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

2020 Cubs Rule 5 Draft Prep

12/10 UIPDATE: 

SELECTED BY CUBS IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE OF 2020 RULE 5 DRAFT
:
Gray Fenter, RHP (selected by Cubs from Baltimore Orioles AAA Norfolk roster)

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE OF 2020 RULE 5 DRAFT
NONE  

PLAYERS SELECTED BY CUBS IN AAA PHASE OF 2020 RULE 5 DRAFT
1. Nicholas Padilla, RHP (selected by Cubs for AAA Iowa from Tampa Bay Rays Hi-A Charlotte roster) 
2. Samuel Reyes, RHP (selected by Cubs for AAA Iowa from Pittsburgh Pirates Hi-A Bradenton roster) 

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN AAA PHASE OF 2020 RULE 5 DRAFT
1. Yunior Perez, RHP (selected by Detroit Tigers for AAA Toledo from Cubs AA Tennessee roster)
2. Jeffrey Passantino, RHP (selected by Pittsburgh Pirates for AAA Indianapolis from Cubs AA Tennessee roster)  

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12/2 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have signed another free-agent to a 2021 minor league contract: 

OF Michael Hermosillo (has Article XX-D rights) - 1+016 MLB ST & no minor league options left if added to the 40  

Hermosillo will likely receive an NRI to MLB Spring Training in 2021. Also, he will be eligible for selection in next week's MLB Rule 5 Draft. 


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11/20 UPDATE

The Cubs have selected the contracts of RHSP Cory Abbott, INF Christopher Morel, and RHSP Keegan Thompson, and they have been added to the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). 

Each will have Draft-Excluded Status during the off-season (player cannot be optioned or outrighted to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day), and because they did not accrue any MLB Service Time in 2020, any of the three can be sent to the minors (by optional or outright assignment) - EVEN IF INJURED - as long as the assignment is made no earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day and then up until 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day   

So the Cubs MLB Reserve List now stands at 37 (three slots are open). 

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11/18 UPDATE

The Cubs have two more free-agents to a 2021 minor league contract: 

OF Ian Miller (has Article XX-D rights) - 0+035 MLB ST & three minor league options left if added to the 40  

LHSP D. J. Snelten (has Article XX-D rights) - 0+018 MLB ST & two minor league options left if added to the 40

Both I. Miller and Snelten will likely receive an NRI to MLB Spring Training in 2021 (just as Miller did in 2020 after signing a minor league contract with the Cubs last off-season). 

Also, both I. Miller and Snelten will be eligible for selection in next month's MLB Rule 5 Draft.

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11/17 UPDATE

The Cubs have signed four free-agents to 2021 minor league contracts: 

C Taylor Gushue - has never been on an MLB reserve list 

RHRP Jake Jewell (has Article XX-D rights) - 0+151 MLB ST & one minor league option left if added to the 40 

OF Rafael Ortega (has Article XX-D rights) - 1+014 MLB ST & no minor league options left if added to the 40

LHRP Jerry Vasto (has Article XX-D rights) - 0+037 MLB ST & two minor league options left if added to the 40  

All four will likely be extended an NRI to MLB Spring Training.

Ortega is out of minor league options if he is added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster at some point next season, and Jewell, Ortega, and Vasto have been outrighted previously in their careers so they can elect free-agency if added to the 40 and then subsequently are outrighted.

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11/5 UPDATE

The Cubs have signed free-agent INF Abiatal Avelino to a 2021 minor league contract and he has been assigned to the AAA Iowa Reserve List. He was released by the San Francisaco Giants in September. 

Avelino has accrued 0+037 MLB ST and has two minor league options left if he were to be added to the MLB 40-man roster. He also has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted previously in his career so he can elect free-agency if he were to be added to an MLB 40-man roster and then subsequently outrighted).  

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11/3 ORIGINAL POST

The MLB Rule 5 Draft is held on the 2nd Thursday in December and is presently the last order of business at the MLB WINTER MEETINGS. It 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 (any minor league classification) for $100,000 ("Major League Phase" Rule 5 Draft price increased from $50,000 to $100,000 beginning with the December 2016 draft), and 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 (below AAA) for $24,000 (Rule 5 "AAA Phase" draft price increased from $12,000 to $24,000 beginning with the December 2016 draft). 
NOTE: Effective December 2016, the "AA Phase" (where a club's AA minor league affiliate could select Rule 5 Draft-eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs of a classification below AA for $4,000) has been eliminated.

There is no limit on the number of rounds in each phase (there could be one, there could be three, there could be five or more). As long as at least one club is still selecting players, the phase will continue, but as soon as all 30 teams have a full reserve list (so that clubs can no longer make selections) or have passed, the phase is over.

There is no limit on the number of Rule 5 Draft-eligible players any one organization can lose in a Rule 5 Draft.

Rule 5 Draft order is based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie.


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 following his first qualified season, 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 following his first qualified season.

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 (even if he signs prior to the Rule 5 Draft), the next season is considered to be the player's "first qualified season" for Rule 5 eligibility purposes. (Depending on the minor league, the conclusion of a minor league club's season could be as early as the first week of August, or as late as the second week of September).

