2016 Cubs Minor League Camp Rosters (Updated)
4/4 UPDATE: RHP Andury Acevedo, C-1B Taylor Davis, INF Ryan Dent, and RHP Starling Peralta to AA Tennessee from AAA Iowa, RHP Cole Brocker and OF-1B Kelly Dugan to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING from AA Tennessee, RHP James Norwood and RHP Michael Wagner to South Bend from Myrtle Beach, RHP Pedro Araujo, RHP Jared Cheek, RHP Kyle Miller, LHP Jose Paulino, LHP Tyler Peitzmeier, and RHP Alexander Santana to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING from South Bend, C Erick Castillo to Myrtle Beach from EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING, and 3B Adonis Paula to South Bend from, EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING.
Also, SS Aramis Ademan, OF Jose Gonzalez, SS Rafael Narea, SS Yonathan Perlaza, OF Ruben Reyes, OF Abraham Rodriguez, and OF Jonathan Sierra have arrived at Minor League Camp from the Cubs Dominican Academy.
4/3 UPDATE: OF Bijan Rademacher moves-down from AAA Iowa to AA Tennessee, and 3B Jesse Hodges, RHRP Daniel Lewis, RHP Tommy Nance, RHSP Jeremy Null, and C Tyler Pearson move-down from Myrtle Beach to EXST. NOTE: Tyler Pearson and Alberto Mineo MIGHT serve as player-coaches (Pearson with Tennesse and Mineo with South Bend - TBA).
Also, 2B Jhonny Bethencourt, RHP Hector Garcia, RHP Jose Leidenz, 3B Rafael Mejia, and SS Yeiler Peguero have arrived at Minor League Camp from the Cubs Dominican Academy.
4/1 UPDATE: 18 players who are assigned to the Cubs Dominican Academy but who were not invited to Minor League Camp will be attending Extended Spring Training and will be arriving over the next several days. The first three (LHP Pablo Ochoa, LHP Eugenio Palma, and RHP Andri Rondon) arrived today. Ochoa and A. Rondon attended Instructs in Mesa last Fall, but Palma is making his U. S. debut.
3/31 UPDATE The Cubs released ten players from Minor League Camp yesterday, including two one-time 5th round draft picks:
Angelo Amendolare, 2B (2015 draft - 27th round - U. of Jacksonville)
Fernando Cruz, RHRP (ex-KC - post-2014 6YFA)
Jesus Guzman, 1B (post-2015 FA - Japan)
Corbin Hoffner, RHRP (2012 draft - 14th round - St. Petersburg JC)
Trey Masek, RHRP (2013 draft - 5th round - Texas Tech)
Mike O'Neill, OF (ex-STL - December 2015 Rule 5 Draft - Minor League Phase)
Luis Parra, LHRP (ex-TEX - post-2015 6YFA)
Jasvir Rakkar, RHRP (2012 draft - 26th round - SUNY Stony Brook)
Jacob Rogers, 1B (2012 draft - 40th round - Mt. Olive College)
Tayler Scott, RHRP (2011 draft - 5th round - Notre Dame HS - Scottsdale, AZ)
3/28 UPDATE: In Minor League Camp roster news, long-time Cubs minor league INF Jonathan Mota (2003 IFA - Venezuela) has retired as a player. Although he signed a 2016 minor league player contract during the off-season, he has been working exclusively as a coach with the Myrtle Beach (Hi-A) squad since Minor League Camp opened earlier this month, and will continue to do so going forward.
3/26 UPDATEL: In Minor League Camp roster news, the Cubs have released RHRP Matt Brazis (acquired from SEA for OF Justin Ruggiano post-2014), 1B Matt Clark (ex-MIL), OF Donnie Cimino (2015 37th round draft pick - Weslyan U.), LHRP Heath Dwyer (2015 NDFA - VCU), LHRP Nick Greenwood (ex-STL), C-INF Jordan Hankins (2013 11th round draft pick - Austin Peay), RHRP Yomar Morel (2010 IFA - Dominican Republic), RHRP Santiago Rodriguez (2013 IFA - Dominican Republic), RHSP Austyn Willis (2014 18th round draft pick - Barstow HS - Barstow, CA), and LHRP Sam Wilson (2013 8th round draft pick - Lamar CC).
