Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

2017 Cubs MLB First-Year Player Draft Ticker Tracker

DAY ONE

1st ROUND
(27): 
Brendon Little, LHP  
L/L, 6'2 195, Age 20 
SCF - Manatee-Sarasota
JC SOPH 
COMMENT: Transferred to a Florida JC after spending his freshman year at the University of North Carolina, making him draft-eligible after his sophomore year... Got attention of scouts after making All-Star team pitching out of the bullpen for the Bourne Braves in Cape Cod League in the Summer of 2016... An advanced lefty with a plus "swing & miss" 12-6 CV and a 91-93 MPH FB with movement that touches 94-96 at times... if he works out of the pen he could be the first one of his draft class to reach MLB... he was selected by the San Francisco Giants in 36th round of 2015 draft out of Conestoga HS (Berwyn, PA) but he did not sign... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $2,373,300

1st ROUND (30):  
Alex Lange, RHP
R/R, 6'4 200, Age 21
LSU
COLLEGE JR  
NOTE: Compensation pick awarded to Cubs after post-2016 Article XX-B FA Dexter Fowler signed wuth STL
COMMENT: Durable Friday night starter... was voted National Freshman Pitcher of the year and a First-Team All-American when he led LSU to College World Series in 2015, going 12-0 with a 1.97 ERA and 131 K in 114 IP... FB velocity was 94-96 as a frosh but it is a couple of ticks below that now... also has experienced command issues over the past couple of seasons as the result of over-throwing his FB... However, his CV continues to be a plus pitch and his CH is solid as well...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $2,184,300

2nd ROUND (67): 
Cory Abbott, RHP
R/R, 6'2 210, Age 21 
Loyola Marymount 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Ace of the Lions staff... was named First Team All-American and WCC Pitcher of the Year in 2017... shot-up draft boards after adding 86-88 MPH slider to his repertoire that has proven to be nearly unhittable at times... threw perfect game against BYU in March... "get me over" CV and mediocre CH are rated as below-average pitches, but FB is now a solid 91-93 MPH heater (topped-out in the high 80's pre-2017) that sets up his slider... pitches from the extreme third-base side of the rubber and briefly turns his back to the hitter prior to delivery... 11-2 with a 1.74 ERA, 28/130 BB/K, and a .173 OppBA in 98.1 IP for LMU in 2017...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $901,900

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

DAY TWO:

3rd ROUND (105): 
Keegan Thompson, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 210, Age 22
Auburn
COLLEGE SR (Redshirt JR)
COMMENT: A poliished college pitcher with outstanding command...  Freshman All-American at Auburn in 2014... had TJS post-2015 and did not pitch in 2016... Friday starter for Tigers in 2017... went 7-4 with 2.41 ERA, 17/75 BB/K, and .200 OppBA in 93.1 IP... features a plus-CV and a decent CH, but FB velocity has been inconsistent post-TJS (87-93 MPH)... was an elite HS pitcher... Rawlings 1st Team All-American in 2013... Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year in both 2011 (as a sophomore) and 2013 (as a senior)... pitched for Team USA U16 and U18 teams...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $511,900

4th ROUND (135) 
Erich Uelmen, RHP
R/R, 6'3 195, Age 21
Cal Poly - SLO 
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Durable rotation starter with plus-command... relies heavily on 90-94 MPH two-seam FB with sinking action... breaking ball is just average.,,. allowed only three HR in 211.2 IP in college career... strikeouts increased along with FB velocity uptick in 2017... went 4-8 with a 2.93 ERA, 95 hits allowed, and 23/100 BB/K for Mustangs in 2017... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $382,300

5th ROUND
(165)
Nelson Velazquez, OF 
B/R, 6'0 190, Age 18 
PJ Education School - Carolina, PR
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: NONE 
COMMENT: Athletic, raw, toolsy outfielder with a strong arm, plus bat-speed, and HR power, but has significant contact issues as a hitter...  above-average defender in OF with plus-speed on the bases... attended HS and played baseball as a junior in Lake Worth, FL, in 2016 before returning to Puerto Rico for his senior year after being ruled ineligible by the FHSAA... he is listed as a switch-hitter by some scouting services, but as a RH-hitter only by others...     
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $285,800 

6th ROUND (195)
Jeremiah Estrada, RHP 
B/R, 6'1 180, Age 18 
Palm Desert HS - Palm Desert, CA 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: UCLA 
COMMENT: Was a Perfect Game Underclass All-American as a HS junior and was projected to be a possible 1st round draft pick coming into the 2017 season, but he appeared to wear down during his senior year and as a result his draft stock fell... features an advanced CH, an average CV, and a FB that was clocked consistently 92-94 MPH in 2016 but was down to 89-91 in 2017... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $222,600