3. A player eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent who signs a minor league successor contract prior to being declared a free-agent and 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 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.

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.

7. An MLB club can designate any player on a minor league reserve list "eligible for selection" in a Rule 5 Draft even if the player would not normally be eligible, but once a player is designated "eligible for selection," he remains eligible for selection in all subsequent Rule 5 drafts.
NOTE: A club might do this if the club is planning to release the player during the off-season. 

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 and retire. He has 30 days to decide. If he rejects the selection and opts to retire as a player, the player-manager is ineligible to be reinstated as a player for a minimum of one year.  

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN 2020 RULE 5 DRAFT (last updated 12-2-2020)
Aramis Ademan, INF 
Maikel Aguiar, RHP 
Jose Albertos, RHP 
Javier Assad, RHP 
Abiatal Avelino, INF (Article XX-D player) - signed 2021 minor league contract 
Cam Balego, C-INF
Craig Brooks, RHP 
Jesus Camargo, RHP
Bailey Clark, RHP
Danis Correa, RHP 
Yovanny Cuevas, OF 
Zach Davis, OF
Donnie Dewees, OF
Christian Donahue, INF 
Scott Effross, RHP 
Juan Gamez, RHP (second-contract FA) - signed 2021 minor league contract
Trent Giambrone, IF-OF
Taylor Gushue, C - post-2020 minor league 6YFA - signed 2021 minor league contract  
Jose Gutierrez, OF 
Ben Hecht, RHP 
Ferrol Heredia, LHP 
Michael Hermosillo, OF (Article XX-D player) - signed 2021 minor league contract
P. J. Higgins, C-INF
Bryan Hudson, LHP  
Brandon Hughes, LHP (ex-OF) 
Jake Jewell, RHP (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 minor league 6YFA - signed 2021 minor league contract 
Ryan Kellogg, LHP 
Fernando Kelli, OF 
Garrett Kelly, RHP - second-contract player signed for 2021
Ryan Lawlor, LHP - second-contract player signed for 2021 
Brendon Little, LHP 
Luis Lugo, LHP - signed 2021 minor league successor contract 
Eddy Julio Martinez, OF 
Hector Matos, RHP (Restricted List)
Trevor Megill, RHP (Article XX-D player)
Fidel Mejia, INF 
Dakota Mekkes, RHP
Ian Miller, OF (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 Article XX-D minor league FA - signed 2021 minor league contract
Connor Myers, OF 
Tommy Nance, RHP 
Carlos Ocampo, RHP 
Rafael Ortega, OF (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 minor league 6YFA - signed 2021 minor league contract
Jeffrey Passantino, RHP 
Tyler Payne, C
C. D. Pelham, LHP (Article XX-D player) 
Raymond Pena, C
Henderson Perez, C 
Yunior Perez, RHP 
Yonathan Perlaza, INF 
Gustavo Polanco, C-1B   
Eury Ramos, RHP 
Peyton Remy, RHP 
Duncan Robinson, RHP 
Aneuris Rosario, RHP 
Michael Rucker, RHP (Article XX-D player) 
Wyatt Short, LHP 
Jonathan Sierra, OF 
D. J. Snelten, LHP (Article XX-D player) - signed 2021 minor league contract
Jerrick Suiter, RHP (ex-1B) - signed 2021 minor league successor contract
Matt Swarmer, RHP 
Erich Uelmen, RHP 
Didier Vargas, LHP 
Juan Vasquez, C - second contract player signed for 2021 
Jerry Vasto, LHP (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 minor league 6YFA - signed 2021 minor league contract 
Vance Vizcaino, OF - second contract player signed for 2021 
Joe Wieland, RHP (Article XX-D player) - signed 2021 minor league successor contract - 
D. J. Wilson, OF 
Jared Young, 1B-OF 
Delvin Zinn, INF 

Additionally, a free-agent who signs a 2021 minor league contract prior to the 2020 Rule 5 Draft will be eligible for selection in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft 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 following his first qualified season, 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 following his first qualified season.


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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 minor league reserve lists on November 20th (or November 19th if November 20th falls on a Saturday or November 18th if November 20th falls on a Sunday) up through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

2. A Rule 5 Draft-eligible player cannot be sent outright to the minors beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the third day prior to the Rule 5 Draft 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 start of the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players it selects in the Major League Phase, and an MLB club's AAA affiliate must have as many slots open on its reserve list prior to the start of the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players the affiliate selects in the AAA Phase. 

4. 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.
NOTE: This actually happened at least once a number of years ago, after a club (Atlanta Braves) inadvertently left one of its top prospects off its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) when minor league reserve lists were submitted to the MLB Commissioner on November 20th.

5. 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 (such as by concocting a phony injury and placing the player on an Injured List in an attempt to decrease a player's value when the player is not really injured). Also, a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft cannot be "hidden" on an Injured List to help the drafting club fulfill Rule 5 roster obligations (such as by leaving the player on the Injured List after he is healthy enough to play). 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 an Injured List, the offending club or clubs are subject to a penalty (TBD by the MLB Commissioner).

