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

2017 MLB Salary Arbitration Day

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

1/13 UPDATE  RHSP Jake Arrieta ($15,637,500), RHRP Hector Rondon ($5.8M), and RHRP Justin Grimm ($1.825M) have agreed to 2017 contracts, but the Cubs and RHRP Pedro Strop remain far apart (per Mark Gonzalez at the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs offered $4.6M, and Strop wants $6M).

It's not unusual for the two sides to agree to just "split the difference" ($5.3M would be the mid-point) and maybe they will do that at some point prior to a hearing, but a $1.4M gap is fairly signigficant. 

Remember, if it does go to a hearing, the arbitration panel cannot "split the difference." The panel must choose either the Cubs offer or Strop's figure. 


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


MLB SALARY ARBITRATION

An unsigned player under club control who has accrued at least three but less than six years of MLB Service Time is automatically eligible for salary arbitration. Also, any unsigned player with at least two years but less than three years of MLB Service Time who accrued at least 86 days of MLB Service Time the previous season can qualify for salary arbitration as a so-called "Super Two" if the player is among the top 22% in MLB Service Time of players in that group.

CUBS SALARY ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE POST-2016: (last updated 1-13-2017)
Jake Arrieta, RHP (signed 2017 contract 1/13)
Justin Grimm, RHP (signed 2017 contract 1/13)
Hector Rondon, RHP (signed 2017 contract 1/13)
Pedro Strop, RHP

If a club and a player eligible for salary arbitration cannot agree on a contract, the player can request the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to file for salary arbitration. The MLBPA is responsible for delivering all requests for salary arbitration to the MLB Labor Relations Department (MLB LRD) on the Tuesday immediately prior to the Friday that falls during the week January 12-18. Once salary arbitration has been requested, the player submits his desired salary to the MLBPA, the club submits its salary offer to the MLB LRD, and the MLBPA and MLB LRD exchange the two figures on the third Friday in January. The MLBPA and MLB LRD then schedule a hearing with a three-person arbitration panel. Hearings are held on various dates during the first three weeks of February. 

The club's offer must be at least the MLB minimum salary, and, in most cases, must be at least 80% of the player's previous year's salary and at least 70% of the player's salary from two seasons back. However, if the player received a raise in excess of 50% by a salary arbitration panel the previous season, a 20% maximum salary reduction from the previous season and a 30% maximum salary reduction from two seasons back does not apply, and the club only has to offer at least the MLB minimum salary.

After arbitration has been requested, the player and the club can continue to negotiate back & forth, and the player can withdraw from the process any time up until the hearing. And in fact this frequently happens, as the player and the club will often agree to just "split the difference" (something the panel cannot do). If the matter does go to a hearing, the arbitration panel must choose either the club's offer or the player's figure.

Win or lose, the player is awarded a standard one-year MLB contract with no "minor league split" salary or incentive/performance bonuses. Also, the contract is not guaranteed, so if the player is released during Spring Training, the club would only owe the player 30 days or 45 days salary as termination pay, depending on when the player is released. (A player on an MLB 40-man roster receives 100% of what remains of his salary if he is released during the regular season).

NOTE: The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is very sensitive about salary arbitration, so if a player is victorious at an arbitration hearing and is awarded a contract by an arbitration panel and then is subsequently released by his club prior to or during Spring Training, the MLBPA will almost always file a grievance on behalf of the player, claiming the player was released for economic reasons only (which is not permitted), and asking that the released player receive 100% of his salary as termination pay. In that situation, a club would have to show (by submitting official Spring Training game stats) that the released player was out-performed in Spring Training games by another player (or players) competing for that roster spot.

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


SIGNED FOR 2017 (last updated 1-13-2017):
John Lackey - $22.5M (includes $5M second-installement of signing bonus)
Jason Heyward - $21.5M
Jon Lester - $20M
Jake Arrieta - $15,637,500
Ben Zobrist - $16M
Miguel Montero - $14M
Wade Davis - $10M
Jon Jay - $8M
Anthony Rizzo - $7M 
Koji Uehara - $6M
Hector Rondon - $5.8M
Brian Duensing - $2M
Justin Grimm - $1.825M
OTHER: Dexter Fowler ($5M severance) and Jason Hammel ($2M buy-out)
2017 SUB-TOTAL: $157,262,500   

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE POST-2016:
Pedro Strop - $5.5M? (projected)

