2019 Cubs Spring Training Uniform Numbers

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 03/28/2019 - 6:30am

3/28 (MLB OPENING DAY) ABSOLUTE FINAL UPDATE: 

LHP Brian Duensing (who was Designated for Assigment this past Sunday) has cleared waivers and has accepted an Outright Assignment to AAA Iowa.

Because he has Article XIX-A status (player has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time), Duensing had to give his permission before he could be sent to ther minors.

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3/28 (MLB OPENING DAY) PRE-GAME FINAL UPDATE: 

And to get down to the MLB Opening Day 25-man Active List roster limit, the Cubs have indeed placed RHRP Tony Barnette (right shoulder inflammation), LHRP Xavier Cedeno (left wrist inflammation), and RHRP Brandon Morrow (November 2018 right elbow debridement surgery) on their MLB 10-day Injured List retroactive to March 25th (which is the furthest back the assignments can be backdated).  

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3/26 UPDATE: 

LHP Kyle Ryan has been optioned to AAA Iowa, and RHRP Allen Webster has been sent to Minor League Camp. 

So the Cubs MLB Active Roster now stands at 28, three above the MLB Opening Day limit of 25 players.

The three remaining moves that will get the Cubs Opening Day roster down to 25 will very likely involve placing RHP Tony Barnette (right shoulder), LHP Xavier Cedeno (left wrist), and RHP Brandon Morrow (November 2018 elbow surgery) on the MLB 10-day Injured List, retroactive to Monday 3/25.
NOTE: A 10-day Injured List assignment can be backdated up to three days -- including the three days prior to MLB Opening Day -- as long as the player being placed on the 10-day Injured List did not play in an MLB regular season game(s) and/or MLB Cactus League or Grapefruit League game(s) during the backdated period. 

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3/24 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have signed FA LHRP Tim Collins to an MLB contract, and LHRP Brian Duensing has been Designated for Assignment to make room on the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) for Collins.

Collins accepted an Optional Assignment to Iowa after signing with the Cubs, and because he has Article XIX-A rights (he has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time), he had to give his consent before he could be sent to the minors.

Collins was an Article XX-B MLB free-agent post-2018, and he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins in February, so just like Junichi Tazawa and the Cubs, the Twins would have had to pay Collins a $100K retention bonus and he would would have received an automatic June 1st opt-out if the Twins hadn't released him (or added him to their MLB 40-man roster) by yesterday's deadline.   

So the Cubs now have seven days to either release or trade Duensing.   

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3/23 UPDATE:

The Cubs have released RHRP Junichi Tazawa.

In addition, RHRP Dillon Maples, C-1B Taylor Davis, and INF-OF Ian Happ were optioned to AAA Iowa.

Also, NRI INF Cristhian Adames and OF Johnny Field have been assigned to Minor League Camp. 

So the Cubs MLB Active List now stands at 30, with one NRI (RHRP Allen Webster) still in MLB Camp as well. 

The Cubs must reduce their Active List to 25 players by MLB Opening Day (Thursday 3/28).

An injured or ill player on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) can be placed on the club's MLB 10-day Injured List beginning on Opening Day, but the assignment can be backdated up to three days (including the three days prior to MLB Opening Day) as long as the player did not play in an MLB regular season game(s) and/or MLB Cactus League game(s) or Grapefruit League game(s) during the backdated period.  

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3/22 UPDATE:

The Cubs have optioned RHSP Alec Mills to Iowa. Mills suffered a lower back strain a couple of weeks ago and so he could not be optioned to the minors until he was healthy enough to pitch. 

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3/15 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have optioned RHP James Norwood, RHP Duane Underwood Jr, and RHP Rowan Wick to AAA Iowa. 

In addition, twelve NRI players (RHP Christian Bergman, RHP Matt Carasiti, RHP George Kontos, RHP Dakota Mekkes, LHP Mike Zagurski, C Francisco Arcia, C P. J. Higgins, 1B-OF Jim Adduci, INF Ryan Court, INF Philip Evans, INF Trent Giambrone, and INF Zach Short) have been sent to Minor League Camp.     

So the Cubs MLB Camp roster now stands at 38 (including four NRI).   


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3/9 UPDATE:

First "batch cut" from Cubs MLB Camp:  

The Cubs have optioned RHP Adbert Alzolay and RHP Jen-Ho Tseng to AAA Iowa and RHP Oscar de la Cruz and LHP Justin Steele to AA Tennessee (although he is on the Restricted List, de la Cruz was optioned so that he cannot accrue MLB Service Time while on the MLB-MLBPA JDV suspension), sent LHP Alberto Baldonado, RHP Craig Brooks, LHP Ian Clarkin, RHP Carlos Ramirez, LHP Colin Rea, RHP Duncan Robinson, C Ian Rice, OF Charcer Burks, OF Jacob Hannemann, and OF Evan Marzilli to Minor League Camp, and released RHP Rob Scahill (who was signed to a minor league contract with an NRI to Spring Training).   

And as I have mentioned before, players who are optioned to the minors or sent to Minor League Camp can continue to play in MLB Cactus League games.  


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2/7 ORIGINAL POST: 




2019 CUBS SPRING TRAINING UNIFORM NUMBERS 


NOTE 1: These are preliminary and are subject to change 
NOTE 2: Several Spring Training Instructors are wearing duplicate numbers 
NOTE 3: Numbers 4, 39, and 49 are not assigned at this time (Cubs do not issue #69) 

1 Terrmel Sledge, ASSISTANT HITTING COACH 
2 Mark Zagunis, OF  
3 Daniel Descalso, INF 
3 David Ross, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
4 
5 Albert Almora Jr, OF 
6 Carl Edwards Jr, P 
7 Victor Caratini, C-1B 
8 Ian Happ, OF-INF
9 Javy Baez, INF 
9 Randy Hundley, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
10 RETIRED 
11 Yu Darvish, P 
12 Kyle Schwarber, OF 
13 David Bote, INF  
14 RETIRED 
15 Brandon Morrow, P 
16 Junichi Tazawa, P (NON-ROSTER)  
17 Kris Bryant, INF 
18 Ben Zobrist, INF-OF 
19 Mark Loretta, BENCH COACH  
20 Brandon Kintzler, P
20 Kevin Youkilis, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
21 Tyler Chatwood, P 
22 Jason Heyward, OF 
23 Ryne Sandberg, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
24 Alec Mills, P 
25 Will Venable, 1st BASE/OUTFIELD COACH 
26 Billy Williams, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR 
27 Addison Russell, INF (RESTRICTED LIST)
28 Kyle Hendricks, P 
29 Brad Brach, P 
30 George Kontos, P (NON-ROSTER) 
30 Ted Lilly, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
31 RETIRED 
32 Brian Duensing, P 
33 Tony Barnette, P  
34 Jon Lester, P 
34 Kerry Wood, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
35 Cole Hamels, P   
36 Dillon Maples, P 
37 Jim Adduci, 1B-OF (NON-ROSTER) 
38 Mike Montgomery, P 
39  
40 Willson Contreras, C 
40 Rick Sutcliffe, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
41 Steve Cishek, P 
42 RETIRED 
43 Anthony Iapoce, HITTING COACH  
44 Anthony Rizzo, 1B 
45 Xavier Cedeno, P 
46 Pedro Strop, P 
46 Ryan Dempster, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
47 Randy Rosario, P 
48 Mike Zagurski, P (NON-ROSTER) 
49 
50 Rowan Wick, P  
51 Duane Underwood Jr, P  
52 Jen-Ho Tseng, P  
53 Taylor Davis, C-1B  
54 Charcer Burks, OF (NON-ROSTER)  
55 Brian Butterfield, 3rd BASE/INFIELD COACH 
56 Kyle Ryan, P 
57 James Norwood, P  
58 Mike Borzello, CATCHING/STRATEGY COACH 
59 Kendall Graveman, P  
60 Francisco Arcia, C (NON-ROSTER) 
61 Allen Webster, P (NON-ROSTER) 
62 Jose Quintana, P 
63 Juan Cabreja, PRE-GAME FIELD COORDINATOR 
64 Carlos Ramirez, P (NON-ROSTER)  
65 Franklin Font, ASSISTANT BULLPEN COACH 
66 Ryan Court, INF-OF (NON-ROSTER)
67 Rob Scahill, P (NON-ROSTER)
67 Doug Dascenzo, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (Minor League Outfield Coordinator) 
68 Tommy Hottovy, PITCHING COACH  
69 
70 Joe Maddon, MANAGER 
71 Oscar de la Cruz, P (RESTRICTED LIST) 
72 Craig Brooks, P (NON-ROSTER)
73 Adbert Alzolay, P 
74 Justin Steele, P  
75 Jacob Hannemann, OF (NON-ROSTER)
76 Chris Denorfia, QUALITY CONTROL COACH  
77 Evan Marzilli, OF (NON-ROSTER)
78 Matt Carasiti, P (NON-ROSTER)
79 Christian Bergman, P (NON-ROSTER)  
80 Colin Rea, P (NON-ROSTER) 
81 Phillip Evans, INF (NON-ROSTER) 
82 Ian Clarkin, P (NON-ROSTER)
83 Johnny Field, OF (NON-ROSTER) 
84 Ian Rice, C-1B (NON-ROSTER) 
85 Trent Giambrone, INF-OF (NON-ROSTER) 
86 P. J. Higgins, C-INF (NON-ROSTER)
87 Alberto Baldonado, P (NON-ROSTER)
88 Mike Mason, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (Minor League Assistant Pitching Coordinator)
89 Dakota Mekkes, P (NON-ROSTER)  
89 Mark Johnson, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (Minor League Catching Coordinator) 
90 Duncan Robinson, P (NON-ROSTER) 
90 Rod Nichols, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (AAA Iowa pitching coach) 
91 Zack Short, INF (NON-ROSTER)
91 Marty Pevey, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (AAA Iowa manager) 
92 Cristhian Adames, INF (NON-ROSTER)
92 Brendan Sagara, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (Minor League Pitching Coordinator)  
93 Carlos Chantres, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (Minor League Assistant Pitching Coordinator) 
94 Jeremy Farrell, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (Minor League Field Coordinator)  
95 Chad Noble, BULLPEN CATCHER 
96 Jonathan Mota, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (Minor League Infield Coordinator) 
97 Chris Valaika, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (Minor League Hitting Coordinator)
98 Terry Clark, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (AA Tennessee pitching coach) 
99 Desi Wilson, SPRING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (AAA Iowa hitting coach)
00 Lester Strode, BULLPEN COACH 

Tags: 
Cubs uniform numbers
2019 Spring Training

Comments

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 1:31pm  

PECOTA predictions out...recently updated...etc

cubs 3rd in NL with 82-80 record, behind MIL(1) and STL(2)

that's nice.  whatever.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 5:45pm  

the "disabled list" is now officially known as the "injured list"

we're waiting on a responce from the over-stimulated "get off my lawn" angry people contingency to complain about PC society or snowflakes or socialism or something...

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 6:20pm  

Since it also includes players who are ill (cancer, blood clot, ebola, etc), a more accurate term would be "Patient List," since the diagnosis must be confirmed (in writing) by a physician (usually the team physician), such that a player who is inactive by virtue of a certified injury or illness must (by definition) be somebody's patient in order to be on the list. 

