Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Game 70 Thread/Cubs @ Rangers (#2 of 3)

(Quick aside before I get to the Game Thread: The Barrett-inspired post below triggered almost 300 comments! Just wait until we fall out of the race and trade Zambrano to the Mets. We'll blow the MVN server all to hell!) Game Chat Jason Marquis (5-3, 3.14) vs. Kameron Loe (2-6, 6.56) It was a good news/bad news day for Michael Barrett. Good news: Barrett was traded to a first-place team in a desirable city with heavenly weather. Bad news: Barrett won’t get to hit against the Rangers’ Loe, he of the 838 OPS Against. Loe was sent to AAA Oklahoma City in early June after a start against the Tigers in which he allowed nine runs over just 2 2/3 innings. He returned to the bigs last Thursday, throwing eight shutout innings against the Pirates (which probably says more about the difference between the Tigers and the Pirates than about what Loe learned at Oklahoma City). Marquis is 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA in his last seven starts and hasn’t won a game since May 9th. On the other hand, nobody’s talking about inserting an arthroscope in his shoulder.

Comments

Nice brag in a Knoxville TV webpage:
Outfielder Josh Kroeger leaves the Smokies leading all of professional baseball in batting average (.382), including the Southern League, MILB & MLB.

Now the bad guys... 8 Lofton 4 Kinsler 6 Young D Sosa 7 Catalanotto 9 Byrd 3 Wilkerson 2 Laird 5 Vazquez

Talked to friend in the Twins organization. He thinks Bowen will be solid addition but nothing spectacular. Told him my old heart could no longer stand anything spectacular in a Cub's uniform.

Lou should have DH'd for Hill, Had Marquis bat 8th and the riot bat 9 as a second leadoff hitter.

Odd... not sure why you bat Hill 9th when you have a DH. It would make a lot more sense to bat Hill 7th or 8th and have Theriot bat ninth - especially with Soriano in the leadoff.

Time for the obligatory bitching about the lineup! What the helll are they doing putting Fontenot 5th???

No Bowen in the lineup!!? Freak! How the heck can we know if this was a good trade or not?!! THROW US A BONE, LOU!

Jace: Time for the obligatory bitching about the lineup! Yeah, I actually bitched before I even saw the lineup. I beat you all to the punch.

Hmmm... gotta' admit that was a pretty cool sammy tribute from WGN. Some good memories there...

WGN just played a Sammy highlight reel from his time with the Cubs. I miss Sammy.

Are there unofficial TCR records kept on a record number of posts for one entry? My guess is that the Dusty firing and Lou hiring has to be up there.

Jordan... think it is time to move Pie down in the lineup a bit? He may be a stud prospect, but he sure isn't a stud #2 hitter right now.

I think you move him down in the lineup...he needs more time to develop at the ML level, and hitting him in front of Lee is obviously not producing RBI opportunities.

geez, I just saw the linescore...did Michael Barrett commit all three errors tonight?

Now I haven't been able to watch the Cubs in a few days, so forgive me if this revelation is out of date by a week or so.... Ryan Theriot's chin strap beard thing looks like crap. I blame Barrett for starting that trend.

What happened to DeRosa? Len/Bob say he had an eye problem... now that's not funny.

And what was Jones up to there? I have no idea what he was trying to accomplish other than hurting himself.

I have no idea what he was trying to accomplish other than hurting himself. ----- ...now that's an interesting idea said Matt Murton

Ugly, Ugly, Ugly tonight. Can't field (3 errors in 4 innings), pitch (4 walks), or hit (0 runs vs. a clown pitcher). Guess the guys are in mourning over the Barrett trade. Let's go, boys -- time to wake up.

two lifeless teams going at it tonight - we are playing the worst team in the AL that is without two of its three best players and starting some turd w/ an ERA that matches his height and are absolutely dead out there...when was the last time theriot hit a ball to the left of the pitcher's mound and/or hard? also, and finally, montague [who brenly says was the only southpaw ump in his league before the ump pools were merged-does that mean he calls strikes left-handed?] has no idea what a strike is...

