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

Damn You Cubs

The Cubs win two of three over the weekend,and are going the wrong way in terms of earning a better draft pick. There's some blame for this that can fall on Q-Ball, who says he'll mostly play the veterans and try to win as much as he can, but I expect the latter from any manager or team, and considering the way the Cubs played most of the year, the former is probably a better environment for the Cubs to lose some games.

I watched about two innings of last night's game and I finally got to see a Bryan LaHair at-bat. You hate to read too much into these things, but he did seem to have a nice, compact swing and obviously he has some power in that bat. The Cubs certainly shouldn't be passing up on Pujols or Fielders for him, but he might deserve a tryout in left field during spring training with Tyler Colvin. Oh you say, we have Alfonso Soriano there for the next year, which I say, Soriano should be nothing more than the short side of a platoon. I presume as well, and it could be a faulty presumption, that LaHair doesn't have the arm for right that anyone would be willing to put out there. At worst, he certainly deserves a look at a bench spot.

Otherwise, news is light around Cubsville. Daytona won the Florida State League Championship by sweeping the St. Lucie Mets. It was their first championship since 2008. Tennessee swept their first round series and await tonight's winner between Birmingham (White Sox affiliate) and Mobile (DBacks affiliate).  It's Tennesee's third straight trip to the finals, losing the last two to Jacksonville (Marlins affiliate).

Baseball Prospectus and ESPN Insider take a look at what the Cubs could do in 2012. Goldstein talks about what no one with the Cubs or many fans want to hear. Rebuilding with the farm system is great and all, if there's quality there to rebuild with.

The Cubs have a strange minor league system. It's more deep than star-studded, with plenty of potential big leaguers but few who can actually help turn around a moribund franchise. The most likely player to help in 2012 is center fielder Brett Jackson, the club's 2009 first-round pick who hit .274 with 20 home runs in 23 stolen bases in 115 games split between Double- and Triple-A. He'll fight for a job next spring and likely have one by midseason, and although he's an outstanding athlete with above-average power and speed, his alarming strikeout rate (138 in 431 at-bats this year) prevents scouts from seeing him as a true impact player in the big leagues. (Kevin Goldstein)

Cubs venture into Dustyville tonight with Rodrigo Lopez getting the start.

Comments

Dear God, please...please let the Cubs hire a GM with the stones to blow this up, and realize that the Cubs are too short on talent to compete, and have gaping holes all over the lineup and starting rotation. thank you, your pal Dusty.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

I agree. Maybe the Cubs don't 'rebuild', but how refreshing it would be to see a GM/President of Baseball Operations hired who would have the autonomy to make those type of decisions (if they felt that approach was warranted). Someone who would tell Ricketts that this isn't working and that isn't working and this needs fixing and here's how we need to get this thing on the right track. After 103 years of failure, Wow, is that too much to dream for?

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In reply to by George Altman

Next year would seem to be a good time to clean house and rebuild the team and the stadium. I wonder if they can fast track the contruction project.

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In reply to by Rob Richardson

If it was a situation like under Tribbie rule where the budget stayed the same from year to year I'd understand the never punting mindset. However its been reported that Ricketts has mortgaged this franchise to the hilt. He still needs to do a whole heck of alot of capital improvements to the property. I'd be more than ok with pairing down the payroll and paying off some of the debt. Provided of course that Ricketts would be willing to dig deeeper in future years when we do have an actual core of actual real MLB players and prospects.

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In reply to by Rob Richardson

Is Castro off limits to you guys? In other words, are there any untouchables? If the answer is no, then what kind of return on a Castro would you like? 2 or 3 solid prospects? I kind of feel like a complete blow up means a complete blow up, but another part of me says I haven't seen a kid like this in a very, very long time, and never, actually, wearing a Cubs uniform at his age.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I guess we know where you stand. No, VPhil, it was just a question. He seems to me to be a guy that is untouchable, but I'm still scarred from my predictions of Hee Seop Choi stardom. I realize there is quite a difference here -- this kid has been an impact player since his first day. I don't consider myself an expert arm chair GM at all. So I was just looking for opinions.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

It would have to be a really big return. I doubt anyone else values him nearly as much as the Cubs do either. He's a nice little player. However he's only cheap for 2012. Then he's an escalating arbitration cost. He doesn't hit for a ton of power, walk or play stellar defense. He's Shawon Dunston without the Dawson, Sandberg, Grace components around him. Good player, but not a good sign if he's the best player on your team.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Of course at age 21, Dunston was splitting time in AA and AAA: AA: .329/.354/.423 AAA: .233/.249/.395 It took Dunston until age 33 to hit .300. Castro has improved in some areas...power and steals especially,but it would surely help him if he'd can take more walks in the future. He's 7th in the majors among shortstops in OPS...and he does have room for improvement at age 21 yeah?