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MLB RULE 6: SELECTED PLAYER

A "Selected Player" is any player selected in the Major League Phase of the MLB Rule 5 Draft. 

1. A Selected Player must be placed on the drafting club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) immediately after selection and must be tendered a major league contract by 5 PM (Eastern) on the day of the draft.

2. A Selected Player can be traded at any time, but the player cannot be Designated for Assignment, 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 reclaim the player.

3. If a Selected Player spends at least 90 days on an MLB Active List during the MLB regular season following selection, the player ceases to be a "Selected Player" 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 6 Selected Player into the next season, and the player continues to be a Selected Player until he has spent 90 days total on an MLB Active List.
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: If a Selected Player spends at least 50 days on an MLB Active List during the 2020 MLB regular season, the player ceases to be a "Selected Player" at the conclusion of the 2020 MLB regular season. If time spent on an MLB Active List in 2020 is less than 50 days, the player remains a Rule 6 Selected Player into the next season, and the player continues to be a Selected Player until he has spent 50 days total on an MLB Active List.

4. If a club wishes to send a Selected Player to the minors, the player must be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers, where any of the other 29 MLB clubs can claim the player for the $50,000 Rule 6 waiver price (formerly $25,000), and if claimed off waivers, the player continues to have Rule 6 Selected Player status.

5. If the Selected Player is not claimed off Outright Assignment Waivers, the player then must be offered back to the club from which he was drafted, and the player's former club can re-claim the player for $50,000 (formerly $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 re-claim the player, but it has only 24 hours to decide if the player is eligible to be an Article XX-D or Article XIX-A minor league 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). NOTE: A Selected Player with Article XIX-A rights (player has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time) cannot be re-claimed and outrighted back to the minor league club from which he was drafted unless the player consents in advance to the assignment.

6. If a Selected 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 (or Article XIX-A minor league free-agent if the player has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time) 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.   

7. If a Selected 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.

8. If the club from which the Selected Player was drafted declines to re-claim the player, the player no longer has Rule 6 Selected Player status, the drafting club retains the player, and the player can be sent to the minors or released.

9. A player selected in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be assigned to the Reserve List of the AAA club that drafted the player and he must be given a 15-day trial during Spring Training with that club, 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 Phase 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 AAA.

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MLB RULE 6: DRAFT-EXCLUDED PLAYER

A "Draft-Excluded Player" is any minor league player who has accrued less than three years of MLB Service Time and who is eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 5 Draft, whose contract is selected, and who is added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) between August 15th and the Rule 5 Draft.
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: A "Draft-Excluded Player" is any minor league player who has accrued less than three years of MLB Service Time and who is eligible for selection in the 2020 MLB Rule 5 Draft, whose contract is selected, and who is added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) between August 31, 2020, and the 2020 MLB Rule 5 Draft.

1. A Draft-Excluded Player can be non-tendered on 12/2, released, or traded at any time, but he cannot be sent to the minors by Optional Assignment beginning with the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.

2. A Draft-Excluded Player can be sent outright to the minors only if Outright Assignment Waivers are requested no later than 2 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the final game of the World Series, and if a Draft-Excluded Player is not outrighted to the minors prior to the Rule 5 Draft, the player cannot be sent outright to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to the start of the MLB regular season.

CUBS PLAYERS WITH POST-2020 RULE 6 DRAFT-EXCLUDED STATUS: (last updated 11-20-2020)
Cory Abbott, RHP 
Brailyn Marquez, LHP 
Christopher Morel, INF 
Keegan Thompson, RHP 

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2020 MLB RULE 5 DRAFT 

The Cubs must decide by November 20th which 2020 Rule 5 Draft-eligible players (including any player eligible to be a minor league free-agent post-2020 who signed a 2021 minor league successor contract) to add their MLB 40-man roster (to keep the player from being eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft). 

Keep in mind that any minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft who has his contract selected and is added to an MLB 40-man roster after August 31st (was August 15th in previous seasons) has Draft-Excluded status, meaning the player cannot be sent to the minors (outrighted or optioned) any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day, so a roster slot on the 40 that is allocated to a Rule 5 Draft-eligible player by the 11/20 deadline would effectively be locked and unavailable for the duration of the off-season and much of Spring Training.

The Cubs also must decide by November 20th whether to place a 2020 Rule 5 Draft-eligible minor league player who is not added to the MLB 40-man roster on 11/20 on their AAA Iowa reserve list or on the reserve list of an affiliate of a lower classification (usually AA, but somtimes single-A). At most 38 of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft-eligible Cubs minor leaguers can be placed on the AAA Iowa Reserve List on 11/20. However, although the AAA Reserve List limit is 38, probably more like 35 of the Rule 5 Draft-eligible players will actually be placed on the AAA Iowa reserve list on 11/20 (the Cubs placed 35 players on their AAA Iowa reserve list in both 2018 and 2019), because slots need to be left open for players the Cubs might want to select in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, as well as for free-agents signed to minor league contracts or players outrighted to the minors after 11/20 but prior to the Rule 5 Draft. (Any Rule 5 Draft-eligible player who signs a 2021 minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft will be eligible for selection). Any 2020 Rule 5 Draft-eligible Cubs minor leaguer who is not added to the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or placed on the AAA Iowa Reserve List on or before 11/20 will be eligible for selection in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft).

