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

Cubs Playing Musical Chairs - Some Affiliates Hear "Go Cubs, Go" Ringing in their Ears

After 14 seasons, the Cubs have apparently decided to leave Boise, and so they will now be looking for a new advanced Short Season (SS-A) affiliate in the Northwest League (NWL) to replace the Hawks. Salem-Keizer and Eugene would be their two most-likely destinations (presuming the Cubs opt to remain in the NWL), since both have an expiring Player Development Contract (PDC) with their current MLB partner. (The Cubs had a PDC with Eugene prior to moving to Boise). 

The Cubs have already renewed their PDC with the AA Tennessee Smokies through the 2018 season, and their PDC with AAA Iowa extends through 2016. But there are three Cubs PDCs set to expire after the 2014 season: 

Daytona
Kane County 
Boise 

(The Cubs own their AZL Cubs, DSL Cubs, and VSL Cubs affilates). 

There was talk last month that the Cubs were mulling over the possibility of moving their affiliate in the Midwest League (MWL) from Kane County to either South Bend (new playing surface) or Fort Wayne (best stadium in the MWL), but recently announced plans to make improvements/upgrades at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva should mean the Cubs will renew their PDC with Kane County. 

But the relationship between Cubs and their "Hi-A" Daytona affiliate in the Florida State League (FSL) is another matter. 

The Cubs have had their Hi-A affiliate in Daytona for 22 seasons, but because of the high number or postponed games (rainouts) in the FSL, the Cubs had been making plans to move therir Hi-A affiliate from the FSL to the California League back when Oneri Fleita was the Cubs Player Development Director. But probably because of the change in ownership and the hiring of Theo Epstein & his people, the PDC with Daytona was renewed for another two years in 2012. However, this time I would expect the Cubs to make their move.

Back when Theo was GM of the Boston Red Sox, the BoSox moved their Hi-A affiliate (Sarasota) from the FSL to the Carolina League (Wilmington, NC) and then to the California League (Lancaster), before eventually purchasing an affiliate (Salem, VA) in the Carolina League. While some minor league affiliates are owned outright by MLB clubs (the Braves all of their minor league affilates except one), it is fairly rare. But since Theo was involved in the Red Sox purchase of the Salem club, I think it's plausible that the Cubs will attempt to do the same (if possible). 

Prior to moving to Daytona in 1993, the Cubs Hi-A affiliate was in Winston-Salem, NC, so the Cubs (like the Red Sox) do have a history in the Carolina League. 

At present it would appear that there are no plans to expand either the California League or the Carolina League beyond each league's present number of affiliates, so the Cubs would probably be restricted to taking over a Carolina League or California League affilate from another MLB organization where the PDC is set to expire after this season.

If the Braves relocate their Carolina League affiliate from Lynchburg, VA,  back to Myrtle Beach, SC, the Cubs and Rangers (who are presently in Myrtle Beach) could compete to replace the Braves in Lynchburg, with the chance to possibly move the Lynchburg club to a new ballpark in Wilmington in 2016 when the Royals PDC with Wilmington is set to expire.  

Another possibility would be for the Cubs to move their Hi-A affiliate temporarily to Lancaster, CA (the same place the Red Sox moved their Hi-A affiliate when they left Wilmington, before eventually purchasing the Salem club), and then try and work out a deal to purchase a Carolina League club (Wilmington?) in 2016 if they can't get it done this year. (The Houston Astros presently have their Hi-A affiliate in Lancaster, but they are the only Florida Spring Training team with a Hi-A affiliate in the California League, so it would make sense for Houston to move their Hi-A affiliate from the California League to the FSL). 

One other issue the Cubs have with their minor league affiliates is that they probablty could benefit from another short-season team in the U. S. 

Fully 1/3 of the 30 MLB clubs (AZ, HOU, KC, NYM, NYY, PIT, STL, SEA, TB, and TOR) have three short-season affiliates in the U. S., but the Cubs have only two. (The Cubs are one of 12 MLB clubs with two affiliates in Latin America). The Cubs had about a half-dozen pitchers signed after being selected in this year's Rule 4 Draft who couldn't be activated right away because there was no room on the AZL Cubs or Boise rosters (35 player roster limit at AZL Cubs and 30 player roster limit at Boise). With 70+ players on the rosters of their two affiliates in Latin America (DSL Cubs and VSL Cubs), the Cubs have twice the number of players on their two Latin American teams as was the case when they had just the one Latin American affiliate (DSL Cubs) pre-2008, so that some of the players have to be left in the DSL or VSL for an additional year only because there is no room for them on the AZL Cubs roster. 