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

I think he'll improve his walk rate from 3.7% (career) to about 6-7%. He will eventually have 20 HR seasons, and I think his defense will improve and stabilize. I think he could stick at lead off for the next couple years even when BJax comes up. When he and BJax are in the same lineup, I would like to see Castro lead off and Jackson second.

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In reply to by Jumbo

I think all those things absolutely might happen. Unfortunately when they do. He will probably expect to be compensated accordingly for it. He isn't nearly as useful right now in his pre-arbitration years.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Oh no, we can sign our home grown above average SS to a long term contract for his prime years. That's pretty fucking useful, even if he's not as cheap as he is now. Who were our SS's before him: Theriot, Izturis, Alex Gonzalez...need I go on? We can always buy out a couple arbitration years and get him on a long term deal for less than market. We haven't been able to do that like the Rays did with Longoria because we haven't developed anyone worth it. This is why you don't find Longoria or players like him on the open market.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

I really like Castro. I think he and Soto are the biggest current organizational positives. It's also a little bit of an indictment on how hapless this organization has been.

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In reply to by Ryno

Well we could go get cesar izturis redux, and bat him 8th...and move Castro to 2B? Of course...if they are going to do that...why not just flip Barney and Castro?

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In reply to by Ryno

I am sure the Mariners would love to trade us Jack Wilson. How does this theory of team building align with Ryan Theriot being the SS for the best Cubs team in 25 years?

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In reply to by Ryno

Yet his team won 97 games and the team was second in runs allowed. How is this possible? Just for reference, Renteria's team finished in dead last and finished 9th in runs allowed in the AL.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Submitted by Dusty Baylor on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 10:30am. Of course at age 21, Dunston was splitting time in AA and AAA: AA: .329/.354/.423 AAA: .233/.249/.395 It took Dunston until age 33 to hit .300. Castro has improved in some areas...power and steals especially,but it would surely help him if he'd can take more walks in the future. He's 7th in the majors among shortstops in OPS...and he does have room for improvement at age 21 yeah? ============================================ DUSTY B: I don't see much Shawon Dunston, Sr in Starlin Castro. Castro is a much better hitter and actually would be pretty good defensively if he played 2B instead of SS. FWIW, it's Junior Lake who has almost the exact same skill-set as Dunston (plus-arm but erratic accuracy, plus-range, plus-speed, HR power, no patience at the plate, easily fooled-high K). With Hak-Ju Lee having been traded and with 2011 #1 draft pick Javier Baez likely to eventually be moved to 3B or corner OF, no question Junior Lake is the Cubs #1 SS prospect right now. But he is still VERY raw.

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In reply to by Rob G.

An exciting and athletic player who was suspect fundamentally. I'd say they are similar in many aspects. Castro has a little more contact and Dunston had a little more power.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Castro has a little more contact. At age 20, and 21...he has a lot more contact than Dunston ever did, at a higher level than Dunston was at at the same age.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

I don't understand the idea of untouchables. For the right price I would trade anyone. That said, I can't imagine that another team would offer enough so that I would trade Castro. As for blowing things up, I am not sure that is the best analogy for the 2011 Cubs. With the number of contracts either coming off the books or likely to come off the books this off season, no blowing up will be required. The team will fall apart of its own accord. I just don’t see any reason to spend money to try and keep it together. I would rather they focus their resources I things that will pay dividends in the long term since the short term in not realistically salvageable.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

