Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

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

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* 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: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Ryan Theriot—a Modern-Day Max Flack?

Submitted by Cubnut on

On Memorial Day, 1922, the Cubs and Cardinals completed a trade between games of a split doubleheader. After playing for their respective teams in the morning game, Cubs outfielder Max Flack and Cards OF Cliff Heathcote were traded for one another. Each man played for his new team in the afternoon.

The Cubs and Rockies have no doubleheaders scheduled this weekend, but in line with rumors that have been coming out of Chicago the past couple days, the Denver Post is reporting that Ryan Theriot may begin the weekend series as a Cub and end it as a member of the Rockies.

Theriot, 30, wouldn't figure to be just a pennant-stretch stopgap at second base. He's a career .287 hitter who would provide the Rockies with a much-needed threat on the bases. He stole 71 bases from 2007-09 and is on pace for 26 this year.

Theriot lost in arbitration to the Cubs last winter, settling for $2.6 million instead of the $3.4 million he requested. He could be in line to make $4 million-plus next season.

(Regular Colorado 2B Clint) Barmes is in a similar situation. His future as the Rockies' second baseman is cloudy because he's arbitration eligible. He's making $3.35 million this season and could jump to about $5 million next year.

Neither Theriot or Barmes is a world-beater at the plate. Theriot is currently hitting .281/.318/.385, and Barmes is at .249/.315/.385. Remarkably, the two players have the same, sad lifetime OPS—712, though Barmes has had the advantage of playing in Denver's hitter-friendly altitude.

(Had to laugh at the reference to Theriot as "a much-needed threat on the bases." Anyone who has watched the damage he has done on the bases to the Cubs would have to ask, "Threat to whom?")

 

Tags
Cubs Trade Rumors
Ryan Theriot

Comments

Submitted by Cubnut on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:12 am

Carlos Marmol featured in John Dewan's "Stat of the Week." http://actasports.com/sows.php "The thing about Carlos Marmol is that he is basically unhittable. The batting averages against him since 2007 are incredibly paltry, .169 in 2007, .135 in ‘08, .170 in 2009 and .148 this year. The only way to beat him is to hope that he is wild."

Submitted by Jace on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:30 am

From what I have seen of Barmes here in Denver, I would say that he is the superior fielder, and is fairly versatile, playing 2b, SS, and even 3rd. Nonetheless, this is hardly a big impact deal, and is quite a bit like shuffling deck chairs...

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:01 am

Is Howie Kendrick really available? And what's the problem with his bat this year? I'd probably rather see him batting 8th than Theriot, especially if the money is the same or better.

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:06 am

So Soto is sitting again today, so word is that Lou is also sitting Lee (Baker at 1st) and Byrd. Because if the lineup is weakened, why not weaken it even more. Off-day tomorrow, so Lou is giving these guys two days rest I guess. Not that any of this matters anymore.

Submitted by Ryno on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:06 pm

Cubs relievers rank #5 in all of baseball in number of losses: 19 of the 55 losses. (And 24th in number of wins!) This might sound dumb, but I think the Cubs messed up not getting Matt Capps.

Submitted by Cubnut on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:43 pm

Today's lineups... Cubs vs. Bud Norris Theriot 2B, Castro SS, Colvin CF, Ramirez 3B, Nady LF, Fukudome RF, Baker 1B, Hill C, Wells P Astros vs. Randy Wells Bourn CF, Sanchez SS, Berkman 1B, Pence RF, Lee LF, Johnson 3B, Castro C, Hernandez 2B, Norris P When a lawyer concedes a point in court so that it doesn't have to be discussed, I believe it's called stipulating. I think the Cubs should stipulate that they won't get a hit from the 5th spot in the order on down.