Or the term "Slacker List" could be another possibility, in that it is both descriptive and inclusive and might help motivate certain players to suck it up and get their ass back on the field and play baseball. 

Submitted by Hagsag  on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 7:01pm  

Well stated Phil.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 8:10pm  

Actually, upon further review I would say "Medical Leave List" ("Medical Leave" or "Med-Leave" for short) would be the best term (because it would include both injuries & illnesses), which would be similar (in kind) to the "Paternity Leave List" (used when a player leaves his club to be present for the birth of his child) and "Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List" (used when a player leaves his club due to a death in the family or a family medical emergency).  

Submitted by bradsbeard  on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 8:50pm  

I suggest the Convalescence Club. 

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 02/08/2019 - 6:21pm  

"In addressing a number of topics with reporters at the conclusion of the Owners Meetings in Orlando, Fla., Manfred expressed appreciation for the "responsive proposal" MLB received last week to the league's proposal about a pitch clock and a three-batter minimum for relief pitchers within a single inning."

https://www.mlb.com/news/rob-manfred-on-potential-...

so like...death to the specialist reliever?  you can't just spring that on a team.

i assume other stuff is stuck to that proposal, like 3 batters or ?? pitches...stuff like that.  still, while i could use a bit less of maddon using 10 pitchers between innings 6-9, i don't think i'd like what that would do to the game even if it speeds it up a few minutes.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 02/09/2019 - 4:00pm  

It will be interesting to see if the Cubs put in a claim on INF Jack Reinheimer if he is placed on waivers by the Orioles (he was a DFA a couple of days ago).

Reinheimer was the only one of the Cubs' four post-2018 waiver claims who they were unable to sneak back through waivers after being awarded a claim.

They did it successfully with Johnny Field and Jerry Vasto, and eventually with Ian Clarkin (after an unsuccessful attempt the first time). 

Submitted by bradsbeard  on Sat, 02/09/2019 - 10:32pm  

AZ Phil, any idea why the Cubs’ website lists Craig Brooks as an IF? I’m asssuming it’s a typo, and not a conversion, but thought I‘d ask anyway. He was actually a 3B/P in college and looks like he could hit a little. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 02/09/2019 - 11:02pm  

BRADSBEARD: Definitely a typo. If Craig Brooks was converting from RHP to INF, he would have been doing it at Instructs (which he wasn't), plus there is no way he would have gotten an NRI to MLB ST as an infielder without first proving he can hit at AA and AAA. A pitcher doesn't convert to position player unless he is a proven professional hitter. Also, Brooks is a legit MLB bullpen prospect. 

Submitted by bradsbeard  on Sat, 02/09/2019 - 11:23pm  

That was my assumption as well, though the two-way thing is getting tried by a few teams so I wondered if there might something crazy going on. 

Submitted by Hagsag  on Tue, 02/12/2019 - 4:21pm  

Sign Travis Wood.

Submitted by Hagsag  on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 8:04am  

Welcome to the Joe Ricketts/Sinclair Cubs.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 1:49pm  

the sharing of bias and false news has become all too common on social media and more alarming, some media outlets publish these same fake stories without checking facts first.

unfortunately, some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control exactly what people think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fHfgU8oMSo

...that stuff aside, the rumors are this new channel will cost cable/satellite providers $4-6 to add it to their programming packages.  also, this new channel will supposedly not be available over-the-air locally, so that's an end of an era.

on a more positive spin, they're supposedly going to show a lot of spring training home-park games and len/jd are going to be retained to call games.

Submitted by JoePepitone  on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 12:19pm  

This is extremely dangerous to our democracy.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever  on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 4:25pm  

So with this new " Cubs Network" people in Iowa that are use to watching them on WGN/CSN are SOL.  That blows.

Submitted by George Altman  on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 7:57pm  

Brach is #29

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 8:09pm  

GEORGE A: Thank you. I didn't see him today. 

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 02/15/2019 - 7:30pm  

sounds like russell is finally taking on some kind of accountability...take of it what you will...

https://www.mlb.com/news/addison-russell-apologize...

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 02/15/2019 - 8:34pm  

maddon on the closer role...

"I think primarily the focus will be who's rested, who hasn't pitched a couple days in a row," Maddon said. "And work it that way until Brandon becomes available. And when he becomes available, it's still not going to be an everyday kind of thing. So, I will work off numbers, but I think with this particular group, a lot of it will have to do with who's most rested."

m.montgomery has a stellar attitude about being locked out of the SP competition and being a swing man...

"I'm going to really try to have fun with it, with the role," Montgomery said. "And embrace whatever it is that comes my way. It's challenging. There's different aspects you've got to really take care of, but I'm going to have fun with it."

Submitted by The E-Man  on Fri, 02/15/2019 - 9:54pm  

PHIL: What’s your impressions of Yovanny Cruz? I’ve read his breaking ball is devastating. Also, is Luke Reynolds out your way? Do you think he has the goods to be a successful MLB player?

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 02/16/2019 - 7:44am  

Brailyn Marquez and Yovanny Cruz were the two best Cubs pitching prospects at Extended Spring Training last year. Cruz throws a mid-90's two-seamer and a hard-slider and probably projects as a reliever at the higher levels, unless he can find a reliable off-speed pitch. 

Although he was drafted just last June, Luke Reynolds turns 24 next month so he will need to hit the ground running and keep moving forward. Time is not on his side. He is a polished college bat with plus BP power, he drives the ball to the opposite-field if he is pitched outside, and he takes a lot pitches and draws a lot of walks. The Cubs played Reynolds at both 1B and 3B at Instructs last month, and he looked comfortable at both spots and handled both positions well. I would think he will probably eventually morph into a "four-corner player" (1B-3B-LF-RF), if he doesn't run out of time.  

Submitted by Charlie  on Sat, 02/16/2019 - 3:33pm  

With Russell's press conference and the Cubs deal with Sinclair both coming near the end of a very slow offseason, I'm having a very hard time getting excited for spring training. Curious what other's think about these issues going forward? I really would like none of my money going to Sinclari. Russell's continued non-admission of specific acts is par for the course but still undercuts his statements about being accountable. Do you all find this issues obstacles to enjoying baseball, too?

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 02/16/2019 - 4:53pm  

add the leaked joe ricketts racist-and-xenophobic-beyond-all-hell emails to the mix and you got a hell of an off-season.  it's bigger news than the 100 nickle and dime contracts they added, anyway.

many (most) people will overlook this, but a chunk of the ricketts family not only talks the talk of their socially immoral beliefs (imo), they put money and labor behind pushing it...and it didn't just start this offseason.

it most likely won't show up in their bottom line because there's probably not enough people taking revenue-hurting steps to make a difference, but i don't plan on buying any cubs gear or purchasing game tickets when i'm in chicago any time soon no matter how successful they are.

i'm not some sufferer on the cross, though...i'm still buying MLB.tv streaming for the season and i will watch.

it's complicated.

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 10:27am  

I only spend baseball money on MLB.tv and tickets when the Cubs come to town (away games). So, like you, there's very little way for me to cut back on spending without just changing team loyalty. I'm still irked.

Baseball is such a silly thing to care about, though. And they keep presenting ethical roadblocks to that whimsy.

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 02/16/2019 - 9:51pm  

"Montgomery has been limited to long toss early in camp due to shoulder stiffness. Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said the southpaw could resume throwing bullpens in two or three days."

also, j.tazawa isn't expected until monday because of visa issues...

Submitted by Mike Wellman  on Sun, 02/17/2019 - 10:35am  

Charlie, Crunch; yep...gotta wonder how much Theo chafes working for these folks...

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 10:28am  

I've never really thought about Theo's politics. But I assume it's not the politics of Joe Ricketts.

Submitted by Hagsag  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 10:37am  

That I am sure is an under statement.

Submitted by FreeSwinging  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 2:30pm  

And yet, no credit given to Tom Ricketts placing the interests of fans (or his $1B baseball operation) ahead of politics, by hiring a progressive like Theo in the first place...

I think the best response is to cast aside a lifetime of diehard fandom (no doubt cultivated during the highly profitable Wrigley regime - unless you’re a Zell guy), and stop buying their xenophobic $20 Javy Baez t-shirts.

lol

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 5:19pm  

marge schott agrees

Submitted by Hagsag  on Sun, 02/17/2019 - 2:37pm  

I saw in Bleacher Report that Miguel Amaya is in camp. Picture of him with the Red Baron.

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 02/17/2019 - 4:40pm  

m.moosetacos returns to the brewers for 1/10m

Submitted by Bob N.  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 1:28pm  

Interesting, this appears to the year of mechanical fixes in the staff, Quintana's toe point and new confidence in his changeup, Hamel's fixes, Chatwood's double pump, wondering if other fixes are in store from the new pitching regime. 

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 1:52pm  

let's hope it goes better than the 5th or 6th time someone has "fixed" jason heyward's swing.

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 1:55pm  

Bob Nightengale‏ @BNightengale

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts on why the Cubs didn't spend more money this offseason on the free-agent market: "Pretty easy. We don’t have any more.''

---

hahahaha...no.

that said, it's a strong team...can't complain too much, though they're playing very loose and fast with the patchwork pen "fixes."

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 3:12pm  

Even if the Cubs exercise the six 2020 club options (Barnette, Brach, Graveman, Morrow, Quintana, and Rizzo) and the two players with potential post-2019 player opt-outs (Heyward and Darvish) don't choose to leave, the Cubs will still have $53M+ coming off the books after this season (Cedeno, Cishek, Duensing, Hamels, Kintzler, Strop, and Zobrist are FA post-2019). 

The Cubs are paying their seven abitration-eligible guys (Baez, Bryant, Edwards, Hendricks, Montgomery, Russell, and Schwarber) about $37M (collectively) in 2019 with Contreras and Almora and possibly Happ and/or K. Ryan (both are a potential "Super Two") eligible for salary arbitration post-2019, so even if there is a collective 50% increase (about $18M) in aggregate arbitration salaries in 2020, the Cubs still would have about $35M (or $42M if Morrow does not return in 2020) in payroll below where they are now going into 2020.     

The Barnette, Descalso, Darvish, Graveman, and Rizzo salaries collectively escalate about $12M from 2019 to 2020, so that leaves the 2020 payroll at about $30M below 2019.   

The Cubs are presently about $20M over the 2019 Competitive Balance Tax ("luxury tax") threshold ($206M), so with $30M in 2019 salaries likely subtracted from the payroll post-2019, the Cubs could add as much as $12M in 2020 payroll next off-season (and that's beyond the projected collective estimated 50% post-2019 salary arbitration bumps) and still come in under the 2020 CBT threshold (which will be $208M - up $2M from 2019). 

Again, that is presuming that the Cubs exercise all of the club options for 2020 (probably with the exception of Morrow) and don't make any "salary dump" trades, Heyward and Darvish do not opt-out, and all of the post-2019 arbitration-eligible guys are tendered 2020 contracts. And if one or motre of the arbitration-eligible guys are traded or non-tendered, that's more available payroll.  

So what would the Cubs MLB 40-man roster potentially look like after the World Series? 

