Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
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

The Current NL Central Lineups

Submitted by Rob G. on

I'm using the MLB depth charts, the Bill James projections for wOBA on Fangraphs and their 2012 playing age along with a few assumptions like Dusty isn't going to play Devin Mesoraco or Chris Heisey over veterans. Let's see how the NL Central offenses stack up. Obviously the actual order of lineups and players may vary, and there's no accounting for expected playing time due to injuries or sucktitude.

Cardinals:
Furcal(.324), Beltran(.367), Holliday(.394), Berkman(.380), Freese(.353), Molina(.320), Jay(.328), Schumaker(.309)

Average wOBA: .347
Age: 31.75

Brewers:
Morgan(.311), Weeks(.348), Braun(.411), Hart(.355), Ramirez(.362), Gamel(.357), Lucroy(.319), A. Gonzalez(.285)

Average wOBA: .344
Age: 29.375

Reds:
Stubbs(.331), Phillips(.332), Votto(.408), Rolen(.334), Bruce(.363), Ludwick(.323), Hanigan(.324), Cozart (.315)

Average wOBA: .341
Age: 29.75

Cubs:
DeJesus(.324), Castro(.346), LaHair(.352), Soriano(.331), Stewart(.329), Soto(.344), Byrd(.319), Barney (.294)

Average wOBA: .330
Age: 29.375

Pirates:
Presley(.345), Tabata(.328), Walker(.329), McCutchen(.360), Alvarez(.333), G. Jones(.338), Barajas(.288), Barmes(.300)

Average wOBA: .328
Age: 28.125

Astros:
Lowrie(.341), Altuve(.321), Martinez(.353), C. Lee(.339), Bogusevic(.325), Paredes(.292), Schafer(.288), J. Castro (.287)

Average wOBA: .318
Age: 26.375

The Cardinals are of course going to have to stay healthy to keep up the offense and that's no small task with Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday and Rafael Furcal on the roster. I'm sure the Cubs are hoping to get a little bit more from David DeJesus and Ian Stewart than their current projections, but doesn't mean it will happen.  If and when the Cubs replace Byrd and LaHair with Anthony Rizzo(.318) and Brett Jackson(.342), their average age would go down to 27.125, as would the projected wOBA, albeit slightly to .329 (Rizzo gets no love in the Bill James projections for whatever reason). Another fun exercise for the Cubs is to replace LaHair, DeJesus and Stewart with Prince Fielder, Beltran and Aramis Ramirez because why the hell not? this is all just for fun. In that case, the average wOBA goes up to .345 while also likely hurting the Brewers and Cardinals a bit. Of course, that also has the potential to bring the average DOTDL up to potentially astronomical levels (Dollars on The Disabled List) along with the problem of justifying the $50M or so to pay them for just this year.

I'll see if I can do something similar with the projected pitching staffs in the very near future.

Tags
NL Central
2012 Projections

Comments

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:49 am

with Tigers out of the Cespedes talks most likely, it would appear that Cubs and Marlins are ahead of the pack. I'd have to think Marlins are far more willing to give out stupid money at this point though, especially if they think Cespedes is someone they can market around.

Submitted by superjimmer on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:52 am

Here is a wish that I think makes sense: Garza (and cash and/or another player) To Cleveland for: Dillon Howard RHP Jake Sisco RHP Luigi Rodriguez OF The thinking is Cleveland needs to answer Detroit move, and while their minor league system is not well ranked they do have some raw talent at the lowest levels. So they get Garza for a few years, and then their A/AA guys will be ready when they are ready to reload. Cubs get a few more pieces for the future to gamble on...

