Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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


28 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST, plus seven are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two are on the 10-DAY IL, and three are on the 15-DAY IL


Last updated 9-22-20239
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 14
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 6
Nico Hoerner
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom
* Jared Young

OUTFIELDERS: 6
* Cody Bellinger
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

OPTIONED: 7
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Ben Brown, P  
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P
Caleb Kilian, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Michael Rucker, P

10-DAY IL: 2
Jeimer Candelario, 1B
Nick Madrigal, INF

15-DAY IL: 3
Adbert Alzolay, P
Brad Boxberger, P 
Michael Fulmer, P 

60-DAY IL: 4
Nick Burdi, P
Codi Heuer, P
* Brandon Hughes, P
Ethan Roberts, P
 

Minor League Rosters

Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Bogaerts Knows How to Whistle, Blows Out Three-Run Blast at Fitch Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 05:34 pm

Jair Bogaerts crushed a 420-ft HR over the CF fence to cap a four-run 5th inning and James Pugliese (four innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts) and three relievers combined to throw a three-hit shutout, as one squad of Cubs blanked one squad of Giants 4-0 on Field #2, and Javier Baez and Jeimer Candelario each doubled and drove-in two runs, Dong-Yub Kim doubled and tripled and scored two runs, Brian Inoa doubled and tripled and knocked-in two runs, and Wilson Contreras belted a solo HR, but Stephen Yarrow blasted a solo home run and Hector Mercedes hammered a three-run shot to propel the other squad of Giants to victory over the other squad of Cubs by a score of 11-9 on Field #3, in a Memorial Day Weekend Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader extravaganza played this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

Both games were seven-inning affairs.

Jair Bogaerts was the PTBNL in (what turned-out to be) the rather convoluted Theo Epstein compensation trade that saw the Cubs send RHRPs Chris Carpenter and Aaron Kurcz to the BoSox, and is the brother of Boston's #2 rated prospect, SS Xander Bogaerts. But unlike his brother, Jair is a big dude (6'2 240+) who could be Rock Shoulders' twin brother, a lumbering corner INF who has played mostly 3B (and none too well, either) since joining the Cubs, while hitting 189/302/243 with only two XBH (both doubles) and just one RBI through 17 EXST games (43 PA) coming into today's action.

Meanwhile over on Fitch Park Field #1, five Cub pitchers (Bryce Shafer, Amaury Paulino, Roderik Pichardo, Loiger Padron, and Ramon Garcia) threw an early-morning four-inning “sim” game prior to the EXST twin-bill.

In EXST Cubs roster news, RHP Felix Pena and OF Yasiel Balaguert have been promoted to Peoria, and RHP Rob Whitenack (June 2011 TJS rehab) has been moved-up to Daytona.

Cubs VP of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita has been at Fitch Park all week, getting a first-hand look at the Cubs Extended Spring Training squad, so it probably didn’t hurt Balaguert’s cause that he went 5-7 with a HR and five RBI in EXST games this past Monday and Wednesday. He was hitting 338/384/492 in 23 EXST games (73 PA). Some of you may remember that the 19-year old Balaguert as one of two Cuban defectors signed by the Cubs last December 7th (RHP Carlos Martinez was the other one).

The solidly-built Balaguert has played mostly RF and LF at EXST (he has a decent arm but doesnt have the range to play CF), and shows occasional power but with a body & a swing that should produce home runs at a more substantial rate as he matures. He was a teammate of highly-regarded Cuban OF prospect Jorge Soler on the Cuban Junior National Team.

RHP Felix Pena put up a 5.68 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 6/11 BB/K in 19.0 IP (10 games) at Extended Spring Training prior to getting the call-up to Peoria.

Fleita also had a chance to watch Rob Whitenack throw “lights out” at Maryvale on Tuesday, when the right-hander tossed six innings of three hit ball at the Brewers, throwing 56 pitches (45 for strikes)

Here are the abridged box scores from the two EXST games played at Fitch Park today (Cubs players only):

FIELD #2

CUBS SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
1. Trey Martin, CF: 0-3 (5-3, F-8, K)
2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-3 (L-6, F-8, K)
3. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 0-3 (K, E-6, F-9, SB)
4. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 1-2 (1B, K, BB)
5. Xavier Batista, RF: 0-2 (BB, L-7, F-7)
6. Dan Vogelbach, DH #1: 0-1 (K, BB, BB, R)
7. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-3 (P-6, 1-3, 6-3)
8. Wilfredo Petit, C-DH: 1-3 (4-3, 2B, K, R, RBI).
9a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
9b. Justin Marra, C: 1-2 (1B, K, R, RBI)
10. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 1-3 (F-8, HR, F-9, R, 3 RBI)
11. Trevor Gretzky, DH #3: 1-1 (BB, 1B, SB, CS)

