Rule 5 Draft On Tap Thursday at Disney World

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 1:48am
12/12 UPDATE: The Arizona Diamondbacks selected RHP Marcos Mateo from the Cubs AAA Iowa affiliate with the 15th overall selection in the first round of the Major League Phase iof the 2013 Rule 5 Draft. Because he has been outrighted previously in his career, Mateo can elect free-agency if he is later re-claimed by the Cubs. (If re-claimed, a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft MUST be sent outright to the minor league club from which he was drafted).

The Cubs also lost 1B Justin Bour (to Miami), OF Julio Borbon (to Baltimore), and RHP A. J. Morris (to Pittsburgh) off the AA Tennessee roster in the AAA Phase. Once selected, players chosen in the AAA or AA Phase cannot be re-claimed.

The Cubs did not make any selections in the Major League Phase of today's draft, but they did select left-handed hitting catcher Charlie Cutler from the Pittsburgh Pirates AA Altoona roster in the AAA Phase. Cutler was a college teammate of Cubs OF Brett Jackson at Cal.

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The MLB Rule 5 Selection Meeting (AKA "Rule 5 Draft") will be the last order of official business at the 2013 MLB Winter Meetings Thursday morning at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

The Rule 5 Draft is a mechanism that allows MLB clubs to select (draft) players off minor league reserve lists. There is a "Major League Phase" where an MLB club can select Rule 5 Draft-eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs for $50,000, a "AAA Phase" where a club's AAA minor league affiliate can select Rule 5 Draft-eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs of a lower classification for $12,000, and finally a "AA Phase" where a club's AA minor league affiliate can select Rule 5 Draft-eligible players off the reserve lists of Class "A" clubs for $4,000.

There are always a few “out-of-left-field” surprise selections in the Rule 5 Draft (like when the Cubs selected RHP Lendy Castillo from the Phillies in 2011, or when the Diamondbacks selected RHP Starling Peralta from the Cubs last year), but there are also other times when it is fairly predictable that a certain player will be selected (like when the Cubs lost LHP Andy Sisco to KC in 2004, LHP Donald Veal to PIT in 2008, and INF Ryan Flaherty to BAL in 2011).

This time around, 23-year old Iowa Cubs OF Jae-Hoon Ha would appear to be a virtual lock to get drafted.

Ha is the second best defensive CF in the Cubs organization right now (second only to Albert Almora), he has the defensive chops, arm, athleticism, and versatility to play all three OF positions, he has above-average speed (he's at least fast enough that he could be used as a late-inning PR and then stay in the game and play OF), and he has the potential to eventually hit 12-15 HR (he hit 11 HR and belted 31 doubles in 132 games split between Hi-A Daytona and AA Tennessee as a 20 year old in 2011, before changing his approach and trying to be more of a "lead-off man"-type the last couple of seasons). Most importantly, while he certainly could use a full year of AAA experience, Ha is close enough to being MLB-ready that it would not be a stretch to believe that he could remain on an MLB 25-man roster (and actually be useful as the 4th or 5th OF) for the entire 2014 season.

Other Cub minor leaguers who are candidates to get selected in the Major League Phase of Thursday's Rule 5 Draft include 24-year old RHP Carlos Pimentel (ex-Yexas Rangers prospect signed by the Cubs as a minor league 6YFA last month, and currently pitching "lights out" for Escogido in the Dominican Winter League), RHRP Marcos Mateo (29-year old former member of the Chicago Cubs bullpen whose career was sidetracked for a couple of years by TJS and subsequent rehab setbacks, now pitching great as the closer for Estrellas de Oriente in the DWL), 24-year old RHP Matt Loosen (who threw a nine-inning CG no-hitter for Daytona this past season, and followed it up with a strong showing out of the bullpen for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League). and hard-throwing (albeit sometimes a bit too wild) 6'5 25-year old RHRP Marcus Hatley (presently working as the closer for Culiacan in the Mexican Pacific League).

Also keep an eye on the AAA Phase of the draft, when one or two Cubs minor leaguers left-off the AAA Iowa roster could be selected (see list below).

As far as the Cubs participation in the Rule 5 Draft is concerned, they do presently have two slots open on their MLB Reserve List (AKA "40-man roster"), so they could select as many as two players in the Major League Phase of Thursday's draft should they choose to do so. However, it has been reported that the Cubs have agreed to send their 1st round pick in the 2013 Rule 5 Draft (#4 overall) to Philadelphia to settle a grievance filed by the Phillies charging the Cubs with allegedly "hiding" Lendy Castillo on the 15-day DL for three months during the 2012 season, after the Cubs drafted Castillo from the Phils AAA Lehigh Valley affiliate in the Major League Phase of the December 2011 Rule 5 Draft. Players selected in the Rule 5 Draft can be traded after the conclusion of the draft, but the actual picks (slots) cannot be traded prior to the draft, so don't be surprised if the Cubs make the selection for the Phillies, and then "trade" the selected player to the Phils after the draft (if the slot is not actually transfered to the Phillies by MLB).