3/14 UPDATE 17-year old RHP Jose Albertos (2015 IFA - Mexico - $1.5M signing bonus) has arrived and has been assigned to the South Bend squad. Although he just arrived at Minor League Camp, Albertos participated in Fall Instructs at the Cubs Under Armour Performance Center in Mesa last September-October, and he is one of six IFA players signed by the Cubs out of Mexico (so far) during the 2015-16 International Signing Period (with six being as many IFA as the Cubs had signed out of Mexico over the previous ten years combined).
In addition, RHP Matt Brazis (Iowa squad) has been cleared for full activity, while RHP Luis Hernandez (injured while throwing a "live" BP session last week) is now restricted to Limited Activity Only with the South Bend squad.
3/12 UPDATE: Francisco Garay and Wander Feliz have arrived from the Cubs Dominican Academy, and both are being converted from position player to pitcher.
A 17-year old 6'2 Panamanian, Garay hit just 126/190/146 with a whopping 96 K in 220 PA while playing both 3B and SS for the VSL Cubs in his debut pro season last year, and the 18-year old 6'2 Feliz hit 235/375/333 in 202 PA and 54 games (mostly in RF) for the DSL Cubs in 2015 (his rookie season). Garay received a $200K signing bonus in July 2014, so his failure as a position player is especially noteworthy.
Garay and Feliz have been assigned to the South Bend group, but both will very likely be assigned to the Extended Spring Training squad, once it is formed in the coming days.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2016 CUBS MINOR LEAGUE ROSTERS (last updated 4-4-2016):
* bats or throws left
# bats both
IOWA: 31
AAA
PITCHERS: 18
* Jeffry Antigua
* Scott Barnes
Jake Buchanan
Carl Edwards Jr
Stephen Fife
Brandon Gomes
Pierce Johnson
* Eric Jokisch
Jean Machi
Miguel Mejia
* Manny Parra
Spencer Patton
Felix Pena
* C. J. Riefenhauser
Armando Rivero
Jose Rosario
Drew Rucinski
Ryan Williams
CATCHERS: 3
Ben Carhart
Willson Contreras
Tim Federowicz
INFIELDERS: 5
# Arismendy Alcantara
* Munenori Kawasaki
Kristopher Negron
* Dan Vogelbach
* Logan Watkins
OUTFIELD1ERS: 5
Albert Almora Jr
John Andreoli
* Ryan Kalish
Matt Murton
Juan Carlos Perez
TENNESSEE: 27
AA
PITCHERS: 14
Andury Acevedo
Corey Black
Paul Blackburn
* Gerardo Concepcion
Josh Conway
David Garner
Michael Jensen
Brad Markey
Juan Carlos Paniagua
Steve Perakslis
Starling Peralta
Tyler Skulina
Jen-Ho Tseng
* Rob Zastryzny
CATCHERS: 3
# Victor Caratini
Taylor Davis
David Freitas
INFIELDERS: 6
Stephen Bruno
# Jeimer Candelario
Ryan Dent
Anthony Giansanti
Carlos Penalver
Chesny Young
OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Jake Hannemann
* Billy McKinney
* Bijan Rademacher
Mark Zagunis
MYRTLE BEACH: 26
Hi-A
PITCHERS: 14
David Berg
Trevor Clifton
James Farris
Zach Hedges
* Tyler Ihrig
Erick Leal
Dillon Maples
Jonathan Martinez
Ryan McNeil
* Jordan Minch
James Pugliese
Jake Stinnett
* Tommy Thorpe
Daury Torrez
CATCHERS: 3
Gioskar Amaya
Cael Brockmeyer
# Erick Castillo
INFIELDERS: 5
Yasiel Balaguert
# Ian Happ
* Danny Lockhart
Gleyber Torres
* Jason Vosler
OUTFIELDERS: 4
Jeffrey Baez
Charcer Burks