CUBS SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. James Pugliese: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 GIDP, 54 pitches (34 strikes), 4/3 GO/FO
2. Brian Smith: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 13 pitches (7 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
3. Ethan Elias: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 13 pitches (6 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
4. Pete Levitt: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 20 pitches (15 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 1:
1B Rock Shoulders - E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilfredo Petit: 0-1 CS

FIELD #3

CUBS SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 2-4 (3B, 1B, P-4, 4-3, 2 R, RBI)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 1-3 (6-3, BB, K+WP, 1B, 3 R, RBI, 2 SB)
3. Javier Baez, SS: 1-4 (5-3, F-9, 5-3, 2B, 2 RBI, SB)
4. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-3 (F-8, 2B, BB, K, 2 RBI)
5. Dustin Geiger, 1B: 1-4 (5-3, 5-3, 1B, P-6)
6. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, 4-3, CS)
7. Wilson Contreras, C: 1-3 (F-7, HR, K, R, RBI)
8. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 1-3 (2B, K, F-7, R)
9a. Neftali Rosario, DH #1: 0-0 (HBP)
9b. Dong-Yub Kim, PH-DH: 2-2 (2B, 3B, 2 R)
10a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
10b. Brian Inoa, DH #2: 2-2 (3B, 2B, 2 RBI)

CUBS SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Jose Arias: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 63 pitches (43 strikes), 5/1 GO/FO
2. David Henrie: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 25 pitches (20 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
3. Ryan Hartman: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 7 pitches (5 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
4. Carlos Martinez: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 23 pitches (14 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD “B” ERRORS: 2
1. SS Javier Baez - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)
2. P David Henrie - E-1 (errant throw on what should have a 1-6 FC allowed runner to reach 2nd base safely – eventually scored unearned run)

CUBS SQUAD “B” OUTFIELD DEFENSE:
CF Shawon Dunston Jr - runner thrown out 8-4-2 trying to score from 1st base on a double

ATTENDANCE: 24

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 70’s

Tags
EXST Cubs
Dong-Yub Kim
Cubs Extended Spring Training
Brian Inoa
Javier Baez
Jeimer Candelario
Yasiel Balaguert
Rob Whitenack
Wilson Contreras
Felix Pena
Jair Bogaets