7th ROUND
(225)
Ricky Tyler Thomas, LHP 
R/L, 6'1 175, Age 21 
Fresno State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Led the Mountain West Conference in strikeouts as a sophomore in 2016 and then pitched out of the bullpen for Team USA and led the team in strikeouts, throwing 5.1 IP of shutout ball in relief against Team Cuba... was a SP in 2017 and had FB command and velocity issues throughout the season... went 6-4 with a 5.86 ERA, allowing 84 hits with a 52/100 BB/K in 90.2 IP for the Bulldogs in 2017... features a "swing & miss" plus-CH, a below-average CV, and an 86-89 MPH FB (used to set-up his off-speed pitch) that he was unable to throw for strikes in 2017... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $175,500

8th ROUND (255)
Austin Filiere, 3B 
R/R, 6'1 190, Age 21 
MIT  
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was a National Honor Society Impact Scholar at Hamilton HS in Chandler, AZ... is majoring in Business Analytics at Sloan School of Management... aspires to play pro baseball and then stay in the game "in some capacity"... has hit 414/543/879 with 39 HR and 151 RBI, 46 doubles, 111 BB, 20 HBP, 80 K, and 44 SB (4 SB), in 116 games (560 PA) over the course of three seasons at MIT... hit 7 HR with 27 RBI (2nd in league in HR and RBI) for Harwich in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate "wood bat league") in 2016...  was rated the top player in NCAA Division 3 in 2016 by Baseball America...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $148,500

9th ROUND (285)
Chris Carrier, OF
R/R, 6'2 225, Age 22
U. of Memphis 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Power-hitting RF... was 2nd in HR and 5th in RBI in American Athletic Conference in 2017... hit 330/438/641 with team-leading 16 HR and 50 RBI, 16 doubles, 30 BB, 12 HBP, and 40 K, and 9 OF assists in 56 games for Tigers in 2017... suffers from Pagel-Schroetter Disease, and underwent emergency life-saving surgery in 2015 to relieve blood clot in arm... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $137,500

10th ROUND (315)
Brian Glowicki, RHP 
R/R, 5'11 190, Age 22 
U. of Minnesota 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Golden Gophers closer... led Big Ten Conference in saves and set the single-season school record for saves in 2017... went 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 16 saves, 25 hits allowed, 7/39 BB/K, and a .216 OppBA in 32.2 IP in 2017... posted a 1.80 ERA and recorded 11 saves with 27 K in 25 IP (16 games) for St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League (summer collegiate "wood bat league") in 2016... features FB, SL, and CH, and he throws strikes... graduated from Downers Grove South HS in suburban Chicago in 2013... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $131,300

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

DAY THREE
 

11th ROUND (345)
Rollie Lacy, RHP
R/R, 6'4 195, Age 21
Creighton
COLLEGE JR  
COMMENT: Blue Jays Friday night starter... first-team All Big East... went 5-2 with a 2.54 ERA, 86 hits (only one HR), and 18/83 in 88.2 IP.... 

12th ROUND (375)
Ben Hecht, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 22 
Wichita State 
COLLEGE SR (Redshirt JR)  
COMMENT: Shockers closer... 5.04 ERA with 8 saves and allowed 30 hits (.256 OppBA) with 12/41 BB/K in 30.1 IP (28 games)... attended Illinois State as a freshman, then transferred to Lincoln Land CC, before ending up at Wichita State... NJCAA Academic All-American at LLCC... was selected by New York Mets in 31st round of 2013 draft out of St. Anthony HS in Effingham, IL, but did not sign...  

13th ROUND (405)
Austin Upshaw, 1B 
L/R, 6'0 180, Age 20 
Kennesaw State 
COLLEGE JR  
COMMENT: Played 1B in 2017, but also plays 3B... hit 327/378/516 with 8 HR and 39 RBI, 17 doubles, and 18/28 BB/K in 55 games in 2017, and committed no errors in the field... transferred to KSU from Georgia Perimeter JC... 

14th ROUND (435)
Luis Vazquez, SS
R/R, 6'1 165, Age 17  
Alberto Melendez Torres School - Orocovis, PR 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: NONE 

15th ROUND
(465)
Jared Young, 2B
L/R, 6'2 185, Age 21
Old Dominion
COLLEGE JR   
COMMENT: 2017 third-team All-American... named Conference USA Newcomer of the Year, first team All Conference USA, and C-USA All-Academic Team in 2017... hit 367/441/580 with 7 HR and 34 RBI, 19 doubles, 18/19 BB/K, 18 HBP, and 9 SB (4 CS), and committed six errors in 58 games in 2017... led-Monarchs in AVG, HR, triples, runs, SB, and HBP in 2017, and set single-season team record for HBP... 24 multi-hit games... hit .490 with 11 HR and 54 RBI at Connors State JC in 2016 before transferring to ODU... spent freshman year at Minot State before transferring to Connors State... is from Kelowna, BC (Canada), and played for the Okanagan Athletics in the B. C. Premier Baseball League as a teenager...