Also, although it has been reported by Carrie Muskat at cubs.com that the Cubs are not planning on making any selections in the Rule 5 Draft this year, nothing would prevent them from changing their minds and selecting players in the 2nd round (#34 overall) and 3rd round (#64 overall) of the Major League Phase of the draft, as well as players in the AAA and AA phases that follow.

RULE 5 DRAFT ELIGIBILITY

1. A minor league player who was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract is eligible for selection starting with the 5th Rule 5 Draft after he signs, and a minor league player who was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract becomes eligible for selection starting with the 4th Rule 5 Draft that followed his signing.

2. If a player signs his first contract after the conclusion of the season of the MLB or minor league club to which he is first assigned, the next season is considered to be the player's "first season" for Rule 5 eligibility purposes.

3. A free-agent with prior MLB and/or minor league service who signs a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection if the player was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 5th Rule 5 Draft since he signed his first contract, or if the player was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 4th Rule 5 Draft since he signed his first contract.

4. Any player on a minor league reserve list who has either been released or had his contract voided, and then re-signs with the same MLB organization within one year is eligible for selection. However, a player who was signed after being selected in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) cannot be eligible for selection in a Rule 5 Draft until after the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract with an MLB organization.

5. Any player on a minor league reserve list who has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career is eligible for selection.

6. A player on the Voluntary Retired List, Disqualified List, or Ineligible List is not eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft, but a player on the Restricted List or the Military List is eligible for selection.

7. An MLB club can designate any player on a minor league reserve list "eligible for selection" in the Rule 5 Draft even if the player would not normally be eligible, but once a player is made eligible for selection, he remains eligible for selection in all subsequent Rule 5 drafts. However, a player who was signed after being selected in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) cannot be designated "eligible for selection" in a Rule 5 Draft until after the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract with an MLB organization.

8. A minor league player-manager who would be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft if he was only a player can be selected, but if he is selected, the player-manager can reject the selection. He has 30 days to decide. If he rejects the selection, the player-manager cannot be signed as a player during the following season.

CUBS ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN 2013 RULE 5 DRAFT

Players who were eligible to be a post-2013 Rule 55 minor league 6YFA but who signed a successor contract for 2014, Rule 55 "second-contract" players signed for 2014, and free-agents signed to minor league contracts for 2014 are underlined

Players who are most-likely on the AAA Iowa Reserve List are in bold (AAA Iowa Reserve List has limit of 38 players)

Gioskar Amaya, INF
Jeffry Antigua, LHP (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Frank Batista, RHP
Julio Borbon, OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Justin Bour, 1B
Marcelo Carreno, RHP
Lendy Castillo, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Javier Castro, RHP
Zach Cates, RHP
Hunter Cervenka, LHP
Pin-Chieh Chen, OF
Casey Coleman, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Gerardo Concepcion, LHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Willson Contreras, C
Aaron Cunningham, OF (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013 - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Wes Darvill, INF
Michael de la Cruz, RHP
Antonio Encarnacion, RHP
Paolo Espino, RHP (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Carlos Figueroa, INF (player-coach)
Eduardo Figueroa, RHP
Luis Flores, C
Anthony Giansanti, OF
Edgar Gonzalez, INF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Enyel Gonzalez, RHP
Carlos Gutierrez, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Jae-Hoon Ha, OF
Marcus Hatley, RHP
Marco Hernandez, INF
Walter Ibarra, INF (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Eric Jokisch, LHP
Austin Kirk, LHP
Matt Loosen, RHP
Jeff Lorick, LHP
Eric Martinez, RHP
Marcos Mateo, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Darnell McDonald, OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Trey McNutt, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
A. J. Morris, RHP
Jonathon Mota, INF
Thomas Neal, OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Chad Noble, C
Alan Oaks, RHP (ex-MIA - acquired from independent league club & signed for 2014)
Yomar Pacheco,RHP
Loiger Padron, RHP
Amaury Paulino, RHP
Felix Pena, RHP
Starling Peralta, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Carlos Pimentel, RHP (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP
Orbandy Rodriguez, RHP
Greg Rohan, INF
Jose Rosario, RHP
Victor Salazar, RHP
Brian Schlitter, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Ryan Searle, RHP
Elliot Soto, INF (on RESTRICTED LIST)
Nick Struck, RHP
Chris Valaika, INF (Article XX-D FA post-2013 - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Jeudy Valdez, INF (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Yao Lin Wang, RHP
Casper Wells, OF (Article XX-D FA post-2013 - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Eli Whiteside, C (Article XX-D FA post-2013 - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Oliver Zapata, OF

RULE 5 DRAFT RESTRICTIONS

1. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, or transferred from one minor league reserve list to another within the same organization, starting with the filing of MLB & minor league resefve lists on November 20th up through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

2. A player cannot be sent outright to the minors on the two days prior to the Rule 5 Draft and on the day of the Rule 5 Draft up through the conclusion of the draft.

