Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus one player is on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 3-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# 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 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 1 
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 1 
Caleb Kilian, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Outright or Outta Sight, Successor or Failure

Look for the Cubs to outright at least two players this week, possibly more. 

Now that the Cubs season is over, C Taylor Teagarden and OF Quintin Berry will very likely get outrighted to Iowa (neither is likely to get claimed off waivers). Then once outrighted, both players will very likely elect to be a free-agent (both are Article XX-D players), Teagarden because he has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, and Berry because he has been outrighted previously in his career).  


INF Jonathan Herrera is another candidate to get outrighted this week. Herrera would very likely elect to be a free-agent if he is outrighted, but unless his 40-man roster slot is needed right away (it's not), the Cubs will probably wait to drop Herrera from the 40 until 12/2 (the date 2016 MLB contracts are tendered). So I would expect the Cubs to non-tender Herrera on 12/2 and then try and re-sign him and his hands-on-helmet to a 2016 minor league contract with an NRI to Spring Training. 

The Cubs also might try and outright RHP Dallas Beeler to AAA this week. Beeler could not be outrighted to the minors during September because injured players cannot be outrighted to the minors until the conclusion of the MLB regular season (Beeler was on the Iowa DL at the end of the PCL season), but the window to outright an injured player closes when off-season reserve lists are filed on 11/20, so if they want to outright Beeler, they probably should do so no later than 11/20. Note that unlike Berry, Teagarden, and Herrera, Beeler is NOT eligible to be a free-agent if he is outrighted. If outrighted, Beeler would remain under club control through the 2016 season, in case he gets rollin' at Iowa and the Cubs want to add him back to their MLB 40-man roster before he becomes a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA post-2016.  

Jacob Turner is the fifth possibility to get outrighted, but if the Cubs want to do that, they need to outright him prior to 11/20 (because he's an injured player). Turner must be reinstated from the 60-day DL no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series, and although he might start the 2016 season back on the 60-day DL (he had season-ending non-TJS elbow surgery in June), it's more-likely that if the Cubs decide to drop Turner from the 40 that they will do so by non-tendering him on 12/2 rather than by outrighting after he is reinstated from the DL.

If he is non-tendered on 12/2, the Cubs will almost certainly try and re-sign Turner to a 2016 minor league contract with a low base salary (maybe $100K) while he is rehabbing, but with a pro-rated $1M MLB salary if and when he has completed his rehab, an arrangement the Cubs can't offer if they tender Turner a major league contract on 12/2 or send him outright to the minors prior to 11/20. That's because if he is tendered a major league contract on 12/2, he cannot be cut more than 20% off his 2015 $1M salary (and since he is arbitration-eligble, he would very likely get the $1M even if the Cubs would like to cut him the full 20%), and if he is outrighted and accepts the assignment, his 2016 minor league salary must be at least 80% of his 2016 MLB salary (meaning his 2016 minor league salary would be $800K).  
 
Turner is a Scott Boras client, so I would not be surprised if Boras advises Turner to elect free-agency if he is outrighted or decline signing a minor league contract if he is non-tendered, which might motivate the Cubs to tender Turner a 2016 major league contract on 12/2 (which would be the purpose of Boras making that recommendation) and just hope that he will provide some value (at least $1M worth!) at the MLB level either in the starting rotation or in the bullpen during the course of the 2016 season. 

There are eight Article XX-B players presently on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster (Trevor Cahill, Chris Denorfia, Dexter Fowler, Dan Haren, Tommy Hunter, Austin Jackson, Jason Motte, and Fernando Rodney), and the eight will be declared free-agents and dropped from the 40 on the day after the conclusion of the World Series (players used to have to file for free-agency, but now it is done automatically). Only three of the eight (Denorfia, Fowler, and Motte) are eligible to receive a Qualifying Offer, which involves the club offering the player a one-year guaranteed MLB contract with a salary equal to the average salary of the 125 highest MLB salaries in 2015 ($15.8M), but Fowler is almost certainly the only one who will receive a QO. As much as the Cubs like him and as much as he might like playing for the Cubs, Fowler will very likely decline the QO (this is Fowler's first opportunity to be a free-agent, and it's also probably his best chance to score a multi-year big bucks contract). 

The Cubs can continue to negotiate with Fowler even if he declines the QO, but they would have to compete with the other 29 MLB clubs for Fowler's services, and it's unlikely that the Cubs would want to sign Fowler to a contract for longer than two years. If the Cubs extend Fowler a QO (VERY likely) and he subsequently signs a major league contract with another MLB club prior to the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Rule 4 Draft), the Cubs will be awarded a compensation draft pick between the 1st and 2nd round in next June's draft.   

The Cubs also must decide by 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the conclusion of the World Series whether to add any of their post-2015 MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agents who have not signed a 2016 minor league successor contract to their MLB 40-man roster to keep the player from becoming a 6YFA.

Willson Contreras is a lock to get added to the 40 (either by the post-WS deadline to add a 6YFA, or by the 11/20 deadline to submit MLB and minor league reserve lists to the MLB Office if he signs a minor league successor contract). 