16th ROUND (495)
Brandon Hughes, CF 
B/L, 6'2 215, Age 21
Michigan State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Second-team All-Big Ten in 2017 and led Big Ten and was seventh in the nation (NCAA D-1) in stolen bases with 30 SB...  hit combined 304/377/427 with 13 HR & 93 RBI, 30 doubles, 65/92 BB/K, and 50 SB (14 CS), in 159 career games (704 PA) over the course of three seasons at MSU... was named to first-team All-Big Ten Freshman team in 2015... was two-way player (P/OF) for Spartans as a freshman...

17th ROUND
(525)
Peyton Remy, RHP 
L/R, 6'2 170, Age 20 
Central Arizona JC 
JC SOPH  
COMMENT: Vaqueros #3 starter... went 10-7 with 3.68 ERA, 131 hits and five HR allowed, and 74/148 BB/K in 144.1 IP in two seasons at CAC... will transfer to New Mexico State if he doesn't sign with Cubs... 

18th ROUND
(555)
Casey Ryan, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 200, Age 23 
U. of Hawai'i 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Two-way player (P/INF) prior to 2017 season... was Rainbow Warriors bullpen set-up man in 2017... 3-0 with 1.52 ERA, allowed 16 hits (.188 OppBA) and no HR, and 5/21 BB/K in 23.2 IP in 2017... spent freshman and sophomore years at Pierce JC in Los Angeles...

19th ROUND
(585)
Chris Singleton, CF 
R/R, 6'0 175, Age 20 
Charleston Southern
COLLEGE JR  
COMMENT: Speedy CF with contact issues... hit .276/348/404 with 4 HR & 21 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples, 18 SB (2 CS), and 22/50 BB/K in 51 games (230 PA) for Buccaneers in 2017... 

20th ROUND (615)
Brendan King, RHP 
R/R, 6'1 200, Age 22
Holy Cross 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Crusaders Friday starter in 2017... 15 GS, went 5-7 with a 4.35 ERA, 74 hits and eight HR allowed, 30/62 BB/K in 80.2 IP...   

21st ROUND (645)
Sean Barry, RHP
R/R, 6'2 190, Age 22 
U. of San Diego  
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: RP/SP swingman who has worked primarily out of the bullpen for the Toreros the past two seasons... went 5-1 with 4.43 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, 38 hits allowed (.241 OppBA) with 18/54 K, in 21 games and 42.2 IP in 2017... spent freshman year at High Point University, then transferred to Santa Barbara CC for his sophomre year where he was the Vaqueros #1 starter (10-3 with a 1.29 ERA, 32/107 BB/K, and only 52 hits allowed in 111.1 IP in 2015 )... 

22nd ROUND
(675)
Skyler Messinger, SS
R/R, 6'3 195, Age 18  
Niwot HS - Niwot, CO
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Kansas
COMMENT: Outstanding defensive SS... made the varsity team as a HS freshman and he hit .407 in 83 career varsity games (286 PA) over the course of four seasons... 

23rd ROUND (705)
Brady Miller, RHP
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 21
Western Oregon
COLLEGE JR
COMMENT: Wolves Friday starter... went 5-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 2017, allowing 45 hits (.223 OppBA) and one HR with 24/57 BB/K over the course of 54.0 IP in 10 games (10 GS)... pitched for Kelowna Falcons in West Coast League (a summer collegiate "wood bat league") in 2015 after his freshman year at WOU and was named the WCL Pitcher of the Year (6-0 with a 2.18 ERA)...   

24th ROUND (735)
Braxton Light, RHP 
R/R, 5'10 185, Age 21 
Wallace State CC 
JC SOPH
COMMENT: Govs closer... went 6-0 with a 1.86 ERA and nine saves in 16 games in 2017, allowing 20 hits (one HR) with 17/50 BB/K in 38.2 IP.

25th ROUND (765)
Mitch Stophel, RHP
R/R, 6'3 205, Age 22
King University
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: Tornado closer... went 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA, allowed 38 hits (.266 OppBA) and four HR with 18/45 BB/K in 38.0 IP and 19 games in 2017...   