3. A club must have as many slots open on its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players it selects in the Major League Phase, and an MLB club's AAA and AA affiliates must have as many slots open on their respective reserve lists prior to the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players the affiliate selects in the AAA and AA phases of the draft. There is no limit on the number of Rule 5 eligible players any one organization can lose.

4. A player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be placed on the drafting club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) immediately, and must be tendered a major league contract by 5 PM (Eastern) on the day of the draft.

5. A player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft can be traded at any time, but the player cannot be released or sent to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day, and then only if Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and the player's former club declines to re-claim the player.

6. If a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft remains on an MLB Active List and/or MLB Disabled List(s) for the entire MLB regular season following selection & spends at least 90 days on an MLB Active List (25-man roster), Rule 5 restrictions are removed at the conclusion of the MLB regular season. (If time spent on an MLB Active List is less than 90 days in the season following selection, the player remains a Rule 5 player into the next season, and the player continues to be a Rule 5 player until he has spent 90 days total on an MLB Active List).

7. If a club decides not to keep a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 draft on its MLB 25-man Active List (and/or MLB DL), the player must be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers, where any of the other 29 MLB clubs can claim the player for the $25,000 Rule 5 waiver price and assume the Rule 5 obligations.

8. If the Rule 5 player is not claimed off Outright Waivers, the player then must be offered back to the club from which he was drafted, and the player's former club can reclaim the player for $25,000, with the player being automatically outrighted to the Reserve List of the minor league club from which he was drafted. The club from which the player was drafted usually has 72 hours to decide whether to reclaim the player, but it has only 24 hours to decide if the player is eligible to be an Article XX-D Free-Agent if outrighted to the minors (player has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, qualifies for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" player, and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career).

9. If a Rule 5 player is returned (outrighted) to the minor league club from which he was drafted, the drafting club is responsible for any portion of the player's salary above what the player was paid the previous season.

10. If a Rule 5 Player is returned (outrighted) to the minor league club from which he was drafted, and if the player has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, qualifies for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" player, and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career, the player can elect to be an MLB Article XX-D minor league free-agent after being outrighted (he has three days to decide), or he can accept the Outright Assignment and defer the right to be a minor league free-agent until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. (An outrighted "Super Two" Rule 5 player who has not previously been outrighted to the minors can elect free-agency if he is outrighted to the minors, but he cannot defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season).

11. If the club from which the player was drafted declines to reclaim the player, the Rule 5 restrictions are removed, the drafting club retains the player, and the player can be sent to the minors or released.

12. A player selected in the AAA or AA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be assigned to the Reserve List of the AAA or AA club that drafted the player, but the player can be assigned to the Active List of any minor league affiliate in the MLB club's organization once the minor league regular season commences. Also, unlike players selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, a player selected in the AAA or AA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft does not have to be offered back to the club from which he was drafted if the player is ultimately assigned to the Active List of a minor league affiliate below the level of the minor league affiliate that drafted the player.

13. A club can select a player off the reserve list of one of its own minor league affiliates, but if the player is selected in the Major League Phase, the club is bound by the same Rule 5 roster restrictions as if it had selected the player off the reserve list of another club's minor league affiliate.

14. A player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be "covered up" from selection, either by agreement between two clubs or by effect. Also, a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft cannot be "hidden" on a Disabled List to help the drafting club fulfill Rule 5 roster obligations. If the MLB Commissioner believes a club "covered up" a player to avoid losing the player in the Rule Draft or "hid" a selected player on a Disabled List, the offending club or clubs are subject to a penalty (TBD by the MLB Commissioner).

Tags: 
Rule 5 draft

Comments

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 11:25am  
Nothing really new here. "Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball have agreed in principle to a new posting system for Japanese players that have not reached free agency, according to multiple media reports. The new posting system must be ratified by MLB's executive council and Japanese owners, a formality that could be completed this week, according to reports." http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10118679/ml...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 12:23pm  

http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/rule-5-...

BA's take on Rule 5, says Mateo had been electric in the Dominican this winter and getting a lot of late buzz. Hatley, Loosen, Ha and M. Hernandez also mentioned.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 12:40pm  
Not the same as my 3/44 link from yesterday.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 2:05pm  
M's get lomo for c.capps and sign c.hart. hell of a day. i like lomo...there's more power in that bat than what's he's shown.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 2:20pm  
j.hoyer on MLB Network... "we got to find a new way to skin a cat." lulz...j.hart giving him props for drafting baez...hoyer looks uncomfortable, but isn't correcting him "we got a lot of pitching, a lot of depth" "we're not ready to make a splash" "hopefully we're there in a couple of years" ...couple of years? bullshit. this team should move to san jose so they can afford to invest in the team. chicago is too small of a market, evidently. "he's the type of guy we want taking the mound in a first game of the series" - on ninja "right handed power is a hard thing to find" - on olt expects rizzo and castro to bounce back. castro working hard this offseason. "needed a manager who's a teacher, patient, tough love that's needed" - on renteria blah blah blah stadium renovations..."eventually our business plans and our baseball plans will meet up."