Besides Contreras, the Cubs probably will want to try and retain 25-year old RHSP Carlos Pimentel (PCL Pitcher of the Year) and 25-year old RHSP Felix Pena (the ace of the AA Tennessee rotation and Cubs minor league K-leader in 2015), preferably by signing the player to a 2016 minor league successor contract rather than by adding the pitcher to the 40. A club can usually entice a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA to sign a successor contract by offering the player "40-man roster split-contract money" (the salary he would get if he was on the 40-man roster and on Optional Assignment to the minors) plus an NRI to Spring Training with the big club. (The Cubs did this with Dae-Eun Rhee, Marcus Hatley, and Hunter Cervenka in previous years). 

The problem is, a player will usually not sign a minor league successor contract two years in a row, and Pimentel signed one last year. (Pimentel signed a minor league contract with the Cubs post-2013 after becoming a Texas Rangers minor league 6YFA, and then he signed a minor league successor contract with the Cubs after last season).

There is nothing to prevent a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA from simply declining a successor contract offer, and if that happens, the only other way the Cubs can retain the player is by adding him to their MLB 40-man roster. However, signing a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA to a minor league successor contract (but then not adding him to the MLB 40-man roster) is no guarantee that the player won't get selected in the December Rule 5 Draft. In fact, that is exactly how the Cubs were able to select RHRP Hector Rondon in the December 2012 Rule 5 Draft.

The Cleveland Indians re-signed Rondon (who was a post-2012 minor league 6YFA) to a 2013 minor league succeesor contract prior to 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the 2012 World Series, but they ended up losing him in the December 2012 Rule 5 Draft anyway. So the Cubs need to consider that possibility even if Pena and/or Pimentel agree to sign a 2016 minor league successor contract. 

Then 11/20 is the deadline for clubs to file off-season MLB and minor league reserve lists with the MLB office. These reserve lists are used to determine eligiblity for selection in the December Rule 5 Draft, and once the reserve lists are filed, Rule 5 Draft eligible players on minor league reserve lists are essentally "frozen," meaning the player cannot be added to the MLB 40-man roster, transferred to a different minor league reserve list, traded, or released until the concluision of the Rule 5 Draft.  

At present, the players most likely to be added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man rioster) by the 11/20 deadline are (in this order):

1. Willson Contreras, C (if he signed a successor contract instead of being added to the 40 by the post-WS deadline) 
2. Pierce Johnson, RHSP (currently playing in AFL) 
3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B (currently playing in AFL)   
4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B (played in AZ Advanced Instructional League post-2015)
5. Felix Pena, RHSP (if he signed a successor contract instead of being added to the 40 by the post-WS deadline) 
6. Corey Black, RHRP (currently playing in AFL) 
7. Carlos Pimentel, RHSP (if he signed a successor contract instead of being added to the 40 by the post-WS deadline) 

Again, Conteras, Pena, and/or Pimentel could get added to the MLB 40-man roster by 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the conclusion of the World Series, but the deadline would get pushed-back to 11/20 if the player signs a 2016 minor league successor contract. 

Because the Cubs will lose eight Article XX-B MLB free-agents (Cahill, Denorfia, Fowler, Haren, Hunter, Jackson, Motte, and Rodney) the day after the conclusion of the World Series, with at least another two players (Berry and Teagarden) likely to be outrighted, the Cubs would have no difficulty rostering all seven of the possible additions (Contreras, Johnson, Candelario, Vogelbach, Pena, Black, and Pimentel), with two 40-man roster slots still left open for off-season MLB free-agent signings, waiver claims, or even a Rule 5 Draft pick, plus even more 40-man roster slots potentially available if and when Beeler, Herrera, and/or Turner are outrighted or non-tendered. 

Comments

Phil, great commentary, as always! I agree that 1-4 on your list are 100% locks. I am curious, what do you think separates Black, Pena, and Pimentel from the rest of the relief-types that look to have a shot to be added on 11/20? From the list you compiled, these guys appear to have as good a shot: Michael Jensen Juan Carlos Paniagua Starling Peralta (Minor League FA, who if I recall, also signed a successor contract last year) James Pugliese PJ Francescon Jonathan Martinez Steve Perakslis Alex Santana Tayler Scott Daury Torrez What's amazing is that in the pre-Epstein era, there are a bunch more guys than the ones I listed that would have a shot at being added. I'm sure some of these guys fall under the "wouldnt last the whole year" or "not enough upside" categories for not being added, just thought I would see what your take is. Thanks!

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In reply to by Koyies Bansaw

K-BANSAW: I would project both Felix Pena and Carlos Pimentel as starting pitchers, plus there is the issue of the two becoming free-agents after the World Series if they don't agree to sign a 2016 minor league successor contract, and I'm not sure the Cubs necessariiy want to risk losing them way. If one or both agree to sign a 2016 minor league successor contract, then getting added to the MLB 40-man roster is less urgent (though it still could matter). In other words, if Pena and/or Pimentel decline to sign a successor contract, then the Cubs really have to add the one that refuses (or both if both refuse) to the 40 to keep him (or them) in the organization (and in the AAA Iowa starting rotation) in 2016.  