#20 ca phil- Are there unofficial TCR records kept on a record number of posts for one entry? if memory serves, the count was over 400* the day nomar arrived on the scene. the archives have long since been torpedoed that reach back that far. * by no means should this 400 be considered an actual stat; it is merely the anecdotal and potentially inaccurate recollection of a demented cubfan = dc.

we are playing the worst team in the AL without two of its three best players starting some turd w/ an ERA that matches his height and are absolutely lifeless out there - montague [who brenly said used to be the only southpaw ump in his league before the ump pools were merged - does that mean he calls striked left-handed?] wouldn't know a strike if one bit him in the ass...

600!

Cubs make another contribution to Sammy's legend. I was hoping he wouldn't get it off us.

Ugly, Ugly, Ugly tonight. ----------------------------------------- Even uglier now.

gross, just gross. the defense, the pitching, the hitting, the rangers announcers, the sosa family, all of it. i'm going to bed here on the east coast, thanks texas for starting the game an extra half hour later so i can get a bit less sleep before work. tomorrow is a new day

I am happier than a pig in shit. Just got back from a business trip to Philly and learned the wonderful news that Michael Barrett was traded !!!!!! Woo, hoo !!!! Barrett has killed this team behind the plate for too long. Sweet Lou finally told Jim Hendry that's enough of this shit of having Barrett behind the plate. Good for Sweet Lou. Hendry had his head up his ass on this one. Congratulations (NOT) to Scam-ME Steroid on his 600th homerun. Maybe he can partner up with Pete Rose, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds and open up a Hall of Shame.

A while back Lou called a loss "our worst game of the year". I think that game has been topped. What an embarassment. Smart thinking by Hendry to sign Marquis to that one-year, incentive-laden deal. I'd hate to think we have him to deal with after this year. That small dot in the distance? The Brewers. I have to believe winning road series in Detroit and Minnesota gave them a huge boost -- as their home sweep of SF indicates.

Jason Marquis has officially turned back into a turd. At least the Cubs got a good 2 1/2 months out of him for their $21 million investment. Memo to Jim Hendry...go flush your head down the toilet.

In other other news- Kroeger goes 3-for-4 with a double in his Iowa debut, playing LF. Cedeno now hitting .368. Any takers?

Well, no A.J./Barrett rematch this weekend. I wonder if Hill can fight. Speaking of Hill, rook just homered!

Koyie rakes Koyie mashes Koyie has thunder in the stick

If Jim Hendry can gulp some salary to dump Michael Barrett, then he can do the same to dump Jacque Jones.

Jason Marquis-->Exhibit A, "Regression to the Mean." April was fun, huh big guy?? Deadbird fans call him "Betty," anyone know why? Sosa hitting #600 is a big yawn to me, but it's funny in a funny-retard (not funny ha-ha) way that he got it off of Marquis wearing #21.

BILLY: "Cedeno now hitting .368. Any takers?" Its the MINORS. Its The MINORS. ITS AT AAA!!! Just a MIRAGE, man. Get it thru yer head! ;)

"That small dot in the distance? The Brewers. I have to believe winning road series in Detroit and Minnesota gave them a huge boost — as their home sweep of SF indicates." Once this Cub team falls 10 games out, its lights out for this year. We're not the Twins or Oswalt-Clemens-Pettite-vintage Astros.

This game looks like..., smells like ..., tastes like ...., sure am glad I didn't wallow in it.

They played bad tonight, but Lilly V. Padilla looks good for us. They have killed him in the past and that guy works slow as hell. Given the 90ish degree heat I am sure that will wear out those guys.

this game sucked...let's slash the seats. maybe aram will be back by the time dlee gets to take a week off.

Shake this one off, dudes. Go get 'em tomorrow, 2 of out 3 ain't bad. And who else would like to see Fontenot batting 2nd?

The Brewers are getting their mojo back. Rickie Weeks has returned from the DL. Bill Hall is starting to hit. The rotation is arguably the best in the National League, especially if they get David Bush going. And the bullpen ain't bad, especially with Codero on the back end. The Cubs are a 75 win team. Maybe they can get to .500 now that Michael Barrett is no longer behind the plate, running the bases, and running his mouth.

