Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

47 players are at MLB Spring Training 

33 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and seven p;layers are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors
14 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-9-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 18
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
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 6 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 
Cam Sanders 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 3  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 
* Bryce Windham

INFIELDERS: 8
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 4 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith
Chase Strumpf 

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 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Trade Assignment Waivers

The deadline for "non-waiver" (unrestricted) trades is 4 PM (Eastern) on July 31st. No trades can be made between 4:00 and 5:00 (Eastern), and then beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on July 31st and extending through to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, Trade Assignment Waivers must be secured before players on MLB 40-man rosters can be traded. (Waivers are never required to trade players on minor league reserve lists).

Waivers must be secured before certain types of transactions can be completed.

There are two types of waivers (release waivers and assignment waivers), and while there is only one type of release waiver (Outright Release), there are three different types of assignment waivers (Trade Assignment, Optional Assignment, and Outright Assignment). Each type of waivers has a special set of rules that apply.

The MLB waiver list is transmitted at 2 PM (Eastern) every business day. Every day is an MLB business day during Spring Training and the MLB Regular Season, but because Saturday and Sunday are not considered MLB business days during the off-season, the MLB waiver list is transmitted at 2 PM (Eastern) Monday through Friday (only) during the off-season.

If a club requests a waiver prior to the 2 PM (Eastern) deadline, the waiver request is transmitted that day. If the waiver is requested after 2 PM, the waiver request will not be transmitted until the next business day. A player remains on waivers for 47 hours, during which time any of the other 29 MLB clubs can make a claim.

At 1 PM on the second business day after the waivers are requested the MLB office determines if any claims were made, and if so, which club is awarded the claim.

A club can place no more than seven players on waivers per day, and a club can make a maximum of 50 waiver claims per week.

A player on a Disabled List cannot be placed on assignment waivers until he is both eligible to be reinstated from the DL and healthy enough to play.

Neither assignment waivers nor release waivers can be requested on a player while he is on the Bereavement List, Military List, Suspended List, Disqualified List, or Ineligible List. However, Outright Release Waivers (but NOT assignment waivers) may be requested on a player while he is on the Voluntary Retired List.

The procedure for awarding waiver claims is different depending on the type of waivers and the time of the year.

For Optional Assignment Waivers, Outright Assignment Waivers, and Outright Release Waivers, if a player is claimed by only one club, that club is awarded the claim. If more than one club makes a claim, the club with the lowest winning percentage (regardless of league) on the day the player clears waivers is awarded the claim. If two clubs with the same winning percentage make a claim, the club in the player's own league is awarded the claim. If two clubs from the same league make a claim and they are tied in the standings, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season is awarded the claim. If the clubs are still tied, standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie.

However, in the case of Trade Assignment Waivers (only), if a player is claimed by more than one club, the club in the player's own league with the lowest winning percentage is awarded the claim, even if that club has a higher winning percentage than the club or clubs making a claim from the other league. So a player placed on Trade Waivers must first be "waived out of his own league" before he can be assigned to a club in the other league.

For the purpose of determining the awarding of Trade Assignment waiver claims, the standings as of the close of each day's Waiver Claiming Period are used to determine the awarding of waiver claims, with the previous season's standings used to break any ties. If clubs are still tied, standings from two seasons back, or three seaons back, etc, are used to break any ties.

If a player is placed on Trade Assignment Waivers and is not claimed, waivers are said to be "secured" and the player can be traded to any MLB club at any time, just like prior to the non-waiver trade deadline.

Trade Assignment Waivers are revocable the first time they are requested on a particular player, so if a player is claimed, the player's club has the option to either withdraw the waiver request and retain the player, or allow the waiver claim to stand. The player's club has 48 hours to make this decision, and during this "window" the club has the right to trade the player to the claiming club (but ONLY to the claiming club). If a trade cannot be worked-out with the claiming club before the window closes, and the club chooses not to withdraw the waiver request, the player is automatically assigned to the claiming club for the $20,000 waiver price ($25,000 for Draft-Excluded and Rule 5 players) and the claiming club assumes 100% of the player's contract. (A player with "no trade" rights can refuse both a waiver claim and a trade assignment, however).

