Cubs 2024 Rule 5 Draft and Minor League Free-Agent Watch List
4/17 UPDATE:
The Cubs have selected the contract of RHP Colten Brewer from AAA Iowa.
4/12 UPDATE:
The Mets acquired catcher Joe Hudson from the Cubs (Mets assume contract, otherwise no players, cash, or other considerations were exchanged).
It's 4 in a row 4 Rosario!
Demetrio Crisantes laced a triple and two RBI singles, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Adrian Rodriguez hammered an RBI triple and a double, reached base on an HBP, and scored three runs, Jean Walters tripled, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Channy Ortiz smashed a solo HR over the RF bullpen, singled, and walked, and SP Josh Green and four relievers combined on a three-hitter, leading the Diamondbacks to a 9-2 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
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2024 Cubs Extended Spring Training Roster
4/16 UPDATE:
RHP Grayson Moore has been moved up from EXST to Hi-A South Bend, and RHP Vince Reilly and RHP Luis Rujano have been moved-up from EXST to Lo-A Myrtle Beach.
see UPDATED EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING ROSTER below
4/15 UPDATE:
INF Derniche Valdez has returned to Extended Spring Training after an absence of about three weeks.
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Cub Long Balls Tie Up Rockies at Talking Stick
Jose Escobar (opposite-field line-drive), Alfonsin Rosario (light-tower moonshot), and Bradlee Beesley (hard-contact blast) belted solo home runs, Anderson Suriel doubled, walked and scored two runs, and Adan Sanchez drilled an RBI single, reached base on an HBP, and walked for the Cubs, and Juan Castillo smacked a two-run double and Franklin Lopez laced a two-run triple for the Rockies, as the two teams played to a 6-6 tie in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Monday afternoon on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.
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Cubs @ Diamondbacks: Series Thread (Games 16-18)
By holding on to their 3-2 lead Sunday afternoon, the Cubs collected their first road series win of the season and improved to 9-6 on the season. Michael Busch "drives the bus" to Arizona next, where he'll have a chance to continue his current four-game homerun streak against the 8-8 Diamondbacks. See below for matchups.
A Mule on the Mound and a Rosario Bomb on the Berm at Sloan Park
Alfonsin Rosario crushed a towering solo HR high onto the LF berm (his second HR this week), singled, reached base on an HBP, and stole a base, and Anderson Suriel belted an RBI triple for the Cubs, and Jairo Pomares cracked a solo HR and a single, and Charlie Szykowny singled, doubled, walked, and scored two runs for the Giants, as the two teams played to a 5-5 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
The game was called after seven innings of play.
Cubs @ Mariners: Series Thread (Games 13-15)
The Cubs were able to manage only one win in San Diego. Their two losses included blowing an eight-run lead in the series opener. Following a day off on Thursday, they proceed to Seattle for another three-game series. See daily matchups below.
Peralta Just Can't Stop Hitting Doubles in Mesa
SP Yenrri Rojas hurled three innings of perfect baseball, David Peralta doubled twice, stole a base, and drove-in a run, and Anderson Suriel drilled a game-tying RBI double with one out in the top of the 9th for the Cubs, and SP Luis Morales tossed three innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts and Reynaldo de la Paz (game-tying RBI single in the 7th) and Clark Elliott (RBI double in the 8th) stroked run-scoring hits late in the game for the Athletics, as the Cubs and A's played to a 2-2 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday afternoon on Field # 4 at the Lew
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Cubs Home Run Bats Overwhelm Rockies Pitchers at Sloan Park
Felix Stevens crushed an opposite-field grand slam over the right-centerfield fence to put the Cubs on the board in the bottom of the 1st inning, Alfonsin Rosario belted a three-run moonshot HR high onto the LF berm, Geuri Lubo lined a two-run HR into the LF bullpen, Anderson Suriel clobbered a solo oppo-HR to left-center, David Peralta doubled, walked twice, and scored two runs, Adan Sanchez doubled, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, Yahil Melendez singled twice, walked, and scored two runs, Brennen Davis singled, walked, and scored a run, SP Luis Devers fired three innings of one-h
Cubs @ Padres (Games 10-12)
The Cubs took two of three against the Dodgers. Although they were held in check by Yamamoto, the offense was able to break through against the youngsters Miller and Stone along with the Dodger's relief corps. The Cubs begin a West Coast road trip with a three game series in San Diego. See below for matchups.
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Recent comments
Arizona Phil (view)
I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."
Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to
-give Hendricks another few starts
-give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway
-Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks
Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).
I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.
I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa?
Childersb3 (view)
Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.
And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team.
Arizona Phil (view)
Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.
If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.
I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?
Childersb3 (view)
Cubdom needs to prepare themselves for Wicks to be sent to Iowa for Taillon to come up.
Ben Brown has 4 appearances. Wicks has 4 appearances.
Ben has 16.1 IP. Wicks has 17 IP
Ben was a 1.1 WHIP. Wicks has a 1.7 WHIP. Wicks does have significantly more SOs.
Ben has been better, though.
I love Wicks. I think he's a fighter and his stuff has improved.
But, Jed isn't ditching Hendricks just yet. He should. But he won't.
Hendricks should go to the IL and Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown should be the rotation.
Wont' happen though.
Childersb3 (view)
AZ Phil,
Did you agree with the demotion of Luke Little? He'd been pretty good up until the AZ/wild pitch appearance. I know that can't jettison Smyly (just yet) so they didn't need another LHRP. Especially with Leiter effectively being a LHRP. I still thought he deserved to stay. It's not permanent. He'll be back. Lots of moves to come with Taillon, Steele and other guys coming and going.
Also, do you see Hodge being able to "control/command" his stuff to get a chance this year?
Is Arias better than Hodge? Thanks
crunch (view)
just waiting to hear patrick wisdom and masterboney are spotted at the airport going in opposite directions...
aj puk going for the marlins (lefty)...gotta imagine we'll see wisdom in the lineup.
someone has to make room for taillon, too.
crunch (view)
he's a low-level cubs star in the modern history of the cubs (c.zambrano, k.wood, r.dempster, etc), but that star has dimmed...and has been dimming since 2021.
2024 has been ugly the whole way and we're only in mid-april. homers aside (even though there's been 7 in 17ip) he gave up 29 hits in 20 spring innings and 31 in 17 regular season innings.
he's pretty much only got 2 pitches at this point in his career and the mix isn't fooling anyone. he threw a noticable amount more curves in his last start to add to the mix and it didn't help his issues. he don't have many moves left to break out.