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:53 am

some links for those interested in him, expected cost is $20M range and likely bidding won't start until after the season starts. http://orioles-nation.com/2011/12/12/talent-from-cuba-jorge-soler/ Looking at Jorge Solver’s age and physical frame makes you think you just caught lighting in a bottle. His frame and projection is still massively untapped and he could be a 230 pound masher in his prime; it is that type of lower foundation and torque that makes every scout think he will be better than Leonys Martin, who was signed by the Rangers last year. He shows every tool that you covet and then some for an up the middle prospect. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2010/11/cuban-defector-sh… Soler, the 18U team's right fielder, has a strapping 6-foot-3, 205-pound body, is 18 and has five-tool potential. The best running time scouts got for Balaguer was 4.4 seconds to first base; Soler, also a right-handed hitter, checked in at 4.26. Soler has bat speed and what one scout called "explosive power" to go with above-average arm strength. http://www.snywhyguys.com/2011/12/25/scouting-jorge-soler/ Soler is four years younger and more talented than Leonys Martin, another Cuban outfielder who signed a $15.6 million major league contract with the Rangers in April. Once Soler is cleared to sign with a major league team, he’s expected to top Martin’s deal. The new CBA provides for a $2.9 million international cap for each team for the 2012-13 signing period, which doesn’t start until July 2. As long as Soler signs before then, he won’t be subject to the cap. And even if he were, he’s talented enough and the penalties for busting the cap are so light (a 100-percent tax on the overage and a prohibition on signing any international player for more than $250,000 in the next signing period) that I bet several clubs would be willing to exceed the $2.9 million.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:39 am

i really wanted to like Baseball IQ, but it's pretty bland/dry. these guys are some legit/hardcore baseball nerds, though. it's delivering what it promised and you can learn + jog your memory about a lot. matt vag is good for keeping guys loose, but almost all the contestants lack personality.

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Submitted by navigator on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:21 am

Some great reporting by the affirmative action Trib reporter... //The Schlenker bid of $4.8 million was named the preferred bidder prior to Friday's auction, meaning other bidders would have to top the price.// Subsequent bidders would have to bid more to win. Who knew? .. Actually, with a preferred bidder designation someone would have had to outbid Schlenker by 5% to win the bid and no doubt they were hoping the Ricketts would do just that.

Submitted by Jace on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:38 am

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/ The way this article is written, you would think that Samninja was one of the Cubs' best pitchers. This came as a pretty big shock to me. I must not have been paying attention last year, but in the past he has always been infuriatingly wild... What is everyone else's take on him? When i looked up his career stats, I pulled up an article saying the Cubs had declined his option for 2012... What is his contract status?

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Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:11 pm

Samardzija signed a major league contract right after being drafted that had him signed through 2011 with options for 2012 and 2013. The Cubs declined his options, but he still hasn't reached 6 years of service time, so he's still property of the Cubs. A matter of fact, he hasn't even reached arbitration eligibility, so for one season he's still an auto-renewal player which means Cubs can pay him essentially whatever they want over the league minimum. Most players get called up and they are auto-renewal players for the first 3 years and then arb eligible the next 3 years and then free agents. Samardzija signed the somewhat unique major league deal, so his first few years were covered by that contract. The Cubs wisely declined his option this season because he hadn't reached 3 years of service time and hasn't been as good as they wanted, so he's now like any other player with 2+ years of service time although he is out of option years already.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:26 pm

pretty much... had he reached 3 years or more of service time by the end of 2011 and been a little better, then picking up the option would have made some sense for the Cubs, but the way things worked out, it was a no-brainer to decline it. Bad thing is he's out of option years though, so he has to stick with the club or be outrighted and then exposed to waivers.

Submitted by DavidP on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:56 am

Samardzija came on strong last year as the season wore on. Towards the end, he looked like the pitcher the Cubs had hoped for a couple of years ago. I believe that is the reason why the Cubs felt comfortable in trading Cashner. Whether he can do it as a starter, however, is still up in the air.