Prior to leaving the Cubs, Player Development Director Oneri Fleita had supposedly proposed that the Cubs add a second team in the AZL (AZL Cubs #2), but the plan was rejected. The Yankees are the only MLB organization with two teams in the same league outside the two Latin American leagues (GCL Yankees #1 and GCL Yankees #2 in the Gulf Coast League - Florida's version of the AZL), so while having two teams from the same organization in the AZL would be a first for the AZL, it really would be no different than the Yanks fielding two teams in the GCL. Like the Cubs, the Yankees have two Latin American teams (DSL Yankees #1 and DSL Yankees #2), and the two Yankee DSL teams (70 players) feed players to their two GCL teams (also 70 players). The Yankees also have a short-season team in the more-advanced New York-Pennsylvania League (NYPL). 

Another option would be for the Cubs to place a short season affiliate in either the Pioneer League (with teams in Montana-Idaho-Colorado-Utah), the Appalachian League (with teams in Virginia-West Virginia-North Carolina-Tennessee), or the NYPL (with teams in New York-Pennsylvania-Ohio-Connecticut-Massachusetts-Vermont), thereby providing a third U. S.-based short season affiliate in addition to their affiliates in the NWL and the AZL. (Both the Pioneer League and the Appalachian League are considered "Rookie" leagues like the AZL and GCL, while the NYPL is equivalent to the NWL). Both Orem, UT, and Great Falls, MT, have expiring PDCs with their MLB partners post-2014, should the Cubs opt to establish a third U. S. short-season affiliate in the Pioneer League.  

The Cubs had an SS-A team in the NYPL (first in Geneva, NY, and then in Williamsport, PA) prior to moving to the NWL (Eugene) in 1999, so moving their SS-A affiliate from the NWL (Boise) to the NYPL (Hudson Valley?) would not be that much of a surprise. 

 

Comments

From Witty this morning

Of course, Samardzija and Hammel are gone. Wada, who turns 34 next spring, won’t have his $5 million option picked up and likely will seek greener offers as opposed to a bargain renegotiation.

 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Here's my pick... I can see JD having his entire season based on discussing his pitching motion. What's not to like? 10. Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville: The 6’2/220 righty sits 92-94 and bumps 96 mph with a plus slider and a solid-average changeup, but his command (is a bit funky) and still comes and goes at times.

Dansby Swanson #7, college SS from Vanderbilt, just so I can say "Ohh Dansby" in a Gone With The Wind southern drawl.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I don't have much of a problem with amphetamines either, but when millionaire athlete gets caught for disobeying the rules, I don't have much sympathy. If it's a silly rule (and with weed it is) they should change it, but otherwise, get your highs off of being insanely rich.

Baez 1AB 1K Olt 1AB 1K Funfight at AllK Corral is ON!

7 hits off Wada so far, 6 singles...3.85 FIP probably worth mentioning on why he's likely to not get $5M from Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

don't know why anyone would bet on 180 innings from Wada though..

also: Arrieta, Wood, Jackson, Hendricks, Strailly, Turner, Doubront, Jokisch, Beeler, Rusin, Edwards and hopefully/possibly a Scherzer or Lester.

Think Cubs would be okay not committing that $5M, rather spend it on bringing Hammel back if anything.

Baez Bash #8

Cole left a breaking ball over the plate

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

How's the draft look this year? I haven't been paying much attention. I'm hoping the list isn't topped by pitchers again, since I sort of consider them a waste of a top pick (although to be fair I have never really looked at a statistical success rate of first round pitching, as easy as that probably is to do)

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I was thinking about this -- I believe with all the press around the cubs loading up on position players that there may be a relative run on them and this might be a good year for the cubs to nab a top pitcher with a slightly lower pick. I don't believe the cubs set out to pick position players as an initial strategy - it just made sense (and pitchers ARE more risky). But anyway my prediction is cubs pick a pitcher first.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

It could very well be there will be a sheep mentality. I think if a Strasburg type had been in a recent draft TheoCorp may have pulled the trigger on that instead of a position player, so there's always that variable. I have no idea what this draft class looks like and probably won't pay much attention to it until about 24 hours before draft day.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

From Tweets on left sidebar, Aug 26, from Keith Law: “@hurricanept: @keithlaw Keith, how do you see the 2015 draft class overall? Strong, weak, average?” Average. HS bats and college arms.

