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

Cubs Claim T-Daddy Off Waivers

Carrie Muskat reports that the Cubs have claimed 25-year old RH hitting LF-RF-1B Thomas Neal off waivers from the New York Yankees. Neal had been Designated for Assignment by the Yankees last Friday to make room on their 40-man roster for OF Curtis Granderson, who was reinstated from the 60-day DL.

The beefy (6'2 220) Neal was a 36th round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants out of Riverside CC in 2005 and was signed as a "Draft & Follow" the following May, receiving a $220K bonus (equivalent to what was 4th round money at the time) just a week prior to the 2006 June draft. He missed most of the 2007 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. 

Neal is a lifetime 301/377/459 hitter in 701 minor league games over eight seasons (2006-13), belting 40+ doubles twice (2009-10) while a member of the Giants organization. He was rated the Giants #4 prospect (behind only Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, and Zach Wheeler) and #96 overall by Baseball America pre-2010 after hitting 337/431/579 with 22 HR & 90 RBI and 41 doubles for A+ San Jose (California League) in 2009, and then he was rated the Giants' #7 prospect by BA pre-2011 after hitting 291/359/440 for AA Richmond (Eastern) in 2010.

Neal was traded to the Cleveland Indians for INF Orlando Cabrera in a deadline deal on July 30, 2011, and he received a brief trial with the Tribe last September, hitting 217/250/261 in nine MLB games (24 PA). He was released by Cleveland last January 12th, and was signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees six days later. 

Neal hit 325/391/411 (albeit with only with only two HR) in 72 games (297 PA) at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (International) in 2013. His contract was selected by the Yankees on June 14th, but he was optioned back to AAA ten days later. Neal will be out of minor league options next season, but he won't be eligible for salary arbitration until post-2016 and he is under club control through the 2019 season.

To make room for Neal on the MLB 40-man roster, the Cubs have transferred RHP Rafael Dolis from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. This move is a "no brainer," because Dolis has already spent 60+ days on the 15-day DL, and time spent on the 15-day DL is applied to the required sixty days needed to complete a 60-day DL stint. So Dolis could actually be reinstated from the 60-day DL at any time, even as early as tomorrow (if the Cubs wiish to do that). 

Dolis was placed on the 15-day DL on June 1st (retro to May 27th) with what was reported at the time as a "mild forearm strain," but he hasn't pitched since (not even a minor league rehab outing). Doliss was eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2013 (and it has been used), so he will be out of minor league options next season. 

The Cubs will also need to make a 25-man roster move when Neal is activated. They are presently operating with 13 pitchers, so they may opt to cut back to 12.

BTW, Scott Baker's minor league rehab assignment must conclude no later than next Monday (August 12th), so the Cubs will need to decide by next Tuesday (August 13th) whether to activate him from the 60-day DL (and presumably put him in the MLB starting rotation) or just shut him down for the rest of the season. Baker has not pitched very well (so far) in his minor league rehab outings at Kane County and Daytona (12.0 IP - 20 H - 15 R - 14 ER - 8 BB - 7 K - 3 HR - 10.80 ERA - 2.33 WHIP in four GS).

 

 

Comments

Does this hint of moving Lake to third, or will Neal just be a fourth (fifth) outfielder?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

BOB R: While Junior Lake might get some playing time at 3B while Luis Valbuena is on the DL, his future is as an outfielder.

I would expect Thomas Neal to play LF against LHP (with Lake playing CF versus LHP and LF vs RHP), and Neal could give Rizzo an occasional day off at 1B, too.

Arod may get to finish the season (plus possible post-season) "Players association chief Michael Weiner said Monday that he doesn't expect a ruling on Alex Rodriguez's appeal until November or December." personally...though he deserves a suspension, the extreme and seemingly arbitrary punishment length seems a bit heavy given that he's never actually been punished before. the 2nd time limit is 100 games and though he's never tested positive, he's admitted to it only once in the past. i dunno if they'll be able to make a 211 game ban stand.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

pretty much... "based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years...for attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation."

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Well Weiner may say that, but for drug violations like this a case has to be he heard within 10 days of appeal, and arbitrator Fredric Horowitz has 25 days to render a decision -- uphold, strike down or reduce the suspension. There may be reasons why this doesn't apply in this case, but my guess would be that the appeals process takes the normal 30-45 days or so to complete and this is resolved in mid-late September. The penalty will probably be reduced some (just my guess) so MLB probably hopes that it is not decided until late this season or after the season is over. If it was reduced to say 175 games, but settled in a few weeks, then that would mean he would be back in July next year. If it is reduced to 175 games but not decided until October, well then no A-Rod for all of 2014.

