The Cubs made a move today to clear some much needed....minor league roster space? Rotoworld says the Oakland Athletics have acquired pitcher Rocky Roquet for the ever popular player to be named later.
Roquet, a 26-year old right-hander was always a favorite of Arizona Phil and was a non-roster invitee to camp this spring. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League the last two years and Scout.com had him at #18 in their 2008 prospect rankings.
I'm not sure why the move was made unless the Cubs felt they were full at the minor league levels or Billy Beane really liked Roquet and promised a decent return for the Cubs on that ambiguous future player they'll eventually receive. Or the Cubs know they're going to have to bite the bullet on Chad Gaudin's salary and the deal will just end up being for cash...an unlikely but possible scenario.
UPDATE: Muskat also says the Cubs have released LHP Ed Campusano. I believe over the last month the Cubs have cut ties with their top picks from 2003-2005 (Ryan Harvey, Grant Johnson and Mark Pawelek), plus pitchers Ryan Acosta, Campusano, Micahel Cooper, Jim Henderson, Jordan Latham, John Muller, Audy Santana, Harol Tolentino, catchers Mario Mercedes and Tony Richie, 1B Bryan Jost and SS Erick Almonte.
UPDATE #2: The Cubs VP of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita says the trade was simply due to a minor league roster crunch.
“He’s a great kid with a chance to pitch in the major leagues,” Cubs Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita said of Roquet.
“We were simply full and had to create (minor league roster) space.
m.trout gets his 1st cycle...
cubs sure are good at these late/last-inning comeback teases only to fail...
4-5, final...men stranded on 1st and 3rd.
make that 4/4 (.223)
Man, I'm sure glad Camp wasn't DFA'd. It's not like guaranteed salary is important or something. Wait....what?
16.2ip 26h 6bb 12k - 7.56era 1.92whip
rondon/russell/camp combine to give away a 3-0 lead.
awesome 5 run inning.
welcome back garza...this is what you've been missing.
still lots of lipstick on this Cubs pig...
btw on Garza, Cubs have no reason to trade him if they don't score big-time prospects. They'll certainly offer him the qualifying offer and get the draft pick or happily have him back.
Always good to get Shawn Camp some work. I hope Garza breaks his knees with a bat when he gets bak to the dugout.
Worst Cubs bullpen ever?
Phillip Humber on the roster, not a good thing though.
and......Camp gives him a no decision. Go Cubs.
He does have the stuff. Plus guys from Nacogdoches are always cool.
5ip 1h 3bb 5k (0r) for garza...82 pitches
cruising around 94mph with the fastball (92-94mph, mostly tipping to the upper).
I bet the Cubs could add Phillip Humber to the roster if they wanted.
well, he did have a no-hitter through 4.1ip today at least.
"Ability to have guys that have no-hitter-type stuff go out there is always a nice asset to have." -- Sveum, before game, on Garza return.
In other news, Tom Thibodeau said he likes basketball players that are good at shooting and Marc Trestman says the Bears are going to attempt to score touchdowns this year.
d.barney 2/2...breaks the .200 mark (.208)...should be over .300 ob% with that, too.
i would be impressed with more walks if he wasn't hitting 8th so much (all but 4pa this year).