Winter Meetings
2023 Winter Meetings Thread
The 2023 MLB Winter Meetings have kicked off with the Chicago Cubs rumored to be involved in some of the offseason's most desired players. Jed Hoyer et al. have already made the managerial splash of the year, bidding David Ross adieu and welcoming former Brewer Craig Counsell on a big ol' contract, by manager standards.
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2018 MLB Winter Meetings
The 2018 MLB Winter Meetings commemce on Monday (12/11) in Orlando, FL, and extend through Thursday morning (the Rule 5 Draft will be the last order of business).
While the meetings don't begin officially until Monday, most of the attendees will be arriving on Sunday.
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2016 Winter Meetings (Day Four) - Rule 5 Draft
The 2016 MLB Rule 5 Draft will be the last order of "official" business at the Winter Meetings Thursday morning.
SELECTED BY CUBS IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE:
NONE
NOTE: The Cubs acquired LHP Caleb Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers for a Player to Be Named Later (or cash) after the conclusion of the draft. Smith was selected by the Brewers from the New York Yankees AAA Scranton affiliate in the Major League Phase (so the Cubs assume the Rule 5 obligations that go with selecting a player in the Major League Phase). Smith must be added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) immediately (and tendered a major league contract by 5 PM Eastern), so the Cubs now have 36 players on their MLB 40-man roster (four slots are open).
CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE:
Armando Rivero, RHP (by Atlanta Braves from Cubs AAA Iowa affiliate)
CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN AAA PHASE: :
Danny Lockhart, INF (by Arizona Diamondbacks AAA Reno affiliate from Cubs AA Tennessee affiliate)
PLAYERS SELECTED BY CUBS IN AAA PHASE:
Kevin Cornelius, INF (by Cubs AAA Iowa affiliate from New York Yankees AA Trenton affiliate)
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2016 Winter Meetings (Day Three)
UPDATE: Soler for Davis is done.
The Cubs appear to be close to acquiring Wade Davis from the Royals for a deal that would include Jorge Soler. In 207.2 IPs over the last three seasons (including the postseason), here’s what Davis has done: 1.08 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 118 Hits, 272 K, 64 BB, and 3 HR. Not too shabby. Late interest from Nats probably added more to the deal since the early word from the Cubs was that they wanted more in return.
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2016 Winter Meetings (Day Two)
The Cubs were quiet after the first day in Maryland. The loudest chatter involves them trading Soler to KC for Wade Davis. KC, along with the Rangers and many other AL clubs, are said to like Soler, although Baez seems to be the player most inquired about. The Cubs are also linked to Jansen and the rehabbing Tyson Ross, who is going to get an incentive-laded contract from someone.
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2016 Winter Meetings (Day One)
It's time for the Winter Meetings!--in National Harbor, Maryland (for some reason).
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Winter Meetings (Day Five)
Update 3: The contract has two separate opt-out clauses. The first comes after three years.
Update 2: Rosenthal has it at 8/$184m.
Update: According to ESPN, the Cubs have signed Jason Heyward.
The Winter Meetings come to a close, after a relatively quiet day.
The latest word on Heyward is that the Nats have emerged as a serious bidder to rival the Cards and Cubs. The contract could pass the $200m mark, and it sounds like a decision could come at any minute.
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2015 Winter Meetings (Day Four) - Rule 5 Draft
12/10 UPDATE:
SELECTED BY CUBS IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE OF 2015 RULE 5 DRAFT
NONE
2015 Winter Meetings (Day Three)
Maddon finally gets his Zobrist, Castro is a Yankee, and Dusty Baker reminds everyone why he should never be allowed near a microphone.
In other news, the Cards traded Jay for the soon-to-be All-star Gyrko, and AZ meets Altanta's asking price for Miller.
Supposedly, the Cubs are not done, so let's get at it!
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2015 Winter Meetings (Day Two)
Update 2: In a related move, Castro heads to the Yankees for RHP Adam Warren and IF Brendan Ryan.
Update 1: Zobrist signs with the Cubs for 4/$56m.
Cahill is back and Baez is rumored to be on the block.
Meanwhile, the Reds have a bridge over the Ohio River they'd like to sell you.
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Recent comments
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?
Arizona Phil (view)
In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!
And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).