If a player is claimed after being placed on Trade Assignment Waivers, but then the player is not traded and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player cannot be placed on Trade Waivers again for at least 30 days from the date the waivers are withdrawn, and if the player is placed on Trade Waivers again before the end of the season, the waivers become irrevocable and cannot be withdrawn. A player who has "no trade" rights (full or partial) cannot be placed on Trade Assignment Waivers a second time before the end of the season unless the player first waives his "no trade" rights.

Trade Assignment Waivers secured on a player on Optional Assignment to the minors or on an MLB Disabled List expire after 72 hours.

If a player on an MLB or minor league Disabled List is placed on Trade Assignment Waivers, he must be either traded or reinstated from the DL within 72 hours after the conclusion of the Waiver Claiming Period and/or after waivers have been secured. If a player on an MLB or minor league Disabled List is claimed after being placed on Trade Assignment Waivers but then the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player must reinstated from the DL immediately when the waiver request is withdrawn. 

 

Comments

I anticipate a future post from me asking how waivers work for a particular player, and AZ saying something like, "I explained this in a post about 6 months ago."

So I actually read this, and have a question. I don't understand the difference between trade and optional waivers. Are these just a matter of the types of request a team makes? In other words, can they request a trade waiver whenever they could make an optional waiver? Or does a trade need to be involved somehow on a trade waiver?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

The worst and best part of the Internet is that there is so much information. AZ's posts have information that simply wasn't available when I was, say, 20. Or, if it was, I had no idea how to get my hands on it. The bad part is, I'll forget most of it by next week.

kinda hard to believe no one wanted navarro...or the cubs didn't want to get rid of him... may/june/july has been non-stop awesome for him as far as a backup catcher and PH goes. maybe the cubs think his price will rise post-deadline and didn't get an offer they liked.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I have to credit Theo/Jed with not 'giving' away Schierholtz, Dejesus, and Russell (let alone Gregg & Navarro). It's not like there's a plethora of Outfield talent measurably on the upcoming FA market. Why, deal for the sake of dealing (another one of Hendry's failings? There also doesn't appear to be any 'in-house' help coming next year (BJax, Szczur, Ha) that would be an upgrade over Schierholtz. There's no one on this roster I would trade and/or listen to trade offers, but it's encouraging to see a front office NOT just give away talent.

O&B: Trades involving players on an MLB  40-man roster can be made after the July 31st deadline only after Trade Assignment Waivers have been secured, or (in the case of a player who is claimed), only by trading the player to the club that was awarded the claim (and then only if the trade is made within 48 hours).

Optional Assignment Waivers have a different function, and securing Optional Assignment Waivers only gives the club the right to option the player to the minors, not trade the player after the July 31st deadline.  

Optional Assignment Waivers must be secured before a player can be optioned to the minors once the player has reached the third anniversary of the player being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List for the first time, or the two-year anniversary if the player spent one full season on Optional Assignment to the minors prior to being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List for the first time, or the one-year anniversary if the player spent two full seasons on Optional Assignment to the minors prior to being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List for the first time.

So Optional Assignment Waivers must be secured before Jake Arrieta, Starlin Castro, and James Russell can be optioned to the minors, and (because each of them have accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time) David DeJesus, Kevin Gregg, Dioner Navarro, Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Sweeney, and Carlos Villanueva (each of whom have minor league options left) would have to give their consent AND Optional Assignment Waivers would have to be secured before the player can be optioned to the minors. (If you're wondering if this ever happens, Dioner Navarro gave his permission to be optioned to the minors when he was with the Cincinnati Reds last season).

Optional Assignment Waivers are revocable and can be withdrawn if a claim is made, but if a player is claimed off Optional Waivers and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player cannot be placed on Optional Assignment Waivers again for at least 30 days, and if a player is placed on Optional Waivers a second time in the same waiver period, the waivers become irrevocable and the request cannot be withdrawn.