A-roid takes the spoon out the mouth of an ex-cubs player to make room for his return... "Yankees designated INF Brent Lillibridge for assignment."

When does Theo pull the plug on the Daytona Cubs? What do they get in -- about 95 games a year? Great place to develope pitchers.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

games played by Daytona since 2012 going backwards:

133, 137, 139, 135, 132, 137, 137

102 games played so far this year, 26 left on the schedule including 2 makeup games on doubleheaders. Looks like they've lost 6 games to rainbover this past week. Nothing too egregious before that though.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

I do know that the previous regime (Hendry/Fleita) wanted to move the Cubs Hi-A affiliate from the Florida State League to the California League when the Player Development Contract (PDC) with Daytona expired after the 2012 season, but the new regime (Epstein/Hoyer/McLeod) renewed the Cubs PDC with Daytona for two more years after last season.  

There are presently ten teams in the California League, and all but one parent oirganization (the Houston Astros) have their Spring Training (including Minor League Camp & Minor League HQ) in Arizona. The California League is considered the #1 "hitters league" in minor league baseball, but that doesn't seem to inhibit AZ, CIN, COL, HOU, LAD, LAA, OAK, SD, SEA, and SF from developing both position players and pitchers.  

There are twelve teams in the Florida State League, and all but two of the parent organizations (the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs) have their Spring Training (including Minor League Camp & Minor League HQ) in Florida. The FSL is considered to be more of a "pitchers league." Most of the affiliates in the FSL are owned outright by the MLB club (the exceptions being Daytona, Brevard County, Charlotte, and Ft. Myers), and play their games in the parent club's MLB Spring Training stadiums.

The third Hi-A league (the Carolina League) has only eight teams, and it is more of a middle ground between CAL and the FSL, not the extreme hitters league that is CAL or more of a pitchers league like the FSL. Of the eight teams in the Carolina League, four parent organizations (ATL, BAl, BOS, and WAS) have Spring Training (including Minor League Camp & Minor League HQ) in Florida, and the other four (CHW, CLE, KC, and TEX) have their Spring Training base (including Minor League Camp & Minor League HQ) in Arizona.     

Not including club-owned "complex teams" located at MLB minor league bases in the AZL, GCL, DSL, and VSL (like the AZL Cubs, DSL Cubs, and VSL Cubs), most MLB clubs have "working agreements" with their minor league affilates, where the affiliate is owned and operated by a third party. Some clubs do own one or more of their minor league affiliates (the Braves own all of their minor league teams except one), but the Cubs do not own any of their's (other than the AZL Cubs, DSL Cubs, and VSL Cubs).

The Red Sox had their H-A affiliate in the California League (Lancaster) when Theo Epstein was GM, and Lancaster is probably the #1 most hitter-friendly park in minor league baseball. As soon as arrangements could be made (after the 2008  season), the Red Sox made the somewhat rare move of purchasing a team in the Carolina League (Salem, VA) for themselves (it's the only Red Sox minor league affilate other than the GCL Red Sox and DSL Red Sox that is owned by the Sox, and Salem is the only club in the Carolina League that is owned outright by an MLB club),and moving their Hi-A team there. 

The PDCs between the Cubs and all of their minor affiliates owned by third parties except Iowa expire after the 2014 season (the Cubs-Iowa PDC runs through 2016), and seven of the eight PDCs involving Carolina League clubs (except the Red Sox-Salem marriage that involves an affiliate owned outright by the MLB club) also expire after the 2014 season, so it's very possible that the Cubs will look into moving their Hi-A affiliate to the Carolina League post-2014, even if they have to purchase the team themselves (and run the club at a financial loss if necessary) to do it. 

BTW, the Cubs have had their Hi-A affilate at Daytona for 21 seaons (since 1993), but prior to that their Hi-A affiliate was in the Carolina League (Winston-Salem).

 

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

GEORGE A: The Daytona Cubs have played nine seven-inning doublheaders (so far) in 2013 (all as the result of rain-outs), so that's 18 innings lost right there.

Conversely, the Salem Red Sox (Boston Hi-A affiliate in the Carolina League) has played seven seven-inning doubleheaders so far in 2013 (somewhat better than Daytona). 