* Rashad Crawford
* Shawon Dunston Jr
SOUTH BEND: 27
Lo-A
PITCHERS: 14
Adbert Alzolay
Casey Bloomquist
Craig Brooks
Scott Effross
Greyfer Eregua
Scott Frazier
* Ryan Kellogg
Preston Morrison
James Norwood
* Carson Sands
* Justin Steele
* Kyle Twomey
Michael Wagner
* John Williamson
CATCHERS: 3
Tyler Alamo
P. J. Higgins (ex-INF)
Ian Rice
INFIELDERS: 6
* Andrew Ely
* Bryant Flete
Jose Paniagua
Adonis Paula
Matt Rose
* Carlos Sepulveda
OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Donnie Dewees
Eloy Jimenez
Eddy Julio Martinez
* Daniel Spingola
EUGENE/MESA (EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING): 77+15
PITCHERS: 33+13
Jose Albertos
Pedro Araujo
Javier Assad
Frank Batista (INJURY REHAB GROUP - knee)
Dallas Beeler (INJURY REHAB GROUP - right shoulder inflammation)
Jordan Brink (INJURY REHAB GROUP - post-2015 right shoulder surgery)
Cole Brocker
Aaron Brooks (INJURY REHAB GROUP - hip contusion)
Jesus Camargo
Jesus Castillo
Dylan Cease
Jared Cheek
Aaron Crow (INJURY REHAB GROUP - April 2015 TJS)
Oscar de la Cruz (INJURY REHAB GROUP - elbow)
Enrique de los Rios
* Andin Diaz (INJURY REHAB GROUP)
Wander Feliz (ex-OF)
P. J. Francescon (RESTRICTED LIST - ACTIVE)
Francisco Garay (ex-INF)
Hector Garcia
* Yapson Gomez
Tanner Griggs (RESTRICTED LIST - ACTIVE)
Luis Hernandez (INJURY REHAB GROUP)
* Bryan Hudson
John Michael Knighton
* Jack Leathersich (INJURY REHAB GROUP - July 2015 TJS)
Jose Leidenz
Daniel Lewis
Gabriel Lima (INJURY REHAB GROUP)
Mark Malave
Junior Marte
Kyle Miller
M. T. Minacci
Erling Moreno
Tommy Nance
Jeremy Null
* Pablo Ochoa
* Eugenio Palma
* Tyler Peitzmeier
Jonathan Pettibone (INJURY REHAB GROUP - 2015 right shoulder surgery)
Andri Rondon
* Manny Rondon
Alexander Santana
Pedro Silverio
Duane Underwood Jr (INJURY REHAB GROUP - elbow)
Jose Zapata (INACTIVE - player coach)
CATCHERS: 9+1
Miguel Amaya
Eric Gonzalez
Marcus Mastrobuoni
* Alberto Mineo
Tyler Payne
Tyler Pearson
Jhonny Pereda
Gustavo Polanco
Will Remillard (INACTIVE - TJS)
Kevin Zamudio
INFIELDERS: 18+2
* Aramis Ademan
Javy Baez (ACTIVE REHAB - thumb contusion)
Jhonny Bethencourt
David Bote
Wladimir Galindo
* Blake Headley
Jesse Hodges
* Vimael Machin
Joey Martarano (INACTIVE - attending college at Boise State)
Rafael Mejia
Andruw Monasterio
Rafael Narea
Isaac Paredes
# Yeiler Peguero
# Yonathan Perlaza
* Chris Pieters
# Edgar Rondon
Ho-Young Son
Christian Villanueva (INACTIVE - fractured fibula)
# Sutton Whiting
OUTFIELDERS: 17
* Luis Ayala
Alex Bautista
# Roberto Caro
* Kelly Dugan
Michael Foster
# Robert Garcia
Jose Gonzalez
* Kwang-Min Kwon
* Ricardo Marcano
Trey Martin (ACTIVE REHAB)
Yohan Matos (ex-C)
Kevonte Mitchell
* Ruben Reyes
* Abraham Rodriguez
* Jonathan Sierra
# Shane Victorino (ACTIVE REHAB - calf)
* D. J. Wilson
CUBS DOMINICAN ACADEMY
NOTE Latin American Cubs minor leaguers who do not attend Minor League Camp and/or Extended Spring Training in Arizona have their Spring Training at the Cubs Dominican Academy. Players who have Spring Training at the Dominican Academy are eventually assigned to one of the two Cubs DSL teams (DSL Cubs #1 or DSL Cubs #2).