Castro should not be untouchable in that the GM shouldn't refuse to listen to any offers, however, it's unlikely many other GMs wasting their time making any offers. Since: 1. The Cubs have no stars or potential stars blocking o pushing Castro at SS or 2B, 2. Castro is already a .300 hitter and no one really knows his potential for patience, power, or improved fielding, 3. The Cubs' fanbase is starved for a true homegrown star (Geo doesn't play enough games a year or produce consistently enough to qualify, though he's certainly valuable) 4. The Cubs have plenty of cash to retain Starlin once his arbitration years and even free agency kick in, 5. The Cubs lineup is starved for All-Star quality hitters (the only one we have might be gone during this offseason--ARam), there is no way the Cubs will trade him for anything but a sizeable overpayment that includes major-league ready players and at least one with All-Star potential.

vs. D. Willis Castro 6, Johnson 9, Ramy 5, Baker 3, Soriano 7, Byrd 8, Soto 2, Barney 4, Lopez 1

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In reply to by Rob G.

and Baker bats 4th.....really? Sinice June1 hitting .184, with 1 HR and 7 RBI's. Seriously? Ugh......

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Q-Ball cited sample size when he benched LaHair and his seven game hitting streak. Then he turned around and justified Baker hitting clean up because he's hit over .400 at Great America Park. What he left out was that Baker had only played 9 games in Cincinnati. But it all worked out anyway. Baker had a good night and now has a line of .435 .500 .957 1.457 at Great America in ten games.

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In reply to by navigator

Proving once and for all, without a doubt, that ReQuade is smarter than all of us. I guess it's his job to win games, but the organizations goals right now should be. 1. Lose games, especially if we're going to sign a type A FA this off-season 2. Figure out which of the "kids" can help next year 3. Win road games to sell tickets. Quade thinks his job is more likely preserved if they can win 76 games. If he wasn't so damned smart he'd realize the incoming GM is going to be looking at how he'd did #1 and #2 above. He's just cementing himself as a "me first" guy now... essentially hammering in his own nails.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

as a fan i like the cubs to win. i don't want to watch 3+ hours of nothing. i don't care if they're 100-62 or 62-100. that's just how i roll. i watch a ton of baseball and i love this game. i know playoffs aren't in the picture, but i didn't quit watching in mid-late june when the team practically checked itself out of contender status. i couldn't care less about whether the cubs get pick #6 or #10 next year. i might care more if it was the difference between picks #1-3. either way, i don't want to watch 2 weeks or 2 months of non-competitive baseball...2 days of it pisses me off enough.

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In reply to by crunch

I also want my team to want to win and hate losing. When they don't, I console myself with the thought that there may be a better draft pick from it, but I don't ever want my manager or players thinking about that. AND I can't help but feel excited when they do win. Even though I'd love to get a high draft pick. I just think there is something valuable about a team that has a competitive fire that hates to lose. That's just me. I don't demand that everybody do the same.

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In reply to by JoePepitone

"but I don't ever want my manager or players thinking about that." yeah, i don't care what other fans think, but i see their point on the matter for losing = better chance at a better pick and the playoff chances are gone anyway, etc. it's a valid point...it's not for me, though. i just don't want the players, manager/coaches, or front office thinking about it.

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In reply to by Rob G.

vs. Phillips 2B, Sappelt CF, Votto 1B, Bruce RF, Alonso LF, Mesoraco C, Francisco 3B, Janish SS, Willis P

I'd agree and have argued many times here that Wilken has done his job, and that the Cubs have "graduated" and will graduate a decent share of players to the majors. But not the real "star-caliber" players that we all would like to see. I don't know how many organizations are able to do it. But the winning clubs manage to get their share of them, for sure. I just don't think that any GM will have the free reign to "clean house" as some say here. its not Kansas City, or Pitt. Its the 3rd largest market in the U.S., with a very impatient fan-base.