34 players 

* bats or throws left-handed 
# bats both

PITCHERS: 20 
Adbert Alzolay 
Brad Brach 
Tyler Chatwood 
Yu Darvish 
Oscar de la Cruz 
Carl Edwards Jr 
Kendall Graveman 
Kyle Hendricks 
* Jon Lester 
Dillon Maples 
Alec Mills 
* Mike Montgomery 
James Norwood 
* Jose Quintana
* Randy Rosario
* Kyle Ryan 
* Justin Steele 
Jen-Ho Tseng 
Duane Underwood Jr 
Rowan Wick  

CATCHERS: 3 
# Victor Caratini 
Willson Contreras 
Taylor Davis 

INFIELDERS: 6 
Javier Baez 
David Bote 
Kris Bryant 
* Daniel Descalso 
* Anthony Rizzo 
Addison Russell 

OUTFIELDERS: 5 
Albert Almora
# Ian Happ 
* Jason Heyward 
* Kyle Schwarber 
Mark Zagunis 

Mills, Rosario, K. Ryan, Underwood, and Zagunis will be out of minor league options post-2019 making them good candidates for a trade or a non-tender if they do not establish themselves in MLB in 2019, and #3 catcher T. Davis is another candidate for a trade or a non-tender, which could conceivably bring the potential post-2019 roster down to 28.  

Even if the Cubs leave three slots open for free-agent signings (probably a couple of veteran relievers and maybe a 2B), the Cubs should be able to add as many as eight or possibly even nine minor leaguers eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft (or eligible to be a minor league free-agent) to the 40, in some cases during the season (otherwise post-World Series): 

MOST-LIKELY TO BE ADDED TO THE 40 OVER NEXT NINE MONTHS (alphabetical):  
Miguel Amaya, C (but not until 11/20)
Trent Giambrone, INF-OF (possibly during the season otherwise on 11/20) 
Dakota Mekkes, RHRP (possibly during the season otherwise on 11/20) 
Duncan Robinson, RHSP (possibly during the season otherwise on 11/20) 
Zack Short, SS (possibly during the season otherwise on 11/20)

ON THE BUBBLE - three or maybe four (tops) of these guys could be added to 40:
Jose Albertos, RHSP 
Alberto Baldonado, LHRP (minor league 6YFA post-2019 - could be added to 40 during season) 
Craig Brooks, RHRP (could be added to 40 during the season)
Charcer Burks, OF (minor league 6YFA post-2019)
Bailey Clark, RHRP 
Ian Clarkin, LHP - SWING (minor league 6YFA post-2019)
Trevor Clifton, RHSP (minor league 6YFA post-2019 - could be added to 40 during season)
Tom Hatch, RHP - SWING (could be added to 40 during season)
P. J. Higgins, C-INF 
Erick Leal, RHP - SWING (minor league 6YFA post-2019)
Conor Lillis-White, LHRP (could be added to 40 during season)
Tyson Miller, RHSP 
Erling Moreno, RHSP 
Jhonny Pereda, C (minor league 6YFA post-2019)
Michael Rucker, RHP - SWING (could be added to 40 during season)
Matt Swarmer, RHP - SWING (could be added to 40 during season)
Jerry Vasto, LHRP (could be added to 40 during season)

Submitted by Hagsag  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 2:25pm  

Tom is a Ted Cruz look alike.

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 6:52pm  

This is too true and I've never liked it.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 5:47pm  

“The Slacker List”. This is good, AZ PHIL.

From your suggestions, it would apoear that players could certainly appear on more than one list at a time. Not sure what the MLBPA will do with that. But, worry about it later.

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 7:09pm  

the players could bargain for their own lists...

the "operation shutdown list" for when you feel underappreciated as a player and could use a few days off to clear your head with a little bit of crack smoking on a boat.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 9:25pm  

Excellent. So, the “Jose Fernandez List”?

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 02/19/2019 - 10:13am  

that's clearing your head a bit too much...

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 02/19/2019 - 11:46am  

Machado to the Padres.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26031051/manny-...

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 02/19/2019 - 1:45pm  

it's been crazy to watch the fight for the top 2 free agents (machado/harper) become some sort of dogfight between the padres, phillies, and giants...3 teams that didn't even have a .500 record last season.

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 02/19/2019 - 3:27pm  

"Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the Padres haven't ruled out Bryce Harper."

well, a'ite then...go ahead...

Submitted by The E-Man  on Wed, 02/20/2019 - 1:00pm  

10/300 is the new 3/44

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 02/20/2019 - 10:28pm  

Michael Ernst is writing a series of articles on Cubs prospects over at Cubs Den. The work is very detailed and he actually knows who the most noteworthy Cubs prospects really are. Very highly recommended. 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 02/23/2019 - 12:03pm  

First 2019 Cubs MLB Cactus League game today. This is my 42nd year of Cubs Spring Training (first one was in Scottsdale in 1978).  

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 02/23/2019 - 5:50pm  

looked like a good one from the box score.  i've been out all day, back home now, and ready to take in my first televised game of the spring (HOU/WAS).

is o.de la cruz still considered a starter or is he transitioning to the pen?  looks like he put in a solid inning pulling up the end of the game.

wish i could find the time to enjoy arizona this year.  i haven't done spring training since 2010.  the horticulturalist in me would love to be out there for what should be one hell of a wildflower bloom season (based on the winter rains) as well as the games.  it should be a sea of yellow/purple/white/orange/red amongst the green out there soon enough.

btw, chatwood starts tomorrow.  that should be...something.

Submitted by Hagsag  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 5:04am  

Phil, congratulations on your 42 years. BTW, it is our 45 wedding anniversary  too!

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 11:32am  

HAGSAG: I would say 45 years of marriage is maybe just a wee bit more impressive than 42 years of Cubs Spring Training, so my congratulations to you and Mrs. Hagsag!

Submitted by Hagsag  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 11:52am  

Thank you sir.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 02/23/2019 - 6:17pm  

For those of you who did not see the game....

Kris Bryant's first inning HR off Chase Anderson was a towering fly ball that was a bit wind-aided, but not unlike what you might see at Wrigley Field. The line single had a lot of top-spin and fell in front of the left-fielder. 

Here are some of the velo readings for the Cubs pitchers: 

Mike Zagurski:
FB: 89-91 
SL: 81 
NOTE: Nibbled too much, but he did strike out Eric Thames with FB/SL combo. 

Rowan Wick
FB: 94-96 
CV: 77 (he threw a number of curves) 
NOTE: Worked fast and threw his FB and CV for strikes

Matt Carasiti
FB: 94-95 
CT: 86-88 (swing & miss pitch)
SL: 81-82 (swing & miss pitch)
CH: 78-81 
NOTE: Carasiti was VERY impressive and really mixed his considerable repertoire, keeping hitters off-balance. 

Carlos Ramirez 
FB: 92-93 - T-94 
SL: 81-82 
NOTE: Working 92-93 his FB was very hittable and his SL is just so-so

Alberto Baldonado
FB: 91-93 
CV: 77-78 
CH: 80-81 
NOTE: Baldonado really has more of a SP repertoire and approach (mixes his pitches and works kind of slow).

Craig Brooks
FB: 92-94 (hitters squared it up consistently) 
SL: 84-85 (his "out" pitch) 
NOTE: The trick for Brooks is to get to two strikes so he can wipe-out the hitter with his plus-SL

Oscar de la Cruz 
FB: 95-96 (easy gas) 
CV: 80 
NOTE: de la Cruz threw all FB except for one CV 

And why de la Cruz was allowed to pitch in an "official" MLB Cactus League Spring Training game while on the Restricted List, I do not know. 

Submitted by Eric S  on Sat, 02/23/2019 - 7:06pm  

Careful what you tweet regarding KB - he’s reading and he’s pissed!  I kinda like seeing KB hot under the collar - very out of character for him. 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26064097/kris-bryant-chicago-cubs-motivated-criticism-entering-2019-season

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 02/23/2019 - 7:37pm  

hopefully the fans stay respectful and don't lower themselves to the type of scum that were heckling hunter pence...

http://mlb.mlb.com/assets/images/2/9/6/88256296/cu...

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 11:26am  

Confirmed MLB is now permitting players who are on the Restricted List as the result of a JDPTP or JDV suspension to participate in "official" MLB Cactus League and Grapefruit League games, so expect to see both Oscar de la Cruz - AND - Addison Russell play in Cubs MLB Cactus League games.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 1:07pm  

It appears that Russell is scheduled to play today 

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 2:09pm  

please no standing ovation...

i'm counting on you cubs fans.  you don't have to rain boos down on him...but, please...no standing O...

the many-years-long plague going across almost every team of "you did something really bad, but you're one of us, so here's some loving support for you" is a bit embarrasing no matter what your team happens to be...

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 2:49pm  

@SF (but it's spring and cubs fans own almost every arizona park no matter the team affiliation)...russell got a rather muted welcome to the plate...a few boos...a few cheers...mostly a lot of nothing, though (unless they turned down the stadium mic's on the cubs feed).

he hit a single off a slightly hanging bumg off-speed pitch.

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 3:00pm  

chatwood...

single, double play, walk, HR (b.belt), ground out

K (a.hanson), ground out, HBP, popout (diving by schwarber!)

2ip 2h 1bb 1k, 2er, 1hbp

mid-season form!

evidently the elimination of the "stabbing motion" on his delivery is one of the big changes he's made this spring according to len on the radio feed.  he has a lot of things going on in his delivery which aids the deception part of his pitching game.

also, this was his first time this spring facing live batting outside of the internal mounds according to len.  he's been doing his work inside up until this point.

Submitted by Craig A.  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 5:56pm  

And Chatwood is the winning pitcher!  Yeah spring trainig stats.

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 9:34am  

Stabbing motion? Was that something he did with his glove-side? The only parts of his delivery I remember are his jerky shoulder rotation and a short-arm delivery.

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 10:46am  

not 100% sure, but it might be the thing where he brings his pitching hand and ball back from the glove just as he starts his windup motion.

Submitted by Charlie  on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 8:39am  

Oh yeah. That could be it. (Remembering that makes my rotator cuff hurt.) Thanks!

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 2:36pm  

d.bote just took a fastball to the back/top of the helmet and he's out of the game.

down on 1 knee for a minute or so...walked back to the dugout under his own power.

bumg out of the 2nd giving up 5 hits and 1hbp without recording an out.  woo, spring baseball.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 5:44pm  

PHIL: Mazel Tov on the milestone Anniversary! You must have met your bride at ETHS? May you two always sit in the shade together...all the best to many more!

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 02/24/2019 - 7:31pm  

reminder that the 1st televised cubs game is tomorrow (LAD feed) at 3:05pm EST and it's a split squad day for CHC...

unless a game is added between the next televised start, there is no televised game after this until March 1st @ARZ (Friday, FSArizona feed)

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 9:35am  

whispers: why are there even spring training games in February anyway

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 10:00am  

Money.

Submitted by Hagsag  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 10:37am  

$63 for a right to sit in the grass? 

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 1:32pm  

cubs sending out the B-teamers for the televised LAD game...most of the "real" roster in SD for the split squad today...