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 3:53pm  
Here is how I would change the Rule 5 Draft.... Once selected, the player can be optioned to the minors (presuming the player has minor league options left), but the player cannot be traded, released, non-tendered, outrighted to the minors, or placed on the 60-day DL until the conclusion of the next Rule 5 Draft (a year later). This way, the player doesn't have to rot on an MLB 25-man roster just so the drafting team can fulfill Rule 5 roster requirements, but the drafting club has to commit a slot on its 40-man roster to the drafted player for one full year.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 4:23pm  
collisions at home plate banned by the rules committee... i feel indifferent about this one...how are they going to handle a catcher dropping an armored leg in front of home plate, especially if the ball isn't going to beat the runner?

Submitted by Charlie  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 11:27pm  
Obstruction, like it should be at any other base.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 4:55pm  

B. Colon to Mets for 2/20

E. Volquez to Pirates for 1/5

Home plate collisions banned, runner cannot initiate contact but catchers cannot block the plate either and must give runners a path to the base, like all other bases. Specific wording and penalties still to be determined.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 7:58pm  

link in the sidebar, but Boras bemoaning the Cubs lack of spending again...Theo responds this time. 

Theo does elaborate that a new TV deal is gonna be a big key and that revenues should match when their young players are ready.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 8:20am  
I wouldn't give a team that's losing 90 games a year a great TV deal if I'm a broadcast exec. I doubt there's a queue outside the door right now. These are business people not baseball fans. The promise of young talent is only that. In the eyes of business people who are doing investment cost analysis, the prospects are invisible. So I guess the gamble is that ALL these young players are going to blossom and then some TV execs are going to hand the Cubs keys to the vault? Color me skeptical. The Cubs will need *all* of their prospects to bloom if they want to be better than other teams who also have a lot of good prospects. The Cubs aren't the only team with good prospects. I like the direction Theo is going with the bottom up strategy, I just am doubtful about it in relation to TV. The WGN contract is already up - I'm not seeing any takers for replacing them. Why would anyone rush to fill the Ricketts' coffers on this? The other one isn't up until 2019. So is that when spending begins? If all the prospects don't pan out - and they rarely do - the 62-100 Cubs will be playing in an empty ballpark by then, and all the kids in the 8-12 demographic will be Sox fans.

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 12:01pm  
O&B are you serious? They haven't won anything in over 100 years and they have been watched. They will have at least the third richest TV deal in MLb.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 12:39pm  

Mariners got like $2 billion over 20 years and Astros $1.6 billion, I think the Cubs will be fine.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 12:48am  
"Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan hears teams believe the Indians, Cubs, Mariners, Padres and Yankees are the most likely destinations for Joaquin Benoit." that's interesting...kinda. he's 36 and is probably in line for $7-$8m+ a year depending on how many years someone wants to throw at him. dunno if i buy into the cubs interest on that one.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 8:22am  
Interesting take on SpellCheck: http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/12/if... Sorry if it's 3/44ish

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 8:46am  

Cubs trade Brian Bogusevic for Justin Riggiano of the Marlins.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 9:12am  
Is there a point to this trade?

Submitted by Tito  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 9:15am  
I think they said they wanted a righthanded-hitting OF. Apart from that, probaly not much. Ruggiano was great in 2012. I'm sure that's comforting.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 9:39am  
Schierholtz is a lefty...Sweeney is a lefty. Bogusevic is a lefty. So they wanted a right handed hitter to platoon with them. Great?

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 9:40am  
It's the highlight of the off season so far.

Submitted by Jumbo  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 11:52am  
I think it's great. Costs about $1M more than Bogusevic. 2013 was a more realistic year for him than 2012 (OPS in 2012 vs LHP was 1.129) Nice RF platoon Ruggiano versus LHP OPS 2013 .833 Career .834 Schierholtz versus RHP OPS 2013 .799 Career .752

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 10:35am  

So that someone on the Internet can bitch about something

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 2:36pm  
a chance to pick up a sub-.700 OPS hitter...what's not to like. this is the cubs. it's important to tank the team for a 5th year in a row because that's a good thing. look at BOS in 2012 after finishing 69-93. they took 2013 off to rebuild because it makes sense in their market even though they free'd up a lot of loot for 2013. they might have to wait until 2018 to re-emerge. they could win another world series one day. eyes on the prize. there's only 1 way to do it. seriously, though...it's a decent/cheap need-based trade...especially since he can play CF. at some point you need something besides support players...like, some guys to actually support.

Submitted by WISCGRAD  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 5:54pm  
When Castro becomes Pedroia, Rizzo becomes Ellsbury, Samardzija becomes Lester, Raley becomes Buchholz, etc. the Cubs can do what the Red Sox did in 2013...

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 6:09pm  
-when +if. i wonder what the "plan" is if baez/soler/almora/bryant aren't 1/2 - 3/4 effective...and if none are, then what... also, they are heavily counting on these bats (and the other young bats) given that they seem to not want to spend on anyone even with a ton of free loot this year and the FA class next season being one of the worst for bats (before extensions are in play which will make it even worse). one big reason LAD isn't falling all over itself to give away an expendable m.kemp or a.either is because of how lame the FA bat market is next year (and increasingly disappearing this year).