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In reply to by The E-Man

"It's more deep than star-studded, with plenty of potential big leaguers but few who can actually help turn around a moribund franchise." I've been hearing this a lot lately, especially around here. The Cardinals compete every year and are considered to have a solid organization. Name a better-than-average everyday major-league player that the Cardinals drafted in the last ten years. (Pujols was '99, Molina 2000.) There's nobody on the current roster, but have they traded away any good ones? Ankiel? Ludwick? Brett Wallace? Before you say Rasmus, take another look at his numbers. This is the team that had a hole in their middle infield that they needed Theriot to fill. Seriously, we're in better shape for the future than they are.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

not to defend their crap luck drafting, and i should give notice to the semi-new regime there... but damn, with a thin as hell pitching market coming up they just re-up'd c.carpenter to a 2/21m deal. he's old, but he could have gotten more elsewhere. there's a lot to be said for players that actually like where they're at.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

what the Cardinals do smartly is correctly label elite players and then surround them with just enough fluff, generally veteran scrap heap players. And smartly trade away their minor league players that they know aren't elite. I believe they thought Rasmus was an elite player for awhile and that's why they held on to him. And he may still prove to be. Pujols, Edmonds, Rolen, Carpenter, Wainwright, etc... The Cubs upcoming problem (next 2-3 years) is they have only one possible elite player in Castro and that's certainly no slam dunk.

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In reply to by Charlie

not to jump in for rob...just to add...but, yeah he's as close as anyone...especially once he gets back into the rotation. a bit depends on what people think of b.jackson, too. i think he's close and good, but i don't expect much more than what we saw out of m.byrd last year...not to say that's junk. it's top shelf "filler" and a great deal for 3-5 years.

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In reply to by crunch

Most professional analysts have been looking at B. Jax and saying that if he works out in the majors he'll be a "solid" center fielder. He Ks too much to ever hit for a very high average, and he's not really a 30 SB or 30 HR threat, nor is he an elite defender. Personally, I would say looking at the minors, Szczur has the higher ceiling--potentially elite defense and speed, which, if you combine with above average contact and respectable patience (and even respectable power), that could add up to an elite leadoff hitter in his prime. Hak-Ju Lee probably had the highest ceiling while he was here, for exactly the same reasons. But having guys who look like they have good upside after some time in A-ball is completely different from having guys who still look like they have good upside after significant exposure to AA and AAA.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Lol. That would be the pessimistic comparison, I think. I know there was a Rob Deer comparison made a few months ago--maybe by Mr. Rob G--which seems like a good optimistic comp. B. Jax could certainly turn out to be a lot like Rob Deer, with a tradeoff of some power for some speed.

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In reply to by Charlie

I personally would rather a guy have a 10 plus walk rate and a 20 K rate over a guy in the 5/10 range. We've seen time and again what happens with prospects who can't differentiate a strike and a ball. A batting average won't carry if a hitter cannot figure out what pitch to swing at.

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In reply to by Charlie

I doubt I made a Deer comp, he had more power. very few have survived the majors with Jackson's K rate in the minors. Deer had a 27% K rate in the minors but was easily hitting 30+ HR.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Maybe it was someone else, or maybe I'm misremembering. Rob Deer did hit more homeruns in the minors, but he also carried a .249/.355 average and OBP to Jackson's .293/.393. If Jackson can manage 20 HRs a year, could see him matching the value of Deer's major league rate stats, if going about it in a very slightly different way: .220/.324/.442. I think Jackson is capable of a slightly higher average and more value on the basepaths, but a .766 OPS with a middling average seems like a reasonable over/under for him on his career to me.

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In reply to by Charlie

Of course the only caveat on the BJax/Deer is that Jackson's batting average in the minors is 45 points or so higher than Deer's Deer: .249/.343/.495 BJax: .292/.393/.491 God...Rob Deer....he could hit it a long way.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

the only caveat to that is maybe you should look at their BABIP? .376 for Jackson .290 for Deer (not including those age 34/35 seasons and only including those that had incomplete totals)

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In reply to by Rob G.

Jackson's career babip is .376? Over 1300 At bats....at what point is it no longer a hot streak? I duno..I just would like to see him get a shot...a full season as the Cubs CF, before I start comparing him to Rob Deer...Miguel Dilone...Carlos Lezcano....or anyone else...

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

major leaguers that have maintained a .376 career BABIP... Ty Cobb some that maintained above .350? Derek Jeter Rogers Hornsby Rod Carew Ichiro Joe Jackson Billy Hamilton there's a few other still feeling good about .376 when you factor in major league defenses and pitchers over minor league ones?

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In reply to by Rob G.