1. Trent Giambrone 2B 2. Christhian Adames SS 3. Ian Happ CF 4. Kyle Schwarber DH 5. Yasiel Balaguert 1B 6. Johnny Field LF 7. Francisco Arcia C 8. Jose Cardona RF 9. Chesny Young 2B

christian bergman gets the start.

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 2:16pm  

...and the game was removed from the broadcast schedule.

spring training...yeah...

even the cubs twitter feed is confused

Chicago Cubs @Cubs
Might have been bad info on our end - the Dodgers site indicated a TV broadcast but we're only seeing an audio option at this time.

Submitted by Eric S  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 3:32pm  

Willson with what sounded on the radio broadcast like a no doubt, three run homer against the Padres, scoring JHey and KB (who walked in both at bats today). Give Contreras some more breaks and maybe we’ll see that 2017 level power stroke again. 

Submitted by crunch  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 5:46pm  

lester goes 2ip 0h 1bb 3k...the 1bb (t.jankowski, plus speed) stole 2nd and 3rd

d.bote expected to be cleared to play tomorow, and probably back in action wednesday.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 5:46pm  

For those of you who were not at the Cubs-Padres game at Sloan Park today (Monday 2/25), here are the velo readings for the Cubs pitchers: 

JON LESTER: 
FB: 89-91
CT: 86-88 
CV: 72-75
BOTE: Threw only three CV (toward the end), the rest were FB or CT... was so-so in first inning, but then was very sharp in the 2nd...    

BRANDON KINTZLER: 
FB: 90-92 
NOTE: Just kept throwing FB after FB  

BRIAN DUENSING: 
FB: 88-90 
CH: 84-86 
CV: 70 
NOTE: Worked FB/CH back & forth with one "Bugs Bunny" CV... Best I've seen Duensing throw since last May...

DUANE UNDERWOOD JR: 
FB: 92-94 
CV: 78-79
NOTE: Struggled to command FB... Best pitch was CV  

RANDY ROSARIO:
FB: 92-94 - T-95-96 
CH: 85-88 
NOTE: Came out smokin' (first three pitches were 96-95-96) then velo went down 

WYATT SHORT: 
FB: 91-92 
SL: 82-83 
NOTE: FB hits 92 time-after-time with virtually no variation... SL works OK versus LH hitters 

GEORGE KONTOS: 
FB: 88-89
SL: 83-85
NOTE: FB had no life whatsoever, looks like he has a dead arm... If this is all he has to offer he isn't going to make the Iowa bullpen, much less the pen at Wrigley...  

BRAD MARKEY: 
FB: 92-94
SL: 82-84 
NOTE: SL isn't sharp enough to offset a very straight FB 

Submitted by The E-Man  on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 10:16am  

PHIL: Thank you for the Pitchers velo! I was really hopeful for Kontos as the former Niles North and N. U. product. In 2016 he pitched against the Cubs in the Playoffs and they hit him pretty hard. However, I thought he still might have some arm left. But, it doesn’t sound like it. Are the Cubs going to stick Underwood back at AAA? He’s seemingly been toiling the minors for them since he turned 9.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 10:47am  

E-MAN: Duane Underwood Jr is a lock to go back to Iowa. Whether he will be a SP or a RP there is still TBD, but if I had to guess I would say he will probably be a SP/RP "swing-man." Also, this is his last option year (he will be out of minor league options in 2020), so 2019 is probably a "make or break" year for him with respect to his future in the Cubs organization. 

Submitted by bradsbeard  on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 7:24pm  

Jared Young going yard, getting big cheers from Brennen Davis and Nico Hoerner. 

https://twitter.com/nico_hoerner/status/1100164846...

Submitted by VirginiaPhil  on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 9:12am  

The Cub I seem to be most interested in these days is Eloy Jimenez.

I was a south-sider who switched over to the Cubs because of Ernie Banks. Maybe one of these days I'll switch back. It may depend on whether these Cubs can ever draft a decent starting pitcher.

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 10:20am  

got some bad news for you about that eloy guy...and maybe that "draft a decent starting pitcher" part depending on how you feel about dylan cease...

3.5 years of j.quintana on the cheap didn't come cheap...

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 6:41pm  

With the exception of SP Yu Darvish and minor leaguer Scott Effross (who finished Darvish's second inning), today's pitchers were the same ones who threw at Sloan Park on Saturday:  

YU DARVISH: 
FB: 94-96
2S: 89-92 
SL  85-86
CH: 80-83 
CV: 77 
NOTE: Threw a wide variety of pitches without any apparent difficulty but struggled to command his stuff in both innings... Body language showed he was frustrated on the mound...  

SCOTT EFFROSS: 
FB: 91-92 
SL: 80-84 
NOTE: Mediocre (and very hittable) FB mixed with inconsistent SL...  

ROWAN WICK:
FB 94-96 
CV: 77 
NOTE: Exact same everything as Saturday - same mid-90's FB and likes to throw the CV a lot - about 60/40 FB/CV, and his CV is ALWAYS exactly 77 MPH...  

MIKE ZAGURSKI: 
FB: 90-93 
SL/CV: 79-81 
NOTE: Had two MPH better FB velo than he showed on Saturday in his first inning of work but then velo went back down to 90-91 in his 2nd inning... same breaking ball (kind of slurvy) he showed on Saturday but he didn't use it much... worked at a better pace and didn't nibble as much as he did last time out...   

MATT CARASITI: 
FB: 91-94 
SL: 81-82 
CH: 78-80 (may be a splitter?)
NOTE: FB velo was down a bit from Saturday and he didn't mix in his secondaries quite as much as he did last time 

CARLOS RAMIREZ: 
FB: 91-93 
SL: 81-82 
NOTE: Same-o-same-o as what he showed Saturday... Not bad but nothing special... 

ALBERTO BALDONADO: 
FB: 92-93 - T-95-96 
CH: 80-82
CV: 76-78 
NOTE: Pretty much the same story as Saturday (decent stuff but spotty command) up until the last two pitches, when he suddenly muscled-up and threw two chest-high mid-90's FB (95 and 96) out of the blue for inning-ending K... Other than just seeing Darvish healthy and pitching in a game, the last two Baldonado pitches were probably the two most interesting pitches of the day...  
 
CRAIG BROOKS: 
FB: 92-94 
NOTE: Didn't throw SL today... same FB velo as Saturday but FB is straight and hittable...  

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 9:43pm  

the command issues suck, but it's nice to see yu's velocity where it is this early in spring.

Submitted by Srl510  on Wed, 02/27/2019 - 9:24pm  

Hi AZ Phil, Stephanie here from Cubs Den. I plan on being in town next week. Refresh my memory—do the minor leaguers start on the backfields around 9 am or so each day? 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 02/28/2019 - 12:08am  

STEPHANIE: The times vary but they're usually out on the fields by 9:30 or 10. 

Submitted by Srl510  on Thu, 02/28/2019 - 1:25pm  

Thanks for the info! Hope to see you around next week!

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 02/28/2019 - 6:00pm  

Here are the velo readings from today's Cubs - A's game at Sloan Park:

KYLE HENDRICKS: 
FB: 85-87
CH: 78-79 
CV: 69-70
NOTE: Vintage Hendricks...  mid-season form... nothing to see here, folks... keep moving...

BRIAN DUENSING: 
FB: 87-88 
CH: 77-79
CV: 69-73 
NOTE: An effective if not particularly eye-popping outing... excellent command... mixed-up his pitches very well, not unlike Hendricks actually...  

BRANDON KINTZLER: 
FB: 89-92 
SL: 83-85 
NOTE: Steady outing... nothing spectacular but what else would you expect from a veteran journeyman reliever?... 

GEORGE KONTOS: 
FB: 87-89 T-90 
SL: 84-85 
NOTE: Same as last time... SL good, but FB is still lame... 

JEN-HO TSENG: 
FB: 88-91 
CH: 82-84 
SL: 83 
CV: 74-76
NOTE: A's hitters squared up everything he threw up there... terrible command with mediocre stuff...  if there is such a thing as hanging a fastball, he did it... a definite DFA candidate if the Cubs need one at the end of Spring Training... 

JORDAN MINCH: 
FB: 93-94 
SL: 81-83 
NOTE: Throws fairly hard but (as usual) he still can't command his FB... All over the place with it... Cubs keep waiting for the light to turn on, but it hasn't (yet)...    

RANDY ROSARIO:
FB: 93-94 
CH: 86-89 
NOTE: Two of his first three pitches (both 94 MPH FB) were crushed for long HR... Why?... FB is straight and is almost always exactly 94 MPH... CH is more of a show-me pitch used as a distraction...     

ALLEN WEBSTER:
FB: 94-97 T-98 
SL: 89-91 
CH: 88-90 
NOTE: Just - Wow! - ... Absolutely electric... power slider combined with high-velocity FB and an occasional CH... FB was hitting 97 consistently and slider was filthy... some command issues during the inning but not uncommon given the quality of the stuff... I'm telling you right now -- if the Cubs can't use him I'll betcha he can help somebody's MLB bullpen get better in a hurry...  biggest concern with Webster is that he is out of minor league options, so if Cubs add him to the 40 (and the Opening Day 25) he can't realistically get sent down to Iowa if there is roster crunch later (like when Brandon Morrow comes back) because he - WILL - get claimed off waivers... what to do? what to do?...  

MANUEL RONDON: 
FB: 91-93 
SL: 81-82
NOTE: Nothing too special here but he threw strikes and worked fast and mixed his pitches well... 

Submitted by Hagsag  on Thu, 02/28/2019 - 7:47pm  

Thanks, in Phil we trust.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 02/28/2019 - 7:52pm  

f'real...this is great stuff.

Submitted by Charlie  on Fri, 03/01/2019 - 11:21am  

Thanks for these detailed accounts, AZ Phil!

In your opinion, has Tseng regressed in recent seasons? I've only ever seen him with the major league team, but he's always looked eminently hittable in those outings. He doesn't seem to throw anything that fools hitters. Your note about the hanging fastball seems right on the money. I've wondered if his delivery, which looks to me like it involves a lot of horizontal rotation of the shoulders, gives too good a look at the ball out of his hand. I vaguely remember him being a decent prospect and projected as a potential starter in the past. So I'm wondering if he used to look better.

Submitted by Hagsag  on Sat, 03/02/2019 - 10:08am  

Phil I have a couple of questions for you. Is Hoerner throwing okay now? How is Justin Steele looking? I know he hasnt thrown in a game yet. Also, do you expect some young Latins arriving soon?

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 12:12pm  

HAGSAG: Justin Steele is being brought along slowly. He is in MLB camp only because by rule he has to be because he's on the MLB 40-man roster. Also, because he is a Rule 6 Draft-Excluded Player, Steele cannot be sent to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day (March 8th).

So I would expect Steele to be part of the Cubs' first Spring Training "batch cut" (a dozen or more players) which will probably happen sometime around March 11-12 (MLB Cubs have a day off on Monday 3/11, there is a night game on Tuesday 3/12, and Cactus League minor league Spring Training games start on Thursday 3/14).

The Cubs normally don't send players to Minor League Camp more than two or three days before the first minor league Spring Training games because most of the position players and pitchers in big league camp are already in game shape and don't need fielding practice, baserunning drills, "live" BP, etc. 

