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

TCR Weekend Notes

As you all know by know, Alfonso Soriano was dealt to the New York Yankees along with a ton of cash for RHP Corey Black. According to Buster Olney, the Cubs will pay $4.7M of the remaining $6.5M owed Soriano in 2013 and then $13M of the $18M owed Soriano in 2014, saving $6.8M total on the deal and getting a decent relief prospect that Theo compared to Jessie Crain. Soriano went 0/5 in his Yankee return with a run scored and an RBI. Black will stay in Florida and head over to Daytona.

- Forget about the Cubs landing Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, the Phillies ponied up the big bucks to a tune of 6/$50M.

- The Cubs dealt minor league pitcher Guillermo Moscoso to the Giants for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

- The Cubs did sign 18-year old Taiwanese pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng  for a cool $1.625M. Tseng pitched in the WBC this spring and can touch 95 mph with fastball although he usually sits in the low 90's. He can also throw a slider, sinker, change and knuckle-curve, although I imagine the Cubs may want him to concentrate on less pitches. The signing puts the Cubs international spending budget at $5.165M, still under the $5,520,300 they have. Problem is that they intend to sign Eloy Jimenez for $2.8M on August 1st which will take them to $7,965,000, well over 15% which will be a 100% tax on the overages ($2.4M), plus the Cubs won't be able to sign anyone next year for over $250K. Now they still can trade for some more international cash before the July 31st deadline, but the most they can get up to is $6,835,800 and by my math they'll still be over 15% (magic number would be $7,861,170M). So either the Cubs just don't care at this point about going over or some of the numbers reported are off...or I'm bad at math.

- Jason Grilli is gonna miss up to 2 months for the Pirates and they seemed to already like James Russell. Cubs aren't going to donate him to the Pirates cause, but it's also known they have interest in Nate Schierholtz. A package of both should be able to extract 2-3 pretty decent prospects from a pretty solid farm system.

-

Comments

Matt Loosen's last eight starts for Daytona (includes nine-inning no-hitter): 45 IP, 23 H, 3 R (3 ER), 11 BB, 46 K - 0.60 ERA - 0.76 WHIP

Rob: TCR clipped my original post. Not sure why but this has happened a few times lately. Needed the edit to add text past the headline. I saw an AZ Phil post (The Cubs Way) that looked similar a while back. Had a followup comment from O&B that made me laugh..."I'm willing to bet this was a good post." NY Post, Joel Sherman article showing the turmoil in the Bronx. Shades of George the Boss ownership meddling going on: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/sori_no_mzJu6LVyJb31fpQ5RVHqOM
Alfonso became the second straight Soriano that Brian Cashman advised Yankees ownership not to acquire — and was overruled on nevertheless.
Cashman would not directly confirm what he advised Hal Steinbrenner, but told The Post: “I would say we are in a desperate time. Ownership wants to go for it. I didn’t want to give up a young arm [Corey Black]. But I understand the desperate need we have for offense. And Soriano will help us. The bottom line is this guy makes us better. Did ownership want him? Absolutely, yes. Does he make us better? Absolutely, yes. This is what Hal wants, and this is why we are doing it.”
Last offseason, he advised ownership to re-sign Russell Martin and ink free agent Nate Schierholtz, and was against the re-signing of Ichiro Suzuki. Multiple sources have told me Martin was willing to return to the Yankees on a one-year contract. The sources said Martin shopped himself to other big-market clubs such as the Cubs for one year because he was hesitant to go to the Pirates, who offered him two years.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Gremlins, happens sporadically to me as well on posts and comments. I have no idea why. Chalk it up to no one really wanted to see that post anyway (or you can select all and copy your posts before hitting submit, just in case).

I actually think AZ Phil's post was intended that way, think it was just a link to a Twilight Zone episode.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

"TCR clipped my original post. Not sure why but this has happened a few times lately." This seems to happen when people post simultaneously. Like there's a race condition or something. I wouldn't expect Drupal to not handle a race condition better but it could be a problem on the web server, too, some kind of multi-threading shenanigans. The real tragedy of it is was that it looked like I was posting when AZ Phil was posting. It took mine, but not AZ Phil's. This is sort of like the system deciding between fine wine and a Clorox-laced sangria, and it chose the latter.