more AL Cubbery (or as Ronnie would say, our excellent relief pitcher: AL Fonseca)...
The A's have not only lost three straight, 12 of their last 15 and 22 of 31, but they're down yet another catcher, too, after Geovany Soto exited Friday's game in the bottom of the third inning because of back spasms.

baez with another side-arm flinging throwing error. he should at least wait until rizzo gets back to keep doing that.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Baez sure sucks is good. Damn I don't know. I'm just happy that all my eggs aren't in the one-prospect basket. I'm too sick to make a joke about my eggs. Someone else can do it for me.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

It's weird, almost, not having just the one prospect that we have to hope makes it. I guess one reason I am really hoping he does make it is I would love to see that crazy power harnessed on a regular basis. That guy dropped a changeup over the plate and it looked like it got shot out of a cannon.

Looks like PNC Park staff tried to get Szczur's first HR ball back for him and that kid's mom and him put the whole idea on shutdown. Et tu, fatte?

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

Szczur's HR was thrown back onto the field. Snider threw the ball to a ball girl on the left field foul line, but instead of sending it along toward the dugout, she gave it to a kid. I'm bad with kids' ages, but he was maybe 8. He was with his mother. Then a security guard and a member of the ballpark staff came over and tried to get the ball to give to Szczur and offered the kid a different ball. The mother essentially shut down the whole situation, she said something that looked bitchy and those two went away. They were laughing about it, so I'm guessing she got pretty defensive about the situation. Finally, at the end of the half-inning, the third base ump walked up the line and basically told the kid to cough it up, which he finally did. They gave him another ball anyways.

“This week is [about] proving people wrong,” Briggs said, per Mark Potash of Suntimes.com. “A lot of people don't think we can stop the run. But when we turn the [game] tape on, it’s a very different outlook than what everybody else sees.” Do tell.

CCO reviews the Bruce Levine radio show interview with Chris Bosio. Bosio is pretty awesome. http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2014/09/chris-bosio-talks-cubs-pi… Bos clearly answers the question that Grimm and Neil Ramirez will be in the bullpen next year. The tone of the interview implies that Kyle Hendricks will basically take a spot in 2015 and Wada, not so much as he's looked at as an 18 out pitcher. He loves what Hector Rondon (Ronny) has accomplished. 2015 bullpen needs include another lefty and one more power arm (no mention, but I assume Arodys Vizcaiono or Armando Rivero will get looks for that spot). Wesley Wright is on a one yr deal, so it sounds like they may move on. Too bad that Rosscup has not looked that good in his call up.
Because our bullpen, what we feel is getting better, has a chance to be a very powerful bullpen moving forward with [Hector] Rondon and [Pedro] Strop and Ramirez and Grimm, they want to keep those guys there, maybe add another piece so we don’t have to try to find an arm to replace Ramirez because arms like that are just not easy to find to put in to the seventh or eighth inning. What I mean by that is Grimm, Ramirez and Strop are all interchangeable parts that can pitch in that seventh or eighth and if [Hector] Rondon is down we can use Ramirez to close. Not a lot of clubs in baseball can do that. The clubs that you can find that can do that are the playoff teams. So we feel like right now our bullpen is pretty close to where we want it. If we can add one more legitimate lefty and another power arm we are really going to have something special.”
on Rondon...
Once we started to get the fastball command, tweaked his delivery a little bit, now we start seeing the results of velocity touching 97-98. Once we got the command we knew the slider would come and the shape of the slider and speed of the slider has gotten progressively better. He’s trusted it. We’ve got him to use it in weak counts 2-1, 1-0, counts where he can still have some flexibility and get back to a cutter or a heater, but becoming a pitcher as a closer not a dead-brain heaver as a closer. Rondon has run with this. He’s a smart kid. He’s a strong kid, but he wants it bad. He really does. Out of all my years as a pitching coach this is probably one of the most gratifying guys I’ve worked with because of how far he’s come.

Sunday's Reverse MLB Standings...after ending a 7 game losing streak: 1. Texas 56-92 2. Rockies 59-89 3. Arizona 60-88 4. Minnesota 62-86 5. Boston 65-84 6. Houston 65-83 7. Cubs 65-83 8. White Sox 68-80 9. San Diego 68-79 10. Phillies 69-79 edit: Thanks Rob, adjusted for Astros having a tiebreaker vs Cubs

Paul Blackburn on Twitter: "Best group of guys I've every played with!!!" And all my former teammates can eat it! *muttering* Assholes.