AUTO-RENEWAL (PRE-ARBITRATION) POST-2016:

PROJECTED MAJOR LEAGUE SALARY / PROJECTED MINOR LEAGUE SPLIT
NOTE: Players highlighted in bold & underlined are likely to begin 2017 season in MLB (as things styand right now)

Albert Almora Jr - $???K / $130K
Javy Baez - $???K / $315K
Aaron Brooks - $???K / $315K
Kris Bryant - $???K / $330K
Jake Buchanan - $???K / $86,500
Jeimer Candelario - $???K / $86,500
Victor Caratini - $535K / $???K
Willson Contreras - $???K / $185K
Carl Edwards Jr - $???K / $190K
Jacob Hannemann - $535K / $???K
Kyle Hendricks - $???K / $315K
Pierce Johnson - $535K / $86,500
Tommy LaStella - $???K / $275K
Jack Leathersich - $???K / $86,500
Mike Montgomery - $???K  / $315K
Felix Pena - $???K / $86,500
David Rollins - $???K / $175K
Jose Rosario - $535K / $???K
Addison Russell - $???K / $315K
Kyle Schwarber - $???K / $315K
Caleb Smith - $535K / $86,500
Matt Szczur - $???K / $315K
Duane Underwood Jr - $535K / $???
Rob Zastryzny - $???K / $86,500
ESTIMATED PROJECTED 2017 SUB-TOTAL: $6.75M (majors) and $1.5M (minors) - $8.25M

ESTIMATED PROJECTED 2017 PAYROLL: $171M?

2016 PAYROLL (PAID): $161M+
2015 PAYROLL (PAID): $142M+

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

And AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW, here is how things look post-2017:  

NOTE: About $90M in 2017 payroll is scheduled to to come off the books in 2018 (the salaries of the eight free-agents, plus the Fowler severance and Hammel buy-out), offset by expected likely significant raises for the three players who will be first-time salary arbitration eligible (Bryant, Russell, and Hendricks). 


ARTICLE XX-B MLB FREE-AGENTS POST-2017 (8):
Jake Arrieta
Wade Davis
Brian Duensing
Jonn Jay
John Lackey
Miguel Montero
Pedro Strop
Koji Uehara

SIGNED BEYOND 2017 (4):   

Jon Lester ($22.5M in 2018-19 & $15M in 2020, plus $2.5M signing bonus each post-2018-19 & $10M post-2020, & $25M vesting option for 2021 if 200 IP in 2020 or 400 IP in 2019-20 or $25M club option for 2021 or $10M buy-out)

Jason Heyward ($21.5M in 2018, $20M each in 2019, $21M each in 2020-21, and $22M each in 2022-23, and player may opt-out of contract post-2018 or post-2019 if 550 PA in 2019, plus $20M signing bonus deferred with $5M paid each April 1st 2024-27, or starting April 1st of the next season following opt-out)

Ben Zobrist ($16M in 2018 and $12M in 2019)

Anthony Rizzo ($7M in 2018, $11M in 2019, $14.5M each in 2020-21 with $2M club option buy-out each season 2020-21, 2019-21 salaries increase by $1M if one MVP or two Top 5 MVP 2013-19, and player may void 2021 club option with Top 2 finish in MVP 2013-19 and/or subsequent trade) 

2018 SUB-TOTAL: $67M   

PROJECTED ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE POST-2017 (5-6-7):
Kris Bryant (“Super Two”)
Justin Grimm
Kyle Hendricks
Tommy LaStella (must accrue at least 70 days of MLB Service Time to be eligible)
Hector Rondon
Addison Russell (“Super Two”)
Matt Szczur (will be very close to “Super Two” cutoff point - arbitration-eligibility TBD)
ESTIMATED PROJECTED 2018 SUB-TOTAL: ???

AUTO-RENEWAL (PRE-ARBITRATION) POST-2017:
Albert Almora Jr
Javy Baez
Aaron Brooks
Jake Buchanan
Jeimer Candelario
Victor Caratini
Willson Contreras
Carl Edwards Jr
Jacob Hannemann
Pierce Johnson
Tommy LaStella (if not arbitration-eligible)
Jack Leathersich
Mike Montgomery
Felix Pena
David Rollins
Jose Rosario
Kyle Schwarber
Caleb Smith
Matt Szczur (if not “Super Two”)
Duane Underwood Jr
Rob Zastryzny
ESTIMATED PROJECTED 2018 SUB-TOTAL: ???