Optional Assignment Waivers secured during the waiver period that commences on February 16th and during the waiver period that starts on the 31st day of the MLB regular season are in effect for the entire waiver period, but Optional Assignment Waivers secured during the waiver period that begins on August 1st are in effect only through the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

Optional Assignment Waivers secured on a player who is on an MLB Disabled List expire after 72 hours.

If a player on an MLB Disabled List is placed on Optional Assignment Waivers, he must be reinstated from the DL within 72 hours after the conclusion of the Claiming Period and/or after waivers have been secured.

Optional Assignment Waivers cannot be requested after October 1st or secured prior to February 16th.

Optional Assignment Waivers are not required if a player is being sent to the minors using a 4th minor league option, or if a player is being sent to the minors within 24 hours after being acquired in a trade, or if a player is being sent to the minors after being recalled to serve as the 26th man in a doubleheader.

So there two different types of waivers (Release and Assignment), and Trade Assignment Waivers and Optional Assignment Waivers are two of the three Assignment waivers. (Outright Assignment Waivers is the third type of assignment waivers).

Prior to 2007, Optional Assignment Waivers were called "Recall Waivers" and there was no such thing as "Trade Assignment Waivers."

Instead, there was a generic type of revocable waiver called "Major League Waivers" which were used the way Trade Assignment Waivers are used now, but they were also used to outright players to the minors during the off-season. So (for example) a club could place a player on Major League Waivers in October or November up through Spring Training hoping to outright the player without the risk of losing the player on a waiver claim, since that type of waiver request could be withdrawn if the player was claimed. Now players can be outrighted only by placing the player on Outright Assignment Waivers (which are always irrevocable) regardless of the time of the year.

Because they were revocable the first time they were requested in a given waiver period and could be withdrawn if the player was claimed, Major League Waivers were also used to gauge interest in a player. You might remember the Red Sox placed Manny Ramirez on Major League Waivers during the off-season a few years ago to see if any club was interested enough to make a claim (and potentially assume the balance of Man-Ram's mega-contract). 

But Major League Waivers no longer exist. They have been renamed "Trade Assignment Waivers" and have a much more narrow function than did Major League Waivers, that being to make trades involving players on MLB 40-man rosters during the period of time August 1st up through the close of the MLB regular season. 

2r rizzo HR! 1st since July 21st (COL), 3rd of the month, and 15th on the year. 31 doubles, 15HR... ...and a castro solo shot in the 4th. swank.

They should honestly do away with the strike zone and let the umps just invent rules cause these guys don't have the slightest idea what they are doing half the time - check out the 3-0 pitch to Rizzo with bases loaded. I give up. It was inside and at his ankles and the three pitches before it were closer to being a strike.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

After last night, I feel the same way. I remember a Bill James rant from 30 years ago about the "de fatso" strike zone...are there any other major sports with such a subjective judgment of such a fundamental rule? Maybe NFL and holding? I dunno. I really hate letting technology do the job, but when the strike zone, the most basic aspect of baseball, depends on "what Blue is calling tonight," where are we? (I say this having done a bit of youth league umpiring, proudly watching my daughters umpiring 15 years ago, and admiring my brother-in-law, an old-school purist umpire.) I love the way Blue runs the game, but I just don't know what to do with these inconsistent strike zones.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

Not an exact analogy, but in football teams might take a safety if they are backed up by their own goal line rather than turn it over or have to punt from the end zone, depending on the score. I would guess you can find similar situations in most sports where taking a penalty for breaking a rule might, in some circumstances, be better than not. And that will always happen, because if the penalties were so bad as to avoid that then they would be too harsh when imposed when players accidentally do it and everyone would hate that. But I do agree that basketball seems to be the worst in this regard, and the last 3 minutes of a close game take about 40 to complete and are boring as shit in my opinion.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

I see your analogy on a safety (not breaking a rule, but incurring punishment (i.e. points for other team) on purpose). My thought was a manager purposefully getting kicked out of a game to inspire his team. This analogy is even more tenouous though. As for basketball, college basketball has always been more exciting to me than pros; really I only watch the Bulls and that is often solely for playoffs or during Jordan-era.