Josh Kroeger mania strikes. Boy o' boy. Cubs fans are beside themselves if they don't have an overrated non-prospect to pee their pants over. Jason Dubois...Matt Murton...Josh Kroeger. Getting excited about the blosomming of Josh Kroeger is like getting excited over the resurgence of Augie Ojeda.

I blame Barrett for all of this. Everything. I blame Barrett for losing. I blame Barrett for the pitching. I blame Barrett for the errors. I blame Barrett for salary dumps, Marquis not liking the pitcher's mound, Jacque Jones, Sammy Sosa's HR, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny. ALL YOUR FAULT, BARRETT.

i think there are a lot of reasons to be worried about marquis he has sucked lately, i wrote in earlier post cubs would need to go 13-6 in leading upto allstar game that way they would be 1 over at break . i guess now they need to go 12-5 .

Biggest problem the Cubs have had–and continue to have–is that there just is no offense on this very bad team. The cartoon character known as Sammy Sosa has more HRs and RBIs than any member of the 2007 Cubs. Think about that for a moment. Lee has turned into a judy-hitting 1B of near-Sean Caseyesque proportions. Yes, the BA is still excellent, the OBP is solid, but where is the pop? He doesn’t run the bases well anymore either, and his defense is slipping. Aramis is a stud–when he plays. He has posted 145+ games started in a season for the Cubs exactly one time; and 2007 will not change that. Alfonso Soriano was a bad bad contract, and now we’re seeing the results. A $136MM fiasco that the new Cubs owner is just going to love. Attention Mr. Cuban–you will need to eat Hamptonesque wads of cash to move this zero off the payroll. Cliff Floyd? He was pretty decent five years ago. Jock Jones? Haha. Felix Pie? Like his future, but that future isn’t now. And then we get the great Mike Fontenot, Ryan Theriot, Koyie Hill, Pizza Pizza, and a collection of other stiffs to round out the lineup. Terrific! Jim Hendry–>never thought this could happen, but he may actually be a worse GM than Ed Lynch; Lynch was inept but didn’t have the $$ to squander that Hendry has had. We are just plain bad.

Eric the Great's list of good major league players is apparently rather abbreviated. In fact, there are multiple All-Stars who would seem to be not good. Perhaps even bad.

He doesn’t run the bases well anymore either, and his defense is slipping. ---------------------------------------------------- Since when is D-Lee's defense slipping? Didn't he make his first error of the year tonight? I don't get to watch as many games as the CHI contingent but he always seems just fine over at 1B. Is the argument that his range has reduced or something?

In Today's Trib: Piniella said the Cubs' reports on Bowen say he's a good defensive catcher who handles pitchers well and at 26 has some upside. The word from San Diego, however, is that he has a slow bat and isn't athletic enough to play every day, having trouble with blocking hard-breaking pitches in the dirt. The Cubs have a staff full of pitchers who throw hard-breaking stuff.

What's your point? He also has more RBI than all but 10 players in all of baseball. If you are going to try and say the Cubs suck by comparing them to a certain player, it doesn't help your argument to compare them to someone who is having a pretty damn good year. Not only that, but A-Ram has 13 HR, while Sosa only has 12. Soriano also has 12. So you may want to get your facts straight first. And his defense is slipping? Now you are just making things up. Just because he made one error last night does not mean that his defense is "slipping." Lee has turned into a judy-hitting 1B of near-Sean Caseyesque proportions. Yes, the BA is still excellent, the OBP is solid, but where is the pop? Hmmm... a .526 slugging % means no pop? Not sure what you are taking about there. While sure, he seems to be missing his home run power, he still is 13th in the NL in slugging. Alfonso Soriano was a bad bad contract, and now we’re seeing the results. Hmmm... what results are you referring to? .300/.351/.535? Not sure how those numbers are bad. You are right - we are now seeing the results, and they appear to be pretty damn good even with his initial slump. We are just plain bad. Not really... "we" are more like mediocre, but with potential to be decent to good. If you want "plain bad," look at teams like Texas, the White Sox, or the Reds.

ooops.... my first comment was in response to this from Eric the Great:
The cartoon character known as Sammy Sosa has more HRs and RBIs than any member of the 2007 Cubs. Think about that for a moment.