I'm trying to figure out who Jackson most resembles, Cobb, Ichiro, Hornsby or Marlon Byrd. How about Jim Edmonds? On the day Jackson was drafted, Wilken likened him to Edmonds. At 22, in a season split between AA and AAA, Edmonds struck out 138 times, Jackson's exact number, in almost the same number of PAs and ABs as Jackson's. Edmonds had a major-league career in which his BABIP was above .340 in six seasons. In 2002, it was .375. His biggest strikeout totals were 167 (2000) and 150 (2004).

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In reply to by Charlie

yes, he swings...people are over-valueing his walks. he's got a nice swing, but his swing and selection is why he K's so much more than why he walks 20-30 more times that other wild-swinging hitters. he's still young, but his approach seems pretty static.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Dunwoody's had a 6% walk rate and 20% K rate in the minors fwiw...power numbers are similar. wouldn't terribly surprise me if Jackson flamed out, but Jackson seems more highly regarded on the prospect lists and has better numbers.

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In reply to by Charlie

"He Ks too much to ever hit for a very high average, and he's not really a 30 SB or 30 HR threat, nor is he an elite defender." How many home runs would he have to hit at 22 in the high minors to be a 30 home-run threat? Edmunds hit 14 in the same number of at-bats at the same age.

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In reply to by crunch

"i don't expect much more [from Jackson] than what we saw out of m.byrd last year" -- crunch So Jackson is a Byrd clone, just like Barney is a Theriot clone. If this were a debate, I would take the side that Jackson--with his OBP, his home runs and his stolen bases--is the un-Byrd. Do you want the link again to that Sesame Street same-different video?

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

"So Jackson is a Byrd clone, just like Barney is a Theriot clone." actually, barney i called "theriot-lite" but basically...yes. throw some more Ks onto jackson and i'd say the 2 are nearly similar. minor league ob% what who cares huh? that stuff is for that pointless rob deer conversation above. talk to me about it in a couple years...otherwise go to that rob deer conversation. i'm being crystal clear here. also, i don't understand what's different about theriot/barney besides barney is a slightly worse hitter with slightly better D. i stand by what i said about barney and what do you know...it is what he is. i also got bitched out years ago for calling theriot what he is...and he was what he is. =p how is a walk in the minors not tempered out by the amount of Ks he has? that is no indication of patience. that's step 1 of handicapping walks in the minors from a non-middle-order slugger. some day someone will probably create an equation for this long-standing point of handicapping and pretend they're innovating something.

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In reply to by Charlie

I suppose, don't really see him as the ace of a staff type stuff, maybe as a closer. Kind of feel the same about McNutt, except for the closer part. But you can certainly do well with 4-5 real good, but not great pitchers. But that's not easy to compile. By 2013 is a Cashner, Garza, McNutt rotation good enough? Hell if I know. I actually like CJ Wilson, think he'd do well in the NL and I don't worry about pitchers ages nearly as much as hitters. Whitenack might be back by 2013 as well (he'll be back by 2012, but major league ready by 2013 and ready to truly contribute). But elite player is hardly a by the numbers definition, your results may vary. I think it's safe to assume now that Soto won't ever get there, although the Cubs may squeeze a year or two out of him at nearly elite levels. He's at the right age. Marmol was there until whatever the fuck happened to him in the second half. Obviously the recent draft has some promise, but won't see any of the true impact players for 4-5 years. I have some faith in Garza being an elite pitcher with a good defense and him not committing 7 errors of his own, but I'm probably in the minority there. I think you need at least 3 position players that scare the hell out of the other team, and I don't see that with the Cubs now or in the near future. That means the FA market or trades, neither which bother me so much, but I know others think it's one of the seven deadly sins (big contracts or trading away decent but not great prospects).

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In reply to by Rob G.

