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

Villanueva Could Draw Interest from Contenders

11:59 PM (Eastern) tonight is the deadline for an MLB club to acqure a player from another organization or sign a free-agent so that the player would be eligible for the club's post-season playoff roster. 

The player does NOT have to be added to the club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) prior to the 11:59 PM deadline to be playoff eligible, however. He just has to be under club control by the deadline.

Carlos Villanueva is the most-likely Cub to get traded today. He has pitched very well as a "swingman" over the past seven weeks (14 games), and he should have value to a contender because of his versatility (he can start or relieve). 

CARLOS VILLANUEVA LAST 14 GAMES
22.2 IP, 12 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 25 K, 2 HBP, 1 HR 
0.62 WHIP 
0.40 ERA
.156 Opp BA

Unless the Cubs sign him to a contract extension (not likely), Villanueva will be an Article XX-B MLB FA after the conclusion of the World Series, and the Cubs would end up with nothing. So I'm sure they would be very interested in finding a trade partner, even if all they get back in return is a "second-tier" prospect.      

There is an outside chance that some other Cub player could draw interest as well, but Villanueva would seem to be the best candidate.

The only stumbling block to any potential trade made this time of year is that Trade Assignment Waivers (see below) must be secured before a player on an MLB 40-man roster can be dealt. 


OTHER POTENTIAL TRADE CANDIDATES:


33-year old veteran NPB LHSP Tsuyoshi Wada has pitched very well for the Cubs since getting called up from AAA Iowa in July, but the Cubs have a club option on Wada for 2015 and might want to hang onto him until they know whether or not they can sign a #1 starting pitcher (like Jon Lester) in the off-season. If the Cubs don't sign a TOR starter, Wada's chances of remaining in Chicago in 2015 grows.   

The Cubs also hold a 2015 club option on 34-year old veteran NPB RHRP,Kyuji Fujikawa, who has spent much of the 2013 & 2014 seasons rehabbing from TJS. But unlike with Wada, the Cubs are probably unlikely to exercise their 2015 option on Fujikawa. There is a lengthy list of young arms set to compete for MLB bullpen jobs with the Cubs in 2015, and the $5.5M Fujikawa would get if the Cubs pick-up his option could probably be better-allocated elsewhere. So the Cubs would almost certainly jump at the chance to trade Fujikawa (even if it's jst a waiver claim with no players coming back), but Fujikawa really hasn't pitched well enough to draw much interest from contenders. 

LHRP Wesley Wright (eligible for salary arbitration post-2014 and under club control through 2015) could get moved today if a contender is looking for a veteran lefty reliever. Wright has pitched fairly well for the Cubs this season, and with James Russell having already been traded, Wright is the Cubs de facto #1 lefty reliever going into 2015. But he is also a potential 12/2 non-tender candidate if the Cubs need his 40-man roster slot during the off-season, so the Cubs probably would be willing to trade him today or sometime during the off-season if they get an offer they really like.  

Veteran back-up catcher John Baker could have value to somebody as a September "insurance policy" (3rd catcher). As with Fujikawa, the Cubs probably wouldn't get anything back for Baker other than a little bit of salary relief, but they might move him if a contender shows even slight interest. Baker was Jason Hammel's "personal catcher" prior to Hammel getting traded to Oakland in July, so maybe the A's wiould take Baker on just to catch Hammel.  

OF Chris Coghlan, INF Luis Valbuena, and RHRP Pedro Strop (all of whom are eligible for salary arbitration post-2014) would likely have some value to a contender looking to cement a roster for possible post-season play, but the trio may have even more value to the Cubs at this point, since they are under club through 2016 (Coghlan and Valbuena) or 2017 (Strop). 

Somewhat surprisingly, the Cubs optioned reliable (though unspectacular) RH middle-reliever Brian Schlitter to Iowa and allowed his second minor league option to burn this past week (the Cubs would have had to recall him no later than last Thursday to avoid spending the option), instead of just leaving him on the MLB 15-day DL and on a Minor League Rehab Assignment at Iowa until Active Rosters expand on September 1st. Whether there might have been some behind-the-scenes conflict between Schlitter and the Cubs that resulted in this somewhat unusual roster strategy has not been reported (Schlitter would have had to give his approval to remain on a Minor League Rehab Assignment, and if he didn't, the Cubs either had to reinstate him from the DL and return him to the 25-man roster or option him to the minors). But if Schlitter pissed off the FO by trying to leverage his way back onto the 25-man roster by refusing to remain on the 15-day DL (and on a Minor League Rehab Assignment at Iowa) when the Cubs maybe wanted to wait to reinstate him from the DL until rosters expand on September 1st, Dirty Jesus could get traded sooner rather than later. 