"First phase of the roster remodeling is almost complete!" Soon comes the fun part. from BP's writeup on the Soriano trade...
It’s no secret that the Cubs have been trying to find a new home for Soriano since before Theo Epstein took over the team. But after last season, when Soriano salvaged some of his statistical value and also became a true clubhouse leader and mentor to the team’s young players, the desire to dump him became less acute. As Epstein put it over the winter, “If we trade him we’re losing something, and we would have to get something in return to justify that.” And they did: some salary relief, another young arm to add to the system, and a spot in which to play one of their plethora of young players.
Although Soriano’s 2014 salary is still on the books, his departure marks a milestone of sorts: the exodus of the last of the big, bad Jim Hendry contracts that had to go before the Cubs could take steps toward contending again. Aside from a few spare parts who aren’t tied down and could still be dealt before the deadline (Nate Schierholtz, David DeJesus), the first phase of the roster remodeling is almost complete. The Cubs now have no one with a no-trade clause, and aside from Edwin Jackson and the ghost of Soriano’s salary, few financial commitments. So now we wait and watch for Almora and Baez, Soler and Vogelbach, Olt and Edwards, Vizcaino and Alcantara. This is the fun part.
http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21360

Soriano's first at bat today vs. Rays, Chris Archer...(Cub symmetry, catch it!) O-2 count, hits a lazy fly ball out to RF. 0-6.

@SmokiesonRadio ROSTER MOVE:RHP Matt Loosen added to the Smokies roster. LHP Austin Kirk placed on the DL. RHP Chang-Yong Lim sent to AAA

Whenever I think I might get upset that the Cubs traded Chris Archer for 2.5 years of Matt Garza, I must remember that at least we didn't trade him for 71 games of Mark DeRosa.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Sweet. Lots of good team systems that weren't going to get into the Garza sweepstakes are probably looking at Shark - Arizona and Cleveland are two that jump to mind, and maybe even Pittsburgh. Dodgers maybe too, but trading for Shark would pretty much wipe them out as far as top prospects go.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Re Samardzija, Cots says "Cubs declined 2012 option 10/31/11." That's ten days after T. Epstein took over. Cots also says "re-signed by Chicago Cubs 2/12" and "re-signed by Chicago Cubs 1/18/13 (avoided arbitration)." I don't think these were exercises of club options in original contract, so NTC not operable. (AZ Phil will confirm/dispute this when he sees it.)

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

I agree....it amazes me that people wanted to trade Garza but want to keep Smardzija, as they are only a year apart in age. Yes the Cubs have control over Jeff for a longer period, but we need to consider whether we will be competitive during that time. Indeed, that competitive target is something the Cubs should (and appear to) be considering in their trades. From my perspective, hearing people say the Cubs should become competitive in 2015 seems quite optimistic. Baez may start 2015 in the majors and may get some big league experience next year, though that is rather uncertain. If he does, then he still will be a rookie and it will be hard to expect much. Alcantara will likely be in a similar boat. For other prospects, I think 2015 would be the earliest they might get any call-up, and even then it would be later in the year. Soler is injured so his first AA exposure will be 2014, so he is hard to predict. Bryant probably starts in Daytona in 2014, so hard to say he will be in majors in 2015 (especially now, when we haven't really seen him in the pros yet). Almora is young and also will start in Daytona in 2014. Thus our offense will be the same as now, with Rizzo and Castro coming into their mid-20s, but little else changed on top other players (unless we sign some big free agents, which would be unexpected). As for pitching, maybe Shark and Wood are good. Neither is likely TOR and, based on their history, both could have receded. Maybe Vizcaino is good, maybe one or two other arms come through, but our best prospects would still be quite young and even if Vizcaino or Pierce Johnson or Jake Arrieta are in the majors, they will still be rookies or early in their career; it is hard to assume that enough of them will be immediately productive to be competitive. As such, is there a benefit for keeping Shark for his two remaining years of control? It seems that if we can trade him for good value (and certainly good value is less than Bradley AND Skaggs), it seems like a no-brainer. Same goes for Travis Wood, who is IMO less likely to continue success. I'd love to hear others thoughts though.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