As for Latin players, if you're talking about players coming up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy, that won't happen until the week prior to the start of Extended Spring Training. Minor League Camp exists to determine who will be on the Opening Day rosters of the four Cubs full-season minor league teams (Iowa, Tennessee, Myrtle Beach, and South Bend), and it's already crowded enough on the backfields (100+ pitchers and 90+ position players) without adding another 20 or 30 DSL guys (who have zero chance of making the South Bend Opening Day roster) to the scrum.  

Submitted by Hagsag  on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 1:16pm  

How is Hoener’s arm?

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 03/02/2019 - 6:11pm  

I know the game was on TV, but for anyone who might not have seen it, here are the Cubs pitchers' velo readings from Saturday's Cubs - Brewers game at Sloan Park in Mesa: 

JON LESTER: 
FB: 88-91 
CT: 85-87
CH: 81-84 
CV: 71-74 
NOTE: Worked three innings and other than the Travis Shaw oppo-field two-run HR, Lester was in mid-season form... 

STEVE CISHEK: 
FB: 89-92 
CH: 85 
CV: 77-79 
NOTE: First ST outing and he looked pretty good 

ROWAN WICK:
FB: 94-96
SL: 87-91
CV: 76-80 
NOTE: Pretty much the same thing we've seen in his first two outings, with a high-velo slider added to the mix. 

MATT CARASITI: 
FB: 91-94 
CT: 85-87 
CH: 80-81 
NOTE: FB velo still down a bit after consistently working at 95 in his first outing at Sloan last Saturday... FB got hit hard today and he couldn't finish his inning... secondaries were not too good today, either...  

SEAN BERGMAN: 
FB: 84-87 
CV: 74-77 
NOTE: Marginal stuff (to say the least) but at least he works fast... 

IAN CLARKIN: 
FB: 89-91
SL: 83-84 
CV: 77 
NOTE: Stuff is solid but he has a lot of trouble commanding it... he's mostly a project right now... I'm not sure he's even ready for AAA, but he remains a decent prospect with some upside... He is eligible to be a minor league 6YFA post-2019, so Cubs could add him back to the 40 after the World Series if he declines to sign a 2020 successor contract... 

ALBERTO BALDONADO:
FB: 91-94
CH: 83-86
CV: 78 
NOTE: Even though he's been a minor league 6YFA two years in a row, he's still really more of a prospect than run-of-the-mill AAA roster depth... High ceiling guy who could emerge as a AAA break-out reliever in 2019 if he can throw strikes more consistently ... I could see the Cubs adding Baldonado to the 40 after the World Series to keep him from walking away as a minor league FA... he is a legit prospect...  

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 03/02/2019 - 6:26pm  

cishek also had a "4 out" inning thanks to the sun and some bad communication between LF and SS on an easy popout that turned into a hit. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 03/02/2019 - 7:23pm  

Seeing the Trent Goambone HR today reminds me that he isn't very good defensively, and in fact the one position he plays OK (and it's just OK) is 2B. So leave him at 2B and he could perhaps develop into a Brian Dozier-type 2B. Not everybody can be super-sub. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 6:27pm  

For those of you who did not see the game, here are the velo readings for Cubs pitchers from today's Cubs - White Sox game at Sloan Park in Mesa: 

YU DARVISH: 
FB: 93-96 - T-97 
2S: 89-92 
SL: 84-86
CH: 84
NOTE: Even better FB velo than last time... command a lot better, too... unlike last outing, he didn't throw any slow CV today... outing was probably truncated due to long home half-innings in 1st & 2nd... 

LUIS LUGO:
FB: 86-88 
CH: 81-82
NOTE: Pressed into service when Darvish's third inning was canceled... worked fast & threw strikes... was selected by Cubs in AAA Phase of 2018 Rule 5 Draft so he must spend Spring Training with AAA Iowa, then he can be assigned to any Cubs minor league affiliate...  

TONY BARNETTE: 
FB: 91-92
CT: 89-90
CH: 85 
SL: 81 
NOTE: Threw mostly FB and CT... the Abreu HR was crushed...  

DILLON MAPLES: 
FB: 96-97
SL: 87-89 
CH: 84 
NOTE: Dominating high velo FB/SL combo... improved command...  the two-run HR by Engel was oppo-field off 97 MPH FB...   

JUNICHI TAZAWA: 
FB: 90 
CH 84-86 (splitter) 
CV: 73-77 
NOTE: First game outing of 2019 after visa problem delayed his arrival... threw mostly splitters and curves and got good results with both pitches (induced swings & misses)... used mediocre FB only as "show-me" set-up pitch... keep in mind Tazawa was an Article XX-B MLB FA post-2018, so he gets an automatic $100K retention bonus and June 1st opt-out if he is not released or added to MLB 40-man roster prior to MLB Opening Day...  

CARLOS RAMIREZ: 
FB: 90-92 
SL: 81-83 
NOTE: Same show as last two times except velo was down slightly... generic 4-A middle-reliever... not bad, but nothing stands out... 

MIKE ZAGURSKI: 
FB: 90-92 
SL: 78-81 (more slurve than SL)  
NOTE: FB & BB velo down a bit from previous outing... might be useful as LOOGY because his "slurvy" breaking ball works really well against LH hitters (struck out Rutherford and Delmonico)...  

DAKOTA MEKKES: 
FB: 89-92 
CH: 82 
SL: 81 
NOTE: Threw mostly FB and good results with it by changing hitter's eye level...  

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 6:41pm  

Because of off days the Cubs will need only four SP over the first ten days of the MLB regular season, so if one of the Cubs SP has as much as a sprained hang-nail I would hope that the Cubs would seriously consider placing him on the 10-day Injured List prior to Opening Day and carry Dillon Maples as a 9th arm in the pen for the first ten days of the season. 

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 7:09pm  

that maples HR sucks, but at this point i'll take him giving up 2 hits in an inning over 2 walks.

his slider is soooo nasty when it's clicking.  i really want to see him put together a couple of pitches with enough command and control to be more than a poor man's carlos marmol.

Submitted by Sonicwind75  on Mon, 03/04/2019 - 1:25pm  

Thank you for posting these pitching updates!  Great info. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 03/04/2019 - 3:11pm  

Early-morning Cubs MLB "sim" game at Riverview Baseball Complex Field #6. 

Cole Hamels, Mike Montgomery, and Brandon Kintzler were the pitchers, Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, and Ian Happ were the hitters, and the Iowa squad provided baserunners (Rizzo, Heyward, and Happ did not run the bases) and most of the position players on defense (the catchers were from MLB Camp). 

LINEUP: 
Anthony Rizzo: 1-7 (3-U, 1B, F-7, 4-1, 4-3, HBP, K, F-8) 
Jason Heyward: 2-6 (K, 1B, F-7, K, K, 1B) 
Ian Happ: 0-5 (BB, K, K, 5-3, P-6, L-4) 

PITCHERS: 
1. Cole Hamels: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2/2 GO/AO, 48 pitches (27 strikes)
2. Mike Montgomery: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 29 pitches (19 strikes)
3. Brandon Kintzler: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 15 pitches (9 strikes) 
 
DEFENSE: 
C: Taylor Davis & Ian Rice  
1B: Yasiel Balaguert 
2B: Christian Donahue  
3B: Andy Weber 
SS: Aramis Ademan & Nico Hoerner 
LF: Kevonte Mitchell & Nelson Velazquez  
CF: D. J. Wilson 
RF: Eddy Julio Martinez 

Submitted by Eric S  on Mon, 03/04/2019 - 3:47pm  

Thanks AZ Phil. Safe to assume Hoerner is allowed to throw overhand now? 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 03/04/2019 - 4:13pm  

ERIC S: Yes. Nico Hoerner is throwing without any apparent difficulty. 

Also, Rizzo playfully charged the mound after being hit on the right shoulder by a Hamels 75 MPH breaking ball that didn't break.    

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 03/04/2019 - 4:54pm  

There were four short minor league intrasquad "live" BP/"sim" games played simultaneously on each of the four Riverview backfields after the MLB "sim" game was completed.

Ten pitchers threw and position players rotated between offense and defense: 

TWO INNINGS EACH: 
Javier Assad 
Derek Casey
Tom Hatch 
Brendan Little 
Brailyn Marquez 
Eury Ramos 
Riley Thompson 

ONE INNING EACH: 
Zach Hedges 
Pablo Ochoa (April 2018 TJS rehab)
Tyler Peyton 

IOWA POSITION PLAYERS: 
C: Erick Castillo & Will Remillard
1B: Yasiel Balaguert  
2B: Christian Donahue 
SS: Aramis Ademan & Nico Hoerner 
3B: Jesse Hodges 
Andy Weber rotated between 3B-2B-1B  
LF: Kevonte Mitchell & Nelson Velazquez 
CF: D. J. Wilson 
RF: Zach Borenstein 
Eddy Julio Martinez rotated between CF-RF

TENNESSEE POSITION PLAYERS: 
C: Miguel Amaya & Michael Cruz 
1B: Tyler Durna 
2B: Carlos Sepulveda 
3B: Wladimir Galindo 
SS: Rafael Narea 
Austin Filiere rotated between 3B-1B
Jhonny Bethencourt rotated between 2B-SS 
LF: Jimmy Herron & D. J. Artis 
CF: Fernando Kelli & Brennen Davis 
RF: Jonathan Sierra & Edmond Americaan  
DH: Kevin Moreno 

MYRTLE BEACH: 
C: Bennie Kaleiwahea, Gustavo Polanco, and Tyler Payne 
1B: Luke Reynolds & Tyler Alamo 
2B: Delvin Zinn & Jake Slaughter 
3B: Yeiler Peguero & Robel Garcia 
SS: Luis Vazquez & Eli Jordan 
LF: Zach Davis & Roberto Caro  
CF: Connor Myers & Jose Gutierrez 
RF: Luis Ayala & Jamie Galazin  
DH: Dalton Hurd

SOUTH BEND: 
C: Caleb Knight, Rafelin Lorenzo, and Richard Nunez 
1B: Grant Fennell & Rafael Mejia 
2B:  Austin Upshaw & Luis Diaz 
3B: Yonathan Perlaza & Josue Huma 
SS: Christopher Morel & Clayton Daniel 
LF: Chris Pieters & Chris Carrier
CF: Cole Roederer & Chris Singleton 
RF: Brandon Hughes & Kwangmin Kwon 

Submitted by bradsbeard  on Tue, 03/05/2019 - 8:02am  

AZ Phil, Jared Young has appeared in 5 MLB ST games already. By my count, the only other player below AA to play in a game is Miguel Amaya (he got into Saturday’s game) and a few more made it into that first set of split squad games. And Young has really performed well. Has 2 HRs already, a solid base hit against former Cubs prospect and NPB vet Jay Jackson, and a hard hit ball to the warning track today off MLB reliever Amir Garrett. Len Kesper has been complimentary during broadcasts, and I know you have glave him high remarks during instructs  

Would you say this kind of playing time is indicative of how much the Cubs think of Young? There are other more experienced AAA guys seeing less playing time. Obviously he was their minor league player of the year last year, but still he’s not someone who has gotten much attention outside of Cubs fan circles. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 03/05/2019 - 2:31pm  

BRADSBEARD: The Cubs have a much higher opinion of Jared Young than do the various prospect evaluation sites. Young is being fast-tracked and will likely begin the 2019 season at AA. He is the best pure hitter in the system. The only negative is that he plays 1B-LF. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 03/05/2019 - 1:39pm  

Another four minor league intrasquad "live" BP / "sim" games were played on the Riverview backfields this morning.  