However, the Lancaster JetHawks (Astros Hi-A affiliate in the California League and former Hi-A affiiiate of the Red Sox) has had only one rain-out in 2013, and as a result has played just one seven-inning doubleheader. So if you want your Hi-A pitchers to get their innings and stay on a predictable schedule, the California League is the place to be. 

 

BP has a weekly writeup on 10 minor leaguers (Monday Morning 10 Pack) and the Cubs got two mentions in Almora and Bryant:
Albert Almora, OF, Cubs (Low-A Kane County) Almora just continues to perform for Low-A Kane County. Through 270 plate appearances the standout center fielder is hitting .332/.379/.470, showcasing an aggressive approach at the plate backed by an advanced feel for the barrel. As Almora progresses through the Cubs’ system, he will likely need to tone down the aggressiveness some. Midwest League arms, however, have proven incapable of getting the ball by the Cubs’ top prospect, with Almora striking out in just 11 percent of his plate appearances. Perhaps most importantly, in his first year of full-season baseball Almora appears to be getting stronger through the season, rather than tiring, and is already showing an emphasis on putting together more patient at-bats. Over his past 10 games he’s hitting .368/.429/.447, and in the month of July he saw his on-base percentage jump 60 points from June, in spite of a slight downtick in batting average. Almora won’t turn 20 until April, and he continues to show a feel for game well beyond his years. He is an elite prospect who could move quickly should the Cubs decide to let him loose. –Nick J. Faleris
Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs (Short-Season A Boise) The Cubs grabbed Bryant with the second overall selection in this June’s draft, inking the former Torero for $6.7 million. Bryant has been eased into pro ball, with two complex-league games before a promotion to the short-season Northwest League. Through his first 15 professional contests, Bryant is already showing the advanced power that wowed evaluators this spring, as 60 percent of his hits have gone for extras. It’s too early to start digging into the production, but the numbers to watch for Bryant will be his strikeout rate and walk rate as he progresses up the chain. There is no doubt the young slugger has the raw power to stand out in the middle of any major-league lineup, but his ability to make contact will be paramount in making sure that raw power is reachable in game. Bryant draws mixed reviews for his projected hit tool, so his on-base ability will be an important component of his overall offensive value. Thus far the defense has shown adequate, and evaluators generally give Bryant a fair shot to stick at the hot corner. Right field remains an enticing back-up option, and Bryant’s athleticism and arm strength would play. –Nick J. Faleris
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21439

MIL playing another epic-fail defense game tonight vs SF...falling apart in the 8th. for every error they make they double that on defensive plays that aren't errors that lead to baserunners or runs. it's crazy. 2 errors in tonight's game...and a few more "bonehead" defensive blunders that aren't officially errors. they're down 4-1...3 of those runs were directly caused by their defense.

Minor league round-up:

0-for-Olt: 0/4 (6/52 with 16 K/2 BB since joining Iowa)

Grimm Reaper: 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, no XBH's...BABIP'd to death

Baez: 2/4, 1 BB, 1 2B, 2 K

B. Jackson: 0/5, 3 K's

M. Loosen: 3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 HR

Candelario: 1/4 with a HR

G. Concepcion: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 BB, 1 K

Arizona Phil: Have you heard/seen any scouting regarding Adonis Paula now playing 3B for the DSL Cubs. He seems to be hitting. I've gotta root for having a Cub someday making it to the 40 man roster named Adonis!

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: I'm familiar with the name, but I haven't heard anything about him.

BTW, VSL Cubs switch-hitting 3B-1B Roney Alcala won the VSL Batting Championship with a .353 batting average, and finished third in SLG. 1B-OF Delbis Arcila led the VSL in doubles and was third in HR. And 18-year old RHP Adbert Alzolay led the VSL in ERA (1.07) and WHIP (0.88) and finished third in strikeouts. (The VSL Cubs are currently engaged in a best 2-out-of-3 series with the VSL Mariners for the VSL Championship).

Going to the game tonight at Phillies and having a fucker of a time giving away my spare ticket. #TheseTeamsSuck In Philadelphia? Let me know ASAP and I will give you a ticket in the nosebleeds behind home plate.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Wayne Randazzo‏@WayneRandazzo Albert Almora expected to miss a few games for @KCCougars with hip flexor injury. Came out early during Sunday's game. #Cubs Sahadev Sharma‏@sahadevsharma Almora placed on 7-day DL with groin injury. Tommy Birch‏@TommyBirch #IowaCubs RHP Barret Loux placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain. Third trip to the DL for him this season. #Cubs #PCL

Also...