Submitted by dB on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:49 pm

to waiving his NTC to any team according to WMVP. Apparently Hendry took an offer from the Angels to Lee and he nixed it.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:58 pm

"Anyone who has watched the damage he has done on the bases to the Cubs" etc. I am more interested in the damage done by players who don't go from first to third or from second to home on singles. If Soto (and I only mention him because he's the slowest Cub) gets one of his vaunted walks, how many singles behind him does it take to get him home? Two, maybe three? A fast runner, leading off with a walk or a single, will often score on just one more hit. Those are numbers you never see. I see a lot of lumbering pachyderms running the bases for the Cubs, while others focus on caught-stealings and caught-trying-to-take-an-extra-base. Starting with Soto, in order of increasing speed, I would put Nady, Lee, Hill, Ramirez, Fukudome, Baker, Soriano, Fontenot, Byrd, Theriot, Colvin/Castro.

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Submitted by Cubnut on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:07 pm

VirginiaPhil, As Rob said, Baseball Prospectus has a baserunning stat. It's called Equivalent Baserunning Runs, and it measures "the number of runs contributed by a player's advancement on the bases, above what would be expected" based on the number and quality of the player's baserunning opportunities. The Major League leaders in EqBRR are guys like Michael Bourn (9.4 EqBRR), Carl Crawford (6.1), and Chone Figgins (5.0). The Cubs' leader is Alfonso Soriano (2.7). Here are the numbers for the other Cubs position players: Hill, 1.0 Byrd, 0.9 Nady, 0.9 Baker, 0.2 Castro, 0.0 Colvin, -0.3 Theriot, -0.6 Soto, -1.7 Lee, -1.8 Fontenot, -2.3 Ramirez, -2.8 Fukudome, -3.8 Overall, quite an unimpressive group, in which Theriot sits pretty much in the middle. As a team, the Cubs rank 14th in the NL with -8.8 EqBRR. Only Arizona and Washington are worse.

Submitted by MikeC on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:28 pm

If it was any other person he would be a selfish prick.... Cubs general manager Jim Hendry confirmed to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com that Derrek Lee will not accept a trade. According to Levine, the Rangers and Angels have made offers for Lee over the past 10 days, however Lee wants to remain with the Cubs for the remainder of the season. Lee, 34, is in the final year of a five-year contract. Lee is a great guy, class act, and got his NTC and is using it. But in the best interests of the team......he is fucking us over. I don't know if i said it hear when Zambrano layed into Lee, but if Lee is your clubhouse leader it is kinda like having sleepy smurf as your leader. Great guy, but a leader he is not. Mark Grace still takes crap for not being vocal enough for the Cubs getting better talent. Lee isn't a Cub after this year, we aren't a very good team and he has a shot at playing for the post season and maybe a title and what does he do? He sits on his hands and stays put. You can call it loyalty or you can call it being lazy. Its one thing if he is in the middle of a multi-year deal but he is gone from Chicago after this year no matter what anyways. So what if his departure is a few months early. His last good act as a Cub would be to help us get something of value in return for his eventual departure and give him a shot at the playoffs and a ring. Now he just looks like a guy going through the motions and is only a "paycheck" player. Uhhh thanks Lee, good to know your not motivated enough to play winning baseball anymore. You sure do play like it lately.

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Submitted by WISCGRAD on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:36 am

Yeah, the Cubs would have to still pay him, so it doesn't save any money, and it's not like him being off the roster frees up a spot to give two months of playing time to a hot young first base prospect. All it would do is make the organization look bad. The best case scenario would be for Lee to announce he was retiring at the end of the year and wanted to go out a Cub. He would then go from villain to hero in a matter of minutes and would get standing ovations at Wrigley from here on out.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:29 pm

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 3:03pm. Since the Cubs don't have a first-base prospect in the high minors who is better than Hoffpauir--a hitter I still like but one who will never have a season as good as Lee's last year--I don't see what the problem is with Lee staying. He'll probably sign a contract that's favorable to the Cubs, for the same reasons that he's declining a trade today. I've done a big U-turn on Lee over the past 18 months, I know. ====================================== VA PHIL: Although he is not presently playing 1B, Tyler Colvin will be the Cubs #1 1B prospect post-2010, and Geovany Soto will be #1-A whenever Welington Castillo is deemed ready to move up from AAA.