I agree this is basically how I think about it. 2016-17 is probably the best they can hope to be competitive. One caveat would be that they might try next year to piece together a sleeper team with Jackson Shark and Wood as core staff and hope they can cobble together a 'smart' team around a hopefully breakout ready Rizzo and Castro. In that case Shark being under control for a couple years is a big difference between he and garza. Theo's comments have been along the lines of saying they are likely to deal players who are not under club control for next year ... So maybe they try and make a covert push next year and keeping those guys would be essential. I also agree wood might be a good sell-high guy.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

i think most of us wouldn't be very tolerant of 2 more years of "punting" waiting for 2016...and it would make signing e.jax rather pointless. i don't know if they'll compete in 2014, but if they get rid of ninja it wouldn't bode well for sending that message unless they get someone extremely impressive in return or make a FA splash. i'm not a huge ninja fan, myself...i think it would be a great time to sell-high...but i would hope the return would be someone of value and MLB-ready/proven.

Samardzija does not have a no-trade clause...chill. The original deal he signed had one, but also club options for 2012 and 2013 and the Cubs and the new regime didn't pick up his option last year, thus voiding said contract and NTC. Since he was still under 6 years of service time, Cubs still retained his rights, but the most they could cut his salary was by 20%.

espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7175581/chicago-cubs-decline-option-jeff-samardzija

He's a free agent after the 2015 season I believe.

Gordon Wittenmyer‏@GDubCub 21 Jul Sveum says "100 percent" Garza pitching Monday. Gordon Wittenmyer‏@GDubCub 22 Jul Garza “100 percent” traded to Rangers. Gordon Wittenmyer‏@GDubCub 27 Jul Sveum on Smarj rumor: I don't think that's gonna happen.

This sure as hell beats watching Joe Mather ... That was torture last year. This year's team is rarely out of a game.

Schierholtz gawked at that HR long enough that I thought Soriano got traded back to the Cubs as a left-handed white guy. It cleared the wall by maybe 3 feet - if it hadn't made it over, he would've turned a triple into a double or maybe even a single, in a tie game in the 9th inning for a game that's been "circled on his schedule" for months. But yeah - cue the Steve Goodman and smile.

That was an impressive win. I can't believe I just said that about the Cubs. First time in years I've gone, wow, clutch, all through the last two innings. Strop, in particular, had a gutsy performance. I couldn't hear Len and JD cuz I was watching on the ipad with the sound down, but even JD must have gotten a little excited. And Sveum, leaving Strop in. He walked the first guy and then threw a not so good ball to Castro on a bunt to the mound, and then made another questionable play on another bunt. When Sveum came out to the mound I was thinking to myself, "leave him in, dammit" and he did, and then wow, they really wiggled out of it. I'm really starting to like Strop, and Sveum added about 20,000 Whose Line is it Anyway points in my book with his decision to leave him in. I know hindsight is 20-20, but THAT was good managing. It was the kind of game that can help turn around a season with a team that's supposed to be contending, but for these guys it should still be a nice confidence builder.

The main thing for me that game was not that the Cubs were clutch, but more so that the Cubs didn't choke! Even those teams with Ramirez and Lee, etc. seemed to just let things spiral and started locking up when things went bad like that. I feel like most Cubs teams from the last decade would have lost that game in Cubbery fashion. I really don't feel like this guys are that far away from contending. I know they are 8 games under, but they've played much better than that and feel like about a .500 team right now. With better season from Castro, Rizzo, Castillo next year, a closer, and few Feldman/Schierlholtz like signings in the off-season, they could be in contention, especially with the extra wild card. I think 2015 is more realistic, but they could push 80-85 wins next, and if they get hot or lucky for a stretch or someone really makes a leap in performance then they'd be right in it come July and August.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Even though he was throwing the ball around the infield in funny ways, a lot of this to me was on Strop. He just really sucked in the gut and got guys out. It reminded me a little of a much more sustained effort from K Wood - I think it was in Atlanta - maybe even a playoff game - others around here will remember that one better. And there was a game years and years ago with Eckersley, who was a so so starter for the Cubs but one day I watched him really fight on the mound. I remember no details at all of that, just his constant battling of hitters. Strop vs. Posey was just plain fun to watch.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Rockies are 6 games out of the division, which seems a touch more realistic than the other teams. Phillies are now only a half-game closer to a playoff spot than the Cubs and I doubt they're buying shit.