26th ROUND (795) 
Bryce Bonnin, RHP
R/R, 6'1 180, Age 18 
Barbers Hill HS - Mont Belvieu, TX  
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Arkansas 
COMMENT: Projected as third-rounder coming into the draft... rated the #3 HS pitching prospect in Texas by Baseball America (behind only Shane Baz and Alex Scherff)... Rawlings Perfect Game 2nd team All-American... features a 90-95 MPH sinker and a hard slider... also is an outstanding hitter and was a two-way player (SS/P) in HS... signed NLI with U. of Arkansas and it very unlikely that he will sign pro contract at this time...   

27th ROUND (825)
Darius Vines, RHP 
R/R 6'1 180, Age 19 
Oxnard JC 
JC FR
COMMENT: Two-way player (SS/P) at Oxnard... hit 277/382/313 with 9 SB as a SS, and went 4-4 with a 1.94 ERA, allowing 61 hits (.197 OppBA) and three HR with 26/95 BB/K (also 11 WP and six HBP) in 83.2 IP & 13 G (12 GS)... was selected by the Houston Astros in the 32nd round of the 2016 draft but did not sign... was a three-sport star at St. Bonaventure HS in Ventura, CA (WR in football, SS/P in baseball, and PG in basketball)... nickname is "Legendarius"... 

28th ROUND (855) 
Kier Meredith, CF
L/L, 5'9 165, Age 17
Robert B. Glenn HS - Kernersville, NC 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Clemson  
COMMENT: Rated one of the top-five HS position player prospects in North Carolina... already a plus-defender in CF, he has sprinter's speed (sub 4.0 seconds home-to-1st)... a "small-ball" high-contact hitter with no power at the plate... 

29th ROUND (885)
Jake Steffens, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 215, Age 22
Santa Clara 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Broncos Friday night starter... has outstanding control... finished third in the West Coast Conference in strikeouts and went 4-7 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, allowing 116 H (four HR) and 20/101 BB/K in 102.1 IP in 2017...  

30th ROUND (915)
Cam Balego, SS
R/R, 5'11 205, Age 22
Mercyhurst
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: Hit 367/500/698 with 10 HR and 48 RBI, 14 doubles, 28/8 BB/K, 14 HBP, and 7 SB (1 CS) in 46 games (188 PA) for the Lakers in 2017...

31st ROUND (945)
Ramsey Romano, SS 
R/R, 6'2 205, Age 22
Long Beach State 
COLLEGE SR (Redshirt JR)  
COMMENT: Hit 313/340/382 with two HR and 39 RBI, 11 doubles, 10/28 BB/K, and five SB (five CS)  in 63 games (270 PA) for The Beach in 2017.. started college career at the University of Michigan where he was a QB on the football team and infielder on the baseball team... transferred to Yavapai JC for sophomore year and was named a 1st team NJCAA All-American after helping lead the Roughriders to the NJCAA championship, hitting .410 with 9 HR and 53 RBI, 22 doubles, and 12 SB... was selected by the Cubs in the 35th round of the 2013 draft but did not sign...  

32nd ROUND (975)
Hunter Ruth, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 18 
Buchholz HS - Gainesville, FL 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Florida 
COMMENT: Had 2017 season cut-short in April by a torn elbow UCL that required TJS... was considered a likely first or second round draft pick prior to the TJS... was featuring a mid-90's FB that touched 97 MPH, a plus-slider, one of the best change-ups in HS ball, and outstanding command prior to the injury...  

33rd ROUND (1005)
Joe Donovan, C
R/R, 5'11 177, Age 18 
Westmont HS - Westmont, IL 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Michigan
COMMENT: Career leader in HR and XBH at Westmont HS in west suburban Chicago... was hitting .568 with a 1.373 SLG, 26 RBI and 24 runs scored, and five strikeouts in his first 51 AB in 2017... 

34th ROUND (1035)
Andrew Karp, RHP
R/R, 6'1 204, Age 21 
Florida State
COLLEGE JR (Redshirt SOPH)   
COMMENT: Seminoles #4 starter and bullpen "swing-man" (17 games - 12 GS)... went 2-3 with a 4.87 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, allowing 62 hits and six HR with 17/63 BB/K in 61.0 IP in 2017...  features a 90-93 MPH fastball, a plus-change-up, and a slow curve, and he can throw all of his pitches for strikes... was a Perfect Game First Team Underclass All-American as a HS junior in West Orange, NJ.... he redshirted his freshman year at FSU after suffering a broken leg in a car crash, so he has been brought along slowly and he still has two years of eligibility remaining... 