You can't evaluate pitcher possibilities by going to 2013. I've learned at least that much. Too much of a crap shoot. For every Roy Hallady there's a Burt Hooton, and for every Burt Hooton there's a guy with a towel drill. Contemplating pitchers' futures is the biggest waste of time you can engage in.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I agree with all of that Rob. That was really what made the 2004 and 2008 Cubs editions the funnest for me as a fan. Could stack those lineups 5 guys deep right through the middle and you could almost always bank on somebody coming through for you.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I'm considered Pollyana around here, but I always look at the numbers and ignore the hype and the "professional analysts" (i.e., internet scouts). So I jumped off the Jay Jackson bandwagon when he had trouble getting people out in double-A, and it's the same with Trey McNutt, toward whom my attitude is "show me." McNutt had trouble late last season when he was promoted to AA, and this year was just a continuation of those troubles. Sickels (or someone similar) says McNutt deserves a mulligan because of injuries (blisters or hangnails or something), but he's really just giving himself a mulligan.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I would like to see McNutt pitch more than just under 5 innings a start for a full season before I get excited. Jay Jackson was up and down at AAA...but his last 8-10 starts were pretty damn good.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Pujols, Edmonds, Rolen, Carpenter, Wainwright, etc... --------- Drafted, trade, trade, rehabbing free agent, trade. Best part is all of those moves were all made by the previous GM, who was fired after 2007. Our next GM needs to make some smart and/or lucky additions, not just depend on our farm system filling all the holes (which it can't do anyway).

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In reply to by Paul Noce

add Holliday, Jamie Garcia (questionable) and so forth... my point being, which it seems you may have missed and VA Phil certainly did, was that I think you need to acquire a handful of truly elite players in whichever way you can. And not to be afraid to deal from a deep, but not star-studded farm system to do it. And not be afraid of free agency even if you've been burned before. It's nothing earth-shattering, it's about identifying talent and projecting it appropriately. Cubs just badly misfired on Z and Soriano particularly to varying degrees. Some of the smaller misfires (Fukudome, Bradley) added up as well.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I'd also add that you need to be a little cut throat in the roster decisions you make. The McFail/Hendry years were really littered with feel good personnel decisions and contract awards based on lifetime achievement and marketing. As opposed to on field gain. Hopefully a new, more numeric approach will help to avoid this in the future. Though if Ricketts gets really "Hands on" then we can assuredly see that in the future. Josh Byrnes was particularly hampered in Arizona by ownership giving 25% of the payroll to the ghost of Eric Byrnes. We might have won a pennant in 2004 if McFail does the logical move of signing a prime Miggy Tejada to play SS. Instead he tried to peddle the Maddux marketing ploy and missed out on the best Cubbie window of my lifetime.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

We might have won a pennant in 2004 if McFail does the logical move of signing a prime Miggy Tejada to play SS. Instead he tried to peddle the Maddux marketing ploy and missed out on the best Cubbie window of my lifetime. for fuck's sake

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I don't consider that analysis such an indictment like some do. I think if you can fill out 4-5 positions and 2-3 rotation spots with good-solid players a team like the Cubs should have enough money to fill in the gaps
. If you look at next year's lineup, we'll only be a couple players away from that. The only reason this plan hasn't worked is that we haven't signed the right FAs. Soriano, Bradley, Fukudome just haven't panned out. If they had signed Beltran in 2005 they would have been better off.

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In reply to by Jumbo

I agree for the most part, but a lot of folks around here and I get the sense Ricketts seems to also believe that they should forego big money deals or big trades for elite players and just focus on the farm system right now. Which I believe will get them nowhere for the next 4-5 years.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I think you need to effectively mix both methods. You can't plan on putting a 120M cap on spending and easily fill out a contender with free agent parts. You shouldn't attempt to be completely home grown when you can payroll 120-150 Million in players. The goal should be to stockpile enough young assets so that you can find a 5-6 year window with some cost controlled legitimate parts. Then you can supplement the failed prospects with trades and free agents. Kinda the McFail era plan from the early 2000's.

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In reply to by Rob G.

This is why who Ricketts hires to replace Hendry will be the most important decision he'll make since taking over the Cubs. If he thinks his farm system is going to fill 6 position spots, 3-4 starting pitchers, and half his bullpen AND contend for a pennant, he's really smoking the bison meat. I'm not hung up on any certain GM candidate because I believe there's 5 or 6 who could do what needs to be done. It starts with a brutally, honest analysis of your own team, minor league players, and player development staff. I really hope Ricketts finds that person, hires him, and then leaves him alone (for the most part) to do what needs to be done.

holy f'n juan francisco. over the f'n moondeck in RF (out of the park RF)...holy wtf.

watching this game has become a near-pointless chore and example of crap pitching...middle 4, 8-3.

saw two early reviews of Moneyball, one a baseball type, the other not and both were very positive.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Old A's Scout - "What's a movie review?" Paul D Character - "I know what a movie review is, but I'd like the Beane character help me realize what a movie review actually is." Beane - "Good movie reviews?!?!?" **throws chair** "Be back later, I'm late for an appointment to exchange witty banter with my daughter." Sportscasters - "How in the heck did this movie go against contention and get a great movie review? It's just not done that way! What's going on?!? Am I an old scout?"