Pimentel was PCL Pitcher of the Year in 2015 and Felix Pena led all Cubs minor leaguers in strikeouts (by a rather large margin, BTW) this past season, so they are not exactly slugs. Pena throws consistently 93-94 with a curve and a change, and Pimentel works the corners with a cutter and a sinker, and both have the strength & stamina you look for in a SP. In fact, while neither has the ceiling of a Duane Underwood Jr or a Dylan Cease (or even Pierce Johnson), I would rate both Pena and Pimentel ahead of Dallas Beeler even if Beeler is 100% healthy.

Remember, Theo says he wants seven or eight viable starting pitchers going into the season, and by definition that means two or three MLB-ready or near MLB-ready guys staying "stretched-out" at AAA. Pimentel and Pena would (if retained) be in the Iowa rotation, and would add to the SP depth Theo wants to have available. 

Corey Black is (to me) a tick above the guys on your list because he is power arm with a high-octane upper-00's fastball. He has major command issues, however, but I'm not sure you want to risk losing an arm like that in the Rule 5 Draft, even if he struggles to throw strikes. 

That said, Black definitely has a command problem, and it is a BIG problem. So it's probably boom or bust with Black, but if he succeeds you would have the type of power arm in the bullpen that MLB managers dream about. Black has a hard slider, too, that he uses as a "chase pitch," but a chase pitch is kind of useless if he can't command the fastball. 

I guess the way I look at it is, if there is room for all seven of the candidates (Contreras, Johnson, Candelario,, Vogelbach, Pena, Black, and Pimentel) on the 40-man roster (and I believe there is), then just roster all of them. No need ti play chicken with the Rule 5 Draft if it isn't necessary. 
 

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In reply to by Arizona Phil

"it is a BIG problem" High-strikeout pitchers tend to yield more walks. Carl Edwards walked 6.7 batters per 9 innings in 2015 at Tennessee and Iowa, and earned two promotions. Rosscup's number over three seasons in the majors is 6.2. Black's was 4.9 in 2015. He was named to the AFL All Stars yesterday.

AZ Phil: We've covered Dan Vogelbach quite a lot during his time in the Cub organization. After all, he was the #2 draft choice after Javy Baez in 2012, so we've had some time to see him develop. Adding him to the 40 man roster this offseason makes some sense but I wonder what you think the "grand" plan is for Vogey. He's got no chance of making the Cubs in 2016 unless Rizzo gets some really bad injury. Is he trade bait as a prospect package to an AL team this offseason? Would they keep him at AAA to hopefully build up some additional trade value? Is there some chance the NL will add a DH in the next few years (yuck!). Please put your swami hat on and prognosticate what you see in your crystal ball for TCR's darling, Vogelbomb. Vogelbach's theme song... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0vqQjaXLOU

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In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: I tend to agree with John B that the National League will adopt the DH in the next CBA (post-2016), in which case there would be a spot for Vogelbach with the Cubs... unless the Cubs move Schwarber to DH. 

Otherwise, it wouldn't surprise me if the Cubs option Vogelbach to AAA three years in a row (2016-18)--just as they did with Christian Villanueva 2013-15--with the possibility of Vogey getting a big league cup of coffee hear & there every now & then  (like to DH in interleague road games or if Rizzo goes on the DL for something or other), but otherwise I suspect he'll just marinate at Iowa until he gets traded or runs out of minor league options. 

From having watched Vogelbach closely at Advanced Instructs this past month, I can say his defense at 1st base still needs work, but at the plate he is a walking machine who should rack up a high OBP along with lots of doubles and maybe 12-18 HR, and that will probably eventually count for something with an A. L. club looking for a cheap LH DH with OBP skillls and some power (like maybe OAK, CLE, TB, or HOU), even if the N. L. does not adopt the DH. 

Yabba-dabba-doo! 

 

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In reply to by Arizona Phil

I seem to remember reading that he had bruising power at one time. I think it was you, AZ, who said recently that his power is actually fly ball to the warning track power. Is that a change from before? I guess I'm wondering if his approach at the plate changed or if I'm just remembering wrong. Sounds like he went from mostly a power guy to an OBP guy.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

O&B: When Dan Vogelbach was in high school (when he reportedly weighed about 300 lbs), he participated in a high school All-Star event (Power Showcase) at Chase Field in Phoenix. Vogelbach competed in the HR Derby at the event, and (hitting with a metal bat) clubbed a 508-ft HR, besting Bryce Harper's 502-ft HR record set the previous year.  

After Vogelbach signed with the Cubs (he was the Cubs 2nd round draft pick in 2011), I did see him hit a tape-measure HR (with a wood bat) onto the roof of the enclosed batting cages beyond the RF fence in a game at Fitch Park just after he signed. And he has hit home runs in pro ball (60 HR in 411 games), but the power has declined steadily over the years (17 HR in just 61 games in 2012, 17 HR in 114 games in 2013, 16 HR in 132 games in 2014, and then just 7 HR in 81 games in 2015, and he didn't hit any HR in 12 games at Advanced Instructs post-2015), but he has a short stroke and really doesn't strike out much, and he takes a lot of walks, too.