35th ROUND (1065)
Ben Ramirez, 3B 
L/R, 6'3 180, Age 18  
Eastlake HS - Chula Vista, CA 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: USC 
COMMENT: A projectable player who has yet to fill-out.. has power potential offset by below-average bat speed... played shortstop in HS, and while he is a reliable defender, he lacks the range necessary to stay there, and so he will very likely need to move to 3B in college and/or pro ball...   

36th ROUND (1095)
Tanner Allen, CF 
L/R, 5'11 180, Age 19
UMS-Wright Prep 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT:  Mississippi State 
COMMENT: Hit 374/473/658 with four HR, 11 doubles, and 21/10 BB/K in 36 games over the course of two varsity seasons... Played both SS and CF in HS, but he is projected as a CF in pro ball... has strong commitment to attend college and so it is very unlikely that he will sign a pro contract at this time... 

37th ROUND (1125)
Alex Cornwell, LHP
L/L, 6'1 175, Age 18 
Maranatha HS - Pasadena, CA
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: USC 
COMMENT: Has pitched on the varsity squad for three years... went 9-6 with a 1.96 ERA in 22 games (19 GS) in those three seasons, allowing 44 hits with 44/89 BB/K in 89.1 IP... throws upper 80's FB that touches 90-92 and a curve that has potential to be a plus-pitch, but he has major command issues...   

38th ROUND (1155)
Russell Smith, LHP 
L/L, 6'9 230, Age 18 
Midlothian HS - Midlothian, TX 
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: TCU 
COMMENT: Threw two no-hitters and one one-hitter in consecutive starts in his sophomore year in HS... features an 88-90 MPH FB and promising CV and CH that need work.... has had mechanical issues with his delivery... 

39th ROUND (1185)
Cooper Coldiron, SS 
R/R, 6'1 190, Age 22
U. of Houston  
COLLEGE SR (Redshirt JR)  
COMMENT: Hit 245/355/283 in just 15 games for Cougars in 2017, after hitting 370/425/445 with two HR and 47 RBI, eight doubles, and 21/29 BB/K in 54 games (238 PA) at Grayson JC in 2016 prior to transferring to UH...  

40th ROUND (1215)
Jeffrey Passantino, RHP 
R/R, 5'9 225, Age 21
Lipscomb 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Bisons Friday night starter... stocky righthander went 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA, allowing 94 hits but only nine walks with 95 strikeouts in 96.0 IP in 2017... was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2015, and "Most Outstanding Pitcher" and an All-Star in the Cape Cod League while pitching for Falmouth in 2016 (3-0 with a 0.64 ERA, allowing only three walks with 39 strikeouts in 42 IP)...  features 86-89 MPH FB, SL, and CV...  




MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT 

The MLB First-Year Player Draft (or "MLB Rule 4 Draft") is held annually over a three-day period in June (it will take place June 12-14 in 2017).


There are 40 rounds (there were 50 rounds prior to 2012), and draft order is based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie.

Article XX-B Free-Agent Compensation draft picks are slotted in the Supplemental 1st Round of the MLB Rule 4 Draft pick (between the 1st and 2nd rounds prior to Competitive Balance Round "A"), and the Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted in two groups (Competitive Balance Round "A" is slotted after the 1st Round, and Competitive Balance Round "B" is slotted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds).

An MLB club that signs a Qualified Player forfeits its 1st round selection in the Rule 4 Draft, unless the club selects in the Top 10 of the 1st Round, in which case the club would forfeit its next-highest pick. (In determining whether a club would forfeit its 1st round draft pick, the ten "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft -- these compensatory draft picks are already "protected").

The next highest draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Qualified Player (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed).

Draft picks subject to forfeiture when a club signs a Qualified Player include the club's own Rule 4 picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, Competitive Balance draft picks (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade), and draft picks awarded as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade).

A compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft is NOT subject to forfeiture.  

A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing a Qualified Player is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).

THE FOLLOWING CHANGES WILL TAKE EFFECT BEGINNING WITH THE 2017 MLB RULE 4 DRAFT:

Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd round) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.

THE FOLLOWING CHANGES WILL TAKE EFFECT BEGINNING WITH THE 2018 MLB RULE 4 DRAFT:

1. Article XX-B Qualified Player Compensation draft picks will be slotted between the 2nd & 3rd rounds of the draft (immediately after Competitive Balance Round "B"), or between Rounds 1 & 2 (immediately prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") for any club receiving revenue sharing funds that loses a Qualified Player who signs a major league contract worth more than $50M, or between rounds 4 & 5 for Competitive Balance Tax payors (club's payroll exceeds the so-called "Luxury Tax"). NOTE: The Competitive Balance Tax threshold will be $195M in 2017, $199M in 2018, $206M in 2019, $209M in 2020, and $210M in 2021. 

