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

Delusions of Grandeur

Kansas City is focused on Sean Marshall and Mike Fontenot in talks with the Cubs about Mark Teahen. …

That is according to a Phil Rogers article.

That's great, I'm focused on solving world peace after I cure cancer, which will all happen after I retire at age 35 because the charming widow across the street is really the heir to the Buffett family fortune and appreciates when I roll her garbage can up her driveway on Tuesdays.

Let's just say I don't see either one happening.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Word, my cracka'. I'd probably do Fontenot, because he's really a backup (a good back-up, mind you), and Teahen still has more of that so-called potential. He could still turn into a good everyday player, but if not, he'd be a pretty good bench dude. Maybe. Someone here also mentioned Hendry's knack for getting guys right before they break out, so I've got that hope. I'd rather turn Marquis into something...even if it's a loogy...and using Marshall as a 4th or 5th. The other spot being reserved for Harden. Or maybe we can turn Marquis and Theriot into Hanley?

on mlb.com 6th inning, Mesa up 4-3 but 2 on for the Phoenix Desert Dogs with one out

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

3-run dinger, Josh Donaldson....that's gonna suck when he's awesome for the A's.

9-4 Phoenix, still haven't seen a Cubbie.

i think KC (rumor mongers) might underestimate how much both hendry and lou are fonte-fans. weird looking and weirder talking little guy. i could see either/or (fonte/marshall), but both would be a high price especially with cedeno falling flat on his face in winter ball so far.

I think the time is right to strike on a Fontenaught trade, if anyone seems him as a full-time major league starter. Keep in mind this is a guy who played in the highest levels of collegiate baseball and then took 7 years to get establihed in the majors. He's got 2700 PA's minor league PA's of .800 OPS on his record and doesn't have much to offer other than a pretty good dead pull line drive stroke. I'm not a fan of Teahen unless, as I mentioned a few days ago, the Cubs coaches and scouts are sure his power stroke can be fixed.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Buy low, sell high. Trade DeRosa, not Fontenot. They're the same hitter, and you get more for DeRosa. And Fontenot's younger, although a lot of people who participate here will scratch their heads and wonder why that should make a difference. Isn't older better? Strange, Neal, that you think Fontenot is a dead pull hitter. And speaking of youth, I love the way Billy Beane got Hendry to "throw in" Donaldson as the fourth player in that Harden-Gallagher deal. In public, other GMs rave about what a nice guy Hendry is. I wonder what they say in private.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I stand corrected. He's a 'tries to be' pull hitter. Teams would be wise to do the Ted Williams shift when he comes up. 8 of his 12 HR' have been to right or right center. Regardless, he's not a .900 OPS player, so if we can find a team that thinks he is and will trade accordingly for him, make the deal. DeRosa isn't going anywhere.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

[Did it again. This was a reply to #27.] I know DeRosa isn't going anywhere. Believe me, I know it. The question is why. There are four right-handed hitters who usually bat ahead of DeRosa in the lineup. Three of them have NTCs and the other is Soto. So if you want to be more left-handed (hitting and pitching), isn't DeRosa the guy you have to trade? I know he's good. So what? That just means you get something good, or better, for him, but something more along the lines of what you're missing.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

If you have a left-handed hitting right fielder, which the Cubs are apparently looking for, and Fontenot at second, what purpose is served by DeRosa playing third and first and right and left? Those positions are taken. As to short, according to BR, DeRosa played one game there in 2008 and one in 2007. Fontenot played one game at short in 2008 and three in 2007. I'm not knocking DeRosa, although it's hard for people to understand that when you suggest trading someone. It's just that he's another right handed hitter on a team that (a) claims to be too right handed and (b) has passed out NTCs like candy to the other righty hitters.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"everyone with a brain"--are you excluding TCR regulars? Because I don't recall anyone on TCR lamenting the loss of Donaldson, who wasn't hitting at the time. Or Gallagher, for that matter. The consensus seemed to be that Gallagher was balanced pretty well by Gaudin, and the Cubs had gotten Harden basically for nothing. Poor Billy Beane, trying to match wits with our guy. (Full disclosure: AZ Phil liked Donaldson the minute he saw him and rated him as the Cubs' best hitting prospect; but that was not part of the discussion after the trade, unless I missed something.) When Harden was scheduled for a shoulder exam in October, voices on this blog agreed that if surgery was indicated, the Cubs should not renew his option. Harden's Cub career would have spanned twelve games. Shoulder surgery or not, a Harden who lost his good fastball in time for the playoffs was not what we had expected, but I don't recall anyone on TCR saying, Maybe it wasn't such a good trade after all. Hendry should be called to task for these things, preferably before the winter meetings, because he's getting ready to trade more prospects.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