He was hitting fly balls to the warning track in games at Advanced Instructs, but he was also driving the ball and hitting line drives to all fields. He just wasn't getting enough distance on his fly balls. 

If he devlops to his ceiling (he's only 22 years old), Vogelbach will probably be a Billy Butler type player, and Butler has carved-out a decent career in the A. L. 

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In reply to by Old and Blue

"impressed with his power" Quick reality check: Vogelbach and Schwarber are both 22. Schwarber had 16 HRs in 273 PAs for the major-league Cubs. Vogelbach had 7 in 313 PAs for the AA Smokies. He showed a little more power when he was in low-A ball (Kane County), with 17 HRs in 500 PAs.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

Butler is actually a good comp for Vogelbach, since in his first two seasons for Kansas City he played mostly DH. Next he played 1B heavily at ages 23 and 24, then back to DH at 25. He's been a DH ever since. I asked if in the AL you could find a job at DH starting out in the majors, and Butler did that. That's the good news for V. On the other side of the equation, Butler was a better hitter, younger: 25 home runs in A+ at nineteen. Vogelbach hit 16 homers in A+ at twenty-one. The minor-league slash lines favor Butler: 336/416/561 to 284/382/473.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

I guess my prediction for Vogelbach is that he will not A) bring back much in a trade or B) be protected or C) get selected in the draft on December 10. Candelario, on the other hand, is hot, hot, hot right now, at the tender age of 21. You can get your good young pitcher for him. With Bryant becoming a fixture at third, what's the point of hanging on to Candy?

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I think you are accurately valuing Vogelbach and overvaluing Candelario. Cubs players who could be the main piece netting you a 1 or 2 type pitcher with at least 3 years of team control: Russell, Bryant, Schwarber, and farther back, Soler and Castro. Players who could be packaged together to get you a 1-2 type pitcher with 1-2 years of club control: Baez, Jimenez, Torres, Vogelbach, Candelario, Alcantara, Almora, McKinney, Contreras, maybe some of the young high-upside pitching prospects, maybe La Stella and Szczur.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

"TCR's darling" In 2014, I saw someone compare Vogelbach to Boog Powell.
The Cubs have a first-base prospect in Dan Vogelbach who has been trying to stay away from that extra biscuit at breakfast. In fact, he's been working hard to keep his weight in check. Vogelbach, a huge left-handed hitter, doesn't need that extra biscuit. He can hit a ball out of any park. The 6-foot, 250-pound Vogelbach has tremendous power to all fields. He is a good old-fashioned wide-bodied power hitter, reminiscent of former Baltimore Orioles star Boog Powell.
That wasn't in TCR--around here one pictures him as midway between Powell and Paul Bunyan. I actually saw Dan Vogelbach, although it was only in the batter's box on TV in spring training. Maybe the catcher and the ump were unusually large, but Vogelbach looked like a fat kid. He's a good six inches shorter than Boog Powell. Maybe when he was fatter, he looked bigger. (He also seems to have shed some power with the weight.) I don't care how young he was, 2011 was a long time ago for someone who was not a starting pitcher to still be hanging around double A in 2015. He is a pretty good hitter for a smallish plump guy, but he was a wasted second-round pick. I still want to know, in all sincerity, whether there is a precedent for a rookie to land a DH job in the majors. If not, how does Vogelbach get there?

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In reply to by John Beasley

Okay, thanks, that's the sort of thing I was looking for. (Sano lost most of 2014 to injury, or he might have been the Twins' 3B this year, and they could have saved the $4.8 million they invested in Plouffe at third for one year only, 2015. I think Sano plays third next year, don't you? In that case, he's the exception that proves the rule.)

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In reply to by Arizona Phil

I was hanging my comment off of Cubster's, where his last words were "TCR's darling, Vogelbomb." Just weighing in that I didn't think a guy as defensively challenged as V could make a career in the majors, even in the AL. (But I'm not an AL watcher, so I could be wrong about that.)

AZPhil, what players impressed you at the instructs this year? Anyone who raised their stock significantly?

AZBOBBOP: At Advanced Instructs, 2015 Carolina League batting champion Chesny Young continued to hit line drives all over the yard and displayed really good base-stealing technique. The Cubs tried him at SS at Advanced Instructs, and while he has the range to play there, he doesn't have the arm or ball-handling skills you look for in a SS. He probably projects as an offense-first 2B-3B-LF (maybe CF, too). He should be the Opening Day 2B at AA Tennessee in 2016. He is what I would call a "precision" hitter. If you put a bulls-eye somewhere in the outfield, he could probably hit it eight out of ten times. He is the classic "old school" high-contact #2 hitter in the order, sort of like Glenn Beckert with speed. 