2. An MLB club that signs a Qualified Player forfeits its 2nd highest selection in the draft and $500,000 is subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next full International Signing Period (ISP), an MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would surrender its 3rd highest selection in the draft but nothing is subtracted from the club's ISBP in the next full ISP, and an MLB club that is a CBT payor (club's payroll exceeds the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 2nd & 5th selection in the draft and have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP. 

3. A club's next-highest draft pick (or draft picks) subject to forfeiture will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Qualified Player. 

4. Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be subject to forfeiture.  

5. Any club with a payroll $40M or more above the Competitive Balance Tax threshold will have its highest draft selection moved down ten slots, unless its first selection is among the top six picks in the draft, in which case it will have its second-highest draft slot moved down ten slots. (In determining whether a club would forfeit its 1st round draft pick, the six "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft -- these compensatory draft picks are already "protected").

SIGNING BONUS POOL 

There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money that each club can pay as signing bonuses to players selected in a First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) before penalties begin to accrue.

Prior to the Rule 4 Draft, each MLB club is assigned a “Signing Bonus Pool” (SBP) equal to the aggregate pre-assigned bonus value of all of the club’s draft slots in the first ten rounds (including supplemental & compensatory draft picks). The higher the slot, the higher the bonus value. (The collective MLB SBP is determined in advance by calculating industry revenues). 

The Cubs 2017 Rule 4 Draft SBP is $7,454,900 (or $7,827,645 before penalties would be assessed)

SBP by slot (overall draft slot number in parenthesis):
Round 1 (#27): $2,373,300
Round 1 Supplemental (#30): $2,184,300
Round 2 (#67): $901,900
Round 3 (#105): $511,900
Round 4 (#135): $382,300
Round 5 (#165): $285,800
Round 6 (#195): $222,600
Round 7 (#225): $175,500
Round 8 (#255): $148,500
Round 9 (#285): $137,500
Round 10: (#315): $131,300

If a club fails to sign a player selected in the first ten rounds (including supplemental draft picks), the value of that slot is deducted from the club’s SBP. There is no bonus value assigned to draft slots after the 10th round, but if a club pays a signing bonus in excess of $100,000 to a player selected in the 11th round or later or to a player eligible for selection who was not drafted, the amount of that bonus in excess of $100,000 is deducted from the club’s SBP.

If a club exceeds its SBP in a given Rule 4 Draft, a tax will be assessed and future Rule 4 Draft picks could be forfeited, depending on how much the club exceeded its SBP. (The club’s 1st Round draft pick in the next Rule 4 Draft is forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 5-10%, its 1st & 2nd round draft picks in the next Rule 4 Draft are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 10-15%, and the club’s 1st Round picks in the next two Rule 4 Drafts are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by more than 15%).

Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their SBP will be distributed to qualifying clubs as Revenue Sharing funds, and forfeited draft picks will be reassigned by lottery. (Any club that exceeds its SBP is excluded from the lottery).

NEGOTIATION LIST 

Players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) are placed on a club's Negotiation List.

In most cases, a player selected by a club in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until either the player signs or until 5:00 PM (EDT) on the Friday that falls during the week July 12-18 (whichever comes first), and if a club does not sign a Rule 4 Draft pick by the deadline, the player is removed from the club's Negotiation List and becomes eligible for selection again in the next Rule 4 Draft in which the player would be eligible for selection. The exception to this rule is any college senior with no baseball eligibility left. This class of player remains on the club's Negotiation List until the player signs or until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft (whichever comes first).

Also, any player eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft who is not drafted ("Non-Drafted Free-Agent" or "NDFA") can sign with any club after the conclusion of the draft any time up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft, unless and until the NDFA enrolls in a junior college or four-year college, in which case MLB Rule 4 Draft eligibility rules apply.

A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA cannot be signed to a Major League contract.

A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA can be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a contract after July 1st.

COMPENSATION DRAFT PICKS 

A Rule 4 Draft compensation pick is awarded to a club if the club is unable to sign a player selected in one of the first three rounds of the MLB Rule 4 Draft (including compensation draft picks between rounds 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4, Competitive Balance draft picks, draft picks awarded to a club after the club loses an Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent Qualified Player, and draft picks assigned to clubs from the SBP forfeited draft pick lottery).

A club must offer a drafted player at least 40% of the slot value in order to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign.

If a player selected in the 1st or 2nd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower in the 1st or 2nd round than where the club selected the previous season. 

If a player selected in the 3rd round of the draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection between the 3rd & 4th rounds in the next Rule 4 Draft, with clubs selecting in inverse order of league standings from the previous season. (In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie). 