Submitted by Charlie  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 6:11pm  
The plan for if none of their prospects turn into anything is to be a terrible team, just like every other team's plan is if none of their prospects turn into anything. You can't be good with a farm system that produces nothing.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 8:53am  

BA's ideas on changing the Rule 5

http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/how-to-...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 8:55am  

the full Rule 5 drafts...

Majors

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/12/12/520...

Minors

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/12/12/520...

Submitted by WISCGRAD  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 11:09am  
So, all of the fretting about Jae-Hoon Ha getting drafted was all for nothing; perhaps not as highly valued by other organizations as some thought. And Loosen and Hatley didn't get taken either, despite them being on all of the preview lists. And Carlos Pimentel wasn't taken either. So they lost Mateo, which will be annoying if he turns out well and the Cubs overspend to get bullpen help, but history of the Rule 5 suggests that likelihood is low. Also, someone actually wanted Julio Borbon!?!?

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 11:23am  

amount of worry over Rule 5 >>>>> amount of actual impact of Rule 5

Submitted by Charlie  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 11:36am  
I reserve the right to complain all season if Mateo turns into a setup man and the Cubs drop loads of money on relief pitchers whose elbows explode and they become untradeable. I will complain every day all season long. Also, I had forgotten the Cubs still had Marcos Mateo.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 11:42am  

Me too, think he snuck up on everybody with his Winter League performance.

Still a long road to Cubs actually losing him.

Submitted by videographer  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 12:28pm  
Mateo is no big loss. He was in the Cubs bullpen in past seasons and did not do well in his small sample size. His stuff is a big tease, but 5 cents above the shoulders fails the $1 million arm. I think he will make a MLB roster next year, then spend the rest of his career released and re-signed.

Submitted by Charlie  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 11:39am  
I think it's nice for Justin Bour that a team wanted him, too, even if it's only the minor league Rule V.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 11:34am  

Ruggiano's minor league numbers are pretty good

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

right-handed bench bat, .834 career OPS  vs lefties in majors with a .506 SLG, has played all OF  positions in majors as well

 

Submitted by videographer  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 12:30pm  
Vitters and Jackson are getting farther away from Wrigley. I doubt a pair of binoculars will find them next season.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 1:06pm  
I think the new regime--mostly Sveum--fouled up Jackson (seriously) along with Castro and Barney but I also think many people are overlooking Vitters' very respectable numbers at AAA in a season's worth of at-bats (spread over two seasons). 138 g, 552 pa, 60 xbh, 80 rbi, 22 hr, .302/.361/.513(/.873) Vitters and Lake had injuries in each of the last two seasons and were second-tier prospects at that point anyway, so they didn't get the hands-on treatment and attempted makeovers that the other three received. Lucky for those two, and maybe for us.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 1:00pm  

http://wiklifield.thecubreporter.com/Cubs_Rul...

updated the Cubs Rule 5 draft results page

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 1:01pm  

Tigers get Joba for 1/2.5M

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 1:06pm  

other rumoring via rotoworld

Infante asking for 4/40, Yankees offering around 3/24 allegedy (Joel Sherman)

Padres making a strong push for Joaquin Benoit (Ken Rosenthal)

Orioles confident of signing Grant Balfour (Chris Cotillo)

Twins keeping tabs on Paul Maholm (Jerry Crasnick)

Phillies sign RHP Roberto Hernandez for 1/4.5M (Cubs were allegedly in on him)

C. Barmes signs 1/2M deal with Pirates

7-year offer for Choo by Rangers was not accurate, now saying Rangers are comfortable at around 5 years (Jon Morosi), some exec thinks Astros may swoop in and sign him

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 1:34pm  
What's going on with Maholm? Why is there so little interest in him?

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 2:07pm  

88 ERA+ last season?

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 3:24pm  
Very solid the previous three seasons.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 7:02pm  

well Ervin Santana, Garza and Ubaldo don't have jobs yet, so I don't think it's that slow.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 1:20pm  

Braves/Samardzija chatter

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/brave...

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 1:35pm  
Brave Prospects: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/12/4/5173...

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 3:24pm  
meh. you can pretty much forget about lucas simms unless the braves lose their f'n mind. tommy la stella is rather boring...average D, low-mid power... it seems like if they try to work out something with the braves it's going to be a bunch of shot-in-the-dark arms rather than centering around a single strong arm or bat...unless the braves are stupid enough to throw in l.simms. it's an interesting system...underwhelming, though. braves do need pitching, but with minor/medlin/teheran up top and a.wood in the mix they're not desperate for top pitching.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 1:20pm  

1/6M for Mike Morse from the Giants

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 2:06pm  

Benoit with offers from Indians and Padres, 2/14M, Padres may be offering 3rd year option

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 3:44pm  
WSCR reporting...... Rahm telling roofies, behind closed doors, sue and your f'd. Also telling Cubs to get shovels in the ground. Interesting part to watch out for, more night games. Cubs insiders now believing day games disadvantage to Cubs.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 9:34pm  
The belief is that the Jays have been talking to the Cubs about right-hander Jeff Samardzija, who was 8-13 with a 4.34 ERA in 33 starts for the Cubs last season. He walked 78 and struck out 214 in 2132/3 innings. All the Cubs want are top prospects Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman and a third player. “But the acquisition price doesn’t work for us right now,” Anthopoulos said about any deals on the table. “I don’t know if I could quantify how far off that they might be. “We continue to have dialogue, so if you want to look at that as encouraging, I don’t know. It’s not so far out of the realm that we won’t continue to have talks.” http://www.torontosun.com/2013/12/11/blue-jay...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 12:39am  

Sanchez and Stroman would be a helluva deal imo, I imagine Blue Jays would only give up one of them though.