Cubs have released 2010 9th round draft pick RHRP Kevin Rhoderick.

OF Julio Brobon cleared waivers without being claimed and has been assigned outright to AAA Iowa. He does not have the right to elect free-agency if outrighted, so the Cubs will retain club control through the 2014 season. He will be eligible for selection in the December 2013 Rule 5 Draft.

And another Boise Hawk has been moved up to AAA Iowa, as 2013 16th round draft pick C-1B Cael Brockmeyer (Cal State - Bakerfield) joins INF Danny Lockhart. The I-Cubs ran out of catchers in yesterday's game (SS Edwin Maysonet had to finish the game behind the plate), so Brockmeyer provides an emergency filler (Boise had four catchers on their active roster). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

The Cubs have optioned RHRP Eduardo Sanchez to Iowa to make room for OF Thomas Neal on the 25-man roster 

So the Cubs are back to a 12-man pitching staff and five-man bench.

soriano batting 2nd for the yanks again tonight...i can't even comprehend the thought process there. he's not speed, he's not contact, and he's got a low chance of taking a walk...it fits no profile for a #2 guy even by the most general of standards. i guess girardi thinks arod batting 3rd will get him more protection via more favorable pitching to see...but that has rarely played out in soriano's favor because pitchers tend to not care and pitch him to his weaknesses anyway.

2h 0bb...4 cubs runs. SKILLZ! - N. Schierholtz doubled to shallow right - S. Castro flied out to right, N. Schierholtz to third - W. Castillo reached on fielder's choice, N. Schierholtz scored - D. Barney reached on catcher's interference, W. Castillo to second on catcher C. Ruiz's fielding error - D. Murphy homered to deep left, W. Castillo and D. Barney scored

june 11th/13th is the last time h.rondon went 2 appearances in a row without giving up a run. 11 appearances since...7 where he gives up runs...10 runs total. 1ip 2h 0bb 1k, 1er tonight.

Villeueva snares a line drive for the 1st out. Baez dives full out to catch a liner to SS. 2 outs... 2 sterling plays. Then a walk. Jacksonville then sends the pitcher to bat? Whoa.

and Olt with a HR and 3 walks tonight for I-Cubs and Lim had a shutout inning, might see him next bullpen move

BA put out their "best tools" list (voted on by league managers) http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/mlb-2013-best-tools/ ...cubbies on the list Best 2nd D - d.barney (ranked 2nd best out of 3) AAA Best 3rd D - m.olt AA Best Control - k.hendricks AA Best 3rd D - c.villanueva AA Best Infield Arm - a.alcantara AA Best OF Arm - r.silva A+ Best IF Arm - j.baez fwiw, it seems this list was being sourced many weeks (to a month+) ago or held to some past criteria. guys like g.springer and k.jensen make the AA list though they've been in AAA for a while...and baez makes the A+ list. some guys make multiple lists...like m.santo. it's hard to peg down when these requests were made to rank the best.

i'm starting to suspect that a.sanchez would have been worth the extra $3m a year over ejax...sigh. cubs about to lose their 5th in a row.

3 more hits for Welly last night -- he has become an on-bsse machine -- OBP of over .400 since July 1 (with 12 BB).

WTF is this lineup? How did they get Ransom, Neal, Gillespie, and Murphy all into the game. Holy smurfs.

wow navarro...also, wow, the chances of trading him any time soon just got knocked the hell out. nailed blocking the plate at home for the out. he's been down for a minute+ now...can't even sit up without shaking...looks like he took it hard in the knee+shoulder+chest.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

him or luis flores...neither good options. rafael lopez (AA) with an outside shot. it seriously looks like navarro might be gone for the year...at least a couple of weeks, and that would be a good diagnosis...dude was in some serious pain and i wouldn't be surprised to hear about something broken or ligament damage. the cubs will probably look at the waiver wire for a backup replacement asap. but yeah, i imagine it'll be boscan.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Flores probably not an option. Tommy Birch‏@TommyBirch6 Aug #IowaCubs catcher Luis Flores places on the DL after suffering a concussion in last night's game. C Cael Brockmeyer called up from Boise. Tommy Birch‏@TommyBirch6 Aug #IowaCubs now saying that C Luis Flores will now not be heading to the disabled list. C Cael Brockmeyer still joins the team. #Cubs #PCL