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 05:38 pm

They weren’t Cactus League Extended Spring Training games so the stats don’t count, but the EXST Cubs did play a six-inning intra-squad game Thursday morning and a three-inning intra-squad game Friday morning at Fitch Park Field #3, mainly so that Ian Dickson and Hunter Ackerman could get stretched-out to near 60 pitches, and so that Rafael Diplan, Jin-Young Kim, Matt Spencer, and Luis Villalba could stay on-schedule out of the pen RHP Justin Berg (September 2011 TJS rehab) was scheduled to pitch on Thursday, but was scratched because of illness. All of the active EXST Cubs position players saw game-action in the game on Thursday, and three of them had a noteworthy day in the game. Another had a noteworthy performance on Friday. Javier Baez hammered an RBI triple and a solo HR, Rock Shoulders belted an opposite-field solo HR, and Carlos Penalver tripled and scored in his first AB and then drove-in a run with a 6-3 GO his second-time up in Thursday’s game, and Eduardo Gonzalez slugged a two-run home run and drove-in another run with a squeeze bunt in Friday’s game. And Dan Vogelbach walked in all four of his Plate Appearances over the two days, showing the patience at the plate he seemed to have lost over the past six weeks. 26-year old ex-OF Matt Spencer showed-off his lefty power-arm in Friday’s game, striking out five in just two innings of work. The 6’5 250+ Spencer is a formidable presence on the mound, and when he throws his 96-98 MPH heater and curve for strikes he is virtually unhittable (as he was on Friday). If Spencer can harness his command and throw strikes more consistently, he could advance quickly through the system as a lefty reliever. The southpaw is eligible to be a minor league FA post-2013, however, so the Cubs need to find-out ASAP if he has a legitimate future on the mound. The Cubs gave one-time Korean "bonus-baby" RHP Su-Min Jung another chance to pitch in the intra-squad contest on Friday, and he continues to struggle to command his fastball. In fact the only pitch he can throw for strikes is his curve ball, but you just can’t throw a curve on every pitch. Here are the box scores from the two intra-squad games: INTRA-SQUAD GAME - THURSDAY 5/24: SQUAD “A” LINEUP: 1. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 0-3 (K, F-7, 4-3) 2. Trey Martin, CF: 1-3 (3B, 6-3, 6-3) 3a. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-2 (P-5, 3-U) 3b. Justin Marra, PH: 0-1 (K) 4. Xavier Batista, LF: 0-2 (6-3, F-8) 5. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 1-2 (K, HR, R, RBI) 6. Wilson Contreras, C: 1-2 (5-3, 2B, R) 7. Eduardo Gonzalez, DH #1: 0-2 (K, F-7) 8. Carlos Penalver, SS: 1-2 (3B, 6-3, R, RBI) 9. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-1 (F-8 SF, L-4, RBI) 10. Garrett Schlecht, DH #2: 0-2 (3-1, K) SQUAD “B” LINEUP: 1. Shawon Dunston Jr, RF: 0-1 (BB, 4-3, R) 2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B-DH: 1-2 (1B, 4-3) 3. Javier Baez, SS: 2-2 (3B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI) 4. Yasiel Balaguert, CF: 1-2 (1B, P-5, RBI) 5. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 0-1 (BB, E-5, PO) 6. Dan Vogelbach, DH #1: 0-0 (BB, BB, SB) 7. Dong-Yub Kim: LF: 0-2 (K, 6-5 FC) 8a. Sergio Burruel, DH #2: 0-1 (4-3) 8b. Wilfredo Petit, PH: 0-1 (3-U) 9. Brian Inoa, DH-2B: 0-2 (4-3, F-7) 10. Neftali Rosario, C: 0-1 (K) 11. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 1-1 (1B) 12. Jair Bogaerts, DH #4: 0-1 (K) SQUAD “A” PITCHERS: 1. Hunter Ackerman: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 3 K, 1 PO, 55 pitches (31 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO NOTE: Ackerman’s first inning was stopped with one out (“ROLL IT!”) 2. Rafael Diplan: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 34 pitches (21 strikes), 4/2 GO/FO SQUAD “B” PITCHERS: 1. Ian Dickson: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 55 pitches (42 strikes), 5/4 GO/FO 2. Jin-Young Kim: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 26 pitches (15 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO NOTE: Kim’s second inning was extended an extra AB after third out was recorded (“STAY OUT THERE!”) SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 1 3B Jeimer Candelario – E-5 (two-base throwing error allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely) SQUAD “B” ERRORS: NONE SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE: Wilson Contreras: 0-1 CS SQUAD “A” OUTFIELD ASSISTS: CF Trey Martin - threw out batter 8-4 trying to stretch a single into a double INTRA-SQUAD GAME - FRIDAY 5/25 SQUAD “A” LINEUP: 1. Brian Inoa, DH-2B: 1-2 (1B, 3-1, SB, PO) 2. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 1-1 (1B, BB) 3. Gioskar Amaya, 2B-DH: 0-1 (BB, K, SB) 4. Javier Baez, SS: 0-2 (K, K) 5. Justin Marra, C: 0-0 (BB, R, SB) 6. Garrett Schlecht, RF: 1-1 (3B, RBI) 7. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 0-0 (BB) 8. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 0-1 (K) 9. Neftali Rosario, DH #2: 0-1 (K) 10. Kevin Encarnacion, CF: 0-1 (K) SQUAD “B” LINEUP: 1. Trey Martin, CF: 1-2 (P-3, 2B, RBI) 2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 1-2 (F-7, 1B) 3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-1 (BB, 1B, R) 4. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-2 (P-6, 1B, R) 5. Rock Shoulders, DH #1: 1-2 (P-6, 2B, R, RBI) 6. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 0-0 (BB, BB, 2 R) 7. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 1-1 (HR, SH-E1, R, 3 RBI) 8a. Jair Bogaerts, DH #2: 0-1 (K) 8b. Wilson Contreras, PH: 0-1 (E-3) 9. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-0 (HBP, R) 10. Wilfredo Petit, C: 1-1 (2B, R) SQUAD “A” PITCHERS: 1. Jorge Diaz: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 1 WP, 49 pitches (29 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO 2. Luis Villalba: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 BALK, 30 pitches (15 strikes) NOTE: Villalba’s second inning was stopped with no outs SQUAD “B” PITCHERS: 1. Su-Min Jung: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 31 pitches (14 strikes) 2. Matt Spencer: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 29 pitches (17 strikes) SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 2 1. P Luis Villabla – E-1 (throwing error on sacrifice bunt attempt allowed batter to reach base safely) 2. 1B Trevor Gretzky – E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) SQUAD “B” ERRORS: NONE SQUAD “B” CATCHERS DEFENSE Wilfredo Petit: 1-2 CS, 1 PO