Last year the Cubs had seven slots open on their MLB 40-man roster after the departure of their Article XX-B MLB free-agents (Barnette, Castellanos, X. Cedeno, Cishek, Hamels, D. Holland, Kintzler, Lucroy, Morrow, Phelps, Strop, and Zobrist) after the conclusion of the World Series. The Cubs outrighted RHRP Allen Webster to AAA Iowa and selected the contract of RHSP Colin Rea (who otherwise would have been declared a minor league 6YFA) from AAA Iowa prior to the 5 PM (Eastern) deadline on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, and then with seven slots still open on the 40 on 11/20, they selected the contracts of only four of their Rule 5 Draft eligible minor leaguers (C Miguel Amaya, RHSP Tyson Miller, RHRP Manuel Rodriguez, and SS Zack Short), leaving three slots open for a cash trade (RHSP Jharel Cotton acquired from OAK), a waiver claim (LHP C. D. Pelham claimed off waivers from TEX), and a Rule 5 Draft pick (RHRP Trevor Megill, selected from SD). 

During the course of the 2020 season the Cubs added just one player to the 40 who was eligible for selection in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft (LHP Brailyn Marquez, on the last day of the MLB regular season). Marquez is considered to be the Cubs top pitching prospect, so adding him to the 40 was going to happen on 11/20 anyway.   

Back in 2018 the Cubs added just one Rule 5 Draft-eligible player (LHP Justin Steele) to the 40 on 11/20, after adding one (RHRP James Norwood) during the course of the 2018 MLB regular season. That's it. Just two. Another Cubs 2018 Rule 5 Draft-eligible player (3B Jason Vosler) was traded to the San Diego Padres for RHRP Rowan Wick on 11/20 (Wick required a slot on the 40 because he was a Draft-Excluded player).  

By comparison, during the course of the 2017 MLB regular season the Cubs added four players to the 40 (RHP Dylan Floro, RHRP Dillon Maples, RHSP Jen-Ho Tseng, and OF Mark Zagunis) who would have been eligible for selection in the December 2017 Rule 5 Draft, although Floro was subsequently claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers. 
NOTE: INF-OF Ian Happ was also added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster during the 2017 season, but he would not have been eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft until post-2018. 

The Cubs then added three more post-2017 Rule 5 Draft-eligibles (RHSP Adbert Alzolay, INF David Bote, and RHSP Oscar de la Cruz) to the 40 on 11/20 of 2017, Bote after hitting a robust 333/395/536 for the Mesa Solar Sox in the post-season Arizona Fall League. (It's not unusual for the Cubs to assign a Rule 5 Draft-eligible player to the Arizona Fall League, as the AFL is often used as a "proving ground" for pitchers and position-players who are under consideration for promotion to an MLB 40-man roster). However, the AFL season was canceled (as was the entire minor league season) in 2020 due to the CoViD-19 pandemic, although the Cubs are fielding a team in Arizona Instructional League . 

So keeping in mind that a free-agent who signs a 2021 minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft (TBD) will also be eligible, - AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW - here is my preliminary projected minor league reserve list assignments for the Cubs 2020 Rule 5 Draft eligible minor leaguers who are not likely to be added to the 40 in November (so lists that follow do not include Abbott, Morel, and Higgins)  

Last updated 12-2-2020
 
LIKELY ON AAA IOWA RESERVE LIST - AVAILABLE IN  MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE ONLY (WITH POTENTIAL RIGHT TO RE-CLAIM)
Aramis Ademan, SS 
Jose Albertos, RHSP  
Abiatal Avelino, INF (Article XX-D player) - signed 2021 minor league contract
Craig Brooks, RHRP
Bailey Clark, RHRP  
Danis Correa, RHRP 
Donnie Dewees, OF 
Juan Gamez, RHRP - signed 2021 minor league contract 
Trent Giambrone, INF-OF 
Taylor Gushue, C - post-2020 minor league FA - signed 2021 minor league contract 
Ben Hecht, RHRP 
Michael Hermosillo, OF (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 minor league FA - signed 2021 minor league contract
P. J. Higgins, C-INF 
Bryan Hudson, LHRP 
Jake Jewell, RHP (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 minor league FA - signed 2021 minor league contract
Brendon Little, LHSP 
Luis Lugo, LHRP  - signed 2021 minor league successor contract
Eddy Julio Martinez, OF  
Hector Matos, RHSP (on Restricted List - does not count against AAA 38-man roster limit
Trevor Megill, RHRP (Article XX-D player) - signed 2021 minor league contract
Dakota Mekkes, RHRP 
Ian Miller, OF (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 minor league contract - signed 2021 minor league contract)  
Rafael Ortega, OF (Article XX-D player)  - post-2020 minor league FA - signed 2021 minor league contract
Yonathan Perlaza, OF (ex-INF) 
Eury Ramos, RHSP 
Peyton Remy, RHSP 
Duncan Robinson, RHSP 
Aneuris Rosario, RHRP 
Michael Rucker, RHRP (Article XX-D player) 
Wyatt Short, LHRP 
D. J. Snelten, LHSP (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 minor league FA - signed 2021 minor league cntract
Jerrick Suiter, RHRP (ex-1B) - signed 2021 minor league successor contract
Matt Swarmer, RHSP
Erich Uelmen, RHSP
Jerry Vasto, LHRP (Article XX-D player) - post-2020 minor league FA - signed 2021 minor leaguie contract 
Joe Wieland, RHRP (Article XX-D player) - signed 2021 minor league contract 
Jared Young, 1B-OF  