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Oh no doubt. This mgmt team are waiver hawks more than any group and DFA specialists than any group I have ever seen here. They will find a AAAA player that will plug in the hole.

well...it seems the cubs opened up 2 roster spots tonight =p sigh. sappelt and boscan, come on up.

if Navarro did break his leg, the shin guards are pretty effective temporary splints. He was moving both legs to a certain extent based on the video. Of course, he's a tough guy. No doubt. It looked like he hyperextended his left knee but the right leg did go under his body in the collision

welly stole 2nd off a lefty...that's just embarrassing for a pitcher...any pitcher. ...oops...not a lefty...still embarrassing.

donnie "junior lake sucks" murphy with his 3rd HR (2nd of the night) in 3 games...cubs with a 3 run lead.

Mark Gonzales (taking Sullivan's role):
Cubs say Navarro day-to-day, will hold off on at least one roster move. Neal will go on DL
Sveum on Navarro: "He was able to do some things, squats and things like that. Everything is looking a little better than we thought.’’

Minors

Trey McNutt threw an inning in Arizona

CJ Edwards only threw an inning for Daytona (1 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB), not sure if planned or pulled early

Candelario 2/4 with a 3B

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

he was supposed to start on the 5th. he may have pitched a side session yesterday and gotten pushed back. they've had a lot of delays and the pitching there is screwed...aug 1st/3rd/4th/5th rained out...off day on the 6th. lot of guys trying to get their work in. btw, the rained out games on the 4th and 5th were supposed to be double header makeup games for past rained out games. fun times in florida.

Cliff Murphy... from Roto:
Murphy has certainly come out of the gate swinging. Since being recalled on August 3, Murphy is 4-for-9 with three home runs and seven RBI. He's got an extensive track record of performing well below his current level of production, so he's heading toward a cliff in the near future. But it's worth riding him while he's hot in NL-only leagues.
Cliff Valbuena, Cliff Ransom...

Strop has filthy stuff. I was expecting a disaster from reading some of the comments about him when the Cubs traded for him, but if he improves his command just a notch, he could be a devastating pitcher out there. That fastball is insane. I can't remember even seeing one like it. There must be a comp out there, but I can't think of anyone off the top of my head. It looks like a 96 mph curveball. And then, last night, he throws this breaking pitch that supposedly missed the outside part of the plate after some 96 mph chin music? The ump should have given him that strike just for the sheer artistry of the pitch.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Strop reminds me of a young Marmol. The thing that first struck me about Marmol and why he had early success is that he through a 95-96 mph running fastball that had a lot of late run on it. Batters couldn't take a pitch that looked like it would be 3 inches off the plate, because it would come back over. But if they swung at the pitch that looked like it would be on or just off the corner, they often looked silly going after a slider that ended up a foot out of the zone. It was deadly.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-notebook-cubs-kris-bryan…

Kris Bryant, 3b, Cubs: What happens when you take the best hitting prospect in the 2013 draft and plop him in the Northwest League? You get plenty of hits and signs that he’s a little too good for a short-season league.

Bryant hit a pair of doubles as part of a three-hit game on Wednesday. He’s working on a 10-game hitting streak and is now hitting .292/.352/.583 since joining Boise.

Considering his college experience, the Cubs could consider promoting Bryant to low Class A Kane County, but there are some factors working against such a move. Boise is in a pennant race in the Northwest League while Kane County is dead last in the Midwest League’s Western Division over the second half. The Cubs’ backlog of third basemen also works against a move. Jeimer Candelario is playing the position in Kane County, so unless the Cubs want to move Candelario up also, it makes more sense to keep Bryant where he is.

Anyone know what's up with firstinning.com? Haven't been able to load it in a day or two.

rosscup .1ip 2h 1bb 1k, 1er...send him back to A ball. baez 1-5, single szczur 4-5, 2 singles - double - HR

Dan Vogelbomb, Kris Bryant, solo HRs Some nice pitching from Pierce Johnson and Kyle Hendricks tonight

saw hendricks last night & gonna try to check out arrieta tonight...then I'll give it to ya' straight

Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet: 11. Javier Baez, ss, Cubs Team: Double-A Jackson (Southern) Age: 20 Why He’s Here: .444/.483/.630 (12-for-27), 4 R, 5 2B, 7 RBIs, 2 BB, 7 SO, 3-for-3 SB The Scoop: Southern League fans got the full Baez experience this week. He provided highlights all around with four multi-hit games, five extra-base hits, a strikeout per game on average and three errors. Those three errors give him 40 for the season. That’s a pretty large number, but it also comes as more scouts and coaches give Baez a chance to stick at shortstop then they did when he was drafted. Those who’ve seen him last year and this say he looks a little quicker at shortstop than he did last year, and his error count ought to decrease as he gains experience. 13. Kris Bryant, 3b, Cubs Team: short-season Boise (Northwest) Age: 21 Why He’s Here: .462/.533/1.077 (6-for-13), 2 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBIs, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 SO The Scoop: We hope no one was actually worried when Bryant started his pro career 2-for-18. Now that the reigning College Player of the Year appears to have gotten his feet under him again, he’s hit .359/.422/.769 with four homers in his last 11 games, during which time he coincidentally has an 11-game hitting streak. Combining his college and pro home run totals, he’s up to 35 longballs in the 2013 calendar year. http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-aug-9-carlos-c…

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

BA Hotsheet Chat: Q): I know Baez, Soler, Bryant, even Almora get all the attention in Chicago but I've slowly but surely fallen for Arismendy Alcantara. Do you see him as a June '14 call up and what do you project for him as a major leaguer? Matt Eddy: Cubs Double-A middle infielder Arismendy Alcantara has the potential to be a first-division second baseman. He has a feel to hit and generates surprising power from a 5-foot-10 frame. I think your optimism is warranted. Q): Where would you rank Kyle Hendricks, based on his performance this season. In both the Cubs system as well as overall, does he crack the top 100? Matt Eddy: The Southern League leader in ERA, WHIP and walk rate, Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks will be a strong candidate for the Cubs top 10. He has sharp control but no standout pitch, so a development along the lines of Dillon Gee or Josh Tomlin (before he got hurt) could be a possibility. Hendricks was part of the Dempster deal with the Rangers in 2012. http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1376067154 A couple of other Cubs questions as well.

"Marlins purchased the contract of C Koyie Hill from Triple-A New Orleans." lulz.

"David DeJesus will bat cleanup for the first time in his career Friday against the Cardinals." umm...okay. Lake LF, Gillespie RF, Rizzo 1B, DeJesus CF, Murphy 3B, Castillo C, Castro SS, Barney 2B, Rusin P

one less reliever...probably for the season... "Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat Guerrier has flexor mass in right elbow. Has to make a decision re surgery. Hoyer says he does not need Tommy John procedure." also the fate of 2 weeks of k.bryant evidently needs a week to ponder... "Gordon Wittenmyer @GDubCub Cubs will discuss in next week whether to promote first-rounder Bryant to Kane County."

the most dramatic mild ankle sprain in the history of baseball award goes to... "Diaoner Navarro is expected to avoid the disabled list after being diagnosed with a mild ankle sprain."

arod gets boo'd @home during the Dumbass Never-Were Jocks Roll Call Bleacher Creature Roll Call...quite heavily, too.

Gorgeous suicide squeeze by Texas; Gentry lays it down and Beltre scores. Garza on the mound tonight trying to beat the Astros.

is len high? =p he's a bit weird tonight.

Olt doubles in the 4th and Maysonet drives him in with a double of his own. 3-2 Iowa Call him up.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Saw the St.Louis feed on mlb.com. Card announcer said that Matheny doesn't use swear words so it was going to take him a little longer to get thrown out, which he was compelled to do to show support for his player. As for the pitch itself, the St. Louis guy admitted it was a strike. I don't know about frustration, just the typical MO of a LaRussa-inspired group that never goes quietly.

Rangers and Astros just played an 8th inning that lasted over an hour AND looks like it will make Garza the winner.

a couple of Patrick Mooney/CSN quotes...
Jorge Soler – who has been sidelined since mid-June with a stress fracture in his left tibia – will be examined on Monday in Chicago. That will give the Cubs a better feel for if the $30 million Cuban outfielder can return to Daytona this season and/or play in the Arizona Fall League.
“I stare at our minor-league system,” Hoyer said. “You look out and at almost every position on the diamond you can find a pretty good prospect. But catching is an area where we’re thin and we know it. We talk about it all the time: How do you acquire catching? It’s going to be a priority for us over the next couple years.
http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-build-‘-core’-kris-bryant’s-making-good-first-impression

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  • 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.