Seven pitchers threw: 

TWO INNINGS EACH: 
Cory Abbott
Faustino Carrera
Yovanny Cruz   
Alex Lange 
Riley McCauley 
Erling Moreno 
Michael Rucker 

ONE INNING: 
Bailey Clark 

Submitted by tim815  on Tue, 03/05/2019 - 2:39pm  

Riley McCauley getting two innings. Note to self.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 03/06/2019 - 5:41pm  

For those of you who did not see the game, here are the velo readings for (most) of the Cubs pitchers who threw in the Cubs- Royals game today at Sloan Park in Mesa: 

JOSE QUINTANA: 
FB: 91-94 
CH: 86-89
CV  76-77 
NOTE: FB velo was 93-94 in 1st inning of work but dropped to 91-92 by third inning... mixed his pitches effectively and got swings & misses with the CH... 

PEDRO STROP: 
FB: 94-95
CT: 87-89
SL: 82-84
NOTE: Looked a bit rusty... SL had good break and FB velo was pretty good, but command came & went... threw too many pitches and was unable to finish inning... 

MIKE ZAGURSKI: 
FB: 90-93 
SL: 81 (slurve)
NOTE: Threw almost all FB because he faced only RH hitters... it was what I have come to see as a standard outing from Zagurski... 

STEVE CISHEK 
FB: 89-92 
CH: 85 
CV: 77-78 
NOTE: Looked very good...  exact same stuff as last time...  

BRAD BRACH: 
No info because stastcast was turned-off during his inning. 

TYLER CHATWOOD: 
FB: 92-95 
CT: 89-90 
CH: 81-83 
CV: 77-79 
NOTE: Another really fine outing by Chatwood.... once again, he issued no walks, threw a variety of types of pitches, and while he  bounced a couple or three CV and CH and missed a bit with the CT, he had good command of his FB... FB velo began at 95 and was at 95 at the end of his third inning as well, so he didn't lose anything during the course of the three innings...  As an extra added bonus he made two very nice defensive plays, showing off his old shortstop moves... he looked very relaxed and comfortable on the mound...  

Submitted by Charlie  on Wed, 03/06/2019 - 6:36pm  

A reasonably effective Chatwood would be such an unexpected bonus. I'll cross my fingers, but not too hard. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 03/07/2019 - 6:16pm  

For those of you who did not see the game, here are the velo readings for Cubs pitchers in the Cubs - Rockies game this afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa: 

JON LESTER:  
FB: 88-91 
CT: 85-87 
CH: 82-84
CV: 71-76 
NOTE: Despite the two HR, I actually thought he threw the ball well.. he increased his innings & pitch count, so mission accomplished...   

WILL SHORT: 
FB: 92-93 
SL: 81-82 
NOTE: Finished Lester's fourth inning... the Murphy HR was on a 93 MPH FB and was one of the longer HR hit to LF I've ever seen at Sloan..  

BRIAN DUENSING: 
FB: 88-90
CH: 84-86
CV: 76-78 
NOTE: Another solid outing from Duensing, although his stuff is not particularly awe-inspiring... his FB velo was up by two MPH (albeit stiill only 90 MPH) over his last outing, however... 

JUNICHI TAZAWA: 
FB: 89-91 
CH: 84-86 (splitter) 
CV: 72-74 
NOTEL Got swings & misses from both splitter & curve and FB velo upticked a bit from his first outing... Tazawa actually looks pretty good so far.. 

BRANDON KINTZLER: 
FB: 90-92 
CH: 87 
SL: 85 
NOTE: He threw almost all two-seam FB with poor command... when he did throw strikes Rockies returned hard contact... he couldn't finish his inning even after mound visit from pitching coach... if the Cubs are willing to eat Kintzler's $5M salary (offset by pro-rated MLB minimum $575K salary if he signs a major league contract with another MLB club after getting released) I can think of about a half-dozen other relief options I would prefer to see working out of the Cubs bullpen who would be making just about the $575K the Cubs would save if Kintzler is released and signs a major league contract with another club... 

ZACH HEDGES: 
FB: 89-92 
CH: 83 
NOTE: Finished Kintzler's inning... I can't see room for Hedges at Iowa and I'm not even sure there will be a spot for him at Tennessee, either.
. 
DILLON MAPLES: 
FB: 95-96 - T-97 
SL: 87-90 
CV: 82-85 
NOTE: Continues to throw high-velo FB/SL combo... command of both pitches still good... occasional low-80's hammer-CV (which functions as a de facto CH) is a decent off-speed third pitch...  from what I have seen so far, it looks like Maples is ready to contribute at the MLB level...  

DAKOTA MEKKES: 
FB: 90-91 
CH: 83 
NOTE: Continues to get good results although there is nothing special about his stuff, but his release point & arm angle really seem to befuddle hitters... I still say he reminds me a bit of Rod Beck, in terms of a cool & confident mound presence despite somewhat pedestrian stuff... 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 03/09/2019 - 6:14pm  

For those of you who might have missed today's Cubs - Angels game at Sloan Park, here are the velo readings for Cubs pitchers: 

DUANE UNDERWOOD JR: 
FB: 92-94 
CH: 84-85
CV: 77-78 
NOTE: The Bour monster HR to CF was off a 94 MPH FB... Underwood's FB has decent velocity but gets squared-up pretty easliy... CV is still his best pitch... 

PEDRO STROP: 
FB: 92-94
CT: 87-89
SL: 82-83 
NOTE: Command is still a bit off, but otherwise he looks healthy and ready to roll... 

STEVE CISHEK: 
FB: 88-90
CH: 85 
CV: 76-78 
NOTE: FB velo was a bit down today, so Cishek dazzled Angels hitters with his mid-70's CV, a pitch you rarely see from a side-armer... 

GEORGE KONTOS: 
FB: 87-90
CH: 85-86
SL: 82-84 
NOTE: FB still looks tired and he couldn't command it, either... only his SL is fully-functional... I would say he is a good bet to get released sometime in the next few days...

ROWAN WICK:
FB: 93-96
SL: 80-83 
NOTE: Threw mainly FB with typical (for him) mid-90's velo, but when he did throw a breaking ball it was a slurvy SL instead of the 77 MPH CV he had been using quite a bit previously... 

CARLOS RAMIREZ: 
FB: 90-92 
SL: 80-83 
NOTE: FB velo still down a bit down after touching 94 a couple of weeks ago... not only is there no spot for Ramirez in Chicago, there is probably no spot for him in Des Moines, either...  

ALBERTO BALDONADO: 
FB: 92-93
CH: 84-85
CV: 78-79 
NOTE: Baldonado continues to impress, although he isn't MLB ready because his command isn't quite all there yet... he is a good bet to get added to the 40 no later than post-World Series, though, because otherwise he can walk away as a minor league 6YFA and he has too much upside for the Cubs to allow that to happen ...

OSCAR de la CRUZ: 
FB: 93-96
CH: 87 
CV: 80 
NOTE: ODLC finally broke-out the CH when he couldn't put Angels hitters away with his FB and CV, and it worked like a charm... 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 03/09/2019 - 6:26pm  

I thought it was a bit odd that Cole Hamels threw in the split squad road game in Scottsdale (vs SF) rather than remaining in Mesa and pitching in the game versus LAA. The 6-1/2 mile 15 minute drive from the Cubs facility in Mesa to Scottsdale Stadium (and back) can be very tiring for an older pitcher like Hamels. 

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 03/09/2019 - 7:20pm  

RIP Tucson spring training...and realizing you're at a Tucson game where every regular said "hell no" to that bus ride...

Submitted by Cubster  on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 12:32pm  

AZ Phil: putting on your rose colored glasses and gulping down a pitcher of Cub blue Kool Aid, if Nico Hoerner can hit for average and play above average 2B; and Addison Russell has a break out offensive year to rebuild his value, baggage along side forever but not violated. How do you project Theo playing these assets to the Cubs best benefit Going into 2020.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 7:39pm  

CUBSTER: I suspect the Cubs will probably shop Addison Russell next off-season and take what they can get for him. He's under control only through the 2021 season and because he's a Boras client he isn't likely to sign an extension with the Cubs (or with any other club if he gets traded), so his value is diminished even if clubs are willing to overlook his DV baggage. 

With the Cubs payroll AAV scheduled go down by at least $60M in 2020, they should be able to pursue contract extensions with whichever "core" members are willing to extend (something they can't do right now because of the many guaranteed contracts that currently populate the roster). 

So I look for "contract extension" talk to really heat-up next off-season.  

Submitted by The E-Man  on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 8:39pm  

CHARLIE: While not AZ PHIL ( I couldn’t hold his radar gun), I saw JH Tseng at KaneCounty. He was on the same team with Schwarbs, Hanneman, Candalario, Mark Zagunis, Bote, Zack Godley, Vic Caratini, etc. Not a bad collection of talent there!

Tseng showed a great deal of promise then and had a WHIP. of .87 with a 6-1 record. 105 innngs. 5 years ago.Control has been his thing. Last year at AAA things blew up for him there. But he is still only 24 years old...I would be curious to get the scoop from PHIL on what the scouts and coaches are feeling about his ceiling - and his floor - now.

Submitted by Charlie  on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:36am  

Thanks, E-Man! I'm curious about that too!

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 03/13/2019 - 1:17am  

Here are the Cubs pitchers' velo readings for those of you who might have missed Tuesday night's Cubs - Reds game at Sloan Park in Mesa: 

TYLER CHATWOOD: 
FB: 92-95 
SL: 87-90 
CV: 81-82 
NOTE: His SL and his FB were all over the place when he was warming up in the bullpen before the start of the game, and the "bad" 2018 Chatwood continued once the game started.... stuff was typically electric but he consistently bounced his SL and couldn't command his FB...  He was supposed to go four innings but couldn't get out the top of the 2nd thanks in part to his own two-base throwing error over the head of catcher Victor Caratini on what should have been the start of an easy 1-2-3 GIDP... 

JOSE ROSARIO: 
FB: 92-93 
SL: 81
CH: 80-82 
NOTE: Finished Chatwood's second inning... FB velo is down significantly from where it was before elbow & shoulder injuries nearly torpedoed his career... he was moved-down from the Iowa squad to the Tennessee squad at Minor League Camp on Sunday and he will have difficulty finding a spot in the Smokies bullpen in 2019...  

MIKE MONTGOMERY: 
FB: 88-91 
CH: 85-86 
CV: 75-76
NOTE: First Cactus League game outing after throwing 4.0 IP (two innings in each game) in two intrasquad "sim" games last week... he wasn't especially sharp vs Reds but completed two innings of work...     