2014 MLB POST-SEASON ROSTER ELIGIBILITY RULES

A club's Active List (25-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of each post-season series (LDS, LCS, and World Series). 

1. All players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st are eligible to be included on a post-season Active List (25-man roster).

2. A player on an MLB club's Disabled List (7-day, 15-day, or 60-day) or Restricted List (Prohibited Substance Suspension or extended Bereavement Leave only) is eligible to be included on a post-season Active List only after spending the minimum number of days required to be served by a player on that list.

3. Any player on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Restricted List (for reasons other than extended Bereavement Leave or a Prohibited Substance Suspension) as of midnight August 31st is ineligible to be included on his club's post-season Active List.  

4. A post-season eligible player who is placed on an MLB Disabled List, Bereavement List, Paternity Leave List, or Restricted List (Prohibited Substance Suspension or extended Bereavement Leave only) prior to the start of a post-season series can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's LDS, LCS, or World Series Active List by a player who was on a Reserve List or Inactive List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight August 31st. The minor league player must be added to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be added to the club's Active Roster.   

5. A player on a post-season Active List (25-man roster) who is injured or leaves his club on Bereavement Leave or Paternity Leave during a post-season series can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's Active List prior to the conclusion of that series by another eligible player, or by a player who was on a Reserve List or Inactive List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight August 31st. The minor league player must be added to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be added to the club's Active Roster. Also, a a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player. 

6. If an injured pitcher or position player is replaced during a post-season series, the injured pitcher or position player is ineligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List (25-man roster) for the balance of that series and the next series (LCS or World Series). 


TRADE ASSIGNMENT WAIVERS 


The deadline for "non-waiver" (unrestricted) trades is 4 PM (Eastern) on July 31st. No trades can be made between 4 PM and 5 PM (Eastern) on July 31st, 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 a player on a minor league reserve list).

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 given player in a waiver period, 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 48-1/2 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 the player is not traded to the claiming club before the window closes, and the player's 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 a "no trade" right can refuse both a waiver claim and a trade assignment, however).

If a player is claimed but not traded and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player cannot be placed on Trade Assignment Waivers or Optional Assignment Waivers for at least 30 days from the date the waiver request is withdrawn, and if the player is placed on Trade Assignment Waivers again before the end of the season, the waivers become irrevocable and cannot be withdrawn. A player who has a "no trade" right (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" right.

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 Disabled List is placed on Trade Assignment Waivers, he must be eligible to be reinstated from the DL and healthy enough to play. If waivers are secured, the player must be reinstated from the DL within 72 hours. If the player is claimed and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player must be reinstated from the DL immedialtely.

Comments

Daytona clinched a playoff spot on Friday, Boise on Saturday. Tennessee, tied with Chattanooga for the 2nd-half lead with a head-to-head double header today to end the regular season, can advance with two wins, including a possible one-game playoff tomorrow.

it's astonishing how bad the cubs are at bunting...especially the pitchers...for many seasons (spanning different leadership groups, even). it's like putting on the uniform kills one's ability to bunt.

In random news: Jose Bautista has homered in 5 consecutive games - active streak including one today.

Villaneuva would have been a deadline waiver deal but Jedstein wanted a secret weapon to keep a top 10 draft pick and with Edwin on the DL they could not afford to make the move.

Straily got pounded, 7K's in 5 inn but 8 hits/3BB and 7 runs (6 earned). Still the Iowa leftovers won the game.

I barely saw any of the game and saw Holliday get beaned once and then the next time I happened to be taking a look he got some serious chin music. I'm glad to see pitchers push guys off the plate but I wish they'd not go quite so high. It seems more common around the league lately, although it could also be my imagination. Fangraphs probably has a chart for it somewhere.

Anyone else read the article on Sandberg? Seems like a lot of nothing to me. So Domonic Brown, he of the .635 OPS, is upset about how he's being used....and Cole Hamels was upset about being taken out of a tie game....after pitching 7 innings, and letting the leadoff man get on in the 8th. The Phillies won 4-3. So...the controversy?