ESTIMATED PROJECTED 2018 PAYROLL: ???

Tags
Salary Arbitration
Cubs 2017 payroll
Cubs 2018 Payroll

Comments

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 01/13/2017 - 01:09 pm

@CSNMooney Arrieta didn't vote in election and doesn't consider himself a Democrat or Republican: "I want a president who's going to do a good job."

@GDubCub Arrieta says his tweet was "simply calling out people that said they were going to leave the country if Trump won the election."

@CSNMooney Jake Arrieta won't make White House trip with #Cubs because of family health issues. The decision isn't related to post-election tweet.

~massive eye roll~

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 01/14/2017 - 01:11 am

Heh

family medical issues for Monday but good enough to make it to Cubs convention. 

Eye roll continues

not that I care if he goes, every right not to just as Cubs decided to pass on Trump but he can stop bullshitting

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 01/14/2017 - 01:15 am

corey black owes jake a good amount of high-5s for distracting from his twitter'ing during/after the election. some things he said and retweeted, though not overtly awful, make jake's tiny rant look like a blip. even outside of election/trump stuff he's one of those people prone to emotionally flipping out when things aren't going his way and telling others to chill when they are going his way. some people call it "competitive spirit"...some people.

Submitted by billybucks on Fri, 01/13/2017 - 01:25 pm

For my son's birthday (his 20th! Yikes!), I got him a pass to the Cubs Convention, as I did last year. His main take-away from the first night (other than "my face hurts from smiling so much") was that last's year's focus was on the upcoming year (they had just signed Heyward, Zobrist and Lackey -- pretty amazing, really -- and the future was enticing) while this year's focus was still on last year (and ex-player David Ross got the biggest ovation). Understandable, of course, but also probably a subtle indicator of why teams don't repeat very often. Getting swept by the Mets in 2015 was a motivator for 2016; winning the WS in 2016 was just pure joy and relief.

Submitted by billybucks on Sat, 01/14/2017 - 01:30 pm

The magic of arbitration -- Trevor Rosenthal was terrible for the Cards last year -- 4.46 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. Gets an $800K raise to $6.4M. As an economics major, this confuses the hell out of me.

Submitted by Hagsag on Sun, 01/15/2017 - 01:48 pm

Is there a way Dallas and Green Bay can both lose? Joe Buck is there yapping too.

Submitted by The E-Man on Sun, 01/15/2017 - 01:47 pm

And...again...Packers get every break at the end. Ball caught inches inbounds (cause...of course). Crosby makes gw field goal that is off left when kicked, yet miraculously stays inside the post. MotherFucking Packers.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Sun, 01/15/2017 - 01:56 pm

Crunch you right on Scott Boras. Unfortuneatly he will destroy the Cubs in a few years. His Cubs clients are (that I know of) are Kris Bryant, Albert Almora, Jake Arrieta, Addison Russell, and Jose Paulino. I hate to say it, but Theo needs to put in a "unwritten policy" that other teams have that they will not sign or draft Scott Boras players. Kris Bryants are certainly hard to pass on, but you can't let one asshole agent have more control over your team than the GMs etc do. Hopefully some of those guys will take the Kyle Schwarber attitude of taking less $$$ (which was what made us be able to sign future ace Dylan Cease, fingers crossed) for the good of the team and not Jake attitude. As tough as it to say, the Cubs need to trade Jake for the kings ransome they could get rather than lose him for a 3rd (0 on 40 man roster last year) and 5th round picks (3 on last year, Grimm, Szczur, Arrieta).

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 01/16/2017 - 01:37 am

i would love to see jake arrieta shopped in this desperate market, but a team that's willing to trade away their slam-dunk #1 prospect for 47 innings of regular season + postseason relief pitching (a.chapman) probably isn't going to make that move. besides, they don't have the talent in-house to pull that off comfortably for a team looking to keep the momentum moving coming off their world series victory. it would help if they had a guy ready to step in, but as it is they're going with a "finger crossing" crew of #5 guys to fill the role behind lester/arrieta/hendricks/lackey. out of everyone in the mix, there's no expected future #1/#2 type starter out of that crew. 2018 is going to be interesting for the starting staff if arrieta goes away (with lackey also leaving). arrieta was a damn lucky/skillful/whatever pickup that's going to be hard to replicate and replace without spending big on $$ or talent.