C-1B Victor Caratini was rakin', showing power and a good eye at the plate. He is well below-average defensively, however (he looks better at 1B or 3B), so he may end up being a switch-hitting C-1B-3B guy at the MLB level. He should be the #1 catcher at AA Tennessee in 2016, but he will probably gets reps at 1B & 3B as well. 

RF Jeffrey Baez is a raw five-tool player who occasionally shows his ceiling. He seems to have settled in RF and plays that position pretty well, and he held his own offensively, too. He has more HR power than his game stats show, and he is a good base-stealer, too. He hit mostly lead-off at Advanced Instructs. but he might profile eventually as a #3 hitter if and when he starts to hit HR in games. He should be the Opening Day RF at Myrtle Beach in 2016.  

RHSP Duane Underwood Jr had his ups & downs, with a lot of swinging strikeouts, but he also got hit harder than you might expect gven his TOR projection. He seems to lose focus at times (more than would be normal for a young pitcher). I wouldn't be surprised if Underwood begins the 2016 season back at Myrtle Beach, at least until he can get on a roll.  

RHRP Michael Jensen was especially effective out of the bullpen at Advanced Instructs, mixing a 91-93 MPH fastball and a curve. He works fast and throws strikes. He could be a decent reliever at Iowa in 2016, and has MLB potential. 

At "basic" instructs, Cubs 2015 2nd round draft pick Donnie Dewees (U. of North Florida) expanded his game, showing top of the order skills (not always swinging at the first pitch, bunting, and hitting line drives) while playing a solid CF. He doesn't have much of an arm, but he covers a lot of ground. He went 5-5 with the game-winning walk-off squeeze bunt single in the bottom of the 9th in the one game that was played. He has a similar-type skillset as Jake Hannemann, but I think Dewees is a better hitter.  

Cubs 2015 1st round draft pick Ian Happ (U. of Cincinnati) looks stiff at 2B, but I think he'll still probably be developed as a multi-postional player (1B-2B-3B-LF-RF). He has a nice stroke and runs OK, and he is a hard worker.   

Cubs 2015 12th round draft pick P. J. Higgins (Old Dominion U.) could be the next Chesny Young, a college position player with good eye-to-hand coordination and the athleticism to play multiple positions. Higgins was a part-time catcher in college, but (somewhat surprisingly) the Cubs haven't tried him there yet. He played all over the infield at instructs. 

18-year old Korean OF Kwong Min-Kwon showed power (he won the Cubs AZIL HR Derby) and he looks like he could be a decent 1B-LF-RF.

And then Eloy Jimenez is just a beast. He was actually held out of the HR Derby because the coaches felt it would be unfair to the other contestants to let him participate. I saw him hit seven HR balls onto the 3rd story roof of the UAPC beyond the LF fence on Field #3 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in just one single BP session. I'm anxious to see how Eloy fares at South Bend in 2016. 

Up until the last day, the pitchers only threw bullpen sessions, and not much can be gleaned from that. But from having seen them a lot in EXST, I can say that RHP Oscar de la Cruz and LHP Justin Steele are probably the best starting pitcher prospects among the guys who were at Eugene.

Submariner RHRP David Berg (Cubs 2015 6th round draft pick - UCLA) is efficient with his pitches and gets weak contact. It is difficult for batters (especially RH batters) to pick up his pitches. He threw an eight-pitch (seven strikes) 1-2-3 9th inning in the Cubs AZIL World Series Championship Game. He could be in the Cubs bullpen by sometime next season. 

PHIL: Very cool. Glad that the "usual suspects" are stable and showing progress. A very good sign, except for Duane Underwood. Like Theo always says, baseball players do bloom at different times so I hope he can put it together sooner rather than later. As we have discussed here, there is no "wave" of near-ready MLB arms in the upper minors, so its just gonna be more of the same from this year: try to get former MLB starters to be relievers in order to allow "starters" 3-5 innings limits so they are not exposed. That only goes so far (well, the NLCS, actually) as we have seen. The Mets top starters are all really young. Don't quite know how that happened. Also, I just don't get the love for Beeler.

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In reply to by The E-Man

"Mets top starters are all really young" Matz (24) drafted in 2009; Harvey (26) and DeGrom (27) drafted in 2010. DeGrom was drafted as a SS out of Stetson U. (?) in the 9th round, so he started from scratch as a pitcher with the Mets. They stole Syndergaard (22) from the Jays (along with D'Arnaud) for R.A. Dickey. I don't know if McLeod is as good at drafting pitchers as he is hitters; but in any case, his first draft for the Cubs was 2012.

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In reply to by Cubster

"some other minor league prospect . . . will now get to make the 40 man roster" The Cubs have an interesting starting-pitching prospect, Ryan Williams, who, because he earned a double-promotion to AA in his first full pro season (and won ten games there), will begin next season at Iowa but won't need to be protected for two more years. In terms of hits and walks allowed per inning, Williams was ridiculous: in 142.2 innings, mostly at Knoxville, he gave up 119 hits and 18 walks. His strikeouts weren't that high (98), but his K/BB was 5.44, higher than Arietta's. They got another starting pitcher in that 2014 draft, Brad Markey, whose numbers in 2015 were as ridiculous as Williams's--Markey's K/BB was 6.30--but he still has to get his ticket punched at Knoxville. Williams was out of East Carolina U., while Markey (like Zagunis) came from Virginia Tech. Go Hokies!