DSL CUBS: 53+2
SS-FR
PITCHERS: 30+2
Maikel Aguiar
Assael Aquino (INACTVE - RESTRICTED LIST – 72 game PED suspension)
Luis Aquino
Andres Arteaga
* Andres Bonalde
* Faustino Carrera
Alfredo Colorado
Luis Contreras
Luiz Escanio (INACTIVE - RESTRICTED LIST – 72 game PED suspension)
Miguel Estevez
* Riger Fernandez
Emilio Ferrebus
Fauris Guerrero
* Jose MacDonna
* Brailyn Marquez
Hector Matos
Ivan Medina
Bryan Molina
Edison Novas
Carlos Ocampo
* Alex Pacheco
Yunior Perez
Moises Ramirez
Eury Ramos
Juan Rengifo
Jhon Romero
Aneuris Rosario
Jesus Tejada
Freddy Tineo
Deibi Torres
Sucre Valdez
Omar Ventura
CATCHERS: 5
Daniel Diaz
Richard Nunez
Raymond Pena
Henderson Perez
# Herson Perez
INFIELDERS: 8
Luis Diaz
Ronaldo Lopez
Fidel Matos
# Fidel Mejia
* Cristopher Morel
Orian Nunez
Henry Pedra
Franklin Tineo
OUTFIELDERS: 10
Moises Colasante
Yovanny Cuevas
* Jose Gutierrez
Luis Hidalgo
Jose Jules
Fernando Kelli
Samir Lara
Tony Rijo
Jose Rojas
Luis Ubiera
CUBS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT FIELD STAFF (last updated 12-17-2015)
FIELD COORDINATOR & CATCHING COORDINATOR: Tim Cossins
PITCHING COORDINATOR: Jim Brower
ASSISTANT PITCHING COORDINATOR: Mike Mason
HITTING COORDINATOR: Andy Haines
ASSISTANT HITTING COORDINATOR: Tom Beyers
INFIELD COORDINATOR; Jose Flores
OUTFIELD & BASERUNNING COORDINATOR:Doug Dascenzo
LATIN AMERICAN FIELD COORDINATOR: Dave Keller
MENTAL SKILLS PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Josh Lifrak
MENTAL SKILLS COORDINATOR: Darnell McDonald
LATIN AMERICAN MENTAL SKILLS COORDINATOR: Raymond Fuentes
IOWA: Marty Pevey (Manager), Rod Nichols (Pitching Coach), Brian Harper (Hitting Coach), and Leo Perez (Assistant Coach)
TENNESSEE: Mark Johnson (Manager), Terry Clark (Pitching Coach), Desi Wilson (Hitting Coach), and Osmin Martinez (Assistant Coach)
MYRTLE BEACH: Buddy Bailey (Manager), Anderson Tavarez (Pitching Coach), Mariano Duncan (Hitting Coach), and Juan Cabreja (Assistant Coach)
SOUTH BEND: Jimmy Gonzalez (Manager), David Rosario (Pitching Coach), Guillermo Martinez (Hitting Coach), and Ricardo Medina (Assistant Coach)
EUGENE: Jesus Feliciano (Manager), Brian Lawrence (Pitching Coach), Ty Wright (Hitting Coach), and Gary Van Tol (Assistant Coach)
AZL CUBS: Carmelo Martinez (Manager), Ron Villone (Pitching Coach), Jeremy Farrell (Hitting Coach), and Chris Valaika (Assistant Coach)
MESA REHAB: TBA (Pitching Coach) and Lance Rymel (Assistant Coach)
DSL CUBS #1: Claudio Almonte (Manager), Eduardo Villacis (Pitching Coach), Carlos Ramirez (Hitting Coach), Antonio Valerio (Assistant Coach), Jovanny Rosario (Assistant Coach), and Jose Cueto (Assistant Pitching Coach)
DSL CUBS #2: Pedro Gonzalez (Manager), Armando Gabino (Pitching Coach), Franklin Blanco (Hitting Coach), and Carlos Rojas (Assistant Coach)
MINOR LEAGUE TRAINING COORDINATOR: Nick Frangella
ASSISTANT MINOR LEAGUE TRAINING COORDINATOR (MESA REHAB): Chuck Baughman
ATHLETIC TRAINERS: Shane Nelson and Sean Folan (Iowa), Jon Fierro (Tennessee), Toby Williams (Myrtle Beach), Mike McNulty (South Bend), Logan Severson (Eugene), TBA (AZL Cubs), Jose Alvarez (DSL Cubs #1), and Arnoldo Goite (DSL Cubs #2)
MINOR LEAGUE STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COORDINATOR: Doug Jarrow
