Cubs Minor League Free-Agents
21 Cubs minor leaguers filed for free-agency prior to October 15th, and ten others who were eligible to be free-agents did not file and apparently nine of them have been re-signed by the Cubs to 2007 minor league contracts (the other one has retired).
MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:
Cliff Bartosh, LHP (DID NOT PLAY IN 2006)
Hugo Castellanos, RHP
Wilton Chavez, RHP
Jeff Deardorff, OF-1B
Brandon Emanuel, RHP
Mike Garcia, RHP
Lee Gwaltney, RHP
Nic Jackson, OF
Andrew Lane, INF
Kerry Ligtenberg, RHP
Pedro Lopez, INF
Luis Montanez, OF
Augie Ojeda, INF
Carlos Perez, LHP
Brian Reith, RHP (DID NOT PLAY IN 2006)
Michael Restovich, OF
Brandon Sing, 1B
Jon-Mark Sprowl, C-1B
Mac Suzuki, RHP
Aron Weston, OF
Jake Whitesides, INF
A Miami high school shortstop at the time, Montanez was the Cubs #1 pick (#3 overall) in the 2000 Rule 4 Draft (June Draft). He was moved to the outfield in 2004. He was leading the Southern League in hitting in May (.369) when he was promoted to Iowa, but he struggled at AAA. Just as one-time Cub prospect David Kelton wasted no time signing with his hometown Atlanta Braves after he became a minor league FA for the first time after last season, don't be surprised if Montanez signs a AAA deal (with an NRI to Spring Training) with his hometown Florida Marlins. He could well become an MLB extra man (OF-IF-PH) in 2007 for a Marlin team likely to be in search of a cheap bench.
Nic Jackson was the Cubs 3rd round pick the same year Montanez was #1 (2000), and was rated by Baseball America as one of the Top 100 Prospects in baseball as recently as 2003. However, his career has been significantly hampered by several different season-ending injuries over the years (leg in 2002, shoulder in 2004-05, and hip in 2006). If he can stay healthy, he can definitely be an MLB 4th OF. Just as I wouldn't be surprised to see Montanez sign a minor league deal with his hometown team (Marlins), I also wouldn't be surprised to see Jackson sign a minor legue deal with the Atlanta Braves, whose AAA club is located in Jackson's hometown of Richmond.
Carlos Perez was one of the two players acquired from BAL in the Corey Patterson trade.
Sing was eligible to be a six-year minor league FA last year, but opted to stay with the Cubs after he got a slot in the AFL and an NRI to Spring Training.
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ELIGIBLE TO BE FA BUT DID NOT FILE:
Federico Baez, RHP
Ryan Bicondoa, RHP
Gary Cates, IF-OF
Jesse Hoorelbeke, 1B
Casey Kopitzke, C (is now an instructor in Cubs minor league system)
Albenis Machado, INF
Isaac Pavlik, LHP
Carmen Pignatiello, LHP
Carlos Vasquez, LHP
Les Walrond, LHP
Bicondoa, Hoorelbeke, Machado, and Pavlik were acquired from Independent League clubs during the 2006 season, Cates and Walrond were signed as minor league free-agents last off-season, and Pignatiello and Vasquez were eligible to be six-year minor league free-agents for the first time but opted to re-sign with the Cubs.
Some of the players who re-signed with the Cubs for 2007 (almost certainly Pignatiello, Vasquez, and Walrond, and probably Baez) will get an NRI to Spring Training in exchange for staying in the organization for another year.
All of the players who re-signed with the Cubs will be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft if not added to the Cubs 40-man roster by November 20th.
ELIGIBLE FOR 2006 RULE 5 DRAFT IF NOT ADDED TO 40-MAN ROSTER BY 11-20:
NOTE: Players most likely to be added top 40-man roster by November 20th in bold
Thomas Atlee, RHP
Federico Baez, RHP
Justin Berg, RHP
Oscar Bernard, RHP (1st time 6Y MLFA after 2007)
Ryan Bicondoa, RHP
Todd Blackford, RHP
Chadd Blasko, RHP
Jerry Blevins, LHP
Bobby Brownlie, RHP
Edward Campusano, LHP
Jose Caridad, RHP
Gary Cates, Jr, IF-OF
Rocky Cherry, RHP
Robinson Chirinos, 2B (1st time 6Y MLFA after 2007)
Matt Ciaramella, OF
Matt Craig, 1B-3B
Darin Downs, LHP
Mike Fontenot, 2B
Jake Fox, C
Alfredo Francisco, RHP
Sam Fuld, OF
Alberto Garcia, 1B-OF
Luke Hagerty, LHP
Ryan Harvey, OF
Lincoln Holdzkom, RHP (1st time 6Y MLFA after 2007)
Micah Hoffpauir, 1B
Jesse Hoorelbeke, 1B
Jonathan Hunton, RHP
Fabian Jimenez-Angulo, LHP
Grant Johnson, RHP
Scott Koerber, LHP
Tim Layden, LHP
Richard Lewis, 2B (1st time 6Y MLFA after 2007)
Albenis Machado, INF
Dary Maria, RHP
J. R. Mathes, LHP
Zach McCormack, LHP
Casey McGehee, 3B
Adalberto Mendez, RHP
Ryan Norwood, 1B
Eric Patterson, 2B
Isaac Pavlik, LHP
Leonel Perez, RHP
Billy Petrick, RHP
Carmen Pignatiello, LHP
Jose Pina, RHP
Elvin Puello, 3B
Robert Ransom, RHP
Clay Rapada, LHP
Tony Richie, C
Alan Rick, C
Carlos Rojas, SS (1st-time 6Y MLFA after 2007)
Issmael Salas, INF (1st time 6Y MLFA after 2007)
Joel Santo, RHP
Paul Schappert, LHP
Chris Shaver, LHP
Andy Shipman, RHP
Jemel Spearman, INF
Nate Spears, INF
Jesus Valdez, OF
Carlos Vasquez, LHP
Chris Walker, OF
Les Walrond, LHP
Randy Wells, RHP
Olin Wick, C
Jesus Yepez, LHP
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