake. I'm not saying I've pre-ordered my Silva jersey and I definitely don't expect a 9-2 2.96 ERA in July this year, but he's probably good enough for this team's #5 pitcher. Silva isn't going to be the guy preventing a Cubs playoff berth. Sigh.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 03:09 pm

okay, wtf? intentionally walking s.moore in a f'n spring training game with 2 out? lame. hope w.castillo makes oak pay for that bush crap. -edit- and welly walks...loaded. and soriano hbp...loaded.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

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