[ ]

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 01/16/2017 - 01:22 am

That's true, but maybe there's somebodys stupid enough (D'Backs on Shelby Miller) to make something worth while. Theo as proven is good at finding diamonds in the rough and maybe he can again. Sure would also make it a lot easier as in the NFL if you could trade draft picks, but with 40 rounds as you see in the NFL (with only 7) late rounds theres dozens of trades that really most of the time don't end up mattering in the end.

[ ]

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 01/16/2017 - 01:32 am

OK, put yourself in Theo's shoes, what are you going to do? Jake obviously not looking like him and the Cubs are anywhere near close. 1) Give in and pay him what he wants 2) Trade him now or at deadline 3) Use him in 2017 and let him walk for a 3rd and a 5th rd to watch BOS, LAD, NYY, WAS etc pay him and find the missing piece 4) Other thoughts???

[ ]

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:42 am

I know Vegas odds are high on Cubs repeating and rightfully so but other than Schwarber The cubs were never really impacted by a major injury to a major player and they had Fowler fortunately. I just hate to see the Cubs get only a pick and not first-round when you see all these deals going on for pitchers like Shelby Miller Chris sale Andrew Miller, Chapman, etc. where teams give up a lot sometimes for half a year.

[ ]

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:00 am

Az phil having seen them closer than most in your opinion whos likely to stay and give a hometeam discount Bryant Rizzo Russell Baez Schwarber Almora Hendricks etc going to be when it comes to contract time like by attitude etc or is it impossible to tell (unlike Jake)

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:14 am

CUBBIES-4-EVER: I would say that Rizzo, Baez, Schwarber, and Hendricks are the ones who might give the Cubs a "hometown discoutnt" in a contract extension, but Bryant, Russell, and Almora are Boras clients, so it is unlikely any of them would give up anything.

Boras likes his guys to hit free-agency as soon as possible to force clubs to compete for the player's services on the open market while the player is in the prime of his career. That doesn't mean that Bryant, Russell, and Almora couldn't eventually re-sign with the Cubs after they hit free-agency, but it would almost certainly have to be for full market value (no "hometown discount"), and the Cubs would have to outbid the other 29 MLB clubs to get a deal done.

That's why the Cubs should avoid making any more deals like the Chapman trade (which I thought was a good and necessasry trade at the time, and I still do feel that way), where they give up a "next generation" prospect like Gleyber Torres for a three-month rental. In theory the Cubs could ride Zobrist through 2019, Lester, Bryant, and Russell through 2021, and Almora through 2022, sign Rizzo, Schwarber, Baez, and Hendricks to contract extensions, and gradually infuse position players like Ian Happ, Eloy Jimenez, Jeimer Candelario, Mark Zagunis, Victor Caratini, Chesny Young, Eddy Julio Martinez, Wladimir Galindo, and D. J. Wilson, and pitchers like Rob Zastryzny, Trevor Clifton, Dylan Cease, Oscar de la Cruz, Jose Paulino, Bailey Clark, Thomas Hatch, and Jose Albertos into the MLB club to replace "core" guys as they retire or leave via free-agency. 

[ ]

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:27 pm

AZ PHIL- Thanks, I know you always hear about the Bryzo contection or say in NHL Toews/Kane or Crosby/Malkin. There's not one without the other and they match each other in contracts, taking hometeam discounts to play together instead hitting the open market for bigger contracts or even though their favorite teams as kids offered more Kane (Buffalo), Crosby (Montreal) etc.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:50 am

The Cubs' depth allowed them to absorb the damage from all the injuries except Fowler's. His 2016 performance was irreplaceable from within. Luckily, their division lead absorbed that damage. An injury to Arrieta, Lester, or Hendricks would've done much more serious damage to the team overall, and that's still the case. In that the injuries didn't happen in the one area of greatest vulnerability, the Cubs were lucky. There was and still is depth everywhere but the front of the rotation and at Catcher. If Wilson goes down, the only hope is a resurgence from Montero. But even then, there's plenty of offense to go around for a month or two.