Alcantara cf Baez ss Coghlan lf Valbuena 3b Valaika 2b Olt 1b Szczur rf Baker c Turner p coghlan - valbuena - valaika as a 3/4/5...wow. also, fwiw...i dont see valbuena surviving the offseason without getting traded and i get the feeling valaika is being groomed for a valbuena-like role, only as a super-sub bench type rather than a starter.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I think whether Valbuena stays or goes depends on whether or not Olt stays. If Olt stays, Valbuena stays, so that Cpt Happy can sit Olt in favor of Valbuena whenever possible. If Olt goes, then Valbuena will be packaged with him in the trade. That's just one scenario, of course.

baez walks in the 1st... he's taken 7 walks in his past 11 games. he has 11 walks in 39 games overall (39th in progress). he went 13 games in a row without a walk before he got a walk 11 games ago.

Well I assume everyone is out getting drunk because the Cubs were mathematically eliminated today. Condolences...

My man crush on Brandon Marshall has officially become a threat to my marriage.

Baez, Rizzo, Soler in lineup tonite Almost there Glad I waited until this Wed for my first game of the year Baby Maddux pitching too!

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In reply to by Carlito

if this team is going to go through managers like tissues, at least they're not paying them millions of dollars. the multi-million dollar manager era seems to be over across almost all of MLB in recent years. it took long enough to happen. also, renteria has an annoying as hell quick hook with starting pitchers.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

I've been in that camp at times this year, but the more I think about it that's being pretty generous. Bosio has overseen the pitching every year and it's always great. Rizzo and Castro might have just been left alone and gravitated back to the mean, and they're underachieving for their run differential. I think he's gone by the serious playoff runs in 2016 2017 etc.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

It seems to me there have been two types of managers in recent Cubs history...fully-formed and set-in-their-ways guys (Riggleman, Baylor, Baker, Piniella), and bumbling newcomers who got let go before we could see if they learned from their mistakes (Quade, Sveum). Maybe Riggleman moved from the newcomer to established mode with the Cubs but that was long enough ago I can't remember it very well. Ricky R fits the newcomer who does some bumbling mode, I think it will be interesting to see if/how he develops over the next couple of seasons and how much grace he gets from Theo and Jed. I expect them to give Ricky another season to improve his X's and O's while keeping some continuity as Bryant joins the team and we see how Baez develops and see if Rizzo and Castro continue their upward arcs. Then next offseason Theo and Jed will decide whether Ricky is a playoff-caliber field manager or not and keep him or launch him based on that.

Reds lineup is something...

Hamilton, Negron, Frazier, Mesorasco, Y. Rodriguez, J. Bourgeois, R. Santiago, J. Elmore, A. Simon

good day for Travis to find himself.

I did some math and it turns out without Mike Olt's stats this year the league wide K numbers would have been right around average.

Everyday I pop out of bed and thank god for Luis Valbuena. He's like the Tony Gwynn of players who totally suck.

Mark Gonzales/Trib mentions that the Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a likely landing spot to replace Daytona.
"According to a source, the Cubs could be looking to switch from Daytona to Myrtle Beach as their high-A affiliate."
Myrtle Beach, SC is in the Carolina League, Southern division. This is compatible with what Arizona Phil has been predicting for some time now. http://www.milb.com/standings/index.jsp?lid=122&period=h2&sid=t521

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

per Mark Gonzalez/Trib tweets, with some Theo quotes:
Theo on switch from Daytona to Myrtle Beach: "We just had a lot of weather issues and that was really the crux of it." Theo praised Daytona but said Myrtle was looking for national brand. “The Carolina League, in our opinion, is the best high-A League for developmental purposes. These are tough decisions." "In the end, it comes back to what’s best for our players."

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Blue Jays plan to make a qualifying offer to impending free agent Melky Cabrera.

A qualifying offer is expected to be somewhere in the range of $15-16 million. According to Heyman, the Blue Jays are hopeful that it will lead to another multi-year agreement. Cabrera batted .301/.351/.458 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI prior to undergoing season-ending surgery earlier this month to repair a broken right pinkie finger.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

it is remarkable how a guy with the stuff he has is so ineffective with it. it's also remarkable how many times he'll pound sliders on anyone once he gets 2 strikes even if he has to throw a dozen in a row. ejax, you're not mariano rivera and your slider isn't his cutter.