This is probably 3/44, but what the hell is the point of the story of Castro, Yadi, and Lackey? http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/chc/cardinals-catcher-yadier-molina-cub… And shit like this? "[Castro] apparently said something that John didn't like, and John said something to me," Hinske said. "I asked him, 'What are you talking about?' because I didn't know what he was talking about. [Castro] is competing. Yadi came over and said, 'Just chill out,' and I said, 'I don't know what [Lackey] is talking about.'" What kind of quote is this? It's like an entire article describing, in detail, how Castro said some nasties and Lackey thought it was directed at him. Do things like this warrant an article on MLB.com?

Ex-Cub Bo Porter fired by the Astros. As was his bench coach Dave Trembley who managed in the Cubs minor league system for a while.

Wow....yeah it was Porter's fault the Astros suck.. They're on pace to win 69 games this year, up from 51 in 2014. Geez...yeah I'd want that job....

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Going from 61 wins to 66.....with Rizzo and Castro regressing, and Astros going from 51 wins to a pace of 69 wins.. with Keuchel improving, Springer debuting, and Altuve having his best season aren't EXACTLY the same thing Rob. Agree to mostly disagree.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Whenever you fire someone, it's not pretty. But in Sveum's case, there was a dangerous situation in baseball terms in that Castro and Rizzo were not just having bad adjustment sophomore years, but seemed to be regressing rather badly. Rizzo maybe not so much regressing as not moving forward in a way that satisfied the men who had just handed him a hefty contract. Look at this way. If you fire Sveum and those two still have suck years the next year, then you know the problem is quite a bit deeper than you thought. It's too bad Sveum had to get thrown under the bus but unfortunately, it was the right move.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Porter and GM Jeff Luhnow were no longer playing nice with each other is what I've gathered from local reports here in Texas. Pretty similar to the Sveum situation with some apparent second guessing by the GM of in-game strategy. Guessing that the fact that neither Springer nor Singleton had excellent rookie outings also played a part. The local fans don't call them the disAstros without cause. Between the Aiken/draft fiasco, the computer breach, the Appel saga and some disappointing prospect progress; it's been a rough year for Astro fans. Even with the improved record, I get the feeling Astro fans feel like this year has been a step backwards in the rebuilding process. Edit: Forgot about the dust up between management and players/Porter over the Appel visit to Minute Maid earlier in the season.

[ ]

In reply to by Sonicwind75

Not a surprise then. I'm not too sure what the Astros expeced, bringing back mostly the same guys from 2013, and expecting a huge imrovement...well, more than they did? Springer sure was K'ing a lot..but managed a .124 OPS+...Singleton's swing looked loopy to me. Did anyone "get" the Cosart trade btw? Is Collin Moran worth it?

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

I agree dusty Baylor, I don't believe Bo Porter was the main problem. However, there appears to be a rift between him and the front office which, regardless of who's at fault, generally doesn't end well for a short tenured manager with a losing record.

[ ]

In reply to by Sonicwind75

allegedly the players were getting a bit sick of bo doing things his way with motivation and demands of his players...which is odd considering it's nothing that j.maddon hasn't done similarly in TB. it sounds like an organizational issue going back to the minors, honestly...though it could be bo reading his players incorrectly and managing personalities improperly. ...and of course the GM/manager relationship has been publicity toxic for a while now (especially since the m.appel incident).

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

This is completely irrational but I pretty much despised Bo Porter after he single handedly walked over and challenged the Cubs' dugout during that fracas with the Nationals a couple years back. Might be just me but he seemed fairly incendiary. I know he has a good reputation.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

they were playing in a kenko/rubber ball league...they don't have a future anyway. it's the JV to the varsity...the flag girl to the cheerleader...etc etc...especially on the high-school level. that said, i'd like to see more US kids playing kenko ball at younger ages (little league and before) because it strongly skews the game into a defensive game with a lot of fielders handling outs over popouts to the OF or Ks. the ball generally isn't thrown as hard and it comes off the bat weakly unless it's squared up and/or hit very hard.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

(4 days 700 pitches) It's the anime battle equivalent of a baseball game. Prior to each pitch, the pitcher has to announce the custom name for the breaking ball and give a detailed history of its origins and how he throws it. "Here comes the cleanup hitter. Bob, he's their star player. His power level is over 9000." Innings after 27, btw, are no longer called "extra innings". From there on they are "Super Saiyan" innings. Ok, I think that's all I've got.