[ ]

Submitted by mbauer on Mon, 01/16/2017 - 01:58 am

To be fair, Schwarber took a slot bonus of ~pick 20 or so that draft because that's all he was going to get so you might as well go #4 overall to a great organization. He was off the radar as a top 10 or 15 pick. True that money did allow them to overspend on Cease/Sands/Steele. But I think its unfair to compare a little less draft bonus money to that to Jake pitching for 7 seasons under team control only to finally earn his free agent years.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 01/16/2017 - 01:25 pm

CUBBIES-4-EVER: The Boras Corporation also signed-up Jose Albertos and another AZL Cubs pitcher (I think it was Junior Marte) last June. The Boras Corporation employs scouts who closely follow HS, college, and pro players just like MLB organizations do, except the Boras goal is (obviously) a bit different. Boras is willing to sign a 17-year old kid like Albertos and then wait perhaps a number of years before reaping any financial benefit from the arrangement (presuming the kid even reaches MLB). But I think you can be fairly sure that if Boras signs a minor leaguer, that the Boras Corporation believes that guy is an MLB prospect.

As far as compensation for Jake Arrieta is concerned, if he spends the 2017 season with the Cubs and then becomes a FA, and the Cubs extend a Qualifying Offer and then Arrieta declines it and signs with another MLB club prior to the 2018 June draft, the Cubs would receive one 2018 comp draft pick between the 2nd and 3rd rounds - UNLESS - the Cubs exceed the Competitive Balance Tax (AKA "Luxury Tax") threshold again in 2017, in which case the 2018 comp draft pick would be between the 4th & 5th rounds instead of between the 2nd & 3rd rounds.

So the Cubs will have to decide if keeping Arrieta through 2017 will likely be the difference between making the post-season (and possibly the World Series) or not making it in 2017, and if the Cubs do believe Arrieta is a difference-maker (and I think there is ample evidence to suppose that he is), to understand that the draft pick compensation might be only a pick between the 4th & 5th rounds (but then, that's OK if keeping Arrieta gives the Cubs their best shot at winning another World Series, right?).

So I just don't think the Cubs would trade Arrieta right now for a package of prospects (even if the package includes at least one stud pitching prospect) if it is presumed that such a trade could cost the Cubs a chance to repeat in 2017 (even if it might help them in 2018 and beyond), but if they keep Arrieta and then find themselves on the outer-edges of the N. L. Wild Card race at the trade deadline, then they might decide to trade Arrieta for a package of prospects at that time (like the Yankees did with Chapman and Miller at the trade deadline in 2016)... but again, ONLY if the Cubs are treading water at the trade deadline.

Or the Cubs could look to trade Arrieta right now for a less-attractive (because of age and salary) ace starting pitcher who is maybe two or three years older than Arrieta and making a lot more money per season but who is under club control for more years, like (just for example) somebody like Justin Verlander, who is making $28M per season 2017-19 (more than $12M more than Arrieta in 2017), but who would be under club control through at least 2019 (with a $22M vesting option in 2020).

Whether the Tigers or Cubs would make a deal like that is the question (the Cubs would probably have to include more than just Arrieta in the trade), but it would get the Tigers a younger & cheaper ace starting pitcher who is probably at least as good as Verlander in 2017, and it would also get the Tigers out from under Verlander's mega-contract as well (especially if Detroit is looking to avoid another Competitive Balance Tax hit in 2017). and then maybe retool and get younger in 2018. 

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:04 pm

Thanks for the share....good stuff.

Around 42:00 in he talks about giving potential draftees a neuroscience test(listen for the details) that was developed while he was in Boston. Gave Mookie Betts and Kyle Schwarber as examples of two players that scored high on it and bumped them up on their draft boards.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Wed, 01/18/2017 - 01:54 am

It was interesting to hear how the Cubs try to gain an advantage by having more knowledge about what makes a player good than you can get from just reading a box score. To that end, I think it is telling that they had their own doctors personally examine Wade Davis before the trade. I believe is not really customary. I can only assume that the Cubs have their own way of determine what factors are good determiners of a pitchers long term health prospects.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:44 pm

So Trevor Clifton has "less-than-ideal size..."?

Apparently Baseball Prospectus has never actually seen Clifton, because he is at least 6'4.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:03 pm

Corrected: "Please note a previous version of this article referred to Clifton as "undersized" in The Risks based on prior 2016 internal reports. He has since been confirmed to be 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, rather than closer to his listed height and weight. We regret the error."

[ ]

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 01:00 pm

Corrected, sure, RR, but I think AZ Phil's larger point might be that these guys sure make it sound like they've laid eyes on the player. But if so, how do you mistake 6'4 for 5'11? It's why the "pro" scouts have to turn in mileage records and motel receipts.

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. 

Click HERE for the last 50 comments