What exactly should Hendry be called to task for on this one? Because he didn't rob the A's blind? You have to give up something to get something. In this case Hendry basically gave up Gallagher and the potential of Donaldson for Harden and Gaudin. He threw in two players - Murton and Patterson - who didn't have much of a place in the organization and likely won't be much of anything at the big league level. He got a starting pitcher with an ERA+ of 252!! for 12 starts during the stretch run in a season in which the team was making a run for the playoffs. This pitcher, when healthy is one of the best in the majors, and he is still under club control for next year, unlike Sabathia, for example. In the same deal he also obtained Chad Gaudin, a long-reliever, spot starter, who is also under club control. And he should not have made this deal because Donaldson MIGHT become something 3-4 years down the road? Because he is having a good AFL season? Here is a list of prospects that Hendry has traded away to date (I will have all of this uploaded to Wiklifield at some point). He gave up very little and got a lot for these players. This is also not mentioning the many good prospects he has fleeced from others for crappy veterans. At this point I will trust his judgment - even if Donaldson turns out to be amazing a few years from now. Ryan Gripp Jae Kuk Ryu David Noyce Gary Johnson Derrin Ebert Wilton Chavez Ronald Bay Jason Dubois Travis Ezi Hee Seop Choi Matt Bruback Bobby Hill Jason Fransz Mike Nannini Felix Sanchez Damian Jackson Jimmy Anderson Justin Jones Francis Beltran Brendan Harris Sergio Mitre Renyel Pinto Ricky Nolasco Todd Wellemyer John Koronka Carlos Vasquez Jeremy Blevins Clay Rapada Buck Coats Scott Moore Rocky Cherry Jacob Renshaw Sean Gallagher Josh Donaldson Eric Patterson

[ ]

In reply to by Wes

There's a few guys there who have had nice season, Harris and Wellemeyer, for instance, but when you consider who those players brought back in return, I doubt there's a similarily tenured GM who could show the same, AND have the same reputation among his peers.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Nice prospect list, but they're all pre-Wilken, except for Donaldson, who is the fifth highest pick (#48) in Wilken's three drafts. Wilken knows how to draft position players, so you trade them at your own risk. Before Wilken, the Cubs could occasionally draft a pitcher but almost never a position player, so it was safe to trade a Bobby Hill or a Choi if you could get somebody else to bite. With Wilken, the game has changed. Donaldson and Vitters and Colvin and Flaherty were not drafted to be traded. How do you build a team around guys like Hamels and Rollins and Utley and Howard except by drafting them? This Cub team isn't assembled right. It's built for the all-star game, not the playoffs. That's why, of eight teams in the playoffs, only the Cubs fell flat on their faces and embarrassed their fans. Even the Brewers won a game.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

This Cub team isn't assembled right. It's built for the all-star game, not the playoffs. Here is the problem with this logic, along side with the rest of your thinking. You place higher value on prospects than you do on players who are actually playing in the major leagues. Yet you claim that this team isn't built for the playoffs (which is bullshit, but that is a different discussion). Essentially you say that this team needs to be changed, yet you believe that trading any prospect is foolish. You also have claimed in the past that a team should not be built through free agency. So you want to the Cubs to sit on prospects that may or may not pan out (and the vast majority, on ANY team, do NOT pan out), even though you believe that this team cannot win in the playoffs. But go ahead and believe that the Cubs have a world series team waiting to happen in the minor leagues, and I will go ahead and trust Hendry based on his track record of being very successful in the trading market and getting teams to the playoffs.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