Even if the Cubs had been able to secure waivers and outrighted Jacob Turner to the minors, he had the right to elect to be a free-agent if outrighted, so this way the Cubs at least got the $20,000 waiver payment out of it, and they can use the $20,000 to claim another (healthier) player off waivers sometime during the off-season, should they wish to spend the $20,000 that way. 

Harold Reynolds is horrible. Just awful. If I caught that right, he just compared Cespedes to Willie Mays. Don't know how many times Willie misplayed a fly ball into an inside-the-park HR in the World Series. Even Joe Buck seems to realize the guy is a clown.

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In reply to by jacos

I'm way too lazy and disinterested to google it but I think Reynolds got suspended or something from another network - ESPN I assume since they do a lot of baseball and he felt strongly enough about the accusations that he sued them. I don't remember what the accusations were. I'm sure someone can google all of it for accuracy. The reason I don't bother is because billybucks is right, he's pretty awful, so I just don't care.

reading a lot of cubs blogs...it seems the cubs are 99.99% sure-things to pick up d.price and j.heyward. off-season done! pack it up and wait for post-season 2016. heyward's d-heavy and single-base-heavy WAR is some mighty kool-aide...one of the best sub-.800 OPS players around...and someone's probably gonna pay him close to $25m a season to hopefully keep being that guy...and the cubs are evidently gonna pay the big guy to do it in CF! also, i think price's medicals are more important than who may sign him at this point...or at least a 1st step worth knowing before anyone gets excited. a lot has changed since mid-season on his front with medical concerns even though the numbers look decent.

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In reply to by billybucks

great player...but i wonder who's gonna pony up that $25m-ish for that 6-ish WAR. according to some who like to throw around the WAR = $$ line, he's worth $30-42m a year anyway...so there's that...if you want to buy into that. i wouldn't complain about having him around, but he's gonna lock in some serious top-tier player loot for a guy who struggles for 30 doubles and 15 HR.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

Based on his comments at the end of the season, it sounds to me like Theo is planning to stay his course, just his is different than what you would favor. It seems to me that Theo's course is to grow as much talent internally as he can and then spend for targeted acquisitions to fill the remaining holes. Biggest hole on the current roster is playoff quality pitching. Of the three ways to get that (grow, trade, and buy) grow doesn't help 2016. I'd way rather Theo spend Ricketts' money than trade away talent.

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In reply to by Jackstraw

Well, if you're gonna splurge, Price is probably the guy to do it on. He's been at or under 1.15 WHIP since 2011 and he just turned 30. In my mind they need TWO rotation guys though. I don't know what is out there on the free agent market besides Price that I'd want if I was a GM. But isn't he gonna cost even more than Lester? That's $300+ million for two guys. You can buy another team for that. May as well just buy the Marlins.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

I think they will acquire 2 rotation guys, but with one being from among the top guys out there and the second being more of a lower-level insurance-type maybe-rebound maybe-recovery 5th-6th type starter to act as depth. Think of it as Dan Haren's replacement. It could be a lot of people, but Clayton Richard is one type. #1-2 starter, #5-6 starter, two relief pitchers, and a center fielder. That's what I think is the realistic shopping list.

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In reply to by John Beasley

#1-2 starter, #5-6 starter, two relief pitchers, and a center fielder. That's what I think is the realistic shopping list. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think that's right, with the starters as the "have-to's" and the others as "want-to's". It seems to me relief pitchers are the least predictable of all for performance year to year so Cubs may just want to start with the in-house group and see who's going to be good in 2016. And I bet they wouldn't see it as a disaster to see if they can make a CF out of Baez or Bryant or continue to mix pieces out there. A couple of new SP's are the priority.

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In reply to by Jackstraw

i think they'll only be shooting for 1 SP, myself...i get the feeling they believe in hendricks and i don't expect hammel to be traded. they're going to need more guys for AAA/MLB injury-replace option slots, too...maybe even another long reliever. so much could happen...so many scenarios. hell, hamm or hendricks could be traded away while they return t.wood to the rotation in his last season of control. *shrug*

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In reply to by John Beasley

I would be surprised to see them sign any "name" relievers in the off-season -- I think they will start the year with Rondon, Strop, Grimm, Wood and Edwards, then try to find a few others to fill in. Gotta have some sort of SP, though -- they only have 4 that are MLB ready tight now.

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In reply to by Tito

rumored rumblings, along with a few eyebrow raisers mid-season+ when he got timid throwing inside to the left part of the plate and throwing a lot more changeups to everyone overall. i don't have anything off-hand to point to as far as an article. that said, his pitching isn't exactly a weakness even if he's not hitting the inside that much (especially to lefties) and his changeup is a very strong pitch for results. also, his velocity ticked slightly down from the beginning of the season, but he was throwing a tick harder than he usually threw at the beginning of the season anyway. it could be coincidence, but some are interested in his medicals this offseason. he had no arm injuries or rest for arm issues this season that i know of.