Like I said last week... I love Nate. Wish he could stay and help the youngins while at the same time contributing. However, this management group will certainly capitalize on his career year. If not, "Bring him Up!"

with the competitive talk, breakdown of Cubs last 60 games

22 vs. Pirates, Reds, Cardinals

7 vs. Dodgers

3 vs. Braves

10 vs. Nationals, Phillies

17 vs. Brewers, Marlins, Padres

that adds up to 59, must be a make-up game not on the schedule yet, or I miscounted

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Sounds like a good story problem to assign to your nearest fifth grader. Let me know what happens. Thanks. --- Dale Sveum wants to ride the Ferris wheel, the roller coaster, and the log ride. The Ferris wheel costs 5 tickets, the roller coaster costs 7 tickets and the log ride costs 1 ticket. Dale has 5 tickets. How many more tickets should the Cubs Manager buy? Chris Bosio bought 5 packs of red bouncy balls, 8 packs of yellow bouncy balls, and 4 packs of green bouncy balls. There were 2 bouncy balls in each package. How many bouncy balls did the Cubs pitching coach buy in all? http://www.iq.poquoson.org/5math/5mathmultistepwordproblems.htm

Cubs 2014 payroll out loud: Paying 13 on Soriano, 11 for Jackson, 6.5 for DeJ if they take the option, 5 for Castro, 5 for Villanueva, 4 for Fujikawa, 2 for Soler, a little over 1 for Rizzo. Then there are arbitrations: Maybe 8 for NInja (hard to comp), 5 for Wood, 4 for Shierholtz, all estimates obviously. A few other guys stand to get small raises or the minimum. That's only $65M, and if they decline/trade Dejesus, it's less than $60M. Any chance they drop $40 million on free agents this offseason? To top it off, they look like their IFA spending capacity is going to be tied down. I wonder where all the money's going next year.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If they trade Samardzija, it'll be hard to imagine them being competitive at all before 2016 or so. Seems to me they need to be a .500 team next year with the plan to be a contender in 2015, and it seems to me that's a goal they can't reach while selling Samardzija, the only potential #1 or #2 they've got.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I agree trading Samardzija will make it harder to contend it 2015. Of course, keeping Samardzija, they still likely don't contend in 2015 unless they sign free agents. Our lineup has people like Ransom, Gillespie, etc. in it. The closest star replacements will be, at best, in their first full MLB season 2015. Can we count on Baez, Olt and Alcantara all being stars by then? Will Vitters, Jackson and Ha become something? Unlikely that Hendricks/Joksich/Loux etc. are game changers, so unless Vizcaino makes a splash, our pitching won't be much either. Then the end of 2015 comes and Jeff S. is a free agent 30 year old. I wouldn't want to sign him (of course, I also am not in the camp of some Cub fans who think he will develop into a TOR pitcher) when we are just getting the beginning of top prospects to the majors. Mainly I think contending in 2015 is a pipe dream unless (1) we trade prospects for veterans, (2) players at in higher levels develop extremely quickly and to higher levels than expected (Vitters, Jackson and Olt become productive starters, Lake develops well) or (3) we sign some great free agents. I don't expect any of these, so I think 2016-7 is when it starts getting interesting.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

To echo Theo

No one should be untouchable...good chance Archie Bradley will be as good as Samardzija or better in two years, same for Taillon. I know prospects and all, but honestly Samardzija's numbers are good, but far from great...although he can certainly pitch great at times, but I don't know if the consistency will ever get there. But we know the Cubs aren't going to make that trade unless they get more in return than they're giving up.