The Phillies? This is the WORST example you could have picked. How is the Joe Blanton trade ANY different than the Rich Harden trade? You DO draft players to trade - or the Phillies would not have had Blanton or Brad Lidge, and likely would not have even made the playoffs. You need good players to win. You can draft them, sign them, or trade for them. History has shown that the playoff gods care little where they came from, just that they play well at the right time. There is no magic formula, and certainly the Phillies didn't do anything differently than any other team. The Cubs have homegrown talent (Soto, Zambrano, Marmol, Theriot), as well as those obtained by trading prospects (Ramirez, Lee, Harden), and those signed as free agents (Dempster, Lilly, Marquis, Fukudome).

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Soto was never a prospect. Out of nowhere, he had a great year in triple A and the season ended with him the starting catcher in the playoffs. It all happened too fast for Hendry to trade him, though he did find the time to trade their best minor-league lefty at the time for Jason Kendall. Marmol, never a prospect. Theriot, nobody liked him except Piniella. (Zambrano I don't remember, it was a long time ago.)

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

You're right. Those guys were never prospects, they just saw a 'Help Wanted' sign at Wrigley one day, walked in filled in an application and got an invite to ST. If it is so easy to get these great prospects away from Hendry for s song,why are Marmol and Soto still Cubs?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Now they're all-stars. My point is they didn't attract interest as minor leaguers. Soto hit .271 with 9 HRs in AA, then .253 with 4 HRs at Iowa, then .272 with 6 HRs at Iowa again. Returning for his third full year at Iowa in 2007, Soto was not even the #1 catcher. He and Koyie Hill alternated starts during the month of April. It was Hill, not Soto, who was called up and took over some of Michael Barrett's duties in early June after the dugout unpleasantness. So, no, I don't think Hendry turned down many trade inquiries involving Soto the previous winter. By the following winter, lightning had struck: Soto had become PCL MVP and starting playoff catcher for the major-league team. Lightning struck for Marmol in 2007 when he went to the bullpen. During that season he became a star. I will say there may have been scouts impressed with Marmol's arm at AA and AAA in 2006; but that same year, called up to the Cubs, his ERA was over six. As a Cub starter in 2006 he walked more batters than he struck out, 55-46. But to give Hendry the benefit of the doubt, he may have said no to some offers for Marmol. I'm kind of in a bad mood with Hendry because I believe that in the next couple of weeks he's going to trade Felix Pie so that Fukudome can play center. I will admit that Hendry has done a pretty good job of hanging on to Pie and Rich Hill, especially Hill, who was really hot a couple of seasons ago.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I will admit that Hendry has done a pretty good job of hanging on to Pie and Rich Hill, especially Hill, who was really hot a couple of seasons ago. Wouldn't Pie and Hill be exhibits #1 and #2 on why Hendry SHOULD trade prospects when they are hot?

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I see you conveniently ignored my point about the Phillies trading prospects for key pieces of their championship team. That one flew right by you didn't it? Do you think Phillies fans are crying about not having Mike Costanzo's 27 HRs in AA instead of Brad Lidge? I'd rather get a key piece to win now and let Pie suck elsewhere.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Wisc, I never heard of Mike Costanzo until you mentioned him but he doesn't look like a great prospect. There's a line out the door of sluggers trying to grab one of the scarce jobs for first basemen in the majors. I didn't complain when the Cubs let Dopirak go and though I'm starting to like Jake Fox, Hendry can trade him any old day, it's fine with me, since he's also mainly a first baseman. When you put up ridiculous numbers in every category, like Hoffpauir, that's a little different, although Hoffpauir could really use some outfield skills. Costanzo is a .265 hitter in the minors. It would be nice if he could hit homers lefthanded while playing third in the majors, but he had 34 errors there in 2007. Then they traded him. The next year, the majority of his starts were at first, DH or (something new) catcher.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Do some research man. Costanzo is currently the 6th ranked prospect in the entire Astro's organization after the Lidge trade. The Phillies traded Adrian Cardenas - their 2nd rated prospect according to BA, Josh Outman their 4th ranked prospect, AND Mathew Spencer their 2007 3rd round draft pick for Joe Blanton. That's how it works. And you know what, maybe 1 of the 4 will even turn into something. And it's ok if any of them do, the Phillies won - which is the point of baseball. Also, I've never gotten the fascination with Pie. He is basically Corey Patterson with less stealing ability and less HR ability. Good defensive centerfielders who strike out a lot are a dime a dozen. If Hendry can get high value for him to help us win now, I say trade him.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