Submitted by Mornington Crescent on Sun, 05/27/2012 - 05:18 am

I propose a contest predicting how the Cubs will lose their next game.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 05/27/2012 - 05:43 pm

Having seen Starlin Castro play SS, 2B, and 3B extensively at EXST, AZL CUBS, and AZ Instructs in 2008, absolutely no doubt his best position is 2B (he is actually an above-average defensive 2B). and if you ask them, you will find that the Cubs minor league infield instructors who have worked one-on-one with Castro will agree. That said, Castro CAN play SS (it's just that he's better at 2B), and there is no reason to move him at this time unless the Cubs want to switch Castro and Barney, but then Barney is the Cubs #1 SS until whenever Baez arrives. As for Javier Baez, reports that he would have to be moved to 3B just don't jibe with his play at SS at EXST. He does make too many careless errors because he plays too fast and tries to do too much, but he has the range and arm to play SS, and he also has the leadership & field command presence preferred in a SS (like a point guard in basketball). Baez is Derrick Rose. Castro is Carmelo Anthony. Pre-draft reports that Baez would have to move to 3B in pro ball are puzzling, because if they were both on the same team right now, Baez would push Castro to another position (not the other-way around). The player that Baez reminds me of (at a similar age) would be Alex Rodriguez, but without A-Rod's patience at the plate. Baez hates to take a walk, and he needs to work on learning to let pitches that are out of the strike-zone go by. Baez is high-strung and sometimes even combative, and he is hyper-aggressive at the plate, on the bases, and in the field, but his bat-speed and HR power are very rare, and he has the speed to steal 20-30 bases. Nobody worked harder in EXST pre-game (early morning) BP, infield, and base-running drills than Javier Baez. He pushes himself very hard and expects others around him to do the same. Baez also does not suffer fools or bad baseball easily, and he is the kind of player who will not accept losing. What really impressed me with Baez was how he handled his 0-20 slump (with ten K) after beginning the Cactus League EXST season hitting for the cycle versus the Angels and going 9-15 with three doubles, with triples, and three HR in his first 15 PA. His 0-20 (10-K) slump was caused by him trying to pull everything and pulling off the ball, and so other teams suckered him and made him look foolish with a steady diet of breaking balls. But then he made an adjustment and began to intentionally hit every pitch back through the box (sometimes nearly taking the pitcher's head-off in the process), cutting his power numbers down for a while. But it got him back on track, and he hit two gargantuan 420-ft+ home runs over the right-centerfield fence and onto Field #5 (the half-field infield) located north of the clubhouse at Fitch Park last week (with Oneri Fleita watching).

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 05/28/2012 - 05:37 am

Sun, 05/27/2012 - 9:58pm — George Altman Thanks, Phil. The reason for my comment of Castro at 2B and Baez at SS was I actually remembered you writing some time ago that Castro's natural position was 2B. My reasoning was if both remained with the Cubs by the time Baez was MLB-ready, he projected as a better SS than Castro. And, if Theo's crew was as astute at player development as their reputation, they would figure out Baez at SS and Castro at 2B. ================================ GEORGE A: I realize this projects a long way down the line and makes a lot of assumptions (and what happens when you assume?), but once the Soriano contract is off the books and the Cubs can concentrate on developing a lineup from within, here is what the Cubs position-players could look like in 2016: C: Welington Castillo 1B: Anthony Rizzo 2B: Starlin Castro 3B: Josh Vitters or Jeimer Candelario SS: Javier Baez LF: Brett Jackson, or Bryan LaHair, Josh Vitters, or Jeimer Candelario CF: Matt Szczur or Jae-Hoon Ha, or Brett Jackson RF: Junior Lake or Jae-Hoon Ha, or Brett Jackson BENCH: 4TH OF: Tony Campana, or B. Jackson, Ha, or Szczur (whichever one isn't a starter) 3B-1B-LF-RF: Vitters or Candelario (if not a starter), or Campana as "5th OF" UT INF: Darwin Barney, Arismendy Alcantara, Marco Hernandez, or Gioskar Amaya IF-OF: Junor Lake (if not RF), or Adrian Cardenas, Logan Watkins, Rubi Silva, or Zeke DeVoss C-1B: Steve Clevenger Obviously the Cubs could (and probably will) sign free-agents sometime over the next three or four years (including Cuban RF Jorge Soler) that would change all of this or at least kick it a year or two further down the line. Some of them will wash out (perhaps even some thought of now as "sure things") or get traded for pitching, and there could be a surprise or two who will suddenly and unexpectedly emerge as a prospect (like Geovany Soto did in 2007). I'm just projecting the players who are presently in the Cubs system and (AS OF NOW) where it appears they would fit-in IF (and that's a big "IF" folks) they all somehow were to make it to the big leagues (which is unlikely to happen).