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Submitted by Charlie on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:26 pm

Tyler Colvin playing mostly 1B for one year wouldn't be a big deal. If the Cubs plan on him being the first baseman over the next 2+, though, it seems like a waste of the guy's abilities. It only makes sense for next year if they can't get rid of either Fukudome or Byrd. In 2012 the Cubs will be free from Fukudome, and will have, what, 1 or 2 years left of Byrd, who might be tradeable at that point. I know we talk a lot about Jackson taking over in CF at that point--and that would be great--but we've seen other young guys struggle. Colvin could play CF in that case. If Jackson is ready, the Cubs could try to deal Byrd if anyone is interested and make room for Colvin in RF. I don't think Byrd is as great in CF as Len and Bob make him out to be. Colvin at 1B for a year beats Hoffpauir by a long shot at this point--and I'm not that psyched about Dunn, who I don't think the Cubs will spend on anyway.

Submitted by Jace on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:55 pm

Any chance we might get a manager in here who understands that, when you take multiple starters out of the lineup all on the same day, you are effectively saying "I don't really give a rat's ass about this game." I think that, over the course of Lou's tenure here, this has been a recurring problem. All the games count the same. Throwing games away is not something the manager should be doing, even if it is on getaway day, and it interferes with his sleep schedule...

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:05 pm

Howry stats for July (per Muskat): 12 Earned Runs over 8 2/3 IP, 19 Hits, 3 BB. Now that's solid. I remember a Howry pre-game interview with Judd Sirott saying that he just wanted to finish strong (but implied he would probably be retiring after the season). Jim Hendry, willing to hire the near dead (or sign them to contracts that extend into the afterlife). P.S. Astro's 8-1 final means the Stroh's have won all 4 series vs Cubs. Bob Brenly: The pace of the game was dreadfully slow. (translation: the Cubs are boring the hell out of me, can I go watch Michael in Daytona again?)

Submitted by TJ on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:46 pm

"When Wellington Castillo is ready to move up from AAA". I say move him up now. Hill is totally useless, let's DFA him and give Castillo a little look - see. Certainly next year, they should have Castillo as their back-up catcher. Not only would he save money, but he could at least offer some pinch hitting option. I don't get the strategy of keeping your starting cathcer in the game because you don't want to left with no catcher. I say go all out to win the game. If a back-up catcher is a vaible option to pinch hit (which HIll isn't) or your starting catcher sucks (which Hill does) aren't you worse off losing the game than preserving a catcher on the bench at the end? There was a game last week in which Hill was starting and he came up with the game on the line and crapped out. I was shouting for Soto to pinch hit for him. The game went into extra innings and Lou finally pinch hit Soto for Hill. Soto did not get a hit, but he did hit a two run homer later that brought them within one run.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:41 pm

Submitted by Charlie on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 6:28pm. That would be interesting. Would that result in Castillo starting more games than a typical backup would? ================================ CHARLIE: I think it would be good to be able to play Tyler Colvin at both 1B and in the outfield in 2011, to be able to play Geovany Soto at catcher but also be able to move him to 1B a couple of times a week, and then play W. Castillo at catcher two or three times a week. You do not have to have an "everyday" player at any position. Players should be able to move around and play various positions as needed. What kind of bugged me recently about Piniella is that when he had Theriot and Fontenot in the same game at same time, he kept Theriot at 2B and played Fontenot at SS, because (apparently) Theriot is the "everyday" 2B now and Fonteniot is the "utility" guy. But really Theriot should have been moved over to SS and Fontenot should have played 2B. Perhaps with a different manager the Cubs will learn to take advantage of the versatility of some of the players on the roster, and not feel that a player has to stay at one position (and only that position) just because he is supposed to be the "regular" or "everyday" player at that position. Colvin can (and should) play 1B-LF-CF-RF in 2011, and Soto can (and should) play C-1B.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:50 pm