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACHES: Ryan Clausen (Iowa), Mike Megrew (Tennessee), Jason Moriss (Myrtle Beach), Ed Kohl (South Bend), Ryan Nordtvedt (Eugene), TBA (AZL Cubs), Tomas Sanchez and Amaury Gonzalez (DSL Cubs #1), and Manny Estrada (DSL Cubs #2)
Comments
Brad Markey, Ryan Kellogg,
Brad Markey, Ryan Kellogg, David Berg, Trevor Clifton, Adbert Alzolay, Dylan Cease, and Luis Hernandez threw "live" BP today (one "inning" - 25 pitches each), but L. Hernandez was shut-down midway through his inning (unknown-type injury) and departed for the clubhouse in the company of a trainer.
Phil, it's notable that Issac
K-DUB: I would expect the DSL
K-DUB: I would expect the DSL players who are at Minor League Camp right now will likely stay for Extended Spring Training, but that doesn't mean the player will play in the AZL this summer. The Cubs sent catcher Eric Gonzalez back to the DSL Cubs and C-1B Roberto Vahlis back to the VSL Cubs from Extended Spring Training last May when the DSL and VSL were ready to start their seasons. NOTE: The Cubs moved their VSL affiliate (VSL Cubs) to the DSL for 2016, and will operate two teams (DSL Cubs #1 and DSL Cubs #2) in the DSL, just as they did 2008-12.
Also, probably about ten or twelve players presently assigned to the Cubs Dominican Academy will be brought up to Mesa at the start of Extended Spring Training in April.
Thanks, Phil.
Cubs 2015 1st round draft
Cubs 2015 1st round draft pick Ian Happ stayed out on Field #4 long after his Myrtle Beach Squad teammates finished their activities, taking about four dozen ground balls at 2nd base under the watchful eye of Cubs Minor League Infield Coordinator Jose Flores.
While Happ does look a bit stiff and awkward at 2B (a position he played in college at U. of Cincinnati), he is a hard worker, and he seems commited to becoming the best defender he can be at the position.
Ryan Kalish also stayed out
OF Ryan Kalish also stayed out on the field late, taking extra swings on Field #6.
The Cubs purchased Kalish's contract from an independent league club (Sioux City - American Association) last week.
Hey PHIL!
E-MAN: I have seen David
E-MAN: I have seen David Berg pitch to hitters at both Instructs post-2015 and in "live" BP at Minor League Camp yesterday.
I would say that Berg has a very high floor, meaning what you seen right now is probably pretty much what you will get at the MLB level. He repeats his submarine delivery very easily andf throws strikes. Some hitters struggle to hit him and look silly trying, while others square him up and hit the ball solidly.
I think it's possible that Berg will get called up to Chicago sometime this year, if for no other reason than to give opposing a hitters a different look than they see from other Cubs relievers. Maddon seems to like diversity in his bullpen, and Berg is certainly different.
BTW, Cubs minor league RHRP Corbin Hoffner started throwing with a submarine delivery about a year ago, and so he has David Berg to help him work on his mechanics at Minor League Camp (since probably none of the other pitching coaches can do much with it). The difference between Berg and Hoffner at this point is that Berg is a polished strike-throwing machine, whiler Hoffner still has a few command issues to work out.
wsox end up with ajax...paid
And Mike Olt DFA'd to make
Thanks Phil for the minor
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/
He must have sat on it.