LIKELY ON AA TENNESSEE RESERVE LIST - AVAILABLE IN AAA PHASE (NO RIGHT TO RE-CLAIM IF SELECTED):
Maikel Aguiar, RHRP 
Javier Assad, RHP
Cam Balego, C-INF 
Jesus Camargo, RHRP
Yovanny Cuevas, OF 
Zach Davis, OF 
Christian Donahue, INF 
Scott Effross, RHP 
Jose Gutierrez, OF 
Ferrol Heredia, LHSP
Brandon Hughes, LHRP (ex-OF) 
Fernando Kelli, OF 
Ryan Kellogg, LHRP 
Garrett Kelly, RHRP - second contract player signed for 2021 
Ryan Lawlor, LHRP - second contract player signed for 2021
Fidel Mejia, IB-3B
Connor Myers, OF
Tommy Nance, RHRP 
Carlos Ocampo, RHSP 
Jeffrey Passantino, RHSP 
Tyler Payne, C
C. D. Pelham, LHRP (Article XX-D player)
Raymond Pena, C
Henderson Perez, C 
Yunior Perez, RHSP
Gustavo Polanco, C-1B   
Jonathan Sierra, OF
Didier Vargas, LHSP 
Juan Vasquez, C - second contract player signed for 2021 
Vance Vizcaino, OF - second contract player signed for 2021 
D. J. Wilson, OF 
Delvin Zinn, INF 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CUBS MLB RULE 5 DRAFT HISTORY 

Among the more-notable players selected by the Cubs in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft over the years are OF Hack Wilson (selected from the New York Giants in 1925), C Bob Scheffing (selected from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1940), RHP Johnny Klippstein (selected from the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949), RHP Turk Lown (selected from the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951), OF Jim King (selected from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954), INF Johnny Goryl (selected from the Baltimore Orioles in 1955), OF Monte Irvin (selected from the New York Giants in 1955), C Cal Neeman (selected from the New York Giants in 1956), 2B Tony Taylor (selected from the San Francisco Giants in 1957), C Cuno Barragon (a "first-year player" selected from the Milwaukee Braves in 1960), 2B Glenn Beckert (a "first-year player" selected from the Boston Red Sox in 1962), OF Byron Browne (a "first-year player" selected from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1963), SS Jose Arcia and C Bill Plummer (both selected from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967), OF Cleo James (selected from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969), LHP Willie Hernandez (selected from the Philadelphia Phillies in 1976), C Jody Davis (selected from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980), RHP Rodney Myers (selected from the Kansas City Royals in 1995), OF Josh Hamilton (selected from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and then traded to the Cincinnati Reds in a pre-arranged deal immediately after the draft concluded in 2006), and RHP Hector Rondon (selected from the Cleveland Indians in 2012).
NOTE: All amateur players -- not just bonus players -- signed by MLB clubs between December 5,1958 and August 1, 1968 who were not added to an MLB 40-man roster after the player's first "qualified season" in the minors were eligible for selection (for a discount $8,000 draft price from the then-standard $25,000 Major League Phase draft price) in a special "First-Year Player" Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, and that's how the Cubs were able to acquire Barragan, Beckert, and Browne. (A player was eligible for selection as a "first-year player" only once, and if he wasn't selected, he would fall under standard Rule 5 Draft eligibility rules after that, where the player was eligible for selection beginning with the third Rule 5 Draft after the player's first "qualified season," with a player's first qualified season depending on whether he signed his first contract before or on/after August 1st).      

Probably the most-notable Cubs minor leaguers lost in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft are 2B Eddie Mayo (selected by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1942), INF Billy Klaus (selected by the Boston Braves in 1949), RHP Billy Muffett (selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955), OF Jason Dubois (selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 but then later re-claimed by Cubs), LHP Andy Sisco (selected by the Kansas City Royals in 2004), RHP Randy Wells (selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007 but then later re-claimed by the Cubs), LHP Donnie Veal (selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008), INF Ryan Flaherty (selected by the Baltimore Orioles in 2011), and INF-OF Marwin Gonzalez (selected by the Boston Red Sox and then traded to the Houston Astros immediately after the draft concluded in 2011). 
NOTE: Hack Wilson and Monte Irvin (both selected by the Cubs - see above) and RF Roberto Clemente (selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1954 Rule 5 Draft) are the only members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who were selected in a Rule 5 Draft.