pie's got CF speed and legwork...enough arm to pull RF if desired. he's still young and his wrists/hands are VERY fast. that's not something you can teach, though you can bring it out tweaking your approach. when you have a guy with his frame who can swing a bat as hard/fast as he does through the zone (think: soriano) you got something very special for a starting point. unfortunately, he's not one to sit around for a full selection of pitches looking to walk and his swing accuracy isn't mlb-strong yet (if ever). basically, if you want a raw piece of clay to mold into a hitter...pie's some "good clay." doesn't guarantee anything, though...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I fully understand why Pie is considered a prospect. I just think if your payroll is what the Cubs payroll is, there is no need to sit on a prospect like this if you can trade his potential for someone you know can play well at the big league level now.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

You probably don't want to hear a discussion of tools, but they're important, because if you have them you will keep getting second and third chances until you're Corey Patterson's age. Even a Corey Patterson can usually learn to hit by the age of 27. You can't teach a guy to run and catch and throw. Felix, like a cat, has many lives remaining, although probably only one (or none) with the Cubs. "Good defensive centerfielders who strike out a lot" are not a dime a dozen, they're in demand if they have power--like Chris Young or Adam Jones. Pie is a big kid and getting bigger. He's what you're always looking for. If all you can do is play first and maybe a little left field, good luck to you. A first baseman has to be the best hitter on the team, since anybody can catch most throws, even a Fielder or a Howard. Even granting for the sake of argument that Costanzo can hit well enough to play first in the majors, Ryan Howard just turned 29 and is in, or entering, his prime. The Cubs don't have any young sluggers except Aramis (who is 30 and a half) and Soto. Soto certainly makes Welington Castillo tradeable. Vitters is not tradeable, though, because it may not be long before Ramirez has to get in the line for a first base or DH job. Lee, Soriano and Fukudome are getting to an age where you would like to trade them and go younger, at least in a world without NTCs.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Phil - correction, Pie is not what I am always looking for, he's what YOU are always looking for. If I have learned anything in reading your posts it is that you are in love with minor leaguers who have any sort of potential, and dislike veterans. Any prospect that you like you argue they are big, fast, are growing, will only get better, have tools, etc. Any prospect you don't like you simply say that they are one dimensional, play the wrong position, are too old, etc. It's becoming a tired song. In your world a team trades away all stars in their prime for prospects. The team also plays the prospects instead of any veterans. You just keep doing this. If the team sucks, the prospects are just learning and you should stick with them. If you lose the next year, repeat. If the players happen to all pan out (unlikely) and happen to gell in the same year, you might win. If the Cubs had done what you suggested for 2007 and 2008 they would have never even made the playoffs, and if they do what you suggest now they won't make them anytime soon. You can have Chris Young and his .240 average. And Young is BETTER than Pie. By age 22 he had 3 seasons of more than 20 homeruns and 4 seasons of more than 20 SBs in the minors. Pie has had 0 and 1 respectively.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Young was a .266 hitter in five years in the minors, so I'm not surprised by his hitting .240 in the majors. Pie's minor league average over seven seasons is .299, which is still not very good. I didn't say I like Pie as a hitter, I like him as a prospect. And I didn't say I liked Chris Young, just that he strikes out a lot and is nevertheless in demand, i.e., not a dime a dozen. Pie looked awful, and I certainly said so, in early 2008, but he was swinging the bat okay in September. Fukudome, who will probably take Pie's place this season, had these numbers in the second half: .217/.314/.326, 639 OPS. If I liked the current group of Cub veterans as much as you do, I probably wouldn't worry as much about prospects. I don't care for free agents, it's true.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