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

I loved watching Jordan, too. I was definitely not trashing Jordan, but if there was a traveling call left of any kind, he killed it off. Well, the refs did. They liked watching him as much as the rest of us. He took three steps to the basket pretty frequently. But, if they had called him on it early in his career, he would have adapted, so it isn't his doing really. He was incomparable in my mind, and would have been able to play with any set of rules thrown at him.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

But I do agree that basketball seems to be the worst in this regard, and the last 3 minutes of a close game take about 40 to complete and are boring as shit in my opinion.

Past an important Bulls game or a Marquette game, I tend to turn it off at the first commercial in the last 2 minutes, just too painful. It'll never change though. Networks put their ads in the last 2 minutes and keeps the illusion that the game isn't over yet.

They should institute a 1 full and 1 :20 timeout in the last 2 minutes and any non-shooting foul is worth 3 free throws and the team can pick anyone on the floor to take them. They could even qualify an intent rule, they already do that with flagrant fouls.

[ ]

In reply to by fullykräusened

The more you watch it the more bizarre it is. The strike zone is definitely in flux throughout the whole game. Umps are reacting to emotional shit, sympathizing with the pitcher if they've been close or hitting their spots. Happily ringing up a sassy rookie on a pitch they would never call on a veteran, then feeling guilty and squeezing the zone on the next guy. Calling the game differently at the end of the game because they are human and feeling the tension etc etc. it all points to freakazoid strike zones that don't make sense. Put a frickin' machine on it ... It's just getting weirder and weirder and we can see it all better with HD and pitch trackers so the damn umps are never gonna meet our standards. But the biggest problem is they can't even be consistent on back to back pitches much less a whole game. They'll never do anything about it but they should. A straight mechanical strike zone would solve so many problems. And unlike any other sport it is doable.

Ben Badler‏@BenBadler Sounds like the Pirates pushed hard for Giancarlo Stanton. I'd give up anyone in that system for him if I were them David Cameron‏@DCameronFG @BenBadler The eventual bidding war is going to be insane Ben Badler‏@BenBadler @DCameronFG Having heard some of the proposals talked about among teams, sounds like it already is. Loria's the X-factor.

Good news dept: Justin Grimm pitching ok for Iowa tonight. Had a little trouble in the 5th inning, but still 2ER 5K 4hits 3bb through 5. #prayinghedontneednosurgery

minors so far tonight

G. Concepcion (AZL Cubs): 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 K

O-for-Olt (Iowa): 0-2 so far tonight with a K

J. Grimm (Iowa): 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K

P. Blackburn starting for Boise...game just started, Bryant 0-1 to start

B. Jackson (Tenn): 1/2 with a 1 R

M. Loosen (Tenn): 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K

I. Pineyro (Daytona): 6 IP, 7 K, 0 BB, 3 H

acquired for Hairston, Pineyro has gone 23 IP, 5 ER for a 1.96 ERA since joining the organization, 21 K vs 1 BB, 1 HR...all 5 runs were in the previous start. Nice...will turn 22 at end of September.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

based on reports of him before he signed (and especially after he signed...and very especially after a few games under his belt) i still wonder who exactly was bidding him up to the $7m mark the cubs bit on. ...this quote still sticks with me. "They're trying to tell people it's just mechanics -- that he needs to get straightened out," one scout said. "But if he was in a junior college game you were at, you'd leave."

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

he was initially passed off as an 18 year old...then discovered to be 20 after he agreed to sign...cubs still finalized the contract, though.

e.jax out to pitch after an hour+ rain delay...j.borbon hitting 2nd... ...when non-dusty managed teams do things and 100 posts don't show up about it...coming up next on TCR.