A club would receive another compensation pick in the next Rule 4 Draft after that (one slot lower than the slot where the unsigned player was selected in the previous draft) if a player selected with an extra compensation pick does not sign, but there is no additional compensation pick awarded the following season (three years removed from the original draft pick) if a club is unable to sign that player. 

A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after the club is unable to sign a player selected in a previous draft is NOT subject to forfeiture if that club signs a Qualified Player.

Compensation draft picks awarded to clubs for losing an Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent Qualified Player will be slotted between the 1st and 2nd rounds (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") of the next MLB Rule 4 Draft, with clubs selecting in inverse order of league standings from the previous season. (In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie). 

If a player selected with a draft pick awarded as the result of a club losing a Qualified Player does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with that compensation draft pick does not sign.

NOTE: Beginning with the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Article XX-B Qualified Player Compensation draft picks will be slotted between the 2nd & 3rd round of the draft (immediately after Competitive Balance Round "B"), between Rounds 1 & 2 (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") for any club receiving revenue sharing funds that loses a Qualified Player who signs a major league contract worth more than $50M, and between rounds 4 & 5 for Competitive Balance Tax payors (club's payroll exceeds the so-called "Luxury Tax").

Comments

brendon little...wow. he was expected to go near 30 so having him come in at 27 isn't a shock even if it's a bit ahead of where a lot of lists have him. low 90s fastball, good curve, developing quality changeup...questionable on-again/off-again command which effects his control. some believe he may end up in the pen even though the cubs will mostly likely try him out as a starter, especially since they passed on nate pearson (who hits high 90s, 100+) but has very iffy control and lacks a quality secondary pitch and is believed to be a closer-type rather than a starter.

alex lange...durable, fastball/curve...questionable control at times. oddly, or not, a good number of lists had the cubs snagging him. he must have been strongly linked to the cubs for a little while.

child fiddler and top college pitcher, luke heimlich, who was expected to go in the 2nd round before his sexual misconduct charge from his teens surfaced recently, manages to go through the first 75 picks without being picked. wonder if anyone will bite the PR bullet on this one. lefty, low 90s fastball + curve with great command of both, developing change...amazing junior year numbers for oregon...

looking over the first 75 picks on a lazy lunch break... NCSU's joe dunand went way ahead of schedule in the 2nd round with the 51st overall pick. he was slotted to be a late-3/4th round pick. his uncle is arod, btw. i dunno what the hell is up with sam carlson going in the mid-2nd round with the 55th pick. he was a top-20 talent on many lists and injuries are supposedly not a concern (the reason for griffin canning's drop). ARZ jumped on the ellis drew bandwagon (hot power hitter in NCAA regionals) and took him 44th in the 2nd round when i don't think he was on many/any draft ranking lists. hell of a gamble. day 2 of the draft begins now...rounds 3-10...

So I guess Rizzo was on Kap and Company this morning (god awful show) saying he's going to be hitting leadoff. I mean...he has the 2nd highest OBP behind Bryant and I guess maybe trying anything to get the offense going could be good? He's also naturally patient so hopefully this won't affect his ABs.

a low-leverage college SR for their 3rd round pick. that should help the $ situation up higher, if needed.

Rizzo 1B Happ 2B Bryant 3B Heyward RF Russell SS Schwarber LF Contreras C Lester P Almora CF unless heyward "wakes up" he's due to dip below .700 OPS tonight...and below .310 OB% without a hit/walk. c'mon guy...remember april...april was neat. contreras is in danger of dropping below .300 OB%, himself. the further reality of the sadness in all of this is that tonight's lineup #3 best OB% guy (behind rizzo/bryant) is almora with .323

PHIL: Thanks for your insights and coverage. Maybe someone will get fast-tracked as another Mark Prior? Nah...

killer stuff through day 2, phil. little and lange were more commonly known guys in the draft, but most of the rest needed a story filled in about who they are (for most of us, i imagine).

btw, does anyone know why corey abbot was so heavily over-slot drafted? they must have really wanted him. a bit surprised they didn't go for catcher riley adams (they drafted him previously in 2014). his D and arm are good and he tore up cape cod league with the bat. TOR snagged him with the 99th overall pick.

Hi Phil, I like all the prospects so far. They kind of really fit the mold of what management looks for. Their formula has worked so far and hopefully it will with this draft class.