Tonight's lineup. Wow. For the record Valaika is now ahead of Olt on the depth chart. He bats ahead of him as well when they are in lineup together and tonight Rizzo and Alcantara sit etc. See O&B I was wishing Olt was left on DL to finish season. All I know is Renteria or whoever better be damn sure he's the piece of shit they are treating him like. Since day 1 of this season. Someone is gonna say - hey dude be yourself and he's gonna play a badass 3B and do some damage at the plate for someone, but apparently not the Cubs. Fucking wow.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

valaika getting so much consistent playing time is only as odd as baez hitting 2nd to me...and i hope both have nothing to do with anything besides getting them high opportunity looks for next season. they seem to be grooming valaika for a supersub role...though if he's the main backup 1st baseman then something is wrong with the 2015 cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

It's mysterious. Valaika's got nothing as far as I can see. I don't know if Olt is going to do some damage for another team or not, but the window to find out how he might do for the Cubs is just about closed, and so is any chance of getting anything worthwhile for him in a trade. It's bizarre not to see what you have there. You can't be playing Valbuena at third to showcase him, and you sure as shit aren't playing Valaika to showcase him, or even figure out what he can do. He's just a 4A guy.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

There's not much that separates a 4A guy from a player who can draw a major-league salary for three or four years and maybe make the investment of ten years of the prime of his youth something like a wash, at least. Either you like ballplayers or you don't. If you do, then you want to deliver on your promise to give a Valbuena or a Ruggiano or a Coghlan or a Valaika a shot. If you don't like down-on-their-luck 28-year-old ballplayers, you probably shouldn't be a GM. I think Epstein has compassion or at least respect for these guys and also for Kalish and Sweeney, who weren't quite able to find the playing time they needed. Valbuena and Coghlan and Ruggiano, meanwhile, have gotten a nice career boost from the opportunities given them this year, and might even bring something back in a trade. Olt is in a different situation. He will get several opportunities if he needs them before he is 28, including, I hope, with the Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Most people in the baseball "business" spend their twenties learning a difficult occupation which doesn't pay much, from which they will be forced to retire at twenty-eight or twenty-nine. Many GMs but certainly most managers and coaches are aware, from personal experience, of the situation that these "ballplayers" are in. Look at the playing careers of, say, Renteria, or Sveum, or any number of their peers. I said "compassion or at least respect." I think these older guys deserve a little respect, or at least a spot on the depth chart that they can hold onto. Valaika did well at Iowa and was called up in early August. On the depth chart, he's behind Rizzo and Valbuena and Baez and ahead of Watkins and Olt. Olt didn't get a call-up until the rosters expanded. It's called seniority, and organizations typically practice it. It's why the NFC's defensive player of the week would have continued to sit on the bench if an older player hadn't gotten injured. I've given you my theory as to why Olt isn't playing. Feel free to spin your own, but please, don't blame it on Renteria. He doesn't pull those strings. He does the lineup, not the depth chart.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I respectfully disagree with everything you've said here. I think that in general the pressure to succeed and win games across the league has made this type of thinking obsolete if it ever was prominent. More to the point, I think our particular executive team is very cutthroat and do whatever they want to get a competitive edge. In short if there is a seniority caste it would be Renteria who would impose it not theo and Jed. But moreso the system just doesn't make sense with the Cubs and doesn't apply to other young players with less seniority than Valaika. AND frankly nothing else the Cubs do delays their already slow timeline for success so there is no way he's playing out of compassion. He's probably playing because Renteria wants him to, which is the simplest answer and probably the right one. I think Renteria is a go with his gut type old school guy at times, which I'd really like to NOT see in our next manager. I personally would like a bit more intellectual approach, that's the wrong word, but an analytical manager who is not trying to be analytical - but who it comes naturally to. I believe analytics come naturally to theo and Jed and Renteria is trying to learn it.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Valaika can move around the field and play a number of positions it seems, but if they're showcasing him I don't see the point. You're not gonna get much for him no matter how many positions he can play, unless he can relieve, too, and you're taking at bats away from Olt. So basically you're trying to "showcase" a guy that will bring back a mid level prospect at best, at the cost of not finding out what you have in Olt, who could be a terrible hitter but really has just as good a chance at being a substantial power hitter. By not playing him every day, you're losing the opportunity to find out. That opportunity does not come back next season unless Bryant goes to the outfield, and it doesn't look like that is happening. I think both you guys are right. I think there is some compassion involved in Theo's decision making process, and I think Renteria is calling the shots on Olt and will until Theo gets on the phone and tells him to play him. That apparently hasn't happened, either.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I don't think Epstein is cut-throat, and Hoyer even less so. Brutally frank might be a better description. When Epstein or Hoyer signs one of these 4A types to a contract and promises to let him earn a shot, he tries to deliver on it. Valaika goes on the baseball scrapheap for good if he doesn't make some noise with the bat pretty soon, or if he hasn't impressed another team already. I still say that a ballplayer-wannabe like Epstein (or you or I) understands this and thinks about it. My guess is, again, that Renteria makes lineup and in-game decisions based on a depth chart that is provided by the front office, the people who design and build the team. An asset like Olt might not be too important to be jerked around--even Bryant has been feeling jerked-around lately--but not by the manager (at least not by this manager).