I am not sold on Heyward, for that kind of money especially. Soler is only 23. Do you think the Cubs are giving up on him already?

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In reply to by James Watkins

I'd be really surprised if they're "giving up" on Soler. I'm sure it isn't just some fans who think he may have a very special bat. These are good baseball people running the front office. Heyward would play center I imagine. I'm not as against free agency when it involves a player his age, plus I doubt Heyward is at his ceiling yet. . I like his fielding, too. But $25 million for potential seems like a lot. Overall, I hope TheoCorp remembers what happens when teams bury themselves with lots of overpaid free agents. Have I mentioned how much I hate modern free agency?

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In reply to by George Altman

I'd rather see them spend money on a position player than a pitcher. Pitchers have no shelf life. Span compared to Heyward is a guy who is 5 years older. He has the same OBP numbers as Heyward but that's about it. He doesn't drive the ball the same way Heyward does, and doesn't hit for power and drive people in like Heyward does. The Cubs need a lineup that scares people top to bottom. Span doesn't give that. TOR guys aren't worth the money. They're the ones that end up hanging teams in the end.

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In reply to by jacos

I'm doubting Heyward actually gets $25 mil a year, but I am sceptical about him. The scary idea is that someone might pay him the amount they think the player he could become is worth. And if you want to bank on a player who might turn a corner, go with the pre-arb and arb guys, or the bargain bin/rehab guys.

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In reply to by James Watkins

We have a ton of power in our lineup already and need someone who can make contact and get on base which Heyward does better than Fowler while having much better defense. In 2015 Heyward had a contact rate of 93.1% on pitches in the zone and 84.2% overall and Fowler had 86.8% in the zone and 80.2% overall. Heyward had a 6.5% swinging strike rate and Fowler is 8.2%. Rizzo (just as a comparison with someone who is elite) had a contact rate of 92% in the zone and 83.1% overall. He had a swinging strike rate of 7.7% (Kris Bryant had a swinging strike rate of 16.5%:-( ). Also Heyward had 23 SBs and 3CS while Fowler had 20 SB and 7 CS. So while Heyward is a dirty Cardinal right now and thus I hate him on principal, he would fill the leadoff role very well and better than Fowler. Maybe he isn't worth the money and years he wants to the Cubs if they think they have better alternatives on the way in the minors but I do think he is worth the money to someone.

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In reply to by johann

if you want to look at the "stay the course" outlook over the next few years...pending trades...there's an immediate need for a quality SP for a number of years and a temporary need in CF for 1-2 seasons if they believe in a.almora. that said, this team has $$$ and talent to spare...almost anything could happen and still fill the roles adequately.

Per CBS Sportsline transactions, Berry and Teagarden have been outrighted. Berry has refused the assignment.

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In reply to by Hagsag

Quintin Berry, Jonathan Herrera, and Taylor Teagarden were sent outright to Iowa last Tuesday (the same day the White Sox claimed RHP Jacob Turner off waivers), and all three elected free-agency (Berry on 10/28, Herrera on 10/29, and Teagarden on 10/30), so the Cubs MLB Reserve List presently stands at 37, with eight more slots today at 9 AM (Eastern) when Trevor Cahill, Chris Denorfia, Dexter Fowler, Dan Haren, Tommy Hunter, Austin Jackson, Jason Motte, and Fernando Rodney are automaticaly declared MLB Article XX-B free-agents (players used to have to file, now it happens automatically).  

The Cubs will have until 5 PM (Eastern) Friday to select the contracts of their own MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agents to the 40-man roster or sign the 6YFA to a 2016 minor league successor contract (or else the player becomes an unrestricted FA), and  to make a Qualifying Offer (2016 guaranteed contract with a minimum $15.8M salary) to the three Article XX-B free-agents eligible to receive a QO (Denorfia, Fowler, and Motte), with Fowler the only one of the three likely to get one.  

If the Cubs do extend a QO to Fowler, he would have a week to accept or decline. If he declines and then subsequently signs a 2016 major league contract with another club prior to next June's MLB First-Year Player Draft (Rule 4 Draft), the Cubs will be awarded a draft pick between the 1st & 2nd round. 

Wow -- nice brain fart by Cespedes there... Just think -- Mets were five outs away from tying up the series. Imagine what that might feel like!

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In reply to by billybucks

The Mets are not a defense-first team, or even a defense-second team, or Murphy would have come out for a sub in the eighth. That's certainly what Maddon would have done. During the playoffs when I realized Murphy played second base for them, I immediately thought, Dan Uggla. After the error, Murphy didn't do much with that grounder by Moustakas, either. Of course, it took a team that puts the ball in play to expose the Mets' weakness. (The Cubs may not be that team any time soon.)