He was trying to go full
A level of Kanye you should
THANK YOU Arizona Phil for
THAT was Logan's cousin
Anything up with LaStella
odd move to get him out of
I hear Atlanta has a pretty
I'm choosing to believe Cubs
Carrie Muskat @CarrieMuskat
Thanks
Mark Gonzales 2 minutes ago
AZ PHIL: In general, do any
E-MAN: I would look at it
E-MAN: I would look at it this way:
There is a scoreboard, and wins and losses in Spring Training games are recorded and noted, and (usually) one team wins and one team loses (unless the game is tied after nine innings or after one or two extra frames and the managers agree to call the game). but whether a team wins or loses doesn't matter, because generally speaking, the manager is not playing to win. That's why you see the closer pitch in the 4th or 5th inning (so he can face major league hitters before they leave the game), or the team's best players replaced by minor leaguers ("caddies") the last four innings of the game.
The manager and coaches are much more concerned with getting the club's starting pitchers stretched-out, getting the relief pitchers enough work (but not too much work) to prepare for the start of the regular season, getting the club;'s position players enough Plate Apperarances and reps in the field (but not too many PA or too many reps) to be ready to go when the bell rings, giving young minor league players and pitchers a chance to play in games with MLB players (even though a young player is more likely to make a critical mistake that could cost his club the game), providing opportunities for players who are "on the bubble" to pitch or play their way onto or off the 25-man roster, and easing injured players back into game action.
However, since Spring Training exists to prepare a club for the regular season, and winning games does matter during the regular season, the manager will sometimes try and inject "situational baseball" into a Spring Training game (like using defensive shifts to attempt to neutralize the other team's best hitter, or calling for a hit & run or a double steal or a sacrifice bunt, or using a pinch-hitter or a pinch-runner late in a close game), at least within the restrictions outlined in the previous paragraph.
But the fact is, there are no "tough losses" for the team in Spring Training, but individual players on the team can have a very good day (or a very bad day) that in some cases could make or break the player's immediate future in pro baseball.
A player competing for an open job on the 25-man roster, a pitcher attempting to master a new pitch, a player learning a new position, a player rehabbing from a major injury, a young player trying to make a good impression for the future, and the manager learning what a player or a pitcher can or can't do in a certain situation, are ultimately the only "winners" and "losers" in MLB Spring Training games. That's the "game within the game" that is Spring Training.
Not only do I think the first
And...just I thought Olt was
Its hard to deny that raw
I noticed that Rick Renteria
Plausible.
Anyone else listening to Cubs
Yes, it's out for everyone.
Paul Blackburn, Josh Conway,
Paul Blackburn, Josh Conway, Scott Effross, Bryan Hudson, Jonathan Martinez, Starling Peralta, Justin Steele, and Jake Stinnett threw "live" BP at Minor League Camp today (one "inning" - 25 pitches each).
And Cubs 2015 1st round draft pick Ian Happ continues his hard work, once again staying out on Field #4 long after his Myrtle Beach teammates finished their activities, and taking about four dozen ground balls at 2nd base under the watchful eye of Cubs Minor League Infield Coordinator Jose Flores. BTW, Ryne Sandberg is also present at Minor League Camp this year as a Special Instructor, and his expertise will hopefully provide added benefit to Happ as he attempts to polish his "D" at 2nd base.
Good info, AZ Phil. Thank you
AZ PHIL: Have you seen Corey
E-MAN: Corey Black is at
E-MAN: Corey Black is at Minor League Camp and he is healthy and he is throwing bullpen sessions and participating in PFP and other drills. Whether he will ever be able to command his 96 MPH heater and hard slider is another question.
AZ Phil - I've read that
ERIC S: Although it's
ERIC S: Although it's possible that Bryan Hudson could see South Bend toward the end of the 2016 season (August-September-MWL playoffs), I think it's far more likely that he will follow a similar path as Steele, Sands, and de la Cruz last season, meaning Extended Spring Training April-May-June, then Eugene June-July-August, and then AZ Instructs post-2016 (Sept-Oct).
Remember, Hudson threw only 6.2 IP in five pro games (all with AZL Cubs) after being drafted out of Alton HS (Alton, IL) last June, and obviously he did not have any college experience before that, and he didn't pitch in any games at AZ Instructs post-2015, either, so he could actually end up moving slower than average in 2016 rather than the other way around. That doesn't mean he doesn't have a high ceiling (because he does -- he's 6'8), just that he lacks experience and needs a LOT of work.