Wow, do the White Sox stink. Looks like they are now #2 in the race for the #1 pick next year -- Hawk and Stoney must be having a blast together. I am really starting to like JD -- smart & genuinely funny. Hopefully, he & Len can build some chemistry before the 2015-2020 dynasty takes hold.

laaaaaaaaaaake's 1st wrigley HR...1st of 300+ @wrigley based upon recent hype ...and rizzo HR...back to back

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

"Don't throw this man strikes." Every pitcher tries to throw the fewest strikes necessary. After swinging at a low-outside slider on the first pitch he saw last night, Lake laid off three close pitches in a row--two outside sliders and a fastball just off the plate inside. He earned that 3-1 fastball that followed.

The caption on this picture says, "Anthony Rizzo, seen lecturing kid who snuck onto field during #Cubs BP." However, the "kid" in the picture appears to have a balding spot on the back of his head and his skin on the side of his face and neck looks weathered and old. Rizzo also has a pleasant, friendly look on his face. Makes me question the facts behind the characterizations in the caption. https://twitter.com/thecubreporter/status/363059948692860928/photo/1

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

He didn't -- K'd on 3 straight pitches -- slider/curveball/slider. Though to be fair, Junior hit his 2nd HR off a slider down the middle of the plate. Edit: Hah! He K'd on a Alfonso Soriano low and away slider in the dirt. Doing a nice job of replacing Sori all around.

"Anthony Rizzo hit 2 HRs tonight and is the first #Cubs player since Ron Santo to have two 15-homer seasons before the age of 24." ...that is just...sad for cubdom...yet not surprising.

Looks like our platoon at 3B these days is screaming for some offensive help. They've had a few HR's earlier but that was awhile ago.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

It's cubbery to engage in this sort of nostalgia. If all your prospects seem to fail, you don't have enough of them. "With pitching you need five good arms for every one you want to count on coming up here and making a difference"--Theo in the paper this morning.

Today's lineup: Welly (3 HR, 18 RBI) hits cleanup, and the highest BA among our 6-7-8 hitters is Barney at .212. Poor Dale.

dejesus not having a good day in CF...both contributing to runs...1 directly. ...and t.wood is done after 3.1ip and 79 pitches...because the pen will surely help things...and could use 5.2ip of work...i guess.

future cubs convention superstar junior lake 3/3 on the day so far...in the 5th.

wtf borbon? 4 runs down...not 1...not tied...you're not on 1st setting up a potential DP. wtf?

BA's Jim Callis ranks the top 10 trade deadline prospects that exchanged teams...Cubs got #1 (Olt) and #4 (Edwards):
1. Mike Olt, 3b, Cubs: Olt ranked No. 22 on our Top 100 Prospects list entering the season, but he has had a rough year while battling vision problems after getting beaned in the Dominican League. He was never going to push Adrian Beltre off third base in Texas, so the Rangers packaged Olt with righthanders C.J. Edwards and Justin Grimm and a player to be named to get Garza. Olt has above-average power, solid on-base skills and Gold Glove potential as a defender, and he may step in almost immediately at the hot corner in Chicago.
2. Avisail Garcia 3. Jose Iglesias
4. C.J. Edwards, rhp, Cubs: He was a 48th-round pick out of high school in 2011 who hadn’t pitched above low Class A before the Garza trade, so enthusiasm must be tempered. But it’s hard not to love his fastball (91-95 mph, up to 98, terrific life) and his performance in the Rangers system (1.68 ERA, 11.6 K/9, .168 opponent average). He has the upside of a No. 2 starter.
5. Grant Green, 2b, Angels 6. Kyle Smith, rhp, Astros 7. Matt Stites, rhp, Diamondbacks 8. Nick Delmonico, 3b, Brewers 9. Danry Vasquez, of, Astros 10. Josh Hader, lhp, Astros http://www.baseballamerica.com/viewpoint/olt-garcia-headline-traded-pro…

ex-Yankee, Corey Black's line for Daytona: 8K's in 4 IP. Looks like a reliever already, Que O&B... Corey Black 4.0IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 8K, 2HR, 4.47