CWTP: The scouting reports in the previous thread read differently than your "word from San Diego is..." post. I also heard Andy Mazur (now the voice of the Pads) yesterday being interviewed in Chicago and he did not mention anything specific to what you posted. He stated that Bown was all around very solid behind the plate.

PARTIALLY BLIND?!! ---- DeRosa had a secondary eye problem due to a migraine headache...probably due to the Barrett trade.

Eric the Great: Lee has turned into a judy-hitting 1B of near-Sean Caseyesque proportions. Yes, the BA is still excellent, the OBP is solid, but where is the pop? He doesn’t run the bases well anymore either, and his defense is slipping. Yeah, man, Lee's defense is really starting to drag the team down. Does Lee have any options left? Maybe AZ Phil could answer this for us. Maybe Lee for Mientkiewicz? I'm sure Mientkiewicz will be off the DL eventually. Someone with a more stellar glove like Ward could fill in in the mean time. If Hendry can't pull that off he's a loser. The next step is to DFA Lee. Any way to weasle out of that contract?

cubster: DeRosa had a secondary eye problem due to a migraine headache…probably due to the Barrett trade. So... It was totally Barrett's fault the Cub's lost last night. cwtp: Cubs say Texas is interested in Jones…. Well, Danks is gone, but I'd totally be cool with Jones for Diamond.

"trouble blocking the plate" I meant, trouble blocking pitches in the dirt ....

If Hendry can’t pull that off he’s a loser. ---- maybe he can trade for Jerry Hairston Jr again

If I ever saw him in person, I'd beat his feet with a bat. The bat kicking this irritates me for some reason.

Hey Horatio... for those of you not in parachat last night, Horatio had an amusing little visit: Horatio entered. Horatio: Michael Barrett is gone. Horatio has left. lol... ehhhh... guess you had to be there.

How fitting that Sammy's 600th was an unnecessary solo shot for a team going nowhere.

Seems like Pie is seeig a lot more breaking stuff now, and his average has dropped as a result. So teams either figure he won't lay off it and will swing at stuff out of the zone, or they don't fear the new HR-free DLee as much as they once did. In either event -- I would drop him down to #7, and put either Theriot or Fontenot at #2. At #7, any offense is a bonus -- at #2, you need to produce, given that the #2 slot gets to the plate more times over the course of a season.

Re: Ryan Bowen Cub fans shouldn't pin much expectation on Bowen. His ceiling is to develop into a serviceable enough backup catcher. That's it. This trade wasn't about the Cubs hoping Bowen will prove more valuable than Barrett or be a suitable replacement. being better than Barrett. Rather it was about getting rid of Barrett. The Cubs have an admitted hole at catcher. Ryan Bowen and Koyie Hill aren't going to get it done in all likelihood. But they do represent a defensive upgrade over Barrett. Heck, Phyllis Diller behind the plate would represent an upgrade. What really suprises me about this move is that the Cubs made it even though Henry Blanco is significantly injured and they don't have suitable options otherwise. Speaks volumes of just how much Sweet Lou wanted Barrett's butt out of town. And on how Sweet Lou is going to get his way over the dim witted Jim Hendry.

Also -- with the long ball not part of this team's arsenal, they need to run, run, run. Soriano, Theriot and Pie are a combined 27-for-33 in SBs. Stop waiting for 3-run homers -- this team doesn't hit them. Start putting more pressure on the other team's pitchers and defense. Go,go,go!

ST is back...spewing his blather and nonsense... So "non prospects" Jason Dubois=Josh Kroeger=Matt Murton? Ok..I'll bite....how do these 3 equal each other?

#85 Silent Towel..............Really surprised by your post. I did not know we had gotten basketballer Ryan Bowen too. I thought we just received Rob Bowen catcher. Hendry is a better trader than even I thought.

Not to beat a dead horse, but the Rangers' announcers gave a statistic about Jacque Jones that some of us could have used during the offseason to put weight behind our argument that Jones was not a good hitter. They said that the first fifty-something at-bats in which Jones had an 0-2 count in 2006, he made an out! Baseball Reference gives splits for this sort of thing, and in 2006 Jones hit .063 in 112 at-bats that started out 0 and 2. It's not hard for a pitcher to get to 0 and 2, especially when the first pitch strike is often a gimme. Maybe Kelly Pickler had Jones in mind the other day when she sang, "For it's one-two strikes you're out at the old ball game!"

