21 Cubs Are Declared Minor League Free-Agents
21 Cubs minor leaguers were declared post-2021 MLB Rule 9 (formerly MLB Rule 55) minor league free agents at 5 PM (Eastern) on Sunday 11/7.
CUBS POST-2021 MLB RULE 9 MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:
SIX-YEAR MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS
Jose Almonte, RHP
Abiatal Avelino, INF
Joe Biagini, RHP
Dakota Chalmers, RHP
Yovanny Cuevas, OF
Johneshwy Fargas, OF
Taylor Gushue, C
Mike Hauschild, RHP
P. J. Higgins, C-INF
Tyler Ladendorf, INF
Ryan Lawlor, LHP
Luis Lugo, LHP
Dillon Maples, RHP
Ian Miller, OF
Kohl Stewart, RHP
Marcus Walden, RHP
Joe Wieland, RHP
SECOND CONTRACT MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:
Juan Gamez, RHP (previously released by MIN)
Alex Katz, LHP (previously released by BAL)
Ryan Kellogg, LHP (previously released by CUBS)
Jackson McClelland, RHP (previously released by TOR)
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Only four of the 16 Cubs 2021 Rule 9 second-contract minor league players were declared free-agents, which means the other twelve are signed for 2022.
Also, RHRP James Bourque, C Erick Castillo, OF Donnie Dewees, LHSP Ben Holmes, LHRP Bryan Hudson, RHRP Nicholas Padilla, C Tyler Payne, LHSP C. D. Pelham, C Raymond Pena, RHRP Eury Ramos, and RHRP Aneuris Rosario were eligible to be a Rule 9 minor league 6YFA, but each of them signed a 2022 minor league successor contract prior to being declared a 6YFA. Therefore, these players will now be eligible for selection in next month's Rule 5 Draft, so it is possible that one or more (like maybe Bryan Hudson?) could be added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) when minor league reserve lists are established on 11/19 in preparation for the 2021 Rule 5 Draft.
In addition, RHRP Adrian Sampson (who was sent outright to AAA Iowa on Friday) has until the end of today (Monday 11/8) to decide whether to accept his outright assignment and sign a 2022 minor league contract with the Cubs, or elect free-agency.
A club receives no compensation for losing a minor league free-agent.
A minor league free-agent can sign a major league or minor league contract with any club (including the player's former club) without any restrictions, so it's possible that one or more of the Cubs minor league free-agents will eventually re-sign with the Cubs at some point during the off-season. However, if the Cubs offered a 2022 minor league successor contract to a player prior to the player becoming a free-agent, the club's offer going forward will certainly be less than what the player was offered to sign a minor league successor contract (if a club is willing to increase its offer or even offer the same money after a player declines to sign a successor contract, nobody would ever sign one).
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