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I never read actual Cub personnel projecting him as a reliever, but I may have missed it. The Internet scribes and scouts were saying it for sure though. That said, his line is pretty impressive the more you look at it . .. . the 8k in 4 innings - just 3 hits, bb, HR, and ER were ugly but reads like maybe he had a couple rough moments, maybe some command issues, or working on a third pitch, but a lot of promise.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Dave Sappelt was optioned to Iowa on July 24th and he had to spend at least ten days on Optional Assignment before he could be recalled (unless he was recalled to replace a player who was placed on the DL or other MLB inactive list). The 10th day on Optional Assignment is today (Friday), so Sappelt can be recalled tomorrow (Saturday).

Also. Julio Borbon was on target to be eligible for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" post-2013 if he had remained on the 40-man roster through to the end of the season, and if the Cubs had waited until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season to outright him he would have had the right to elect free-agency because (under the new CBA) "Super Two" players now have the right to elect free-agency if outrighted. 

But if the Cubs outright Borbon before the conclusion of the 2013 MLB regular season, he will not be a "Super Two" player post-2013, AND he will remain under club control through the 2014 season because he cannot be a six-year minor league free-agent until after the 2014 season (presuming he isn't claimed off waivers or selected in the Rule 5 Draft).

So Borbon (who is out of minor league options) was probably on 40-man roster borrowed time even before the 9th inning baserunning gaffe in today's game.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Ty Wright is one of those "organizational players" who gets moved around the system to make room for prospects, and so he spent most of the 2013 season at AA despite his age (28) and experience (seven seasons).  

He is eligible to be a six-year minor league FA post-2013 if he is not added to an MLB 40-man roster by 5 PM (EDT) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series, so I suppose it's possible that he might get called up as a reward for his many years of quiet service to the organization and as a morale kick for other "organizational players" who might otherwise be giving up hope. 

Wright is a fundamentally-sound corner OF with a LF arm, occasional power (57 HR in 700 minor league games), and slightly below average speed. He is a similar-type player as Cole Gillespie, but Gillespie is a better hitter with more power.  

 

not looking for it, but TheJedi said they see Black as a reliever, doesn't mean he can't get his work in as a starter right now. The move from rotation to bullpen is of little consequence.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

You and crunch are apparently remembering right. From your summary of Theo press conference in the Soriano thread: "projects Black as power reliever, comps Jesse Crain". I find that odd that Theo would say that, usually good at playing cards close to the vest and not putting a ceiling on a player in A+ etc. but he has been honest and forthcoming even more of late.

Michael Wottreng‏@MWottreng Kyle Hendricks has been added to the Mesa Cubs roster with the expectation of joining AAA Iowa in the coming days.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

bilinear, trilinear, non-linear...like the monkey in front of the typewriter who generates a sentence every so often: xrihtkejyy vproslkdiym gythiioinieb cubbery 'ei4hehgty5j laksorianvoglbombzastryzny whhthhellahintothfutur... back to studying cosmology and string theory

per Roto... Zach Putnam underwent surgery Friday to have bone spurs removed from his elbow. Putnam has been on the disabled list since June 12 with right elbow soreness. It's not clear how much longer he'll be sidelined due to the surgery, but he remains without a timetable to return.

Damn it. Don't baseball teams realize if they keep signing Ronny Cedeno, he gets to keep playing baseball? Enough already.

welly had 1bb from opening day til May 22nd (35 games) he's had 20bb since then (46 games)

Glad to see Bourbon gone. He was a waste of roster. Couldn't really do anything well. Dropped a couple of routine fly balls, stupid base running, couldn't hit, couldn't really steal bases either. Good riddance. Sweeney seemed like the best back-up outfielder, but then go injured, and Bougsevic was next as far as performance, but he got injured too, and so we've had way too much of Sappelt, Bourbon, and Gillespie, etc. Also, can't watch the game today (FU Fox), but did I see correctly that Samardzija led off the bottom of the 6th after that rough top of the 6th and so many pitches that it was obvious he wasn't going to pitch the 7th? WTF? Also, way to many double plays lately. This game and the last week or so in general. Brutal to watch.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