Soriano 2 run HR, just over the glove of RF Wil Myers. He's 2-2 today including a single and 2 runs scored. Gives the Yankees a 5-4 lead in the bottom of 3rd. edit: Wil Myers gets it back with his own, 2nd HR of this game #7, 5-5 top 5th. edit, 2: Soriano GO 5-3 in his 3rd at bat.

Peavy trade coming...per Bruce Levine:
A clubhouse attendant walked into the Chicago White Sox's locker room with five suitcases and Jake Peavy in tow.
no word on where...StL? RedSox? Braves? http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/9516343/jake-peavy-preparing-… edit: Jeff Passan counters: ake Peavy trade is not imminent, according to interested teams. Sox GM Rick Hahn still shopping best deal. Asking price higher than Garza. edit, 2: Nick Cafardo: Peavy About to be traded according to Bruce Levine at Espn Chicago. Asked Red Sox if it was them and they said no. It's also not the O's edit, 3: Wrongway Jim Bowden: If Jake Peavy has been traded it is NOT to the Braves,Cards,O's or Red Sox according to team sources

David Price is going to look pretty good with whatever arms they would get in exchange. I'd trade him in heartbeat for two similar arms in AAA.

If you want to see the worst ejection ever, check out Miggy Cabrera getting ejected with 0-2 count and bases loaded bottom of the 3rd in Detroit. That ump should be suspended a LONG time.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Ump was Chad Fairchild. That's a name to follow now. Angel Hernandez disciple? Miggy may have said something but he certainly didn't visibly show up the ump (other than a brief look of disbelief). The Tigers didn't score in that bottom of 3rd. Umpires: HP: Chad Fairchild. 1B: Jeff Kellogg. 2B: Eric Cooper. 3B: Paul Schrieber. The Phils were up 1-0 when it happened. Detroit's ahead now 11-3. Cheaters Proof (as I used to say as a kid).

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Yes! Fairchild just had a questionable ejection this week. Was it Atlanta with the blown GR double? Yup: just checked. Chad Fairchild completely missed an obvious GR Double and ejected Gonzalez. He notably would not ask his crew mates for help and was completely wrong in the ruling.

Twins release Rich Harden. Seems like this is final wrap-up week for the GM Hendry era.

Soriano went 4-5 with a game winning single up the middle, 6-5 over the Rays. Gets the post-game interview with (former Comcast Blackhawks gal) Sarah Kustok. Woo, miss her. Then Gets the Gatorade shower.

and CJ Edwards strikes out the side in the 1st for Daytona Cubs, all swinging. edit, 2: now struck out the first 6. (5 swinging). edit, 3: 3rd inning: K (looking), GO6, Infield single, PO6

Len just announced that Paul Sullivan, Tribune beat writer is not going to be covering the Cubs after the next home stand. Mark Gonzales comes over from WSux. Len didn't know what was up next for Sullivan

evidently, since the SF series started the cubs broadcast booth has become an all-request-via-twitter FM radio station in addition to calling the game. it's getting a bit silly...they're even playing music during ABs and talking a ton about the music they're playing while things are going on in the game. i think len/jd need a drug test, pronto.

and although Smokies lost 8-5 to Birmingham, Javier Baez hit his 2nd HR of the game (#10) in the 9th. a 2 run shot with 2 outs. His average is up to .232 KCC are up 6-3 in the 6th. Juan Paniagua another iffy outing, 3 runs in 2 IP. 3H, 5BB, no K: I wonder what's going on there? Shoulders, Almora, Candelario and Papaccio all have 2 hit outings.

Angels open for business including Erick Aybar, White Sox gonna regret not taking Alexei Ramirez for Carlos Martinez trade.

Brooks Raley (who started last Wednesday) and Jake Arrieta (who started last Thursday) would be the two Iowa Cubs starters on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster who would be in-line to get added to the Cubs 25-man roster as the "26th man" and start one of the games in the day/night DH on Tuesday vs Brewers.

Beginning on MLB Opening Day up through August 31st, a club can temporarily add (recall or select) a 26th player to its MLB Active List on any day where two games are scheduled, as long as the second game was scheduled at least 48 hours in advance:

1. The "26th man" must be on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or has to be added to the club's 40-man roster that day.