again, Teahen suffered a season ending shoulder surgery in 2006. He hasn't been the same since. His OPS+ since then has dropped from 2006 -122 2007 -98 2008 -91 so I don't think the issue is his swing, it's his shoulder. How many hitters have made it back to normal strength after a shoulder injury? I can't think of any off of the top of my head, and I keep thinking of Bagwell Rolen Sheffield Morgan Ensberg Sexson who haven't. I wouldn't give up more than one of Fontenot or Cedeno for him and I wouldn't even do that unless KC is taking on at least half of his contract. I'd just assume stick Edmonds out in RF if he'll come back at a cheaper contract to at least just play against righties...Reed Johnson can cover the lefties since Fukudome hits lefties just as well/poorly as righties.

To even consider giving up Marshall for that guy would make Hendry certifiably nuts - enough raiding our meager cupboard bare.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Billingsley broke his fibula and they had to put a plate with screws to align the fracture. This usually means his injury is in the realm of ankle fractures as the fibula is the bone on the outside of the ankle. If the fibula breaks higher up the leg it usually doesn't need surgery as up higher it's function is mostly for muscle attachments, but lower near the ankle it forms an important component of the ankle joint. Fibula fractures usually take 6 weeks to heal but add another 6 weeks to get the ankle joint to regain function from stiffness. More proximally in the leg, the larger tibia is the major weight bearing bone, so when it's broken the treatment usually keys on treating the tibia (the fibula fracture usually lines up once the tibia fracture is properly aligned) and tibia fractures take longer to heal, often 3-6 months or longer. From end-November to spring training is only 3 months (albeit the longest 3 months of the year) so I'd say it's more likely that Billingsley will not be up to full speed to start spring training at the end of February. Also the hardware can be bothersome even after the fracture has healed since there isn't much tissue to pad things between the skin and the plate. The plate/screws can be removed with a 2nd surgery, that probably won't be an option until a minimum of 6 months after the fracture is healed, so that might be a consideration for him in the 2009 offseason. He should have lost nlds game 2 instead of incurring the wrath of the baseball gods.

if I were Ned Coletti, I'd hire some security guards for Kuroda. ============== It is not known if Billingsley's injury will impact the Dodgers' offseason restocking plans. They already have suffered free-agent departures of pitchers Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Greg Maddux, Chan Ho Park, Joe Beimel and Jason Johnson. The only pitcher in the Dodgers' starting rotation for the entire 2008 season that is still on the roster and healthy is Hiroki Kuroda. (from the mlb link in post #21)

you do not trade marshall unless you are getting a proven power hitting r-fielder.

I don't think the Royals would give up Teahen for Marshall. What do the Cubs want with Teahen anyways?

Before those anti-Marquis fans run him out of Chicago on a rail, tell me who goes into the 5th spot of the rotation and: pitches 175+ innings, 30 starts, ERA < 4.75, and team wins at least half his starts, has 11-12 wins. Who? Marshall? We HOPE so. Smardzija? Based on what? Unless the Cubs get Peavy, Randy Johnson then I don't see a better rotation than Z, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and Marquis. Also, getting Teahen is great if all it costs is some combination of Cedeno, Fontenot, Hoffpauir, and Wuertz/Hart. Marshall part of the deal.......hell, no.

Submitted by George Altman on Sat, 11/22/2008 - 10:21pm.

Before those anti-Marquis fans run him out of Chicago on a rail, tell me who goes into the 5th spot of the rotation and: pitches 175+ innings, 30 starts, ERA < 4.75, and team wins at least half his starts, has 11-12 wins. Who? Marshall? We HOPE so. Smardzija? Based on what? Unless the Cubs get Peavy, Randy Johnson then I don't see a better rotation than Z, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and Marquis.