"did I see correctly that Samardzija led off the bottom of the 6th after that rough top of the 6th and so many pitches that it was obvious he wasn't going to pitch the 7th?" it was odd...unless for some reason donnie murphy (the only R on the bench aside from backup catcher navarro) isn't in playing shape because of the plane ride from utah. *shrug* it's not the first time it's happened. i can (kinda) understand it for t.wood (especially this season), but for some of the other pitchers it's a head scratcher.

Bruce Miles‏@BruceMiles2112 Valbuena to DL with right oblique strain. Bruce Miles‏@BruceMiles2112 Best guess here is #Cubs will bring up Logan Watkins from Iowa to replace Valbuena. Watkins is on 40-man

Man they should just shut Olt down. Send him to a spa or something. So bad right now. 2 for his last 31 with no runs scored and no RBI in that stretch. Austin Powers' style complete mojo loss.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

it's him or valbuena for 2014...i think the big question right now is if he'll get a Sept callup or just be told to go home and rest...maybe pull some winter ball time. i imagine the "plan" has him penciled in to break camp 2014 as the starting 3rd and hitting behind rizzo (pending some other random signing/trade for a RH power hitter playing somewhere besides 3rd/1st/SS/C on the team). chances are rather high valbuena will be around in 2013 backing olt up in case of failure and/or being the off-the-bench/backup/platoon 2nd/3rd baseman.

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In reply to by Carlito

I'd like to know a little more about this eye thing. If it's true he stopped hitting after getting beaned, and his eye is causing problems, he's not going to be a good hitter. Bad eyesight will kill off his chances. I have to assume the Cubs have full medicals on the situation, and that they were convinced that even if there is a problem here, it's going to go away. In other news, it does sound like K Bryant is really heating up. Musta been rusty when he first started.

From NicknCafardo/Boston Globe Sunday notes... 3. I had one GM rate the farm systems: 1. Twins; 2. Red Sox; 3. Cubs.

Watkins and Murphy both starting today with Ransom. Hall of Fame infield if I ever saw one.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitcher reports from Thursday's A's - Cubs game at Sloan Park in Mesa, for anyone who might not have seen it: 

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 92-95
    CT: 89-91
    SPLIT: 81-84
    SL: 79-82 
    CV: 71-73 
    COMMENT: Second consecutive masterful and dominating performance by a Cubs LHSP at Sloan Park... threw 4.1 IP of shutout ball, scattering three singles, issuing no walks, and striking out nine (all nine swinging), with the other outs being four weak-contact "straight up the elevator shaft" infield pop outs... threw 70 pitches (51 strikes - 19 swing & miss!!!)... he did not throw too many pitches in any one inning (16-16-18-15-5) so he was able to avoid getting gassed... he had all of his pitches working so he was able to mix it up really well and keep A's hitters off balance...      

    CAM SANDERS
    FB: 95
    COMMENT: Relieved Imanaga with one out and a runner at 1st base in the top of the 5th, and immediately induced a slick 3-6-1 DP on his very first pitch (Sanders is an outstanding athlete)... 

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 92-94 
    SL: 78-81 
    COMMENT: Threw a shutout top of the 6th... issued a lead-off walk and then struck out two (both swinging) and got a P-5 to end the inning... 19 pitches (12 strikes - five swing & miss)... despite the lead-off walk this is the best Almonte has looked so far this spring... a few noteworthy items about Almonte are that he is making $1.9M, he is out of minor league options, he can elect free-agency if he is outrighted (but if he is outrighted and then elects free-agency he will forfeit his $1.9M salary), and if he is not outrighted by April 26th he will have accrued five years of MLB Service Time by that date and can't be sent to the minors without his consent starting on that date... 