Soler. Dang he's hot. Turner looks okay BUT very deliberate and inefficient. Lots of pitches and Castillo setting up out of the zone almost exclusively.

iowa scores 11 runs...bryant only goes 1-4 (single)...demote the bum. j.lake goes 0-4 (1bb), btw.

What did Parker do in Iowa that he doesn't do here? Do those teams in the minors really not hit belt high fastballs in the ninth inning?

Javy seems to be getting progressively more clueless at the plate -- struck out on an 0-2 pitch in his eyes. HIs baseball IQ is a concern -- if you swing at the first 2 pitches that are not in the strike zone, it is very, very unlikely that the 0-2 pitch will be a strike. Pitchers seem be be almost laughing at him now -- they throw pitches nowhere near the zone on 0-2, and yet he still swings. This can't be helping his development...time to sit for a bit.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

the nice thing is there's an option at 2nd with l.watkins if baez needs to be returned to AAA to "work on something" in 2015. ...and there's a.russell pushing the middle IF situation even more by 2016 at the latest (pending suck/injury). the bats pipeline is looking good all over the place with the exception of C (unless you buy into the new guy being able to stick there...which i don't buy into).

no way the cubs can trade for Hamels this offseason now, Ruben Amaro will want 3 of the big 4 + Arrieta also Soler now with 5 doubles and 3HR through 5+ games, jesus christ

"No one should confuse Manny with Midas -- Cubs minor-league hitting coordinator Anthony Iapoce, Double A hitting coach Desi Wilson and Triple A hitting coach Brian Harper all played significant roles in the young hitters’ developments. Still, Ramirez’s impact was undeniable." http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/changed-manny-ram… "Another episode, about a month into Ramirez’s stint in Iowa, left an even greater impression. Ramirez, speaking on the phone to Epstein, broke down every player on the Iowa roster, giving detailed, sophisticated assessments of not only their skills but also their personalities. Epstein found the conversation so impressive and surprising that he left his office immediately after getting off the phone with Ramirez and walked down the hall to visit with other Cubs executives. He had to repeat the conversation verbatim to his colleagues to make sure that it had really happened." [] "He learned how to throw batting practice while at Iowa. He would drag the minor leaguers to the batting cage, perform soft-toss drills, talk hitting on the bench. Some players, though, didn’t need much help. Bryant, 22, is practically a finished product, Ramirez said. “What can you tell a guy who is hitting .350 with 43 home runs and 45 doubles? What can you tell him?” Ramirez said, laughing and exaggerating slightly (Bryant has batted a combined .326 at Double A and Triple A with 43 homers, 34 doubles and 1.102 OPS.) “I just watched the game. Most of the time, I knew how pitchers were going to pitch him. I would tell him to look (a certain) way. They’re going to challenge you. They’re going to do this and that. That was it.” Soler, 22, required more direct instruction – he has an advanced hitting approach but had a tendency to “smother” the ball, hit it on the top half and ground to the pull side. Ramirez taught him to take more of a direct path with his swing, the better to create backspin. “His swing was a little bit long, but we worked on it and he made the adjustment,” Ramirez said. “The kid is a phenom. He can run. He can throw. He can hit. And he’s only 22 years old.” Ramirez, though, developed perhaps his greatest fondness for Baez, the youngest player of the group. Baez, 21, batted .229 with a .709 OPS at Triple A before Ramirez arrived June 24, .315 with a 1.041 OPS after that date. He has reverted to his free-swinging habits in the majors, hitting seven home runs but striking out 49 times and drawing only four walks in 116 plate appearances. “Baez is a special player,” Ramirez said. “He has the power of Bryant. And remember, Baez is only 6 feet. Bryant is 6-5. I didn’t have that kind of power when I was his age.” Ramirez said he even became friendly with Baez’s mother and brother. He plans to check on the youngster and perhaps work with him during the offseason. “I got real close to him,” Ramirez said. “I was kind of sad when he left, because I got so close to him. To be honest with you, now he’s like my favorite player. I love his leg kick.” Ramirez predicted that the Cubs in two or three years will be “the team to beat” but offered no clear vision of his own future. He said he has not even considered becoming a major-league hitting coach, explaining, “I’m a guy who likes to live in the moment.” His immediate goal is to return to the majors in a role similar to the one that Jason Giambi plays with the Indians. But he will be 43 next season, four years removed from his last major-league game.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

No Manny? And I see Straily is up as I thought he would be. It will be good for Bosio to work with him over the next few weeks. Perhaps he can help him a bit like it seems he has with Turner.