It’s not hard for a pitcher to get to 0 and 2, especially when the first pitch strike is often a gimme. If it is not hard, why did pitchers go 0-2 on Jones only 20% of the time last year? I am not sure that giving us Jones' 0-2 numbers proves he is a bad hitter. Most hitters struggle once a pitcher gets to 0-2, though not as badly as Jones. Interestingly, Jones #'s with runners on last year were quite good. Jones has always been a decent hitter - not terrible, but definitely not good either. But this year he is been really bad.

Re: Catcher Rob Bowen is a backup catcher as his ceiling. Koyie Hill is a Triple A journeyman up with the big club to fill a void. Henry Blanco has a serious long-term injury problem. So that means the Cubs will actively pursue a catcher (or two) next offseason. Re: Josh Kroeger Are some of you honestly excited about a guy who previously spent a couple years at Triple A and was demoted down?!? I'm happy for those of you who have passion for Triple A baseball. But don't sit there and say Kroeger is a future major league option. He ain't. Re: Matt Murton He sucks. And he has zero future with the Cubs. He might eek out a 3 or 4 year career where he plays for several ballclubs and bounces back and forth from Triple A. Whoopie. Five years from now he will be selling Lady Kenmores at Sears for a living. Either that or traveling the country as a Howdy Dowdy look-a-like at county fairs.

Who goes down when Aramis Ramirez gets activated?!? Ryan Theriot?!? Angel Pagan?!?

Murton currently has a .902 OPS. Hasn't hit a single yet. And the partially blind is a symptom of a migraine headache, which usually go for a day or two, when you can barely bend over or tolerate bright lights. Good luck playing infield during a day game.

Sure. Murton sucks. Brilliant analysis. He struggled this season, and will not fit into the Cubs plans, as he is best suited for left field. Murton had a pretty solid rookie season, and then got thrown iinto a jumble of outfielders this season. I'd take .297/.365/.444 from RF right now, which is what he did last year. He be a decent LF option for anoother team...hopefully, he won't develop any power, or the Cubs will look like they always do:impatient, and ready to trae away younger players for veterans in the twilight. Any young player the Cubs bring up had better be a stud right off the bat, or they'll be on the ST shit list.

Did anyone else notice that, in that Suntimes article about Bowen, that they mention the "top prospect in the organization", Geovany Soto, and that they feel he is ready for the majors, which was confirmed in a recent scouting trip? Interesting, no?

Did anyone else notice that, in that Suntimes article about Bowen, that they mention the “top prospect in the organization”, Geovany Soto, Jace... the article did not say "top prospect in the organization." It said top "catching prospect." Two very different things.

Yeah, you're right, dave. I did not mean that he was the top prospect overall, either. Just the top catching prospect.

Silent Towel: This trade wasn’t about the Cubs hoping Bowen will prove more valuable than Barrett or be a suitable replacement. being better than Barrett. Rather it was about getting rid of Barrett. Basically the San Diego Madres received 3 months of service of an offensive catcher who besides calling good games, has been a butcher behind the plate. Barrett is a rental, so the Cub's will pay some part of this year's salary (cash considerations). Receiving a catcher whose upside is debatable is fair. In fact, I'm rather excited about the first-round pick they received in the deal. Let's just say I have a lot more faith in the Madres organization's scouts than the Cub's.

The main thing I was surprised by in that article is that they are saying Soto is ready for the majors. I had thought he was pretty much an afterthought these days...

I did not mean that he was the top prospect overall, either. Just the top catching prospect. Cool... it just freaked me out a little bit that someone was calling Soto the top prospect in the org! :)

Jace: The main thing I was surprised by in that article is that they are saying Soto is ready for the majors. I had thought he was pretty much an afterthought these days… What's the scouting report on Soto?