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:21 pm

that raised their stock with fall/winter league performances http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15896 LaHair has gone from a Quad-A hitter to one scouts believe in. He was one of the best hitters in the minors in 2011 with a .331/.405/.664 line for Triple-A Iowa, and he was impressive enough in an end-of-season stint with the Cubs that he's been handed the first-base job, even after the acquisition of Anthony Rizzo. Though things are finally lining up for LaHair, he played in Venezuela this winter and dominated the league; he hit 15 home runs in 169 at-bats and drew nine intentional walks. Just as importantly, he spent some time in left field, hoping to prove that when Rizzo is ready, he'll be able to move, as opposed to just fade away.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 01:57 pm

his career has been long over besides minors filler these days, but... "Daryle Ward was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for amphetamines."

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 01:44 am

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chicago/chat/_/id/42232 - says Cubs will go after Cespedes and Soler (guess Cespedes makes sense with lack of FA hitters available next offseason and him or Jackson can move to a corner, probably Cespedes. Soler's a few years away). - completely forgets that Volstad is part of the rotation mix, corrects it - thinks either Garza gets an extension or he's traded between now and July 31st. - suggests Hoyer/McLeod talked a reluctant Epstein in trading Cashner for Rizzo

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 01:01 am

ken caminiti aint got shit on this dude... "Dustin Richardson has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for five different PEDs. A former fifth-round draft pick, Richardson was released by the Braves earlier this winter after struggling to rein in his control issues last season at the Triple-A level. The 28-year-old could struggle to find a new opportunity."

Submitted by Sweet Lou on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 01:00 am

According to MLB Trade Rumors:
"Free agent Raul Ibanez believes that a three-day session that he had in December with Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo will be key to a bounce back season in 2012. Last season, Ibanez hit .245/.289/.419 in 575 plate appearances for the Phillies."
Rudy hasn't had much of an impact on the Cubs (the teams that pays his salary), but he is apparently helping players that will be playing against them. Doesn't seem right, does it?

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 01:06 pm

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/42270/mlb-insider-keith-law Re: Rizzo I think the idea that he had "holes exposed" (try taking that phrase out of context) as a 21-year-old in the big leagues is pretty damn silly. Re: B. Jackson Well, yeah, it does. If he can't maintain a high enough contact rate against better-quality pitching, the OBP won't hold up. Re: Soler and if Cespedes is worth over $50M I'd be in on both, since they're the last truly free international free agents we'll have until eventually baseball realizes they've shot themselves in the foot with the restrictions in the new CBA. Re: Backloading or frontloading contracts Teams prefer backloading because it keeps money free in the current year to add more players, and because they're essentially betting on salary inflation. Players prefer backloaded deals because the final year's salary affects potential arbitration cases.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 01:09 pm

Thu, 01/26/2012 - 2:11pm — Rob G. Re: The Current NL Central Lineups Manny Corpas is your 40-man casualty... outrighted and will now be an NRI to spring training. ======================= ROB G: Per Article XX-D of the CBA, Manny Corpas now has eight days to decide whether to accept the Outright Assignment or elect free-agency. (Players who have accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time and/or been outrighted previously in their career can refuse an Outright Assignment, and Corpas has accrued 4+076 MLB ST through the 2011 season). If he elects free-agency, he can choose to become a free-agent immediately, or he can defer free-agency until the end of the MLB regular season. If he elects to become a free-agent immediately, his contract is terminated and he receives no termination pay. If he defers free-agency until the end of the MLB regular season, his contract remains in force and he is paid at the minor league split rate while on Outright Assignment. Also, he would not have the right to be an Article XX-D minor league free-agent post-2012 if he is added to an MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season. The fact that he was not claimed off Outright Waivers makes it pretty obvious that none of the other 29 MLB clubs wanted Corpas if it meant having to add him to their 40-man roster (at least for the salary he's getting from the Cubs), and it is likewise questionable whether he could hope to get the money he's getting from the Cubs if he were to elect free-agency now and sign a minor league contract with another club. So Corpas will very likely accept the Outright Assignment and defer free-agency until the conclusion of the MLB regular season (presuming he has not been added to an MLB 40-man roster by that time). BTW, if the Cubs bring Corpas up from the minors and add him back to their MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) at least 20 days after MLB Opening Day, he burns a minor league option (he has two left), even though he was outrighted--not optioned--to Iowa today. However, if the Cubs bring him up from the minors and add him to their MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the 20th day of the MLB regular season (like if he makes the Cubs 25-man roster out of Spring Training), an option is not charged.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 01:24 pm