Submitted by Hagsag  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 6:22am  
AZ Phil, Are the Cubs now working out at the new facility? Thanks

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 9:03am  
HAGSAG: Fitch Park was supposed to close on 11/21 when the three-week November Strength & Conditioning session concluded, and then the new facility at Mesa Riverview was supposed to open on 12/1 with another three-week S&C session scheduled at Riverview in January. However, the Cubs ended up moving into the new facility a month early (on 11/1) and Fitch Park closed on 10/31, so the November S&C session was actually held at Riverview even while some final construction work was in the process of being completed. There still is some construction-related activity going on at Riverview, but it's just finishing touches. It's basically 99.999% done.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 11:55am  

Gamel signs minor league deal with spring training invite with the Braves.

Bummer.

Daniel Hudson signed minor league deal with Diamondbacks as well.

Submitted by Charlie  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 1:39pm  
Would've liked to have Gamel at spring training providing another option at 3B to add to the very marginal Olt-Valbuena-Vitters mix. Too bad they couldn't get him on a minor league deal.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 11:56am  

Nick Cafardo who breaks more Cubs stories than any Cubs beat writer, says Cubs have interest in OF Ryan Kalish whom the Red Sox non-tendered.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 1:09pm  
Rob, are the Cubs on some crusade to sign the most fringe OF's in MLB? :) Happy Holidays!

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 1:16pm  
are the Cubs on some crusade to sign the most fringe OF's everyone in MLB? fixed that for you. speaking of, the twins got a hell of a gamble/deal signing j.kubel to a minor league deal.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 1:46pm  

breaking my nearly two year don't-waste-time-replying-to-crunch rule, you've become the most annoying one-note-void-of-context commenter on here, so congrats. Please go far away for awhile until you can actually contribute something amusing, worthwhile or demonstrates some understanding of the nuance of baseball operations.

Have a Happy Holiday!

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 3:09pm  
aww...i bet it's dusty's fault, too. maybe if i just towed the popular line of being excited about "the plan" going into year 5 of having a last/near-last place club in a major market or being excited about who might be picked up in june in trade for a player signed 6 months earlier i could get more props. those people seem to be reasonable and awesome no matter how many times they repeat it. sorry these words stick in your cubdom. i'm sorry it's apt. look at this offseason...it's nothing but scraps and fringe. apt...totally apt. beyond that, most of what i what i post isn't that "one note" you're throwing out at me even though it sticks out to you in bold, flashing text. hell, the amount of news i've posted that you've come in later to repeat the same thing without any new information had me thinking you were physically blocking my posts for a while.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 6:10pm  

do not confuse points of view with delivery

I agreed with Real Neal 80% of the time, but the other 20% was uncivil.

I get to be the bad guy by calling you out on it, but I know plenty of folks tired of this being "the crunch reporter".

And with that, I'm going back to ignoring you.

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 7:08pm  
uncivil? i know plenty of people tired of hearing jabs about the team cheaping out and not wanting to hear someone make jokes about it, but taking it personally to the point of it being an uncivil attack on them is kinda silly. some people are very defensive of what's going on with the team. yes, i realize "the plan" involves yet another year of punting...i also think it's silly and worthy of being made fun of for reasons i won't rehash right now given how touchy of a subject it currently is. some circlejerks are okay with people and some aren't...no reason to take it to the personally unless it's made personal. god knows we've had plenty of hendry, dusty, cpat, neifi, macias, etc circlejerks in TCR's history...a lot with "the usual suspects" going on for years about their views...making points, making jokes, etc. what set this off is me taking "OF's" and turning it into "everyone" as far as fringe players being signed lately by the team. i later listed all the team's signings to back that up. it's apt...and it was humor even if the truth of it stings a bit or it doesn't come off as funny to you.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 12:41am  

if it makes you sleep better thinking this is because I disagree with you about something, or has anything to do with the current OF's on the Cubs, than you're as dense as I believe.

This has NOTHING to with your opinions and EVERYTHING to do with how you express them.

And nothing other than the ASCII middle finger dude you post comes off as funny, so if you're actually attempting humor or sarcasm or wit, work really hard on your delivery.