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Cool. Thanks for explaining it further, I see some of what you are saying. Not sure I agree with all of it but I think you are most likely right that there is a decision hierarchy between Theo/Jed and what Rick can do. Also agree that Valaika deserves a shot before being thrown on scrapheap. Personally I think he is a backup versatile NONsupersub ceiling and that he should get PH opportunities and sit for days between playing and see how he can do under the circumstances he might eventually play in a real competitive season.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

there has to be front office meddling...or the manager needs to be fired for batting baez 2nd so much. that said, i think vala is being groomed for a bench super-sub role...the type of guy who gets 300+PA a year playing all over the place (especially 2nd/3rd). it's the role valbeuna would ideally have in 2015, but he's good enough to play 3rd everyday for more than just a few teams. i expect to see valbuena traded and vala taking his downgraded place.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Cubs are moving their MWL affiliate from Kane County to South Bend. 

PDC is through 2018 (mirroring the PDCs with Tennessee and Iowa). 

The South Bend owner is personally paying for a new grass turf field (replacing the old artificial turf) and will also be constructing an enclosed training complex (hitting cages, pitching mounds, et al).  

Still waiting on NWL affiliate news... move to Eugene (sharing facility with U. of Oregon) or to Tri-Cities, or maybe back to Boise (albeit only for two more years)? 

Arrieta looking quite good through 5, faced the minimum, walked Hamilton but he was caught stealing.

2 things: Phillips flipped the bat and jogged, thought it was gone. Such a hotdog. Wasn't even close. Szczur TOTALLY laid it all out trying to catch it. No idea if he got close but THAT was the real deal as far as dives go ...

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

What a dick move by Phillips -- stands and watches a ball that lands on the warning track. I think he knew it wasn't gone -- he was just rubbing it in that he broke up the no-no. More like Soler, please.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Seriously considering relabeling the file in my hard drive currently titled "Arrieta Porn" to just "Porn." Seems redundant now. (It's full of animated gifs and short video clips...)

Kyle Schwarber video from Wrigley and a PSully article...(not sure if they block it without subscription, idiots) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-schwarber-sp… "With his make-up, aptitude and work habits, we are going to give him every chance to stay behind the plate," President Theo Epstein said. "I wouldn't bet against him." "He impressed immediately with his big personality, genuine nature, advanced understanding of hitting, passion for the game, leadership qualities and blue-collar work ethic," Epstein said. "He's a really good player who other players want to be around. It was easy to project him being not only in the middle of our lineup someday, but also in the middle of our clubhouse dynamic."

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In reply to by Old and Blue

I don't think so. We'd have heard about it. There's something else up - Valaika has batted ahead of him in all games they've played together as well. There's either a major personality conflict going on behind the scenes or Olt is just accepting his fate gracefully. But there's a completely consistent pattern by Renteria of playing him as little as possible. He doesn't think he's any good. Period. I cannot f'ing believe I am watching Valaika. He's a non-prospect 4A scrub who was brought up when he was to be a warm body. And Renteria ... whatever.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

He keeps saying shit like that. Why even say that stuff? That's like promising your own aging guide dog a steak dinner on its deathbed after starving it to death. And he doesn't realize the one he's screwing over is himself. Moron. I bet he's fired before most people think. If they keep him until end of next year it'd be for theo to save face.

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In reply to by Carlito

Olt ranks #11 (edit) in number of at bats, ahead of guys like Valakia, Kalish, Sweeny, Baez, Barney and is second to last in batting average for position players, ranking ahead of only Eli Whiteside. At some point we'll have to let go of the idea that Olt might be the Cub's secret weapon and accept that he's a bust.

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In reply to by Sonicwind75

He's batting pretty well an his OBP is up near .400 since returning. He's our best defensive 3B and he currently stands at 4th on the team in HR despite batting less than 1/2 of what the others ahead of him have regarding AB. He only trails Rizzo for HR per AB. He hasn't been given the chance to play every day like the other prospects. And the cult is very small as far as I can tell. Talk to me in 2 years.