The Muts luck is running out. One series too late, of course. The Great Daniel Murphy batting .154

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In reply to by The E-Man

I'm enjoying the fact that good hitting is beating good pitching. I'm sure Theo is liking that, too, since he took the route he took on stocking up on position players instead of pitchers - a route I'm happy with even after losing to the Mets. Of course, the Royals good hitting is very different than the Cubs' good hitting. They never strike out, for one thing, and put the ball in play, and get runners home from third base. But I really see the Cubs' woes in that area as a reflection of their inexperience, not talent. Malee's mantra was a good one for young guys - just wait for that pitch you like. It meant a lot of called third strikes but I think that was ok. It will be interesting to see if they put more focus next year on situational hitting, as sort of a "next step" kinda thing.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

KC has a sub-.300 ob% leadoff hitter who just had one of the best ALCS ever. their biggest HR hitters hit 22 homers (morales + moosetacos). they had 4 guys with 30-40+ doubles and 5 guys with .345+ ob% (a 6th with zobrist for 1/3rd season), though. they were playing some solid medium-ball this season.

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In reply to by crunch

.276 RISP vs .232 for the Cubs was more along the lines of what I was thinking. I had to look that up though to see if the overall approach at the plate from what I've seen matched reality. And, sure enough, they also had the lowest number of strikeouts in the majors. But to be clear, I'm not comping them with the Cubs. I think hitting wise they are very different teams. The Cubs - they are a scary bunch when you think about the fact that, aside from Rizzo, the kids don't even really know how to hit yet. And even he is probably still learning some stuff. My point was that I'm glad to see a decent hitting team beat the good pitching.

AZ Phil, do you think Starling Peralta will be added to the roster? Thanks.

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In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: I think Starling Peralta will probably be offered a 2016 minor league successor contract (he was offered one last year when he was a minor league FA for the first time, and he accepted it), and then he will have to decide whether to remain in the Cubs organization for another season (he has yet to get past AA), or try his luck in another organizatioin. 

If I had to guess, I would say he will probably decline another successor contract and sign with another organization. 

The post-2015 Cubs minor league free-agents who are much more likely to be added to the MLB 40-man roster are Southern League batting champion catcher Willson Contreras, PCL Pitcher of the Year RHP Carlos Pimentel, and Cubs minor league strikeout leader RHP Felix Pena. 

Contreras is a virtual lock to get added to the 40, Pimentel signed a minor league successor contract with the Cubs last year and so he probably won't do it again (so if he declines, the Cubs would need to add him to the 40 to keep him from leaving), and Pena is a first-time minor league FA and so he probably would sign a 2016 minor league successor contract if offered one, although if he does he would become eligible for selection in the December 2015 Rule 5 Draft (just as happened with Hector Rondon when he signed a minor league successor contract with Cleveland post-2012). 

first the NYM screw away a 2 run lead in then 9th, then they break their fan's hearts giving up 5 runs to KC in the 12th.

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In reply to by crunch

KC wins. i don't like rooting for any AL team, but as someone who's not a mets fan...you gotta be heartless to root against KC even if you wanted NYM to win. sure, KC had a shot last year and they're not flukey scrubs this year, but KC hasn't been much worth mentioning before these past couple seasons since the "bo knows" era season in 1989.

well...THAT'S OVER. time for press, fans, and clubs to start rumor-mongering. soon we'll be hearing winter meeting rumors. wild speculation articles are soon to show up (will the front office try to lock up arrieta long-term? heyward/price? etc) 4.5-ish months til we get televised spring training games. i'm already bored. also, fun dude and perfume connoisseur sal perez snags the WC MVP.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    steele MRI on friday.  counsell expects an IL stint.

    no current plans for his rotation replacement.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I would say also in the bright side column is Busch looked pretty good overall at the plate. Alzolay…man, that hurts but most of the time he’s not giving up a homer to that guy. To me the worst was almonte hanging that pitch to Garcia. He hung another one to the next hitter too and got away with it on an 0-1. 

  • crunch (view)

    amaya blocked like 6-8 of smyly's pitches in the dirt very cleanly...not even an exaggeration, smyly threw a ton of pitches bouncing in tonight.

    neris looking like his old self was a relief (no pun), too.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    In looking for bright spots the defense was outstanding tonight. The “stars” are going to need to shine quite a bit brighter than they did tonight offensively though for this to be a successful season.

  • Eric S (view)

    Good baseball game. Hopefully Steele is pitching again in April (but I’m not counting on it). 

  • crunch (view)

    boo.

  • crunch (view)

    smyly to face the 2/3/4 hitters with a man on 2nd in extras.

    this doesn't seem like a 8 million dollar managerial decision.

  • crunch (view)

    i 100% agree with you, but i dunno how jed wants to run things.  the default is delay.  i would choose brown.

    like hellfrozeover says, could be smyly since he's technically fresh and stretched.

    anyway, on a pure talent basis....brown is the best option.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Use pitchers when you believe they're good. Don't plan their clock.

    I'm sorry. I'm simply anti-clock/contract management. Play guys when they show real MLB potential talent.

    If Brown hadn't been hurt with the Lat Strain he would've gotten the call, and not Wick.

    Give him a chance. 

    But Wesneski probably gets it

  • crunch (view)

    alzolay...bro...