There were several roster moves involving Cubs minor leaguers today... C-IF-OF Jonathan Mota was promoted to AA Tennessee from Peoria, taking the roster spot of 3B Josh Vitters (out for the year with a broken hand). 2010 5th round pick Matt Szczur (who will be returning to Villanova next month to play football) and INF George Matheus were moved up to Peoria from Boise, RHRP Jordan Latham was demoted to Boise from Peoria, and 2009 10th round pick 3B Charles Thomas was sent down to AZL Cubs from Peoria, probably to be converted to a RHP. And 1B Ryan Cuneo (the AZL Cubs best hitter), INF Dustin Harrington, and RHRP Eric Rice were moved up to Boise from AZL Cubs, while LHP Marcos Perez, RHP (ex-C) Alvaro Sosa, and 2009 5th round pick INF Wes Darvill were sent down to the AZL Cubs from Boise.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:08 am

Submitted by Jumbo on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 3:33am. I saw a Peoria game earlier this year and it was hard to not notice Charles Thomas. The guy is built like a brick shithouse. Judging on his size, I would expect him to throw about 110. Do you know anything about him as a pitcher or does he just have a good arm? ================================================== JUMBO: Charles Thomas was a 3B/RHRP at Edward Waters College and supposedly threw in the mid-90's as a closer, so the transition from position player to pitcher shouldn't be as tough as it might be for a player without a pitching background. Whether Thomas can develop other pitches and throw strikes consistently is the big question.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:09 pm

Likely Cubs roster moves before their next game, whether they make a trade or not... Carlos Zambrano will be reinstated from the Resrticted List and will rejoin the Cubs, Jeff Gray will be recalled from Iowa, Brian Schlitter will get optioned to Iowa, and Bob Howry will be released.

Submitted by The Joe on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:34 pm

Lilly for Happ? AOL Fanhouse, Via Rotoworld "Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse hears that a deal that would send Ted Lilly to the Phillies and J.A. Happ to the Cubs may be in the works."

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Submitted by The Joe on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:01 pm

Ok, that is lame-tarded. I don't really understand the uprooting thing. It's two months! I'll be moving nearly a month before my wife and daughter arrive AND I'm not making millions of dollars to do it.

Submitted by navigator on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 07:16 pm

•The Cubs have indicated a recent willingness to assume some of the $4.43MM owed to Lilly, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.
Good fucking grief. Just keep him.

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Submitted by WISCGRAD on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:32 am

Not real surprising. The teams that suck this year have seen their ratings go down, the teams that are doing well, have seen theirs go up. Those statistics are extremely volatile from year to year, as evidenced by many teams going up or down 40, 50, 60, and even 140% (Nationals). I personally think it would make more sense to calculate the change from some sort of average baseline statistics, say the last 5 year average, rather than just the year before.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:13 pm

It's entirely possible that Derrek Lee might choose to waive his NTC and get moved in a waiver deal during the month of August. As it turned out, D-Lee might have made an astute move by declining a trade to the Angels, since it looks like the Angels may have fallen out of the race in the A. L. West and might be ready to become sellers themselves right now. By waiting to waive his NTC until next month, it should be more clear to D-Lee which clubs are definite contenders and which are just pretenders. So even though Lee says he wants to remain with the Cubs through to the end of the season, it doesn't mean he won't change his mind before 8/31 and agree to go to a team with a batter chance of making the post-season than was the case with the Angels. The Cubs could wait until next month to trade Ted Lilly, too. For guys making the kind of money that Lilly is making, a club would have to think twice before making a "blocking" waiver claim, since the Cubs could just let Lilly go for the waiver price, with the claiming team on the hook for the balance of Lilly's 2010 salary.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:34 pm