[ ]

In reply to by bigsky33

"Their formula has worked so far" The formula that has worked so far is to draft hitters in the top ten picks in the draft--Almora, Bryant, Schwarber, Happ. The formula hasn't worked with pitchers; and the Cubs don't get those high draft picks any longer and won't for a while.

the longer the story grows and time undrafted goes on, the amount of people who want people to give luke heimlich a break for "what he did as a kid" and let him get drafted + continue to play in the college playoffs is pretty f'n disgusting...but then again...Penn State. it's not like we haven't seen this before for the sake of sports. the 2 cases aren't connected, but the fans of both programs are doing some real logical leaps to make this acceptable. fwiw, if this crime happened in oregon (where he plays college ball) he would still be in jail even though he was a minor.

AZ PHIL: So any bets on whose the one of these high school (or tough college) "unsignable kids" are the Cubs going to be able to convince to forge college or come out early this year? Some Examples from the past: 2016- Nathan Sweeney-33rd rd (Arizona), 2015-D.J. Wilson-4th rd (Vanderbilt), 2014-Dylan Cease-6th rd (Vanderbilt), 2013-Trevor Clifton 12th rd (Tennessee), 2011- Dillon Maples-14th rd (UNC), 2010- Matt Szczur-5th rd (in college, not play football, Villanova), 2006-Jeff Samardzija-5th rd (same as Szczur, Notre Dame).

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

CUBBIES4EVER: I think the best bet would be Joe Donovan, the catcher from Westmont.

Also, I don't think the Cubs would have selected Jeremiah Estrada where they did if they didn't think they had a really good chance to sign him, although he may require a substantial over-slot bonus.

And that might be it (as far as the HS kids are concerned).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Looks like a no for Donovan. "We've known the family for quite a few years," McLeod said. "Stan Zielinski (the Cubs' scout and Winfield native who died this year) got very close with the family. Joe's older brother (Charlie) was a very talented player who tragically passed away a couple of years ago. We've gotten to know them very well. "Joe's going to attend the University of Michigan, and we look forward to scouting him over the next three years. We've really developed a really good relationship with that family, one that was formed originally through Stan. It's just another way to kind of get Stan another player out of this draft. We love that family." http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170614/special-final-draft-day-for-…

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

charlie donovan committed suicide. he long suffered with depression. he was michigan's top baseball recruit of the 2015 class and one of the top (if not the top) prep baseball player in illinois. he was a SS that had an explosive swing for a little guy (sub-6'). mental illness is some serious stuff no matter how successful you are.

AZ PHIL- I would agree on Estrada (having Tyson Miller helps), but he so so pro Dodgers/UCLA. All of his comments after the draft even involved something along the lines of "it'd been nice to be a Dodger, but..... So outside Estrada I was thinking maybe Hunter Ruth. Just having TJS he might take the same approach as Dylan Cease did, $$$ and professional rehab over books and college level rehab. But is he looking for Dylan Cease money is the question which the Cubs likely won't be able to afford.

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

CUBBIES4EVER: I think if the Cubs were going to do the same thing with Hunter Ruth that they did with Dylan Cease (draft him despite the TJS and give him 1st round money anyway), they would have selected him in one of the top five or six rounds and used the bonus slot from that round together with slot money from other Top 10 rounds to boost what they could pay him. I don't recall the Cubs or any other club drafting a player below Round 10 since 2012 and then paying him "1st round money" (like the Cubs did with Dillon Maples in 2011). Remember, the Cubs selected Cease in the 6th round despite the TJS, not in the 32nd round. So I can't see the Cubs signing Ruth. 

I would say that Estrada fits the same profile as Justin Steele, Carson Sands, and Bryan Hudson, which is to say he is a HS pitcher taken in a top six round (though not in the 1st round), with the Cubs feeling fairly certain that the player will sign.

One of the jobs of an area scout is to find out how desperate a particular player might be to sign, like if his family is having financial problems, or maybe the player got his girlfriend pregnant, or the player knows he will have difficulty handling even simple college work, or whatever. So what we don't know about Estrada (but the Cubs probably do) is just how desperate he might be to sign (even if it's not with the Dodgers), especially if he is offered an over-slot bonus worth somewhere close to 1st or 2nd round money, making going to college not worth the risk of injury. 

This is the first year since 1989 that the Cubs have not drafted a college catcher, and the first year since 1988 that they haven't drafted a catcher from a four-year college (they drafted a couple of JC catchers in 1989). 

Of course they can always sign one or two college catchers who weren't drafted (NDFA), like they did last year with Carlos Diaz. 

Az phil Good point on the financial family problems etc possibility i never thought of that one. Another note is that Maples was in the last class before slot bonuses. Any team could open there check books with no penalty. Thats what the Cubs did paying extra to Gretzky, Dunston Jr, Lockhart, just to name a few Maples got $2.5 mil.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.