From Baseball Reference, 2006 numbers for Cub hitters in at-bats where the pitcher gets ahead 0-2. Number of at bats in parens. Jones (112) 063/095/063 Lee (29) 138/212/276 Floyd (55) 145/213/291 Pierre (124) 189/202/270 Soriano (139) 201/234/374 Ramirez (106) 217/243/387 Murton (70) 243/274/286 Barrett (61) 246/270/377 This correlates interestingly with who I consider good clutch hitters (but maybe that's just me). Lee is a small data sample. The year before he was 250/260/458 in 100 at bats, although that was much better than 2004. (Lee has always struck out a lot.) Floyd is a little bit of a surprise. I thought he was a little better clutch hitter than that, but maybe not. His 2005 numbers were not much better, 160/200/321 in 81 ABs. Jones is in a class by himself, one hit every sixteen at bats once the pitcher has him 0 and 2. Note by the slugging percentage that all seven hits are singles.

So Soto is the top catching prospect...and is ready. But 3 weeks ago, they brought up Koyie Hill, a journeyman catcher, and added him to the 40 man roster instead of bringing up Soto. That is sort of strange.

If Soto was a top catching prospect, someone would have told Buddy Bailey, the Iowa manager, who started Hill ahead of him all year. Newspaper articles are a mixture of fact and surmise. The only fact I see here is that Cub officials went to have a look at Soto. Since they were planning to trade Barrett, I guess they wanted to decide whether they wanted a catching corps of Hill and Soto. We got the answer yesterday.

Rynox — June 21, 2007 @ 9:21 am What’s the scouting report on Soto? ============================ RYNOX: Geovany Soto has really improved his hitting and devloped some power the last year or so, he has passable receiving skills and catching mechanics (although he doesn't move real well behind the plate because he's kind of stiff and lacks athleticism), he has three years of experience at AAA, and knows all the Cubs pitchers very well from spending the last four ST in the big league camp. His main deficiencies are are a "rag-arm" (for a catcher) caused by a chronic shoulder problem (which doesn't mean he can't throw at all, just that he doesn't throw as well as a catcher needs to be able to throw), and he is a VERY slow (Jody Davis class) runner. And he is kind of stiff behind the plate (he has the physique of a nose tackle), although he does have solid receiving skills. With his improved hitting and power, I would say Soto would probably be an OK MLB back-up catcher (catching maybe once or twice a week, so as not to put too much of a strain on his shoulder), but I can't see him as a #1 guy. Also, Soto will be out of minor league options as of next ST, so the Cubs will have to fish or cut Soto next March. The fact that Geovany Soto is probably indeed the Cubs "best catching prospect" is what's wrong with the Cubs minor league catching corps. When a minor league FA like Koyie Hill or an MLB back-up guy like Rob Bowen is considered a better option than your "best catching prospect," that's not good. Maybe if the opportunity presents iteself, the Cubs really should (as postulated by our buddy JP over at Road to Wrigley a couple of weeks ago) consider trading Felix Pie to ATL for Jarrod Saltamacchia next off-season (if Andruw Jones walks after this season). If the Cubs were to make such a deal, they could then move Eric Patterson to CF (he belongs in the OF), and if that doesn't work out, Tyler Colvin can play CF, and he just got promoted to AA and should be ready (hopefully) by 2009.

Silent Towel says: Re: Josh Kroeger Are some of you honestly excited about a guy who previously spent a couple years at Triple A and was demoted down?!? I’m happy for those of you who have passion for Triple A baseball. But don’t sit there and say Kroeger is a future major league option. He ain’t. ----------------------- So you've seen him play? Can you give a more detailed scouting report? Thanks.

anyone hear what was said on ESPN 1000 this morning about Grifey approving a trade to the cubs? i didnt hear it and would like to know the context it was in

Kevin: anyone hear what was said on ESPN 1000 this morning about Grifey approving a trade to the cubs? i didnt hear it and would like to know the context it was in I didn't hear that, but I did read this: At the top of the Cubs' wish list might be a left-handed hitter capable of hitting every day in the middle of the order. Cliff Floyd is that kind of player, but his health issues could leave just enough doubt to make a deal for a player such as Ken Griffey Jr. look like a fit by the July 31 deadline. Griffey has a history with manager Lou Piniella and is unhappy in Cincinnati, where he was moved from center field to right this year. Not only are the Reds shopping him, but he has said privately to those close to him that he would welcome a move to Chicago. Griffey is signed through next season with a team option for 2009 at salaries of $6.5 million each year. While the Cubs' uncertain ownership future makes acquiring a player with a multiyear contract more difficult, team officials say they haven't been told they can't take on salary beyond this year. Click here for the full story.