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 1:08pm. Hmm. But I would think that other teams would hesitate to get involved in time-consuming trade talks for a player who already declined to waive his NTC and isn't even having a decent year ========================================== CHARLIE: Not necessarily. It could be that Hendry already knows that Derrek Lee might be inclined to change his mind, and that it would just be a matter of approaching D-Lee whenever an offer comes forth to see if he's interested in going to that team. If he does express interest and agress to waive his NTC to go to that club, only then would the Cubs would put him on Trade Waivers. If he gets claimed by a club other than the one to which he has agreed to go, the waivers would have to be withdrawn and he would remain with the Cubs through to the end of the season. That's the one problem with trying to make trades in August. As to whether any contending club would be interested in acquiring D-Lee, the Angels were, and as things get closer to the 8/31 post-season roster deadline, clubs begin to think about solidifying their roster for possible matchups in the LDS, LCS, and WS, and a veteran RH bat like Lee's might become more attractive as things get further along into August. Also, a contender could lose its starting 1B to injury sometime before 8/31, and then suddenly a Derrek Lee would become very attractive. As a result, I do think there is a pretty good chance that Derrek Lee will get traded prior to the 8/31 post-season roster deadline. Whether the Cubs will get a minor league player or two back for him, or whether they will just jettison his salary, would have TBD.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:59 pm

I think the problem Derrek Lee will have post-2010, is the same thing that happened to Frank Thomas, Jermaine Dye, et al. And that is, he will be looking for a contract that just isn't there. So he will end up remaining unsigned through the post-season, into Spring Training, and then into the regular season, and before you know it, he has missed the entire 2011 season. And then he will realize that he has retired, not because he wants to retire, or because he wanted to "retire as a Cub," but just because he doesn't get the kind of offer for the kind of money he's used to getting, and in effect he will retire, but not intentionally. I suspect the only way D-Lee will be playing in 2011 is if he's willing to sign a deal for a low base salary plus incentives, and I don't know if his pride would allow him to do that.

Submitted by joshb on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:39 pm

strasburg to the dl. that was mighty quick. sure he says his arm already feels much better. But anyone trying to throw the ball thru the catcher is gonna have issues IMO. someone on espn boards commented well on it. the kid needs to learn how to pitch. don't need to throw 100 to be great. hit the low 90s with location and he could have a great career.

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Submitted by Paul Noce on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:58 pm

Astros trade 19 year old CF Gose (just picked up from Phillies in Oswalt trade) to the Blue Jays for 1b/dh/man without a position Brett Wallace. I'm not sure why the Jays would make that move. Gose is years away from being MLB ready while Wallace is ready now, and Gose doesn't project to have a ton of power, just speed and defense. (edit, well, Gose has been hitting a ton of triples, 11 already. As he matures and puts on muscle his hr totals should go way up). Still an odd trade though since Toronto was supposedly so high on Wallace. I would think that Wallace becomes Berkman's successor next year at 1b and they do not pick up Berkman's option (which wasn't expected anyway since it's $15 million, I think).

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:59 pm

Via Rotoworld: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that right-hander Wynn Pelzer has been dealt to the Orioles in exchange for infielder Miguel Tejada. Pelzer turned 24 years of age one month ago and has posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over 94 1/3 innings this season at Double-A San Antonio. He's had control problems throughout his minor league career and can barely be considered a prospect. This was a salary dump for the O's, basically.

Submitted by jacos on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 07:16 pm

............./´¯/)........... (\¯`\ ............/....//........... ...\\....\ .........../....//............ ....\\....\ ...../´¯/..../´¯\.........../¯ `\....\¯`\ .././.../..../..../.|_......_| .\....\....\...\.\.. (.(....(....(..../.)..)..(..(. \....)....)....).) .\................\/.../....\. ..\/................/ ..\................. /........\................../ ...\..............(.......... ..)............../ ......\.............\......... ../............./ just thought it was cool

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

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