CARL EDWARDS JR: 
CT: 92-95
CV: 76-79 
NOTE: Best Cubs outing of the night (by far)... CJE's new Kenley Jansen-inspired "hesitation" delivery is working really well and it appears to help him focus and throw strikes more consistently... 

ALLEN WEBSTER: 
FB: 92-95 
SL: 88-91  
NOTE: High velo SL is still his "out" pitch but FB velo was down 2-3 MPH from where it was in his first outing a couple of weeks ago when he was sitting 96-97 and touched 98... he had difficulty commanding the FB as well...    

RANDY ROSARIO: 
FB: 91-94
CH: 87-89
SL: 87 
NOTE: Connor Joe monster HR to CF was on a 92 MPH four-seam FB and Blake Trahan followed Joe's mega-blast with a near-HR of his own to just about the same spot, also on a 92 MPH four-seamer... Despite the good FB velo R. Rosario does not get good results with it because it's arrow-straight and has no deception and he has difficulty commanding his secondary pitches so hitters sit on his FB...  was unable to complete his assigned inning after getting tatooed...  

MARIO MEZA: 
FB: 89-90
SL: 80-82 
NOTE: Finished R. Rosario's inning.... Like Jose Rosario, Meza was moved down from the Iowa squad to the Tennessee squad at Minor League Camp on Sunday, and Meza's stuff is inferior to J. Rosario's, so if there is no room for J. Rosario in the Tennessee Opening Day bullpen, I don't see how there will be room for Meza...    

KYLE RYAN: 
FB: 87-90 - T-91 
SL: 79-82 (slurve) 
NOTE: Threw almost all FB in his two innings of work... a poor man's Mike Montgomery (a LHP "swing-man" who lives by the ground ball), K. Ryan would probably be the replacement if anything bad happens to Montgomery in 2019... otherwise I can't see K. Ryan on the Cubs Active List roster until maybe September... Along with Jen-Ho Tseng. K. Ryan is a candidate to get dropped from the 40 if a slot is needed... 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 03/13/2019 - 11:29pm  

With the new "hard & fast" July 31st MLB trade deadline reportedly being implemented this season (and with the elimination of August waiver trades), clubs like the Cubs will need to make sure every pitcher and position player at Iowa as of 7/31 is "major league ready," to insure adequate depth in case of injuries occurring post-July 31. 

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 03/14/2019 - 10:30am  

confirmed.

lots of crazy changes coming to the game...

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-rules-changes

RIP relief specialists (2020)...the 26-man roster will debut in 2020...40-man Sept active roster is also going away...pitch clock won't be in effect in the majors for the current agreement...

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 9:20pm  

The Cubs have optioned RHP James Norwood, RHP Duane Underwood Jr, and RHP Rowan Wick to AAA Iowa. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 10:34pm  

MLB SERVICE TIME: 

An MLB regular season (AKA "championship season") must be at least 182 days but no more than 187 days (186 days in 2019) so as to accommodate more off days during the course of the season.

1. A player cannot get credit for more than 172 days of MLB Service Time in any one MLB championship season (MLB regular season).

2. MLB Service Time is counted beginning on MLB Opening Day up through the last day of the MLB regular season (including any day a make-up game for a postponed game and/or a tie-breaker game is scheduled after the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season).

3. MLB Service Time can only be accrued during the MLB championship season (MLB regular season). MLB Service Time cannot be accrued during the MLB post-season (Wild Card game, LDS, LCS, and World Series).

4. If an MLB regular season game or games are scheduled during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day), only players on the MLB Active List or on an MLB Injured List or other MLB inactive list of the clubs participating in the games(s) accrue MLB Service Time. This would apply to any MLB regular season game(s) known as "international openers" that may be scheduled in Australia, Japan, Mexico, etc, during Spring Training and prior to MLB Opening Day. Otherwise, MLB Service Time cannot be accrued during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day).

5. A player on an MLB Reserve List accrues a day of MLB Service Time for each day of the MLB regular season spent on an MLB Active List or on an MLB 7-day, 10-day, or 60-day Injured List (including days spent on a Minor League Injury Rehabilitation assignment), Paternity Leave List, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, Suspended List, or Military List, or on the Restricted List as the result of a suspension for violation of the MLB -MLBPA JDPTP or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA JDV policy.
EXCEPTION: Beginning in December 2016, a player suspended as the result of a violation of the MLB-MLBPA JDTPTP will - NOT - receive credit for MLB Service Time while on the Restricted List unless it's the player's first or second positive test and the length of the suspension is subsequently reduced by at least 20 games by an arbitrator as the result of mitigating circumstances.

6. A player does not accrue MLB Service Time for days spent on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Voluntary Retired List, or for days spent on the Restricted List for any reason other than a Prohibited Substance or Domestic Violence suspension.

7. A player traded during the MLB regular season continues to accrue MLB Service Time after being traded but before reporting to his new club.

8. A player who is Designated for Assignment (DFA) accrues MLB Service Time for the entire period of time he is Designated for Assignment during the MLB regular season, but if the player is Designated for Assignment prior to the start of the MLB regular season and the DFA period extends into the MLB regular season, the player does not accrue MLB Service Time while he is Designated for Assignment.

9. A player normally does not accrue MLB Service Time for days spent on Optional Assignment to the minor leagues. However, if a player spends less than 20 days on Optional Assignment to the minors during the course of a given MLB regular season, the player gets credit for MLB Service Time for the days spent on Optional Assignment.
EXCEPTION: If a player is optioned to the minors prior to accruing MLB Service Time that season (for example, if the player is optioned to the minors prior to MLB Opening Day) and then is released or sent outright to the minors prior to spending at least 20 days on Optional Assignment and then is not added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) for the balance of that MLB regular season, the time spent on Optional Assignment prior to being released or outrighted does - NOT - count as MLB Service Time.

10. If a player spends at least 20 days on Optional Assignment to the minors in a given MLB regular season, the player does not accrue MLB Service Time for the days spent on Optional Assignment.
NOTE: Days spent on Optional Assignment during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day) do not count toward the 20 days.

11. If a player is optioned to the minors, the player is not credited with a day of MLB Service Time for the day the player is optioned to the minors unless the player is optioned during or after the conclusion of an MLB regular season game played by his club that day. If a player is recalled from a minor league Optional Assignment, the player receives credit for a day of MLB Service Time beginning with the day the player is recalled.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 9:20pm  

For anyone interested, here are the Cubs pitchers velo readings from Tuesday's Cubs - Mariners game at Sloan Park: 

YU DARVISH: 
FB: 93-96 
2S: 89-92
SL: 83-86  
CH: 80-83 
CV: 78 
???: 59 (I don't know what type of pitch this was but it was the slowest pitch I've seen since Little League) 
NOTE: A really interesting variety of pitches from Yu... Looked good until the blister caused him to leave the game earlier than planned...

CARL EDWARDS JR: 
FB: 89-92 
CV: 78-80
NOTE: Was called in suddenly to finish the top of the 5th after Yu left game with blister... was given extended time to warm-up but FB (cutter) velo was way down and FB command was off, too... Then after giving up a monster HR and almost another one to the next hitter in the top of the 6th, he got thrown out of the game after hitting a Mariners batter with a pitch (WTF???)... just a poor outing all around... CJ just should have stayed in bed...    

MIKE MONTGOMERY:
FB: 90-92 
NOTE: Finished CJ's inning and threw nothing but fastballs after being given extended time to warm-up...  

MATT CARASITI:
FB: 92-95 
CT: 86 
CH/SL: 79-81 (could be a splitter)
NOTE: FB velo back up to where it was in his very first outing last month... hopefully there will be a spot for him in the Iowa bullpen, because Carasiti has minor league options left and he cannot elect free-agency if outrighted (if he were to be added to the 40 at some point)... 

TYLER CHATWOOD: 
FB: 93-94
SL: 87-88 
CV: 80-82  
NOTE: A very quiet and efficient inning... I am beginning to really like Chatwood as a boring RP...

BRAD BRACH: 
FB: 90-91 
SL: 82-85 
NOTE: Threw lots & lots & lots of sliders (which is clearly his "go to" pitch)... 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 10:20pm  

Some things to keep in mind about the "backdating" of injured list assignments: 

As long as the player did not appear in a game during the retroactive period (including "official" MLB Cactus League or Grapefruit League games or other MLB pre-season exhibition games), an MLB 10-day Injured List assignment can be backdated up to three days (including the three days prior to MLB Opening Day), and a 7-day (acute concussion) Injured List assignment can be backdated up to four days (including the four days prior to MLB Opening Day).

If a player on an MLB 7-day (acute concussion) Injured List is not reinstated after spending ten days on the list, he is automatically transferred to his club's 10-day Injured List.

During Spring Training and during the MLB regular season up through August 31st, an injured or ill player can be placed on or transferred to the MLB 60-day Injured List only if his club's reserve list is full, but if a player is placed on or transferred to the MLB 60-day Injured List after August 31st, the club's reserve list must be full - AND - the player must be replaced on his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) by another player.

A player cannot be placed on the MLB 60-day Injured List after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, and during the post-season and off-season, up until the start of Spring Training (beginning on the date that pitchers & catchers are scheduled to report). A minor league player can be placed on a minor league club's 60-day Injured List only during his minor league club's regular season.

For a player who is transferred from the MLB 7-day or 10-day Injured List to the MLB 60-day Injured List (or from a minor league club's 7-day Injured List to the minor league club's 60-day Injured List), time spent on the MLB 7-day or 10-day Injured List (or minor league 7-day Injured List) during the MLB regular season (or during the minor league regular season) prior to being transferred counts toward the minimum 60 days a player must spend on the 60-day Injured List. However, time spent on a minor league 7-day Injured List or minor league 60-day Injured List does NOT count toward the minimum number of days a player must spend on an MLB Injured List if a player is recalled from an optional assignment or has his contract selected and is added to an MLB 40-man roster prior to being reinstated from a minor league injured list.

A player who is placed on the MLB 60-day Injured List during Spring Training must spend at least the first 60 days of the MLB regular season on the Injured List (the player cannot be reinstated any earlier than the 61st day of the MLB regular season).

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 03/21/2019 - 1:35am  

For those of you who might have missed Wednesday night's MLB Cactus League Game at Sloan Park, here are the velo readings from Cubs pitchers (and one Dodger pitcher): 

COLE HAMELS:  
FB: 91-93 
CT  87-89 
CH: 83-85 
CU: 77-79 
NOTE: Mixed up his pitches very well and maintained FB velo throughout outing, but fly ball pitchers like Hamels usually don't fare too well in Arizona in March (they don't fare too well in Texas, either). 

MIKE MONTGOMERY:
CH: 82-84 
NOTE: Pitched in a game for the second day in a row and once again finished another pitcher's inning (Hamel's 6th)... threw all FB Tuesday, then threw CH in this game... Montgomery is definitely - NOT - being stretched-out as a SP this Spring, folks...    

JUNICHI TAZAWA: 
FB: 90-92 
CH  85-86 (splitter) 
NOTE: FB velo has spiked two MPH over past ten days and splitter is cookin'... Right now Tazawa is a better bullpen option than both Brandon Kintzler and Brian Duensing, but their guaranteed contracts may yet rule on Opening Day...  