WP ate my last comment, hope this doesn't double up. Kevin says: anyone hear what was said on ESPN 1000 this morning about Grifey approving a trade to the cubs? i didnt hear it and would like to know the context it was in No, but I did read this... At the top of the Cubs' wish list might be a left-handed hitter capable of hitting every day in the middle of the order. Cliff Floyd is that kind of player, but his health issues could leave just enough doubt to make a deal for a player such as Ken Griffey Jr. look like a fit by the July 31 deadline. Griffey has a history with manager Lou Piniella and is unhappy in Cincinnati, where he was moved from center field to right this year. Not only are the Reds shopping him, but he has said privately to those close to him that he would welcome a move to Chicago. Griffey is signed through next season with a team option for 2009 at salaries of $6.5 million each year. While the Cubs' uncertain ownership future makes acquiring a player with a multiyear contract more difficult, team officials say they haven't been told they can't take on salary beyond this year. See below for link.

Griffey is signed through next season with a team option for 2009 at salaries of $6.5 million each year. So Griffey would really only cost 6.5 million next year? What are the Cubs waiting for then? If the Cubs are really interested in Griffey, what happens to Floyd? Does he get traded? Would he be willing to be a bench player who plays VERY rarely?

If he can still play CF, this lineup would be dreamy: Soriano 7 Theriot 6 Griff 8 Rammy 5 Floyd 9 Lee 3 Derosa 4 Barrett 2 :(

Ha... it is kinda' funny to see people talk about how great of a deal the Reds got when the signed Griffey. Not so sure they are think it was a great deal now. It is interesting to see how perceptions change. Griffey signed a deal that was well below market value, yet almost as soon as he arrived he dealt with injuries that led to him being OVER paid.

If he can still play CF, this lineup would be dreamy: ... ... 6th - Derek Lee ... You would bat a guy hitting .340, with an obp of .422 and a slugging % of .525, 6th? Wow...

Yes... why the incredulity? I can explain, two reasons: 1. Breaking up the righty power bats. 2. Sure he's hitting for a high averge, but not for a lot of power lately. So put him in the lineup where he'll come up with guys on the bases... guy at second guy at third... Lee belts his trademark double and boom... RBIs. Derosa would give him plenty of protection.

Virginia Phil - When Hill was @ Iowa, he and Soto shared the catching duties pretty equally as opposed to Hill starting all the time ahead of Soto...

Rynox... you simply do not place your best hitter (even without the homeruns) 6th. Lee would be an ideal #2 hitter in that lineup. And theriot's .320 obp isn't so ideal there. Imagine this: Soriano - CF Lee - 1b Griffey - CF A-Ram - 3b Floyd - RF DeRosa/Fontenot - ss/2b Theriot/Fontenot - ss/2b Hill/Soto/Bowen/Blanco - C

I just thought Lee batting 6th sounded really intimidating. Chris Capuano is shaking with fear right now as we speak.

what's the point of getting griffey --- we still are a ways off from being WS ready. in a more progressive -- long term solution ---I'd look to trade a guy like Marshall for Stalmaccia of the braves - in a heartbeat. however, the braves will likely want more. Stalmaccia or McCann have to be traded --- both are A Catching Prospects

Chris Capuano is shaking with fear right now as we speak. ----- nope, Chris Capuano is on the DL, enjoying one of those tropical drinks with a little umbrella

Well Hendry did the Reds a favor by drafting Josh Hamilton and shipping him to the Reds. The least they can do is take JJ and Gallagher for Jr.

Stalmaccia or McCann have to be traded — both are A Catching Prospects From everything that has been said, Salt and McCann are both unavailable in trades. We cannot pretend that the Cubs can just trade for anyone that they would like.