    CARL EDWARDS JR
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 85-87
    CV: 77-78 
    COMMENT: Walked the lead-off hitter on four pitches in the top of the 7th with the Cubs up 2-0, then got a 1-3 come-backer (runner on 1st base advanced to 2nd)... an RBI single plated a run, then a K-swinging on three pitches for the second out, followed by two consecutive walks to load the bases (and end his day)... he really labored throughout the inning, needing 27 pitches - only 11 strikes (41% strikes) -  five swing & miss, three on FB, to get just two outs... also threw a WP... if he doesn't have impeccable command, CJ's his stuff is too marginal for him to be of any use to the Cubs in 2024... as a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent who signed a 2024 minor league contract, Edwards gets an automatic opt-out on Opening Day, but if he doesn't exercise the opt-out, the Cubs will probably make him a free agent anyway.., this was a bad performance by a pitcher who was on the wrong side of the bubble the day he signed with the Cubs in February... 

    DANIEL PALENCIA
    FB: 94-97
    SL/CT: 87-89
    COMMENT: Relieved Edwards with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the 7th and came back from a 2-0 count to get an inning-ending F-7 FO to the warning track in LF (near grand slam)... came back out and threw a shutout top of the 8th (K-swinging on a SL, a 6-3 GO, then a two-out single, and finally another K-swinging on a SL to end the inning)... 21 pitches (14 strikes - three swing & miss)... threw eight SL/CT and two of his three swing & miss were on that pitch... FB velo was down a couple of ticks from last outing when he was hitting 99... I really like Palencia better as a multi-inning "bulk" reliever than as a one-inning "high-leverage guy," because he has the stamina for it, and he is essentially stuff over command at this point in his career... 

    EDWIN ESCOBAR
    FB: 93-94
    CH: 86
    SL: 82-83 
    COMMENT: Pitched a shutout 9th to pick up the save... Induced a 3-1 GO to start the inning, then after surrendering a single that brought the tying run to the plate, a L-4 DP that doubled the runner off 1st base saved the day... 12 pitches (8 strikes - no swing & miss)... he got the save but he didn't fool anybody...

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    The spring training GOAT is at it again!

  • crunch (view)

    bote with his 5th homer of the spring. maybe he'll get better if they send him to AA rather than AAA. meanwhile, madrigal hits singles sometimes.

  • crunch (view)

    morel HBP on the foot. he stayed in the game. he also hugged the catcher afterwards because he does stuff like that.

  • crunch (view)

    at this point i honestly believe the problem is him, not the public allegations that got dismissed or some of the other accusers that never materialized in charges.  it has to play a role in public perception and is the end of the line for some teams, but it's icing on the cake that is bauer.

    even last year in japan it got to the point a teammate had to publicly call him out on Twitter for being disrespectful.  it's like he never learns.  dude is in his 30s and he's still the self-absorbed guy he was as a 21 year old in ARZ...his only year in ARZ after pissing off everyone he could and getting traded well below his value.

    once social media became a thing beyond posting stuff on MySpace or Facebook, things only got worse for exposing his way of doing things beyond the clubhouse and field.  you can't contain the jerk-ass stuff from the public at large when he's out there showing his ass on every piece of media he can access.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Oakland A's are probably the one MLB club that could sign Trevor Bauer and not have to worry about incurring push back from their fans, since they already have alienated their fan base and don't seem to care.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    And now Ian Happ is facing RHP JosE Romero, so he is batting LH. 

  • crunch (view)

    it was reported by The Athletic that no MLB scouts were in attendance for his performance.

    i gotta imagine someone with the dodgers was paying attention to how their minor leaguers were faring vs a former cy young winner who still has stuff in his arm even if it wasn't a known MLB scout, though.

    bauer is publicly offering his services for league minimum.  it's not the money keeping him from a contract.  he just wants his foot in the door again.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Ian Happ is taking "live" BP right now on Field # 6, facing LHP Blake Weiman (so he is batting RH).

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    If a minor league player under club control does not have his minor league UPC renewed by March 15th, the player is automatically released.