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 05/28/2012 - 05:06 am

Sun, 05/27/2012 - 8:23pm — Raisin101 New Thus far, Lake has been racking up the errors at 3B. Obviously he's new to the position but if he struggles there and his strides on offense are real, he could work in RF (especially with that rifle of an arm). ======================================== RAISIN: Absolutely. If Lake hits well enough to be an everyday MLB player (or even a platoon player), it will almost certainly be in RF. Lake is not a good defensive player, but he has one of the best arms in baseball. As long as he keeps hitting (with power) and continues to make strides with his approach at the plate (i. e. takes walks and lays off pitches he can't hit), I would expect him to be moved to RF by next season, or possibly at Instructs post-2012.

Recent comments

  • crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:15 pm (view)

    ATL 1-5 hitters have 30+ homers...1 of those with 40 homers, and another with 53 homers.  they have a guy with 21 homers hitting 8th.

    good luck cubs.  mega-extra good luck wednesday taillon...and wesn + smyly out of the pen.

  • Childersb3 09/26/2023 - 09:27 am (view)

    Padres want to restructure while still competing, yet decrease payroll.
    Snell and Hader are FAs.
    Soto has one year left on deal.
    Our bullpen is in dire need of someone like Hader.
    Snell would cost a ton and maybe Steele's presence makes Snell unnecessary, yet you cannot have enough pitching (I'd like Yamamoto)
    But, we can put a deal together for Soto. We'd have to pony up the cash to keep him to make the trade worth it long term, but we can make a value deal for the Padres.

    Morel, Canario, Mervis, Vazquez, one MiLB SP (Sanders-Arias-Gray-maybe Ferris), and Stroman (or Hendricks)
    So, it's a six for one deal.
    The issue here is that five of these guys have to be on the Padres 40man roster. That might be too much for them. So maybe BJ Murray instead of Vazquez.
    Morel is blocked from a defensive position. So he's our DH. He'd be replaced by Soto.

    We'd still keep Alcantara and ONKC to replace Happ and Suzuki eventually.
    We'd still need to figure out 3B. Maybe bring back Candelario.
    I'd resign Belli for 1B or CF if PCA isn't "ready" in Spring Training.
    Wisdom can stay to help Soto with DH spots vs LH arms.

    You'd have LH bats at DH, 1B, 3B (switch), LF (switch), CF (PCA or Tauch) with 20 HR pop at DH, 1B, LF and 15 HR pop at 3B and CF.  That's pretty solid.
    It'll cost too much for the Ricketts to keep Bellinger and Soto but that would be fun to watch.

  • crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:48 am (view)

    missing the playoffs because of an on-paper tiebreaker loss would be peak cubbery.

  • Hagsag1946 09/26/2023 - 09:10 am (view)

    Thanks Phil. I look forward to these reports.

  • Mike Wellman 09/25/2023 - 09:24 pm (view)

    Playoffs essentially start tomorrow for Cubs. Better pack for a week in Milwaukee.

  • Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:34 pm (view)

    azbobbop: If Stroman does not opt out, the Cubs can trade him without any restrictions.

    Stroman will make $21M in 2024 if he does not opt out, and Hendricks will make $16M if the Cubs exercise the club option. 

    Also, it would cost the Cubs a $1.5M buy-out if they decline the Hendricks club option, so they would only be saving $14.5M by declining the option, not the full $16M.

  • azbobbop 09/25/2023 - 09:08 pm (view)

    Phil, if Stroman opts in, does have any trade protection?

  • Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)

    CRUNCH: Unfortunately all of the tie-breakers work against the Cubs in the case of a tie with AZ, MIA, and/or CIN. 

  • Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:48 pm (view)

    CUBSTER: The Cubs are expected to be "in" on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but so will about a dozen other clubs. 

  • Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:54 pm (view)

    Childersb3: I suspect the Cubs will pick-up the Hendricks $16M 2024 option rather than pay the $1.5M buy-out, and then depending on what else might happen during off-season (Stroman opt-out now not likely, Smyly to the pen permanently, might or might not sign Yamamoto), Hendricks will either be in the Cubs starting rotation on Opening Day, or else he will be traded. 

    So while I don't think the Cubs will decline the club option, I do think he could be traded if it becomes clear during the course of the off-season and Spring Training that there is no place for him in the 2024 rotation.

    With the need for SP being what it is throughout MLB, Hendricks still has value (especially on a one-year contract for reasonable money), whether it be with the Cubs or with another club (presuming he stays healthy, of course). 

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