125- Smart move by Girardi. They Oriolies need some one without the foresight, drive or in game decision making to sit in blackhole/dugout that is Camden Yards. I wonder who would fit that bill?

ESPN reporting that the Sun-Times is reporting that the JJ/Griffey rumor is gaining some steam. ESPN also reporting that Griffey "wants" to be a Chicago Cub.

lmao

TCR now reporting that ESPN is reporting that Sun-Times is reporting Griffey wants to be a Cub.

Doug Dascenzo now reporting that Rynox reporting that TCR reporting that ESPN is reporting that Sun-Times is reporting Griffey wants to be a Cub, and also that D-Lee is dreamy.

Milton Bradley rumors, anyone? .292/.373/.446 Those are pretty decent numbers. When healthy, he definitely produces. If the Cubs didn't already have 37 right fielders on their active roster, I would probably take a chance on the guy.

Anyone know what's the status of JC Romero? He was DFA'd, then released three days ago. I hadn't seen him throw this year but his numbers looked on par with his career numbers. But no one to my knowledge has snapped him up yet. Is he hurt or did he beat up Julio Lugo's wife or something?

It would be fun to see what would happen if Bradley made a run scoring error in right while Zambrano was on the mound. He actually would be a pretty good fit, baseball player wise. Switch hitter who can play a passable right and a not-totally embarrasing center. He's been pretty quiet, at least news wise in Oakland, but they're probably releasing/trading him because of his personality. Wouldn't mind a straight swap for Jock. Needless to say, the A's aren't going to be interested in any of our hitting prospects. Provided he keeps his racist comments to himself, of course.

they’re probably releasing/trading him because of his personality. Why do you say that? I haven't heard a bad thing about him since he went to Oakland. He has had nagging injury issues all year, which is the reason that I would think he is getting DFA'd.

Well if a team that isn't hitting DFA's one of their best hitters, I don't think it's because of the paperwork hassle of putting him on the DL. That's like saying Griffey or Floyd should have been released by their clubs.

"the A’s aren’t going to be interested in any of our hitting prospects" You gotta figure the A's would really be interested in Matt Murton, though.

1. The Cubs record looks worse then it be should because the team has a terrible record in close games. Why that is so is part luck, part poor defense and base running, and part a bullpen slump during the first part of the year. Joe Sheehan, not a Cub or a Hendry fan, had a good article on this subject in Baseball Prospectus last week. 2. Biggest worry now is that the starters, who were so good in April and May, are either 1) returning to the mean or 2) breaking down with summer heat. If they keep giving up runs in bunches, that will mean the run differential will soon correctly reflect the Cubs's miserable record. 3. The line-up again has problems with OBP (which I lay at the feet with Hendry's inability to understand the value of that metric) and lack of left handed hitters. Bowen actually helps here a little. 4. The Cubs kept getting worse while Barrett was with the team. His defense and lack of fundamentals pretty much neutralized is obvious offensive talent and I got to like him as a person. The Cubs had to go in a new direction, especially with Barret's free agency pending. But Hendry should be criticized for not biting this bullet over the winter. Instead, he let a crisis develop and basically had to firesale Barrett as it was obvious that both the manager and key pitchers had lost confidence in his catching. 5. With Pie, let's show some patience. Boston's rookie, Pedroia, was hitting below the Mendoza line for most of April, but Boston kept playing him, turned a deaf ear to talk radio, and now the rookie is has his average up to .323. Let's see if we can build a foundation for a winning team for the next few years instead trying to find instant solution.

Hendry should be criticized for not biting this bullet over the winter. What? Hendry should have known that Barrett was going to regress both offensively and defensively? How was he supposed to know that? With Pie, let’s show some patience. I agree, but that doesn't mean he should be hitting second.

Real Neal: "excuse me, Manny. ’should of been released’." Excuse you about what???

and lack of left handed hitters.. Last night's lineup had Floyd, Jones, Fontenot, Hill, and Pie. Did you mean left handed hitters, or left handed hitters that could actually hit?

Is that "Formerly a Cub Fan?" or Cub Fan Now, Formerly Here, Who is Now In Germany"?

Dave and Manny, I was teasing Manny for saying 'should of'.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.