==========================

GEORGE: I agree that Jason Marquis is a reliable 5th starter, but if you combine what the 11 Cubs players already signed for 2009 will be getting ($121M+), and what the six arbitration eligible players will probably get if all are tendered & offered arbitration (at least $12.5M aggregate, with Kevin Gregg likely to get at least $5M, Chad Gaudin and Reed Johnson $2M each, Neal Cotts $1.5M, Michael Wuertz about $1.25M, and Ronny Cedeno at least $750K), and what the eight auto-renewal players who are needed to fill-out the 25-man roster will get ($400K MLB minimum salary in 2009, so about $3.5M aggregate for the eight auto-renewal guys), the Cubs are going to have a payroll of somewhere around $137M+ even if they don't make another move. So one of Hendry's primary goals almost certainly has got to be trading Jason Marquis and hoping another club (perhaps the Yankees if the can't sign all the starters they feel they need) will acquire Marquis and take back most or all of his $9.875M 2009 salary so that the near-$10M can be re-directed to an established lefthanded hitting outfielder and back-up catcher.

Depending on what Jim Hendry's 2009 payroll budget is, some of the arbitration-eligible guys might have to get non-tendered on 12/12 (or traded before 12/12), too.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil, I agree with your point.......it should would help to know what the Cubs payroll budget is for 2009. I believe if the Cubs are patient, they will get someone (Yankees would be one) to take Marquis' full salary. This would make it all the more important not to include Marshall or Samardzija in a deal unless it was for a blue-chip LH hitting Rf or B. Roberts to play 2B.

Speaking of Hendry, when the Cubs gave Dempster 4/52, wasn't Hendry, as usual, bidding against himself? Didn't he offer Dempster those terms before the bidding started? And then when no other team made an offer, Hendry let the original offer stand? He really is a nice guy.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

There were 12 pitchers in 2008 that already earned more than the $13 million average of Dempster's contract: Randy Johnson, $15 million Mike Hampton, $15 million Tim Hudson, $15 million John Smoltz, $14 million Mark Buerhle, $14 million Andy Pettite, $16 million A.J. Burnett, $13 million Carlos Zambrano, $16 million Roy Oswalt, $13 million Jason Schmidt, $15 million Johann Santana, $16 million Barry Zito, $14 million

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

That's basically what Hendry said, Neal. But then, Hendry would say that.
Hendry added that there were "no doubts in any of our minds that Ryan would've exceeded this deal on the streets three or four weeks from now, the way the market is for starting pitching."
My question was simply, if nobody else made an offer for Dempster, how does Hendry know he didn't overpay? Dempster himself indicates that nobody else made a bid in the five days or so that he was free to receive offers:
"Was there more money on the open market? I'm sure there probably was. Maybe there was five years. That's a question that I'll never be able to answer."

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Of course he doesn't know for 100% sure that he didn't overpay, but are you really arguing this? With guys like Barry Zito sitting on $126 million, you're worried about Ryan Dempster's contract? I'm pretty sure Hendry wasn't worried about other teams when he made his offer. He probably wanted to make an offer that he felt was fair and that he was comfortable with. Dempster accepted that offer without waiting to field other offers because a) he felt it was fair, and b) he wanted to stay in Chicago. The fact that Hendry doesn't absolutely know some other team would have offered 5 - $60m is completely irrelevant.

[ ]