I can't wait to see Vizcaino. I wondered why no Rivero, but he's not on the 40 man roster (so that's my answer).

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: After getting off to a rocky start at Iowa after getting promoted from Tennessee in June, Vizcaino has thrown 13 consectutive scoreless innings (over 10 games) since the All-Star Break. 

Armando Rivero will almost certainly get an NRI to Spring Training next seson (he got an NRI this season, too), and he stands a good chance to make the Cubs 2015 Opening Day 25-man roster. 

Rafael Lopez will turn 27 next month, but it's not like he has spent an inordinate amoumt of time in ther minors (four full seasons). Rather, he got a late start on his pro career, getting selected by the Cubs as a 22-year old 5th year college senior in the 23rd round of the 2010 draft. 

Lopez started his college career as a 3rd baseman at Boston College, and then he transferred to Florida State where he was converted to catcher.

He's a lot like Steve Clevenger.

 

Looks like Chris "I am Great in the Minors, But Soil Myself in The Bigs" Rusin got left behind in the recent call-up. Seems like Jokisch might be the better horse to ride anyway...

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I don't think either are anything more than spot start depth at this point.

It's an organization of mid to back-end rotation guys to go with Arrieta

Wood, Jackson, Hendricks, Wada, Doubront, Turner, Strailly, Beeler and now Jokisch

And CJ will be on the 40-man this offseason, although I think he's more in Arrieta's class.

TheJedi have plenty of chess pieces they can move this offseason if they want.

Cubs are a win away from dropping of my .450 win percentage cutoff for the draft pick standings chart in the left sidebar.

As it stands, they have 7th worst record at moment, 8th pick. Getting close to losing a protected pick, which almost certainly take them out of Scherzer or Shields. Although I'd bet Denis Leary's other nut that Scherzer goes to Yankees.

no Rizzo for awhile, muscle strain in lower back according to MRI

would be on 15-day DL if not for expanded rosters

hmmm, who does that leave that won't have a draft pick attached? Could it be Theo's man-crush Jon Lester? On a serious note, is the 11th pick protected this year or not because of the Astro's failing to sign Aiken? I thought I remember MLB making a change to this rule.

SONIC: Because the Astros compensation pick for failing to sign Brady Aiken is pick #2 in the 1st round of the 2015 Rule 4 Draft, the 11th pick in the 2015 draft is a protected pick. The rule was changed this year.

Previously, the top 10 picks in the draft (including compensation picks) were protected. Also any compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft (like the one the Astros get in the 2015 draft for failing to sign Brady Aiken) is NOT subject to forfeiture, even if it is outside the Top 10 of the 1st round.  

An MLB club that signs a Qualified Player (an MLB Article XX-B FA who was extended a Qualifying Offer) forfeits its 1st round selection in the Rule 4 Draft, unless the club selects in the Top 10 of the 1st Round, in which case the club would forfeit its next-highest pick. NOTE: In determining whether a club would forfeit its 1st round draft pick, the ten "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft.

The next highest draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if the club signs more than one Qualified Player (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed). Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 picks outside the Top 10 of the 1st round, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks that were awarded as the result of the Competitive Balance Lottery or as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including any lottery draft pick originally awarded to another club and then subsequently acquired in a trade). But again, a compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft is NOT subject to forfeiture, even if it is outside the Top 10 of the 1st round.  

Also, a Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing a Qualified Player is not transferred to any other club. It just disappears.

 

Rizzout MRI shows strain, doubtful for rest of year. Said he hurt it on homerun 30, bothered him during rain delay. According to Bruce Levine

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: We will be seeing Dan Vogelbach after the playoffs. At least I will. He's playing with the Mesa Solar Sox in the AFL.

BTW, Vogelbach iwill be Rule 5 Draft eligible post-2015.

The Cubs Top 5 first-time Rule 5 Draft eligibles post-2015 are (as things stand right now): 

1. Pierce Johnson  
2. Dan Vogelbach
3. Corey Black
4. Juan Carlos Paniagua
3. Stephen Bruno

Again, this does not include players who are Rule 5 Draft eligible post-2014, just the ones who will be Rule 5 Draft eligible for the first time post-2015 and who might need a 40-man roster slot after next season and who therefore might get a September call-up this time next year (as happened with Rafael Lopez and Eric Jokisch this year).