GEORGE KONTOS: 
FB: 87-90 
SL: 85 
NOTE: He was cut from MLB Camp last week... I don't see where he fits at Iowa, either...  

KYLE RYAN:
FB: 87-90
SL: 80-82 (slurve) 
NOTE: K. Ryan is a nice Plan "B" to have at AAA Iowa in case anything happens to Mike Montgomery, because they are essentially the same extreme groundball pitcher, except Montgomery's FB velo is a couple of MPH faster...

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

ABOUT THOSE DODGERS: 

STETSON ALLIE: 
FB: 97-100
SL: 87-90 

And SP Dustin May's FB velo was 96-98 early before he dialed it back a bit (92-94) in his later innings, Julio Urias FB was consistently 94-96 T-97, and Joe Kelly's FB was sitting 97-98 - T-99...

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 03/21/2019 - 6:37pm  

Here are the Cubs pitchers velo readings from Thursday afternoon's Cubs - Giants Cactus League game at Sloan Park: 

KYLE HENDRICKS: 
FB: 84-86 - T-87 
CH: 77-80
CV: 69-71 
NOTE: Velo was down a bit across the board for Hendricks, but does it really matter?  

BRIAN DUENSING: 
FB: 88-89
CH: 84-86 
SL: 80
NOTE: Finished Hendricks' final inning (the 6th)... best thing I can say about Duensing is that he appears to be healthy and is throwing the ball as well as he can... 

BRANDON KINTZLER: 
FB: 91-93 
SL: 86-87 
NOTE: It's too bad the Cubs have so many relievers with guaranteed contracts, because otherwise keeping Webster and Tazawa and cutting Duensing and Kintzler would be a no-brainer, but even then, what to do when Morrow comes back?...  

ALLEN WEBSTER: 
FB: 95-96 - T-97 
SL: 89-91 
NOTE: Man, there are so many years in the past where an arm like Webster with a high-octane FB/SL combo would have been a godsend, but it may be necessary to keep Webster at Iowa until the bullpen can be cleared (via trade or season-ending  injury), because if the Cubs add Webster to the 25 (and the 40) on Opening Day and then find out they need to allocate his roster slot to Brandon Morrow when Morrow (presumably) returns in May, Webster - WILL - positively get claimed off waivers (remember, Webster is out of minor league options)...  

BRAD BRACH:
FB: 89-90 - T-91
SL: 81-84 
NOTE: Signing Brach was one of the now seemingly unnecessary moves the Cubs made just before the start of Spring Training that makes it much more difficult to add Webster and Tazawa to the MLB roster.... Brach is OK and he has a lot of MLB experience, but he's nothing special...  

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 03/21/2019 - 6:57pm  

brach not throwing mid-90s yet at this point in spring is a bit concerning...he's been in the high 80s, touching low 90s almost all spring.

slider velocity is on point.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 03/22/2019 - 6:37pm  

The Cubs have optioned RHSP Alec Mills to Iowa. Mills suffered a lower back strain a couple of weeks ago and so he could not be optioned to the minors until he was healthy enough to play. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 03/22/2019 - 6:47pm  

I know that today's Cubs - Rangers MLB Cactus League game at Sloan Park was on TV, so my apologies to those who already saw it, but for those of you who might have missed it, here are the velo readings for Cubs pitchers: 

JOSE QUINTANA: 
FB: 91-93 
CH: 85-88
CV 77-78 
NOTE: Looks to be good to go & ready to roll... 

TYLER CHATWOOD: 
FB: 94 
SL: 87-88 
NOTE:  Another nice, calm outing by Chatwood... I think I can live with him as a passable (but VERY expensive) middle-reliever...  

BRANDON KINTZLER: 
FB: 90-92 
SL: 86 
NOTE: Kintzler looked OK today... 

CARL EDWARDS JR: 
FB: 93 
CV: 77-80
NOTE: FB velo was better than last time when it was dipping into the upper 80's... 

MATT CARASITI: 
FB: 94-96
CT: 85-86
CH: 78-79 (could be a splitter) 
NOTE: FB velo was best it's been all Spring... 

Submitted by bradsbeard  on Fri, 03/22/2019 - 7:05pm  

FWIW, they weren’t showing any of the velocoty readings on the broadcast (or any team’s broadcast I’ve watched this spring), so these are still informative even in the televised games. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 6:31pm  

Even though today's Cubs- Red Sox game was on TV, here are last & final Cubs pitchers ST game velo numbers: 

CARL EDWARDS JR: 
FB: 94-95
CV: 79-80
NOTE: FB velo finally back up to where it needs to be... 

BRANDON KINTZLER: 
FB: 90-92 
SL: 85-86 
NOTE: Two hard-hit line-outs were sandwiched around a strikeout... I guess he will do (at least for a while) as a RH middle-reliever 

JAMES NORWOOD:
FB: 95-97 - T-98 
CH: 87 
SL: 81-83 
NOTE: A FB power pitcher who needs to have more consistent command from outing-to-outing... FB is explosive but secondaries are just so-so...  

GEORGE KONTOS: 
FB: 87-90 
SL: 84-86 
NOTE: I doubt that there will be room for him in the Iowa bullpen, but we'll see... FB still a dud, but SL is OK... a "poor man's Brandon Kintzler" at this stage of his career... 

TIM COLLINS:  
FB: 92-93
CT: 88 (he threw a lot of these and they were all 88 MPH)
CV: 74-76 
NOTE: Swihart HR was on a 92 MPH FB...  

ROWAN WICK: 
FB: 94-96 
CV: 79 
NOTE: Wick's 92-94 FB velo is like clockwork... it never dips or varies...  he's back to throwing the "old reliable" CV again after experimenting during ST with a high-velo SL (like Chatwood and Maples throw) that he could not command...   

MATT CARASITI: 
FB: 92-95 - T-96 
CT: 86 
CH/SL: 81-83  (could be a splitter)
NOTE: FB velo & secondaries still very good... I would think he would be a virtual lock for the Iowa pen... 

IAN CLARKIN:
FB: 89-91
SL: 83 
CV: 75 
NOTE: Terrible outing... command was poor... couldn't retire even one batter... Clarkin was moved from the AA Tennessee starting rotation to the Smokies bullpen last week and I would think he'll probably be in the Tennessee pen indefinitely... 

SCOTT EFFROSS: 
FB: 91-92 
SL: 82-84 
NOTE: Finished Clarkin's inning without further incident... FB not great but SL is OK... there will probably be a slot for him somewhere in the middle of the Tennessee bullpen, but AA may be his ceiling...   

BRAD MARKEY: 
FB: 94-95 
CT/CH: 85-86 
SL: 81-82 
NOTE: Decent outing with a consistent 95 MPH FB mixed with mid-80's CT(?) and a SL.. should fit somewhere in the AA Tennessee bullpen with the capability of fillng-in at AAA if needed... this is a guy who could benefit from a change of scenery... 

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 6:44pm  

thanks phil.  you've had an all-star pre-season this year.

Submitted by Sonicwind75  on Wed, 03/27/2019 - 11:26am  

Thank you for posting these reports throughout spring.  Great info. 

Submitted by Hagsag  on Wed, 03/27/2019 - 5:27am  

Phil is our GOAT.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Thu, 03/28/2019 - 3:05pm  

Yes! Could you IMAGINE what Boras could get for PHIL!!???

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 03/28/2019 - 1:34pm  

LHP Brian Duensing (who was Designated for Assigment this past Sunday) has cleared waivers and has accepted an Outright Assignment to AAA Iowa.

Because he has Article XIX-A status (player has accrued at least five years of MLB Servive Time), Duensing had to give his permission before he could be sent to ther minors.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Thu, 03/28/2019 - 3:05pm  

Is it possible for Brewers and Cards to tie?

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 03/28/2019 - 3:17pm  

bud selig approves

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  • crunch 5 hours 38 min ago (view)

    iapoce expected to stay.  i'm surprised.  i know it's a weird/short season, but it was a season-long slump for a lot of guys and answers weren't showing up.

     
  • crunch 6 hours 38 min ago (view)

    i eagerly await the espn 10 part mini-series "Rafael Palmeiro, More Like Rafael Baseballmerio" covering those 28 legendary games.

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 6 hours 47 min ago (view)

    In fairness those 28 games he played at 1B were breathtaking that year

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 6 hours 55 min ago (view)

    Cubs fire asst. hitting coach Terrmel Sledge. I knew it was his fault!

     
  • crunch 6 hours 55 min ago (view)

    shout out to 1999 1st base gold glove winner rafael palmeiro.  25 starts (28 games total) at 1st...128 starts at DH.

     
  • Charlie 1 day 8 hours ago (view)

    Lol at Nico getting nominated for riding the bench a lot.

     
  • crunch 1 day 10 hours ago (view)

    RF Jason Heyward, SS Javier Baez, 2B Nico Hoerner, 1B Anthony Rizzo, C Willson Contreras, and Ps Kyle Hendricks and Alec Mills gold glove finalists

     
  • bradsbeard 1 day 14 hours ago (view)

    Thank you, sir! Sounds like a nice get for the Cubs, and a good project for (what's left of) the new development infrastructure. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 15 hours ago (view)

    There have been some holes in the AZIL east-side schedule, with one team canceling games last week (although they are back playing this week) and another canceling game this week due to CoViD-19 issue, so the other teams (like the Cubs) are making up some of the "lost" games with intrasquad and in-house "sim" games. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 16 hours ago (view)

    BRADSBEARD: From what I have seen of Jacob Wetzel so far (BP, fielding practice, base-running drills, sim games, AZIL games, and yesterday's intasquad game), I would say he looks like a football running back playing baseball in that he has a high motor and plays with a bit of an edge.

    He has a thick body but he also has plus speed (very much like a football running back in that respect), he runs the bases aggressively, makes hard contact, has HR power, a decent arm, maybe can use some work in the outfield as far as tracking balls. 

     
  • bradsbeard 2 days 5 hours ago (view)

    Phil, curious if you've seen enough of Jacob Wetzel to offer an initial scouting report. Just from watching some prep video he looked pretty strong and fairly athletic (HS football player and all). Impressive numbers albeit in community college, but he was a division 1 recruit before that so he's pretty intriguing to me. 

     
  • KingKongvsGodzilla 4 days 3 hours ago (view)

    AZPhil, thank you for these updates! It's a nice little pick me up during this dumb year. If you have anything to say on Yohendrick Pinango, Joel Machado, Rafael Morel, or Richard Gallardo, I would love to hear it! Thanks again!

     
  • crunch 4 days 12 hours ago (view)

    jim hickey new nats pitching coach.

     
  • bradsbeard 5 days 7 hours ago (view)

    Several non-prospects ate up spots as well. Ultimately wish they had given a few more Rivas types a shot there. 

     
  • tim815 5 days 8 hours ago (view)

    Only 60 spots in SB. Others benefited more from the time.

     
  • crunch 5 days 11 hours ago (view)

    not phil, but i think everyone is holding off on his potential ceiling until he gains enough weight to not look like someone you want to buy a sandwich every time you see him.

    big upside if his skills can strengthen as he builds his body.

    too early for a solid comp, but i wouldn't feel uncomfortable throwing ian happ's name around (bit better arm than happ, though).

     
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