The Cubs have actually lost many more players in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft (most-notably 1B Justin Bour, who was selected by the Miami Marlins from the Cubs AA Tennessee affiliate in 2013) than they have in the Major League Phase over the past few years, a testament to the depth of their farm system. They are likely to lose a few more players in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft this year as well.

The most-notable players selected by the Cubs in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft over the years are C Vic Roznovsky (selected by the Cubs from the San Francisco Giants AA El Paso affiliate in 1963), C Chris Krug (selected by the Cubs from the St. Louis Cardinals AA Tulsa affiliate in 1964), OF Brock Davis (selected by the Cubs from the Houston Astros AA Dallas-Ft. Worth affiliate in 1968), RHRP Heathcliff Slocumb (selected by the Cubs from the New York Mets Little Falls affiliate in the NYP league in 1986), and OF Roosevelt Brown (selected by the Cubs from the Florida Marlins AA Portland affiliate in 1997). 

Comments

The deadline for adding Rule 5 Draft-eligible outrighted players back the MLB 40-man roster has been pushed back to 11/20, so the Cubs can still add Trevor Megill and/or Michael Rucker to the 40 if they so choose to do so. 

The main reason why you especially would not want to lose Megill and/or Rucker in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft is that if they were to be re-claimed, they can elect free-agency.

That's because the re-claim process involves an automatic outright assignment back to the minor league club from which the player was drafted, and so because both Megill and Rucker have been outrighted previously in their respective careers, they have Article XX-D status, which gives both of them the right to elect free-agency if outrighted again (or the player can choose to accept the Outright Assignment and defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, as long as the player was not added back to the 40 in the meantime).  

Former Chicago Dogs starting pitcher D.J. Snelten has signed with the Chicago Cubs organization, according to a post on his Twitter account. Snelten, a 28-year-old southpaw, was drafted in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants. Snelten had a cup of coffee with the Giants in 2018. He tossed 4.1 IP with a 10.38 ERA, 4 K, and 3 BB. In 2019, Snelten played in independent ball. 2019 statistics: 7-3 record, 118.1 IP, 3.12 ERA, 112 K, and 43 BB. DJ Snelten has gone from low 90’s to high 90’s on his FB. He has completely rebuilt his lower half.  6’7, 235lbs ... Last year, this jump in velocity helped earn him a minor-league contract and a Spring Training invite from the Tampa Bay Rays... Snelten has continued to work on mechanics through FlatGround and is now touching triple digits on his fastball.

Read more at: https://ontapsportsnet.com/2020/11/17/former-chicago-dogs-pitcher-d-j-s…

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

And Mets benefit with $24 million worth of additional financial freedom. Teams should still have to pay the salary of the cheating player.  They employed, benefitted and have a degree of responsibility to their players abiding by the rules. The money would go to league drug testing and education programs. Instead of just looking the other way, teams would be more proactive in preventing cheating. 

But until then, maybe Hoyer's first offseason move is to clear some payroll by inviting Heyward over for dinner and slipping him some roids. 

Just a couple of reminders about the 11/20 deadline for filing minor league reserve lists tomorrow: 

1. The deadline to add a 2020 "outrighted player" (in the case of the Cubs, that would be Rex Brothers, Josh Osich, Hernan Perez, Michael Rucker, and Trevor Megill) back to the 40 has been extended from the 5th day after the World Series to 11/20, so the Cubs could still add any of the five to the 40. However, if the player is not added to the 40 and then is selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft and then is not kept on the drafting club's MLB Active List roster next season, the player has the right to elect free-agency if he is re-claimed by the Cubs because he has been outrighted previously in his career (a player re-claimed by his former club after being selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be outrighted back to the minor league affiliate from which he was selected).   

Brothers, Osich, and H. Perez were eligible to either elect free-agency when they were outrighted or else defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (up through 10/15), but each of the three accepted their outright assignment and then signed a 2021 minor league successoer contract without first becoming a free-agent, so they are still considered to be 2020 "outrighted players."  

However, Ian Miller initially accepted his Outright Assignment during the season but then (unlike Brothers, Osich, and H. Perez) did elect free-agency after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (prior to the 10/15 deadline), so he is not considered a 2020 "outrighted player" because he was a free-agent prior to re-signing with the Cubs yesterday.

2. Most (if not all) of the post-2020 free-agents signed by the Cubs to minor league contracts over the past couple of weeks (Gushue, Jewell, Miller, Ortega, and Vasto) will likely be moved to the AA Tennessee reserve list on 11/20. That's because any club could have signed the player (without having to pay the $24,000 AAA Phase draft price) before the Cubs signed him. However, the Cubs did lose a player (INF Jason Smith) in the Major League Phase of the 2006 Rule 5 Draft about a month after they signed him to a 2007 minor league contract, so it's not absolutely for sure that a player who was a free-agent won't get selected in the Rule 5 Draft. It's just very unlikely to happen, but if it does happen,, the Cubs collect $24,000 and can just sign a very similar player to replace the player they lost, probably for essentially the same salary.  