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 1:10am  
in all seriousness, i'm still not getting any context on this "uncivil" thing...or why that OF/everything thing flipped the switch on things and made you comment on it. i'm not demeaning people, telling them to go screw their opinion, getting personal, trying to shut them up, drowning them out, etc... someone commented (yes, directed at you, but that didn't play into whether I replied or not): "are the Cubs on some crusade to sign the most fringe OF's in MLB?" i replied (yes, in jest, and i believe apt): "are the Cubs on some crusade to sign the most fringe OF's everyone in MLB? fixed that for you." was it the "fixed that for you"? that's common light hearted sarcastic "internet" speak (ftfy)...google it. was it that i interjected an opinion on a question directed to you? is there something insulting i'm missing here? seriously...the team has obtained ryan roberts, liam hendricks, wesley wright, ryan sweeney, george kottaras, justin ruggiano, casper wells, jeudy valdez, eli whiteside, chris valaika, tsuyoshi wada, arron cunningham, and darnell mcdonald...and to add lulz to it they added their 3rd sub-.200 hitting catcher to that mix a little bit after that. the thought of hendry signing 3 sub-.200 hitting catchers brings up memories of past 200-post threads in itself. i've even said i like the w.wright, r.sweeney, j.ruggiano moves...the rest don't really matter. given what's going on so far this offseason not much matters anyway pending unknown awesomeness. i'm not pulling this material out of thin air...nor am i insulting people who's opinion differ from me...or trying to shut them up...etc.

Submitted by WISCGRAD  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 12:01pm  
It's basically what I said to you a few days ago: virtually every comment you make is the same. And you comprise about 50% of the comments on here. Diversify my friend, diversify!! And when the Cubs do win it all in 3-4-5-6 years from now, please do not make your first comment: "I'm happy the Cubs won the World Series, but they could have done this years earlier had they spent money like a big market team..." PLEASE do not do that and ruin our moment of joy.

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 1:33pm  
"It's basically what I said to you a few days ago: virtually every comment you make is the same." it's not, though. just doing a quick search on the front page throws that away. open threads, search "crunch"...seriously. it's not even close to "virtually every comment"...or 50%...or 25%...etc. that observation doesn't add up. almost all my comments are news or some commentary having little to nothing to do with negatively/joking/etc the team's construction or spending. it's not a never-ending lamenting about players not being signed or cash not being spent. also, looking at all the comments i've made again, i don't see me ripping into anyone, telling anyone what to do, telling people their opinions are stupid, insults, or etc. i do, however, see a few people who are upset jokes and views on this team going into year 5 of losing (year 3 of "the plan") are even being made and they tend to comment on almost every time this is brought up by myself or others. i understand "the plan" seems to be moving into yet another year...i think it's a joke...i've even stated logical reasons along with the occasional humor and jabs about why this may trip things up (especially with free money available and the draft pick issue). it shouldn't be a laser focus that burns into your brain bringing rage, though. this team's biggest offseason news is the battle for new revenue streams with the city/neighborhoods and the signings of a slew of boring role players. a last place team just signed 3 sub-.200 hitting catchers...that's a joke writing it's own punchline. if you're going to be upset about me bringing up team construction or spending every few threads, though, then i dunno how you survived the "micromanage everything dusty did" era or the "wtf hendry offseasons" era...well, unless you happened to find it funny and agreed with the pile on. for all the years of hendry/neifi/macias/dusty circlejerking...same stuff over and over and over...and over and over...and over and over and over...and over and over and over and over...that didn't seem to draw ire or potentially ruin moments of joy.

Submitted by Jumbo  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 8:31pm  
I virtually never post, but usually when I do it's in response to some shit you've said for the fiftieth time. I recall more than one exchange about you repeating yourself and you being pissed. The other thing is that there are plenty of folks here who aren't thrilled with the rebuild taking so long, but not everybody bitches about it so much. It's like in Office Space after the guy gets hit by a car, and the injured guy tells Peter that everyone hates their job but not everybody whines so much. I know you don't think you're complaining/whining, but when you repeat the same point (even if valid) over and over it ends up as bitching/negative/tiresome. I feel like I created the term "The Crunch Reporter," but I also acknowledge that someone else must have been more clever. Who was it, anyway?

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 8:59pm  
"I recall more than one exchange about you repeating yourself and you being pissed." yeah, you're reading that wrong...or getting me mixed up with someone else. "The other thing is that there are plenty of folks here who aren't thrilled with the rebuild taking so long, but not everybody bitches about it so much." i addressed that above. also, i checked the 2nd page for the hell of it and the numbers don't play out there, either. those 2 pages are the entire off-season (including the playoffs). i would be willing to be the 3rd page continues this trend...probably less since it's in-season. some people just seem to be quite hyper-sensitive about the subject. we have one poster in particular here that's fond of defending "the plan" and has made a ton of "defend the plan" posts...calling out and getting involved in many people's comments on the team's direction...for some reason that poster is invisible...guess his side isn't hyper-sensitive to some. we put up with years of off-seasons of hendry circlejerking...years of in and off seasons of dusty circlejerking...neifi...macias...etc...and a LOT OF IT was the same "usual suspects"...