2. The "26th man" does not have to be a pitcher.

3. The 26-man Active List limit is in effect for both games of the doubleheader, but the "26th man" cannot be switched between games.

4. A player can be added to a club's Active List as the "26th man" even if he has not spent the minimum required 10 days on optional or outright assignment prior to being added.

5. A player recalled as a "26th man" accrues one day of MLB Service Time.

6. The player who was recalled as the 26th man can remain on the Active List and a different player can be dropped the next day, as long as the "26th man" was not called up prior to spending at least ten days on optional assignment. However, a player called up as the 26th man prior to spending at least ten days on Optional Assignment could remain on the 25-man roster if the player is a replacement for a player who is placed on the Disabled List the day after the doubleheader.

7. If a player is recalled as the "26th man" and is optioned back to the minors the next day, the "10-day rule" clock (prohibiting a player from being recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is replacing a player who is placed on the DL) does not start over again. However many days toward ten that the player spent on optional assignment prior to being recalled as the 26th man counts.    

 

after Baez's 2 HR's today, he is second behind Astros prospect George Springer for most HR's in the minors...29 vs. 26.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Justin Grimm and Olt are HURTING, they're just not right. Might have to hope for one of the two to ever return to form at best - maybe next year. Which puts a lot of focus on CJ Edwards. Grimm headed to surgery? Olt seems to have a little bit of what Adam Greenberg suffered with the beanball vision stuff. And I am not making light of Greenberg's injury or saying Olt's is the same. But some guys are never quite the same after a beaning and here's hoping with Olt it is just the tear duct issue and all will be well. I still like the trade, but if Grimm has surgery I would be pretty bummed.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

CARLITO: Olt and/or Grimm could get returned to the Rangers as "damaged goods" after the season, especially Grimm if he needs TJS. 

Similar thing happened with Jake Brigham last year. The Cubs sent him back to Texas during the off-season and got Barret Loux instead.

So the Cubs still could end up with Luke Jackson, Rougned Odor, and/or Luis Sardinas.

The Cubs also are owed one or two additional PTBNL from the Garza deal, too.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

fwiw, the clubs had an agreement at time of deal to revisit Soto/Brigham at end of season...I can't find it now, but I recall reading something about the Cubs agreeing to deal without the normal due course because Rangers needed a catcher right away, but as long as they agreed that nothing would come up and it obviously did.

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2012/11/20/1120-cubs-deal-brigham-back-to-tex…

But I could be misremembering...whether the same gentleman's agreement is in place here, we don't know yet. We do know the deal was delayed for medicals already, so I guess I find it hard to believe that everything wasn't checked out this time...but we shall see.

Bryant's 2nd HR of the season for Boise tonight...2-run shot, Maples with 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 K, 0 BB so far, still going.

Is Rusin any good? Wondering what you guys think of him. I didn't really see him pitch the other night and haven't had a chance to watch the archived game. Is he any good? Or were the Giants hitters just that bad? Any potential here? I don't know much about him other than they just seem to bring him in whenever they need an arm.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

He's certainly good enough to be in the majors, but he's not one of those core assets that the Cubs want to build around. Small sample size so far this year, but based upon his numbers, I'd say he's a #5 or #6 starter on a playoff team. There's a pretty significant gap in ERA v. FIP and xFIP (2.93 v 4.34, 4.11). Also, his BABIP in 3 MLB starts is .200 - that's bound to go up, and it shows he's been pretty lucky so far. Dude will probably be lucky to ever have a KK:B rate better than 2:1 at the MLB level - not that he walks a lot of guys, he just doesn't generate enough strikeouts.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

88mph fastball, 88mph sinker, low 80s slider...it's pure deception over stuff. he has to have them clicking in whatever game he's pitching to thrive. if he only has his "straight" fastball then it's BP...if he only has his sinker he better hope he's not running into patient hitters that will take a walk...if he doesn't have his slider, his sinker becomes less effective. he's got a high-70s changeup to compliment it and a cruddy cuveball also in the high 70s. he relies a lot on his fastball/sinker/slider and having control/command over them to use for deception when he pitches. he uses his sinker + slider like some use a fastball + changeup...that's his deception gravy.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • 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?