Cubs long-time minor league pitching coach and coordinator Rick Tronerud passed away this week. He was a great guy. 

glad we don't have to worry about c.morel in the rule5...

little worried about michael rucker and wyatt short, but it's not like they would be sure-thing to be MLB-ready for anyone.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

While Rule 5 Draft-eligible RPs (Rucker, Megill, Mekkes, Hudson, Suiter, W. Short, Gamez, Lugo, Lawlor, and Hecht) are the most-likely to get selected, they are also the easiest to replace via waiver claim if they are lost. So while relievers are not necessarily "a dime a dozen," it's something like that when it comes to deciding who to protect in Rule 5. So unless the reliever is an exceptional MLB prospect with electric stuff, it's usually best to just take your chances.  

What you do not want to do is lose a guy in the Rule 5 Draft who is projected as having the ceiling of an MLB regular position-player (like C. Morel) or MLB SP (especially Abbott but also K. Thompson to a lesser extent), even if the position player with the MLB ceiling (M. Amaya last year and C. Morel this year) or the SP might be two or maybe even three years away.   

I fully expect the Cubs to make one or two waiver claims and/or a minor trade or two over the next few days, what with a number of players getting DFA'd today by clubs looking to open up slots on their MLB 40-man roster.  

Unlike most MLB clubs, the Cubs presently have three slots open on the 40 with probably four or five more slots becoming available via non-tenders when the MLB contract tender date (12/2) arrives in a couple of weeks, so the Cubs are in a good position to add several players via waiver claim, Rule 5 Draft pick, and/or trade in the coming days and weeks. 

[ ]

In reply to by Wrigley Rat

wtf...

is everything the ricketts touch just falling to shit in 2021?  ....well, except their heavy investments in taking over the state of Nebraska politically with one of the sons and heavy investment in supportive state legislators...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I believe this is the correct take. It's surprising that Len is leaving. He's good, but he had gotten a little too rationalizey over the past few years for me.

However, it seemed he was heavily invested in the Cubs. His departure feels like there is some Ricketts-ish bullshit going on behind the scenes at Marquee that Len wants no part of. Anyway, I wish him well with the other Chicago team

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

the claim is he "really wants to do radio" and "totally nothing wrong with Marquee"...etc etc

but yeah...the team is having a hell of an offseason having theo walk away with a year left on his deal, semi-embarrassingly trying to find a taker for bryant, deciding to not keep schwarber, and now the long-time cubs pbp TV guy leaves for a radio gig across town.

all of this and the cubs are yet to be linked to any FA discussions...or names for a GM hunt...or a pool of teams actually interested in bryant...or anything resembling a 2021 plan so far...

[ ]

In reply to by Wrigley Rat

I actually always liked Andy Masur... liked his call & vibe. The local connections always adds a nice layer (Glenview native, Maine East grad, Bradley alum). I think he'd be a great pick-up. (Though after name-checking Glenview, I do have to add... GBN > GBS. Spartan alum!)

So the Cubs in a matter of weeks lose 3 cult heros in Schwarber, Len, and Theo.  I guess now that Ricketts got his ring the only thing that matters is $$$ since he won't open up his wallet for "the core" extensions.  Just figures Cubs lose...meh....Cubs fans are loyal and will still show up and I'll make money, team quality and everything to do with it be damned.  Damn 2020 continues....

Wasn't Thom Brennaman (who I always liked) get caught on the "hot mic" that got him in trouble this year.

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

yes...and he got to hang around a while stewing on it while figuring out where his career was headed...followed by an on-air apology a bit later in the night, noting it might be the last time people hear from him at his current place of employment (spoiler: he was correct).

the apology didn't go over well considering how much disgust was in his voice on the "hot mic" that got him in trouble, and it seemed he was more interested in apologizing to his bosses.  there's a drive to deep LF by castellanos, it will be a home run.  his career calling games is assumed over at this point.

i know player/team rumors are worth very little on whole, but while other teams are out there linked to all kinds of stuff the biggest cubs rumors seem to be...

1- almost every bat is for trade

2- no one is actively engaged in aggressive talks for any of these bats

3- the biggest news for a more positive cubs 2021 seems to be the impact on the division from the reds maybe trading away sonny gray (seriously, multiple articles mentioning how this will be a good compliment to the cubs doing f'n nothing)

wtf...

cubs retain iowa cubs, tn smokies, mbeach pelicans (low-A), and south bend cubs (high-A).

eugene kicked to the curb.

AZ Phil: Big Picture...are there any Midwest or AZ options for the Cubs to replace Eugene? or is this a part of a cutback to expenses?

Here are five Rule 5 Draft-eligibles who stand out (to me) as potential Cubs selections tomorrow (Thursday) because the Cubs saw them (especially the first three) quite a bit over the past few years in Minor League Spring Training games, EXST,  AZL, AZIL, and/or AFL games:

1. Parker Dunshee, RHSP (OAK) - A Baseball America Oakland A's Top 15 prospect as recently as 2019, Dunshee is an MLB-ready polished SP prospect who could legitimately contend for a spot in the Cubs starting rotation in 2021. 