Submitted by Jackstraw  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 9:03pm  
Got it, Crunch. Numerous posters all indicate the same thing. We're all wrong. FFS. Please keep saying the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over. I'll go back to scrolling past anything with your name on it and be sorry to miss the good parts just like I did with other posters who said the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over. Of course that's not what you do, we're just all wrong about that.

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 9:24pm  
alright...how about this. open up every post on the first few pages. search for "crunch"...do the math. it is not as much as you think it is, yet it bothers you enough that you see it. i've tried not to make the issue so blunt, but there you go. it's all out there...written... so yes, if you insist i talk about it all the time...you're wrong. if you insist it's most of what i talk about...you're wrong. i'm not even trying to gloss this over...it's a very small fraction of what i post, yet it burns the retinas of some people and defines me to them. some people can't even tell (or want to tell) the difference between joking, serious criticism, and occasional straight up bitching. hell, a chunk of it is in conversations with others about where the organization is going or should go...stuff i didn't even start...it's not even fair to get butthurt about that. seriously, bring up posts...search my name. it's a lot less than you think it is...especially the stuff that's in context of people talking about the organization direction that i didn't even start. it's just not what you want to hear about the team. as someone who didn't mind dusty...that understood why he did things (such as his #2 slot philosophy and his handling of media)...and sat through 3-4 years of hearing about the micromanaging of dusty's career's every move on-and-off the field...a lot of it from the same people over and over (cough) about the same exact things over and over...this is all kinda "really?" to me.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 9:22pm  
Can we end the Festivus Airing of Grievances and move on to the Feats of Strength please?

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 12/14/2013 - 9:25pm  
...and then we get this guy trying to force his religious rituals on us. don't tread on me. ron paul 2012. black and white cookie is a lie.

Submitted by WISCGRAD  on Sun, 12/15/2013 - 6:36am  
I think that from now on any move the Cubs make, however minor, should be considered a festivus miracle.

Submitted by Newport  on Sun, 12/15/2013 - 3:55pm  
I get enough bitching and fighting at home and work. I give zero fucks about all this.

Submitted by Carlito  on Sun, 12/15/2013 - 4:37pm  
Them's fighting' words!

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 12/15/2013 - 4:57pm  
http://i.imgur.com/S83ieWW.jpg

Submitted by JoePepitone  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 3:08pm  
Shoot! I really need to up my game. I was hoping for that crown but I guess I really didn't commit myself to it like I should have. I'm bummed. :)

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 3:21pm  
i really need to learn to appreciate ryan roberts, liam hendricks, wesley wright, ryan sweeney, george kottaras, justin ruggiano, casper wells, jeudy valdez, eli whiteside, chris valaika, tsuyoshi wada, arron cunningham, and darnell mcdonald as shrewd moves with great impact upside rather than dare to joke/insist they're fringe players. my lack of faith in these obviously game changing players is not only disappointing, it's akin to spitting in the face of God.

Submitted by Cubster  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 3:26pm  
where is chris volstadt when you need him?

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 3:29pm  
amazingly...in LAA on a minor league deal.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 3:41pm  
No love for Ryan Kalish?

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 4:11pm  
if the cubs can manage to add him on a minor league contract it'd be a hell of a nice pickup considering he's a CF'r with 3-slot ability (good enough arm for RF). it'd be nice if he could stay healthy, though. dunno how much toll it's taken on his arm/legs/neck/etc the past 3 seasons. -edit- done deal...minor league contract. they also added future superstar (and NOT fringe player at all) john baker (C) on a minor league deal. the cubs have signed 3 catchers this offseason who all hit below .200 last season.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 4:24pm  
And none of them named Koyie Hill. I call that progress.

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 4:43pm  
-high 4-

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 1:54pm  

well if there's an uncertain position for the next few years for the Cubs, it's the OF and you need to have a 25-man roster. I certainly wouldn't have necessarily minded a Cruz, Choo, Granderson or Ellsbury, I think they could have found room for them, but not at the prices or risk. Free agents contracts are tough to bench as we all know and I don't think any of those guys are sure things by any means for the life of their contracts. Rather roll the dice with Lake, Vitters, Schierholtz, Sweeney, Almora, Jackson, Soler, Bryant, Ha, Szczur and so on...the players will make it clear who's ready and when.

In the meantime, we sit and wait and watch football and the rest of the league (thank goodness for MLB.tv).

They'll sign or trade for some relievers and at least one starting pitcher before the offseason is over though.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 12:13pm  

the saddest of all T-shirts

http://www.justonesports.com/collections/fron...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 1:58pm  

Cubs claim RHP Liam Hendriks off waivers from the Twins. #6 Twins prospect heading into 2011, #7 heading into 2012

http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-claim-lia...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/h...

terrible major league numbers in limited time, but just 25.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

minor league numbers much better but a declining K rate, not sure if arm issues or Twins "pitch-to-contact" ethos

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 2:01pm  

tidal wave of Cubs moves today

INF Ryan Roberts signed to minor league deal with a spring training invite

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/r...

Submitted by Cubster  on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 3:28pm  
tidal wave --- can of cornucopia?