In reply to by Doug Dascenzo

The problem here is that VA Phil thinks that Hendry should not only be omniscient, but he should also have a time machine. This is the way that VA Phil thinks you should deal with a FA. Correct me if I am wrong. 1. Offer him the major league minimum salary until some team offers him more. 2. Assuming that he will still talk to you, unlikely after #1, after another team offers him a contract that is more years and money than you're willing to commit to, offer him a contract for less years and money, then see what happens. 3. After he has signed a FA contract with the New York Mets for 4 years and $61 million dollars, use your Wayback Machine to go back in time to November 18th and offer him a 3 year $30 million contract. 4. Eventually settle on a 4 year $48 million deal, before the Mets make an offer. You've got to take what you know into account. Pitchers like Llhose and Silva are making in excess of $10 million annually. Teams that strike out on Sabathia and Llowe are going to then turn their attention, and a large portion of the money they've slotted for the off-season to Burnett and Dempster. On this crazy thing called the internet, there's no professional baseball analyst or reporter suggesting that Dempster robbed the Cubs. Don't you find that curious?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I didn't say the Cubs overpaid for Dempster. I am curious whether he would have received other offers. Apparently he didn't receive any offers in the five days after he put a sign in the window, Open for Business. Here are what I think are facts: 1) Dempster risked his Cub offer--since the Cubs were negotiating for Peavy at the time and could have changed their mind--in order to test the market. 2) So he tested the market. But when he stuck his toe in, the water was cold. 3) After five days, he grabbed the Cub offer, which Hendry had kept warm for him. If these are the facts, and reporters don't find them interesting enough to mention, that's between them and their bartenders.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Your #2 is not a fact. #2 should read: His agents fielded some calls, and got an idea what teams would be interested in him, but also that he was considered a backup plan to some other players, namely Lowe. Who is expected to command $16 to $18 million if he goes to the higest bidder. The agent then reasoned "If Lowe makes $17 million, my guy should be able to get about $14 to $15 million if he goes mercenary. I think I can get the Cubs up to $13 million and four years, which is what my client prefers, so I will work on that." Your number 3 also probably is not correct. Hendry probably made an initial offer of around 3 years and $38 million.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Starting pitchers who make 10+ million a year (based on 2008 salaries), thus making me comfortable with the Dumpster 13 million for four years.. Jake Westbrook 10m Matt Morris 10.03m Kevin Millwood 10.3m Vicente Padilla 11m Carl Pavano 11m Gil Meche 11.4m Jon Garland 12m AJ Burnett 13.2m Barry Zito 14.5m Jason Schmidt 15.2m Tim Hudson 15.5m Mike Hampton 16m http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/mlbpay/?appSession=63652391331127&RecordID=… Their salaries for just 2008, so some of these could be in escelating contracts in their contract year, but still. I'm okay with 13m for 4 years with Dump. Remember Marquis made 6.375m, i'd rather have one Dumpster than two marquis...

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In reply to by Cubster

The stats say that DeJesus isn't a very good centerfielder or baserunner. My experience watching him live was that he had trouble reading fly balls to left field, but that's left field and that was in Arizona. Based on that, I can agree with the marginal interest comment. He'd most likely wind up as a platoon with Johnson in center, and be taken out late for defense.

I'm sure I was reading an article in Oakland this summer that Beane stated " he wouldnt have made the deal if Donaldson wasnt in the deal". Hendry made the right deal and give the Cubs credit for drafting him which was key in making the deal and getting Harden. Perhaps we can keep drafting these type players and having them ready for future deals.

MLBTraderumors says the Giants signed Renteria. That takes them out of the Furcal, running, I imagine. 2 yrs. for $18M.

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In reply to by The E-Man

do they still just "steal" other people's news leads or do they do a better job of actually sharing where they "stole" their headlines from? back in the day the mlbtr dude had like 100 personal sources in baseball...i mean, some good users feeding him outside news and other people's writing/scoops to take credit for. it's legit either way, WFAN broke it earlier this afternoon.

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In reply to by The E-Man

MLBTR just picked up the WFAN story, they didn't report anything themselves.

He's pretty much become another rotoworld, just aggregating rumors from places to be considered more "legitimate" news sources. I think he gets a lot of tips and stuff, but he rarely goes forward with them anymore.

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In reply to by Rob G.

cubstraderumors.com has a nice ring to it?

business plan

1. register domain name

2. make up stories with "sources close to the situation"

3. watch readership grow

4. stop making up stories and just summarize the daily newspapers and radios

5. Make money

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • crunch (view)

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

  • Cubster (view)

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

  • Arizona Phil (view)

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

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

  • Arizona Phil (view)

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

  • Arizona Phil (view)

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

    * bats or throws left 

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

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

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

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

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

  • Arizona Phil (view)

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

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

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

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

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

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

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

  • Arizona Phil (view)

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

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

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

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

  • Childersb3 (view)

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