2. Ben DeLuzio, OF (AZ)  - An athletic defender who can play all three OF positions, takes a lot of walks, steals bases, and has plus sprint speed on the bases, he could be a very useful 4th OF for the Cubs in 2021...  

3. Jose Marte, RHRP (SF) - Athletic 6'3 reliever, he was showcasing a 100 MPH FB and a 91 MPH slider vs Cubs at AZ Instructs last month... I would say he's at least worth a look in MLB Spring Training next season... IIRC he is a cousin(?) of ex-AZL Cubs RHP Junior Marte, because Junior introduced him to me a few years ago at EXST... 

4. Jordan Sheffield, RHRP (LAD) - Vanderbilt product (where he was the Commodores Friday starter), he was a Baseball America Dodgers Top 15 prospect in both 2017 & 2018... he features a FB that touches 99, and he could be an unhittable dominating MLB reliever if & when he can improve his command... probably worth at least a look in MLB SpringTraining... 
 
5. Brett de Geus, RHRP (LAD) - Pronounced "duh - GUS," he is an extreme ground ball pitcher and he was very impressive in the AFL post-2019... scouts who saw him in the AFL liked him a lot...  

Five Cubs minor leaguers with best shot to get selected in the Major League Phase of Thursday's MLB Rule 5 Draft ($100,000 draft price with possibility of re-claiming the player later). 

1. P. J. Higgins, C-INF 
2. Dakota Mekkes, RHRP 
3. Trent Giambrone, INF-OF 
4. Duncan Robinson, RHSP (June 2019 TJS) 
5. Michael Rucker, RHRP (was also selected in 2019 Rule 5 Draft)

All five are MLB-ready (or very nearly ready). 

Five Cubs with best chance to get selected in AAA Phase ($24,000 Draft price and no right to re-claim later)

1. Zach Davis, OF 
2. Eury Ramos, RHSP 
3. Jesus Camargo, RHRP 
4. Jeffrey Passantino, RHSP 
5. Aneuris Rosario, RHRP 

cubs select gray fenter from the O's.  he'll be 25 next month and the O's invested well in him (over-slot pay in the draft + surgeries).  he's yet to pitch above A ball.

mid 90s fastball, advanced curve....slider and change in progress...repeatable command and control are issues.

cubs lose no one in the major league portion of the rule 5.

yunior perez (RHP) selected by DET in the AAA portion of the rule5.

jeffrey passantino (RHP) selected by PIT in the AAA portion of the rule5.

cubs select nicholas padilla (RHP) from TB

cubs select samuel reyes (RHP) from PIT.  his brother is pablo reyes (IF/OF, PIT).

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

The selection of Gray Fenter is odd only because he has yet to pitch above Lo-A and guys like that rarely can contribute much at the MLB level.  

If this was 2012 and the Cubs were in full rebuild mode, then I could maybe see them drafting somebody like Fenter.  

So I strongly suspect that the Cubs selected Fenter with the intention to (hopefully) work out a deal with the Orioles (prior to Opening Day 2021) so that the Cubs can assign him to an appropriate minor league level (probably AA). 

However, if the Cubs can get Fenter through waivers (which is likely) and are able to work out a deal (additional ca$h and/or a PTBNL) with Baltimore during Spring Training and Fenter is outrighted to the minors, he is eligible to be a minor league 6YFA post-2021 if he is not on an MLB 40-man roster (or has not signed a 2022 minor league sucessor contract) as of 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the 2021 World Series, which makes the pick even more peculiar.  

Phil, do you have a scouting report on these players? Wasn't Junior Perez  one of your favorites?

HAGSAG: Yunior Perez is a big-body hard-throwing RHP whose FB regularly sat at 95-96 the last time I saw him in 2019. Secondaries and FB command are an issue and he has yet to pitch above short-season ball, but there is no doubting the big arm. I find it very hard to believe that the Cubs made Y. Perez available in the AAA Phase, but obviously they did.  

Jeffrey Passantino is a stocky (5'10 225) RHP whose FB sat at 85-86 (one of the slowest FB velos I have ever seen) the last time I saw him, but he had a solid breaking ball and his command was inpeccable. He is a classic swing man who can start or relieve, and I could see him making it to MLB in that role just because his control & command are so plus.  

In my projected 11/20 AA and AAA reserve list assignments in the post, I had Y. Perez on the AAA Reserve List (and available for selection in the MLB Phase only) and Passantino was the last guy I dropped from AAA to AA on 11/20, so if they were both on the AA roster (which they were), then I would say they were indeed the two best Cubs minor leaguers available in the AAA Phase. 

As for the two pitchers the Cubs selected in the AAA Phase of yesterday's Rule 5 Draft, Nicholas Padilla was eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft for the first time last year and he is eligible to be a minor league 6YFA post-2021, but this was the first time that Samuel Reyes was Rule 5 Draft-eligible - AND - he is under club control through the 2023 season. 

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • crunch (view)

    wow.  what a blown call.  go cubs, i guess.