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In reply to by Carlito

I'm not going to comment on the rest, you know where I stand on all of this, but I will say the "he has a lot of home runs" argument is not your best angle. Bryan LaHair--All-Star Bryan LaHair!--was second on the team in home runs in 2012 and never played in the majors again. Tyler Colvin was third on the team in 2010 and everyone complained about his playing time in 2011 and cried when he put up decent numbers with Colorado in 2012--but the last two season he has been a AAAA back-up outfielder and no loss for the Cubs. I am not saying that's Olt's destiny, just that hitting home runs doesn't mean all that much.

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In reply to by Ryno

That might be part of the plan. And I agree with the notion in this thread that his mechanics make him a committed swinger way too often. But it's also baseball intelligence. Who knows. Many think he is an extraordinary talent who will magically figure it out. The cool thing is the the Cubs org is not about one prospect, especially at SS. I just hope he's ready or benched by the time the games matter.

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In reply to by Sonicwind75

It's not a Cult of Olt, it's just stupid to not provide him 30 at bats in a row to see what he can do. No matter how you count the at bats, they've never all come at once. He hits, he sits. It is asinine. There is most likely no future for him on this team, but to call him a bust is awfully premature. See what he can do and at least try to get some value for him.

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In reply to by Ryno

I've got a completely opposite set of stats that have to do with his power and RBI, his being the best defensive player at 3B in the organization, how few AB he has gotten per game vs his peers, etc. I think you are in the minority calling him a 'bust' he just turned 26, and there have been mitigating factors. I get it, I respect your opinion and I completely disagree. I suppose in 2-3 years one of us can point back at this post and say I told you so. For now I am less worried about Olt and more worried about our decision making at the major league level and what the handling of Olt says about it. I won't go into it now but I think I am more incensed at why he wasn't investigated as a prospect in the same manner as Baez Soler Alcantara etc. no I don't think he is the same as those players but that's what I expect when I see a (formerly highly regarded prospect hit the majors on a rebuilding team). I guess the things I am concerned about will only be under the acid test when the games matter and we see Renteria or whoever our manager is, trying to win games at all cost. What decisions and lineups are made will tell they story. But your stats are completely besides the point of what I and maybe a few others are saying. But Olt a BUST after what we've seen this year seems rash.

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In reply to by Carlito

I was partially being snarky- I know as well as you do that you can make stats say anything you want. The thing that bothers me is this piling on Renteria because, and here I'm not being snarky I'm being completely serious- Renteria isn't in the batters box when Olt is up to bat. Olt is putting together a track record that isn't good, and it isn't Renteria's or anybody else's fault. The point you make about him being better since coming up the second time is valid, he has. But the Cubs fans tend to pick a guy they love and cheer him on well beyond the point that he deserves cheering. Matt Murton comes to mind. I don't want Olt to become another mediocre piece of the puzzle that the Cubs keep around because it makes the fans warm and fuzzy. F-that. I'd rather see results. If Olt wants regular playing time, drop the bat on the ball and earn it.

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In reply to by Ryno

Yes. And he is batting much better and now he's sitting in favor of Valaika. Also we both know the answer to this, but why doesn't the put the bat to the ball litmus test apply to Baez, Alcantara, or even Valbuena when he was slumping. Because the manager believed in them. No matter how hot Olt gets Renteria jumps at the first chance to sit him and THAT is what puzzles me.

And Javy starts off by K-ing on a wild pitch. Last night, 2-2 count, and I said to Javy on TV -- "everyone knows it's going to be a slider low and away -- don't swing!". Slider, low and away. Swing and a miss. Another K. His baseball IQ is really beginning to concern me. It obvious he's not going to see a fastball with 2 strikes (possibly with a full count) -- yet he swings and swings and swings...

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In reply to by Carlito

I'm sure they tried that on him in the minors. But the pitching isn't as good so a lot of times they probably weren't able to throw them with such precision out of the zone, and he is definitely able to get wood on on a low slider around the strike zone. So when they missed that spot low and away, it was lights out. It's habit and he's probably been able to beat that kind of pitching all his life. Not in the majors though. Up there, these guys can aim for a spot low and away, even with a sharp slider. And if it's a bit of a wild pitch, no big deal, Javy will probably swing at it and the catcher can go to the backstop and throw him out at first if it's a third strike. Still, that's pretty much just one thing he has to conquer. If he keeps swinging at those high fastballs, his career won't end because there aren't enough guys who can blow one by up in the zone, although late innings will be tough on him. I wouldn't throw the towel in on him just yet. It's just one thing, really. I've seen him handle change ups, and I've seen him get beat by them, so he seems about league average there. If he can beat the low slider out of the zone thing, he's gonna be ok. I get the impatience, but that's why they brought him up and blew off the service time. Let him take his lumps.