 

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: The two biggest issues with JCP are the lack of a decent third pitch and inconsistent command from outing-to-outing. He throws a 94-95 MPH fastball that touches 96-97 and a hard slider, and (to me) he's another Pedro Strop, a future MLB set-up man, or possibly even a closer if he can throw strikes more consistently. I think once he is moved to the bullpen full-time he'll fast-track through the pipeline. I just hope he doesn't spend another year shuttlling back & forth between the starting rotation and the bullpen. I understand that the Cubs wanted to get him as many IP as possible under his belt given all the time he missed after his false identity was revealed & the missing birth certificate, et al, and using him as a "swing-man" accomplished that goal, but maybe it's not the best course going forward. I would hope he can be the closer at Tennessee next season. He's going to be 25 next April (supposedly).   

Corey Black has command issues, which isn't unusual when a guy has electric stuff (mid-90's heater, dive-bomb change-up, and a curve). He's also kind of a little guy (for a pitcher), which usually means "relief pitcher." At the very least he should be still another potential Cubs late-inning relief candidate, and in fact that's probably exactly where he'll end up eventually. In the meantime he accumulates minor league innings as a starter (while throwing about 20+ pitcher-per-inning), and then once he's ready for MLB, hopefully he'll turn out to be another Neil Ramirez.

 

Since there are plenty of NFL fans here, I thought I would open a pick-em league to anyone who wants to join. Confidence points, no spread, drop lowest weeks' score. No pay to join, just for fun. Invite your mom, too. Yahoo League ID: 45717 Password: letsplay2

Daytona Game 1 vs. Dunedin (Toronto)

Hannemann, Amaya, Schwarber, Vogelbach, Carhart, McKinney, Contreras, Radenmacherm Hernandez with Zastryzny pitching

2-0 in bottom of 2nd, Vogelbach 2B, Contreras RBI single, Radenmacher RBI 2B

Boise Game vs. Hillsboro (DBacks)

Stinnett is starting

Kane County starts tomorrow.

...and castro is severely injured. neat. sigh. left foot/ankle/knee/leg...something. ...and he hobbles off on his own. he might have escaped serious injury.

Len Kasper on the telecast also said the Olt will play for KC and might be up by the weekend. Also, Castro hurt his left leg sliding into home. He's walking off and only a slight limp. Not sure if it's his ankle which spun around on the slow mo replay.

this thing here, this thing where the Cubs have exciting players that occasionally perform well...I can live with this for a long time.

#FireRicketts

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I see. Well, under Hendry I never really cared that much about any prospects--they either sucked or were traded anyway. My hopes were more often tied to particular free agents or veterans acquired in trades. Sometimes it worked and they were competitive, and sometimes they tanked or got injured and the Cub sucked.

no rizzo and probably no castro (at least for a few days)...this could be an ugly series of games. they got garza tomorrow, so they can just bunt to pitcher for a few runs...so there's that.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but if Castro's injury were a knee injury, he wouldn't be walking, no? Quad?

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

video is up on MLB.com if you go to Gameday, didn't need to slide either which is unfortunate...spike got caught, looked like he grabbed back of left leg, hamstring area, but then later the calf/ankle area is what he seemed to be stretching out. Did walk off and seemed in considerably less pain already, but Watkins in, Baez moved to SS.

If he broke a bone , he wouldn't be walking. Otherwise, being able to bear full weight is a good thing, even if it's a severe sprain or a hammy. The replay looks like it's an ankle though.

With Rizzo out, Olt should get about 3 weeks of at-bats. It will be interesting if he makes the most of this opportunity.

Btw I predict that Castro is ok. Worst case scenario an Achilles. Probably a rolled ankle. Great sign he shook it off quick.

Len was told that Dallas Beeler isn't up because he had reached an innings limit.

when teams give the cubs 6 outs in an inning they seem to do well with it. another epic D brewers outing.

Bryant less than thrilled about not being called up...as it should be.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/27084/bryant-with-little…

“I think now more than ever, I’m realizing this game is a business, and all I can do is go out there and play as hard as I can and make it really hard on the guys in charge,” Bryant said in a phone interview Tuesday. “I think I did that this year. If I’m taking that mindset, then I’m not really going to be sitting there with my head down at the end of the year.”