Leyland says Miguel Cabrera will indeed move to 3B...Tigers pitchers must be thrilled. Fielder, Cabrera and not like Peralta is all that great. Dear god, stay away from Rick Porcello in your fantasy drafts.

Submitted by jacos on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:56 am

MLB MLB BREAKING: @Phillies sign OF Juan Pierre to Minor League contract with invitation to Spring Training. I betting he doesn't play in MLB next year.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:36 pm

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 11:48am — Jace Bobby Scales is BACK! =============================== JACE: Bobby Scales will probably be a player-coach at Iowa in 2012, coaching 1st base, and getting temporarilily activated whenever they need a body. Meanwhile, Scales will learn the ropes of managing and instruction under the I-Cubs' veteran minor league manager (and ex- Cubs Minor League Field Coordinator) Dave Bialas. The Cubs have done this many times before. Just for example, Casey Kopitzke, Mark Johnson, Jason Dubois, Franklin Font, and Leo Perez were all player-coaches in the Cubs organization before getting full-time gigs as minor league coaches or managers. Besides Bobby Scales, other candidates for minor league player-coach next season would include Blake Lalli, David Macias, Carlos Figueroa, and Mario Mercedes.

Submitted by jacos on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:18 pm

David Cameron tweet- In 1982, Bob Stanley faced 694 batters in relief. In 2011, Jeff Samardzija led all relievers with 380 batters faced.

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:21 pm

Ruzz Canzler DFA'd by Rays to make room for Keppinger. just a tsunami of ex-Cubs news today....

Submitted by jacos on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:53 pm

Well... mikewickett michael wickett tweet- Corey Hart: "You lose more in the clubhouse with craig counsell leaving than Prince". #brewers

Submitted by navigator on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:04 pm

Hey, Anybody get their swing analyzed by Rudy Jaramillo for $150. http://www.rudyjaramillo.com/5452.html And then what to make ? of this tidbit from C. Muskat's column on Josh Vitters... //Stewart has gotten a head start. He attended a mini-camp with Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo in early January in Mesa and the reports were good.//

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:51 pm

b.selig at "Sox Fest 2012" (wsox) asked about the theo-compensation issue...reply "..it's in my lap." no idea how long this will drag on.

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Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:52 pm

Lame. Vitters comes across as a woe-is-me, huge chip-on-the-shoulder kid. A call-up "isn't up to me, it's the front office's call" etc...how about you hit better than a 800 OPS in the minors in your SIXTH professional season and maybe someone will take you serious? Cripes, the Cubs are real men of genius when it comes to having that #3 overall pick, aren't they? Patterson, Montanez, Vitters. Awesome.

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 01:04 pm

lulz...MLBInsideNews "Scott Swaim" closed his account minutes/hours after prince fielder was signed. at least that's over.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 01/28/2012 - 01:57 am

fwiw, matt garza was at the bulls game on the 25th. wonder what he's in town for (besides a basketball game)...or if he lives here now in the offseason. he's got 3 kids and at least 1 is school age, maybe 2. he wasn't good at condoms in highschool...supposedly a good family dude, though. whatever, rock on.

Submitted by John Beasley on Sun, 01/29/2012 - 01:36 pm

will be making a calculated gamble that Cubs fans are slightly less whiny than Red Sox fans.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 01/29/2012 - 01:40 pm

"Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Cardinals are "actively shopping" right-hander Kyle McClellan." i still think it's an error on STL's part not having him as a starter. maybe someone will "fix" that issue. cubs not rumored in the mix, fwiw.

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

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