The bottom line is that he doesn't fit the profile of a pitcher who will get fast-tracked in 2016.
Ha! Not only does Hudson have
Thanks AZ Phil. Reports were
Arrieta be good, even in
nice
It sure would be nice to have
i know it's just spring, but
I adore the sentances that
i know it's spring training,
There it is!
That is simply a superb post,
Miggy/Ross currently 9 for 16
Several of these players, who
Ken Rosenthal, The Incredible
Rex is not our quaterback
Because he was an arbitration
Because he was an arbitration-eligible player who signed a non-guaranteed contract and because he was released at least 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day, the Cubs only have to pay Rex Brothers 30 days salary (about $230K) as termination pay. So they save about $1.19M in 2016 payroll.
If they had waited until the last 15 days of Spring Training to release Brothers, he would have received 45 days salary (about $350K) as termination pay.
If Brothers had been released after the start of the MLB regular season, he would have received his entire 2016 salary ($1.42M) offset by the pro-rated MLB minimnum salary ($507,500) if he signed a major league contract with another club or if he signed a minor league contract with another club and then was subsequenmtly moved to the club's MLB 40-man roster at a later date.
AZ PHIL: So, what you are
E-MAN: Yes. Plus about
E-MAN: Yes. Plus about another $1,200 per week in MLB Spring Training allowance.
Can Brothers field his
1st inning...comebacker to
What Bruce Levine discussed
beyond the steals issue,
I totally get that - and I am
yeah, the fact someone is
More "live" BP at Cubs Minor
More "live" BP at Cubs Minor League Camp today:
NOTE: The pitchers who threw two "innings" are being primed as starters, and the pitchers who threw one "inning" are being primed as relievers.
TWO-INNINGS:
Adbert Alzolay
Ryan Cease
Trevor Clifton
Ryan Kellogg
Brad Markey
ONE INNING:
David Berg
Corey Black
Craig Brooks
David Garner
Jasvir Rakkar
Daury Torrez
Prior to "live" BP and just after the conclusion of fielding practice, there was a relay race between the four squads (one on each field), with the players firing the ball around 2-5-7-8-9-3-2 as fast as possible in a race to see who could get the ball home first without any bobbles or bad throws. Ptrobably not too surprsingly, the AAA Iowa squad won. Eugene Hitting Coach Ty Wright handled the "play-by-play" in horse race style on the P. A. from the Tower... ... "and now they're off... Myrtle Beach bobbles the throw!... E-5!... Iowa, Tennessee, and South Bend making good throws.,.. faster! faster! ...OH NO!!!!!... overthrow by Tennessee!!!!... bad throw home by South Bend!!!!!.. Iowa wins!!!!!!...)
Then there was a bunting contest, with players attempting to knock balls off tees that were placed a few feet away on either side of home plate. Bijan Rademacher won, and was carried off the field by his teammates.
Thanks PHIL: I don't recall,
E-MAN: David Berg will very
E-MAN: David Berg will very likely be in the AA Tennessee bullpen on Opening Day.
haha! Thanks PHIL! This was
AZ Phil, I noticed Duary
VIDEO: Daury Torrez is being
VIDEOGRAPHER: Daury Torrez is being moved to the bullpen. The AA starting rotation is overcrowded, and the Cubs feel that of the 2015 Myrtle Beach starters, Torrez is the best bet to excel out of the pen.
baez hits his 1st of the
i know it's spring training,
Hopefully nothing is torn.
Carrie Muskat @CarrieMuskat
anyone who got to watch the
CUBSTER: Rex Brothers wasn't
CUBSTER: Rex Brothers wasn't released to open a spot on the 40-man roster, because first of all, the Cubs don't need to add anybody to the 40 at this point (although they may eventualy choose to add Victorino, Kawasaki, and/or M. Parra), and secondly, Christian Villanueva can be placed on the 60-day DL anytime if they need a slot on the 40 in the days ahead.