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In reply to by Carlito

Maybe I have on rose colored glasses, but the more I watch Baez the more encouraged I am. To me it seems his problems are more machanical than a lack of strike zone awareness. He just needs to start his swing so early he is basically a guess hitter, especially with two strikes. While I am not a scout or a hitting instructor, his pre-swing looks like it has similar issues to Rizzo’s before he lowered and quieted his hands. Assuming Baez can make a similar adjustment, without losing too much of his power/bat speed, he should be fine. I seem to remember they asked Baez to adjust his swing at Dayton and he said he didn’t want to mess with it then. I expect he will be more willing to make some minor changes after facing major league pitchers. What do those of you who are more knowledgeable about swing mechanics think?

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In reply to by Rob Richardson

I'm no expert either but he will need to stop swinging at those low and away things. No amount of swing mechanics adjustment can result in those pitches being hittable. Watching Rizzo this year has been fun. If he gets a pitch he doesn't like low in the zone but is afraid it's a strike on a 2 strike count, it seems he is fouling a lot of them off with a shorter swing. I never have understood how good hitters can do that. I have a hard time picturing Baez ever getting there with his current Wild Thing swing, but who knows?

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In reply to by Old and Blue

The question is why does he swing at pitches low and away. I'm proposing that because he needs to start his swing early he must guess at what the pitcher going to throw before he really sees the pitch. If he can adjust his swing so that he can start it later it will give him time to read and react. If he still swings are balls out of the zone, well then we have a problem. I am not a believer that you can teach strike zone awareness very much. For example, Rizzo was considered to have a slider speed bat particularly on fastballs inside. They lowered his hands to shorten his swing and had him crowd the plate. The results speak for themselves. My hope is that adjustments to Baez will also create positive results.

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In reply to by Rob Richardson

Why did Soriano and Sandberg swing at pitches low and away? Sandberg figured it out, Sori not so much. I think it's manageable based on how he's adjusted to each league at a young age. He was able to hit a couple of those pitches(ala Vlad) which doesn't help the matter either.

Maybe Renteria signed a pact with the devil that he has to play all players who were born in 1985 and first three letters of their names are V-A-L. Most breakout seasons happen after age 29 from journeymen don't ya know.

s.doolittle blows an awesome piece of 8-inning pitching by ninja out in OAK. just like old times.

Edwin Jackson looks forward to making his first start since Aug. 20 Friday against the Dodgers' formidable left-hander Clayton Kershaw. "It's always fun going against guys like Kershaw," said Jackson. "It makes the game interesting."
Interesting is one way we'll all be putting it when it happens, I guess.

On an unrelated Bears note, I have to pat myself on the shoulder and mention that before last Sunday's game you guys would be surprised by the play of the offensive line subs. I think that is one of the very few areas where coaching can have a huge impact, and this guy for the Bears, and I don't even know his name, teaches really good technique. At this level, these guys are such monsters, that they are in the NFLfor a reason so they can't be all that bad. When an offensive line is consistently offensive, I tend to think it's a problem with coaching. I'm not downplaying the really good ones, I'm just saying that the league average guys can play better than league average, if that makes sense. The Bears didn't dominate the line of scrimmage but they took it over during the last quarter, and it was about a tossup during the rest of the game, on both sides of the ball. I'm no football guru - the offensive schemes used these days are way beyond anything I saw as a kid, but I'll always contend that no matter what kind of offense you run, you have to control the line of scrimmage, or in last Sunday's case, it needs to be a draw. That's usually is what is so good about the niners - they control that line of scrimmage. They didn't last week and the Bears clearly had them off their game. Of course, it didn't hurt that Tillman's replacement has the agility of a cat and hands like Marshall.

Arizona Phil, I am making the 7 hr drive from El Paso to Phoenix twice (October 11th and November 7 & 8), to watch a total of six Arizona Fall League games. I know where to get information on that league, but I want to learn more about the Instructional League. No one I've asked can point me in the right direction for this. However, they ALL said to ask you. They say you are the expert. So, could you, please, let me know how to find this info? Thanks!!

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).