Theo claiming Cubs wouldn't call up player in their first full year in pros unless it was a pennant race.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Screw Bryant- Any Boras client whining about the business of baseball is the height of irony. The Cubs have proved (failed Samardzija extension) that they aren't interested in getting raped by agents looking to fleece the organization. Good. Keep playing hardball.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Maybe the $6.7 million signing bonus should have been your first clue it is a business. I try not to begrudge any player trying to maximize their earnings but please don't publicly gripe or feign ignorance about the consequences of trying to earn your extra millions.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think Theo and Jed will come to a conclusion by the end Spring Training on how likely they think the team is to contend...at one end of the spectrum if they get two TOR pitchers over the winter then they will go the rest of the way "all in" for next year and Bryant is with the Cubs from day one and burns a year of control...if they strike out over the winter and wind up with EJax-Arietta-Hendricks-Turner-Wood as the starting rotation then Bryant goes down long enough to delay his clock.

2B, 1b, then "With Kevin Cron batting, missed catch error by Alex Tomasovich on the pickoff attempt, Taylor Ratliff scores. Steve Nyisztor to 2nd."

So 1-0 Hillsboro through 2 innings. Stinnett struck out 5 of the next 6 batters after the hits and run scored.

BP writeup on...
Christian Villanueva, 3B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee) After a season in which he slashed .261/.317/.469 as a 22-year-old at Double-A, Villanueva ranked ninth on a loaded Cubs Top 10 Prospects list this offseason and started the year with the Iowa Cubs in the Pacific Coast League. A mixture of poor performance (.656 OPS) and the promotion of Kris Bryant led to a mid-June demotion back to the Southern League, where the now 23-year-old regressed in almost every statistical category. Defense has never been a question for Villanueva, as he possesses a plus-plus glove at the hot corner, armed with quick feet, soft hands, excellent balance and coordination, true third-base instincts, and a plus arm to boot. On the other hand, questions have revolved around the utility of the stick at the higher levels, a concern that was exacerbated with a poor statistical showing this season. The raw ingredients are impressive at the plate, as the Mexico native utilizes a tip-and-rip loading mechanism with above-average bat speed and plenty of lower-half utilization throughout, resulting in plus raw power and solid contact when squared. His path to the ball can get loopy at times, though, and his control of the barrel often suffers as a result. Paired with questionable pitch-recognition skills and an aggressive approach, Villanueva will always have some swing-and-miss in his game. Though the on-the-field development stalled this year, Villanueva still possesses major-league upside with double-plus defense, a below-average hit tool (.240 to .250 batting average), and average power output with the potential to hit 15 to 20 bombs annually, potentially occupying a Matt Dominguez–type role, with the ability to provide plenty of value in his cost-controlled years and beyond. The current logjam of Cubs position prospects diminishes the chance that this occurs on the north side of Chicago. –Ethan Purser
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=24551

BP's Mauricio Rubio, on Jeimer Candelario, also in that link...
Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Cubs (Low-A Kane County) Sometimes "best shape of his life" stories happen in the minors as well. The formerly stocky third baseman entered 2014 just inside the Cubs' Top 10 as a testament to his pitch recognition and ability to drive balls hard into the gaps. Candelario showed up in much better shape and ready for a test in the Florida State League, but he floundered to start the year. It earned him a demotion to Kane County to build confidence and figure things out. Candelario is a different-looking hitter at the plate this year: He’s dipping the back shoulder a lot and trying to reach back for power that isn’t natural to his game. In the field he hasn’t gained any range with the lost weight. His reactions are slow. He can get to the balls hit at him, and flashes a strong arm, but overall he hasn’t been impressive at the hot corner. It’s been a major step backward for the young switch-hitter. That said, the 21-year-old is enjoying moderate success in Low-A, so there’s time to get back on track, especially if he can tone the swing down. –Mauricio Rubio

Here's a name I don't mind typing: Chesny Young. It's a cool name, first of all, and also this fellow who played infield (mostly 2B) for Boise and Kane County did a nice job at the plate in 42 games after being drafted in the 14th round in June. His slash line of .327/.384/.409(.793) includes two games with the AZL Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

That's a good one. I also like Charcer Burks. He's 19...hit .311/.393/.409 with 13/17 Steals between Ariz/Boise. Mark Zagunis looks like he can play too. I am happier about the depth of this system than I've ever been. I mean, it's no Carlos Lezcano and Herman Segelke....but still.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!  

    And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).