The release of Brothers was more of a cost-savings related to the Cubs wanting to save salary by releasing him now (although they could have waited unttl 3/19 and still had the exact same $$$ benefit), and not wanting to pay Brothers $1.42M to pitch at Iowa in 2016, when they have numerous other cheaper AAA LHRP candidates (Riefenhauser, M. Parra, Olmos, Barnes, and Greenwood, plus Rosscup and Leathersich once they are healthy enough to pitch).
goose gossage said a bunch of
I assume Goose will be Dusty
He was on ESPN 1000 yesterday
AZ Phil, I see Will Remillard
HAGSAG: Will Remillard is one
HAGSAG: Will Remillard is one of three catchers presently assigned to the AAA Iowa group (along with David Freitas and Ben Carhart), and he will likely start the season either at AA Tennessee or Hi-A Myrtle Beach (and if I had to hazard a guess, I would say he will be the #1 catcher at MB).
Remillard did have back problems earlier in his career, but he had TJS after being diagnosed with a torn elbow UCL last March, and he missed the entire 2015 season. Prior to that, he was considered one of the Cubs better catching prospects, with a plus-arm and outstanding receiving skills (he received an NRI to Spring Training as an extra catcher in 2014, only six months after he was drafted out of Coastal Carolina U., where he was Josh Conway's catcher).
Bruce Levine @MLBBruceLevine
The Cubs have released three
The Cubs have released three more minor leaguers from their Dominican Academy squad:
Jesus Perez, LHP
Roberto Vahlis, C-1B
Dilson Vasquez, RHP
Vahlis had already accrued four seasons in the VSL and so he was no longer eligible to play in a foreign rookie league.
Vahlis was also a second contract player (previously released by TOR), and he was at Extended Spring Training for about a month last year before returning to the VSL Cubs. He goes by the nickname "Fuji,"and whenever he came to the plate his teammates would holler "Fuji! Fuji! Fuji!"...
So there are presently 71 players assigned to the Cubs Dominican Academy, plus two more on the Restricted List while serving 50-game PED suspensions that were imposed by MLB last June.
The Dominican Academy squad will be divided into two teams (DSL Cubs #1 and DSL Cubs #2) once the Dominican Summer League (DSL) begins play in May.
The Cubs had two teams in the DSL for five seasons (2008-12), before moving one of the teams to the Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) in 2013. But the VSL was disbanded after the 2015 season, so the Cubs will once again be operating two teams in the DSL, both based at their academy in Boca Chica. (The Cubs first fielded a team in the DSL in 1997, so 2016 will be the 20th season for the DSL Cubs).
For any of you who might be
For any of you who might be attending a cocktail party, backyard barbeque, Spring Training game, or bar mitzvah this weekend and you are stuck for something to talk about with someone you just met (who perhaps might someday be that special someone), try this...
The Cubs presently have exactly 307 players under contract (major league and minor league).
Name them.
Phil, you're probably the
Surely the Cubs will be
Per MLB Rule 6, today is the
JAMES W: Per MLB Rule 6, today is the first day that Draft-Excluded players can be sent to the minors (optioned or outrighted). The Cubs have four (Jeimer Candelario, Willson Contreras, Pierce Johnson, and Dan Vogelbach).
Also per Rule 6, today is the first day that MLB Rule 5 draft picks can be sent to the minors, either by virtue of the player's former team reclaiming the player (in which case the player must be outrighted to the minor league affiliate from which he was drafted), or by virtrue of the player's former club declining to reclaim the player, allowing the drafting team to either option, outright, or release the player. (The Cubs have no players selected in the Major League Phase of the 2015 Rule 5 draft on their MLB 40-man roster, and they did not lose any players in the Major League Phase of the 2015 Rule 5 Draft, either).
Minor League Spring Training games have already started at Riverview Park (although Cactus League Minor League games versus minor league squads from other MLB organizations don't start until Wednesday), so you should begin to see a number of players who have been at big league camp (players on the MLB 40-man roster as well as NRI) sent to Minor League Camp very soon, especially with no more "split squad" games on the schedule.
Thank you!
decent crowd, but expected
First pitch 5:00
oh yeah /eastcoastbias
Strop out after 2 batters?
didnt look like anything was
OK, thanks. Maybe they
I think that's what it was.
I am very surprised they cut