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

the stoner dude is about the easiest part to play never saw Babel and can't recall much of Snatch. didn't care for him at all in Inglorius Bastards, although a very fun movie.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

I show my students several scenes from Snatch. He's fucking brilliant in it, in a whacky way. That movie had an influence on editors for a while you'd have to agree. Benjy Button ok. I've not seen Tree of Life yet, but "the word out there" is pretty good.

189 hits I believe at this point 15 to play after tonight

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In reply to by Rob G.

amazing talent...should be really interesting if he develops 20+HR power consistently. he's gonna cost so much f'n money in a few years...heh.

The pic on Espn right now is very good. I love men who yell.

it appears according to a Shawon Dunston Jr. tweet, that players report for Instructs in Arizona on Thursday.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Submitted by Rob G. on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 7:11pm. it appears according to a Shawon Dunston Jr. tweet, that players report for Instructs in Arizona on Thursday. =============================== ROB G: Players report to Fitch Park Thursday, first league game is Friday 9/23.

With tonight's solo homer, Aramis Ramirez joins Billy Williams as the only #Cubs players to hit at least 30 doubles and 25 HRs in 6 seasons.

If Samininja is in the rotation next season I'll shoot myself. I'd rather see him tied up and given a f-ing haircut. Same with Russell. They look like hippie girls from the 60's and should have Grace Slick belting out "Someone To Love" everytime they enter a game. We need a Steinbrenner-esque "No long hair" policy.

Castro SS, Barney 2B, Ramirez 3B, Pena 1B, LaHair RF, Soriano LF, Byrd CF, Soto C, Dempster P vs. Phillips 2B, Renteria SS, Votto 1B, Bruce RF, Alonso LF, Stubbs CF, Francisco 3B, Mesoraco C, Leake P we're getting LaHair at the expense of Colvin...

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In reply to by Rob G.

This is why Quade should have been fired the same day Ricketts showed Hendry the door. It's decisions like this to NOT fire Quade NOW that make me more than suspect about Ricketts' chances of hiring a replacement who can finally make THE difference. One of his coaches should have gotten the interim job and told he was to play Colvin, LaHair, LeMahieu every day unless physically unable to play. Hill should have been shit-canned for Clevenger or Castillo, and DeWitt/Baker/Johnson shifted to PH duties. If that coach had a problem following directions, then he would be the next guy out the door and move on to the next coach. If Ricketts doesn't know that Koyie Hill, DeWitt, Baker, Johnson, Pena, and Soriano aren't part of the solution, then he has no business owning a MLB team much less hiring a new GM.

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In reply to by George Altman

crunch wants to watch us play .500 though. I wouldn't have a problem with Johnson, DeWitt or Baker on next years' team peforming the same function they do on this one. We could win with Soriano. Hard to see us going anywhere with Pena blocking a super star type.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

i think i want to watch baseball, not a draft sheet from next season. enjoy your baseball...the big game is coming, the GM hunt. too bad they have to play 162 between the real stuff that matters.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

95% of TCR thinks you're pompous, cannot stand to be challenged, and will argue against facts with your own point of view in order to round-about make your points somehow valid. also, you kicked muh dog and it up n' died...but only 95% of him. also, i wish i could remember some of the insults you've called people lately off the top of my head so i could throw one at you right here.

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In reply to by Rob G.

"we're getting LaHair at the expense of Colvin..." Colvin actually hits Leake pretty well. Last year he hit 3 home runs off him including 2 on 7/4.

For whatever it's worth----see that the 2005 draft under Stockstill was rated #30-worst in baseball. The 2006 draft under Wilken was rated 25th but he lost several early picks because the Cubs had signed free agents---can't remember who they were or if they worked out.

Axcording to Len last night, "Lahair had the best night at the plate of any Cub all year..."

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).