Cubs 2022 Rule 5 Draft & Minor League Free-Agency Watch List

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 11/10/2022 - 11:00 pm

11/10 UPDATE #2: 

The Cubs have released RHP Wilfri Figuereo, RHP Gabriel Jaramillo, RHP Jensi Ramirez, and 1B-OF Jerry Torres. Only Jaramillo was eligible for selection in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft. 


11/10 UPDATE #1: 

The Cubs have sent LHP Steven Brault, RHP Anderson Espinoza, RHP Alec Mills, LHP Brad Wieck, INF David Bote, OF Narcisco Crook, and OF Franmil Reyes outright to AAA Iowa.  

Brault, A. Espinoza, Mills, Wieck, Crook, and F. Reyes will be automatically declared MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA at 5 PM (Eastern) today, unless the player signs a 2023 minor league successor contract in the meantime. 

Bote is signed through 2024 with club options for 2025 and 2026, but he has Article XX-D rights so he can decline the outright assignment and elect free-agency  However, if he elects free-agency, his contract will be terminated with no termination pay.  


11/1 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have reinstated RHP Trey Lang (Cubs 2012 6th round draft pick - Gateway CC) from the Voluntary Retired List.

Now 30 years old, Lang retired in February 2015 after spending three seasons in the Cubs organization. He has been working out at a baseball training center in Phoenix. 

Lang will be eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft next month, and he is under club control through the 2026 season.  


10/17 UPDATE: 

RHP Kelvin Feliz has retired. 


10/15 UPDATE: 

OF Michael Hermosillo has filed for free-agency on the last day of the Article XX-D free-agent filing period. It's possible that he waited as long as he did hoping to sign a 2023 minor league successor with the Cubs, but apparently it didn't happen. (A minor league successor contract is a contract for the next season, and it must be signed - PRIOR TO - the minor league player becoming a free-agent). 

A minor league contract tendered to an outrighted player must have a salary equal to at least 80% of what the player was actually paid the previous season, but the contract is not fully guaranteed. Because Hermosiilo spent the entire 2022 MLB season either on an MLB IL and/or MLB Active List, he was paid his entire $707,000 major league salary, and thus a 2023 successor contract for him would have had to have had a salary of at least $565K. However, only two weeks' pay (about $45,000) would be have been guaranteed as termination pay if Hermosillo had signed a 2023 minor league successor contract and then was released prior to MLB Opening Day or during the first two weeks of the 2023 MLB regular season. (Major League contracts that are not fully guaranteed become fully guaranteed on MLB Opening Day, but that is not the case for minor league contracts). 

Hermosillo might have wanted more than $45K of the money to be guaranteed, or maybe the Cubs just didn't see a future for him with the club in 2023 and thus didn't want to allocate a minor legue roster slot to him (not to mention the money). Note that if he were to sign a 2023 minor league contract with the Cubs now that he is a free-agent, there is no requirement that he must be paid 80% of his 2022 salary.    

Like Clint Jackson Frazier and Sean Newcomb, Hermosillo was sent outright to the minors during the 2022 season and as an Article XX-D player he had the right to elect free-agency immediately upon being outrighted with no termination pay, or accept the outright assignment and defer free-agency until a window beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season through October 15th. 


10/6 UPDATE: 

OF Clint Jackson Frazier and LHRP Sean Newcomb have filed for free-agency. Both were sent outright to the minors during the 2022 season and as Article XX-D players had the right to elect free-agency immediately with no termination pay, or accept the outright assignment and defer free-agency until a window beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (today) up through October 15th (a week from Saturday. 

So Frazier and Newcomb are now unrestricted free-agents, free to sign a 2023 major league or minor league contract with any club (including the Cubs).   


10/3 UPDATE: 

OF Michael Hermosillo was sent outright to AAA Iowa on Friday (9/30). 

As an Article XX-D player, Hermosillo had the right to elect free-agency immediately upon being outright and forfeit what remained of his 2022 salary (he has 72 hours to decide), or defer free-agency until the conclusion of the MLB regular season and continue to get paid. He has accepted to he outright assignment, choosing to defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. (To be an Article XX-D  minor league free-agent, he can file for free-agency beginning st 9 AM on the day after the final day of the MLB regular season extending through October 15th).    


9/22 UPDATE: 

LHP Sean Newcomb was sent outright to AAA Iowa on Monday (9/19).

As an Article XX-D player, Newcomb had the right to elect free-agency immediately and forfeit what remains of his 2022 salary (he had 72 hours to decide) or defer free-agency until the conclusion of the MLB regular season and continue to get paid. He has accepted the outright assignment, choosing to defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (if not added back to the MLB 40-man roster in the meantime). 

Also, RHP Alberto Sojo has been released. He was eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft. 


9/17 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of INF Esteban Quiroz from AAA Iowa and he has been added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). He would have been eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft if he hadn't been added to the 40. 

Like Javier Assad, Jeremiah Estrada, Hayden Wesneski, and Jared Young, Quiroz will have Rule 5 Draft-Excluded Player status until twenty days prior to 2023 MLB Opening Day. 


9/14 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of INF-OF Jared Young from AAA Iowa and he has been added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). He would have been eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft if he hadn't been added to the 40. 

Like Javier Assad, Jeremiah Estrada, and Hayden Wesneski, Young will have Rule 5 Draft Excluded Player status until twenty days prior to 2023 MLB Opening Day. 


9/9 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have sent RHP Kervin Castro outright to AAA Iowa. He had been Designated for Assignment on Monday 9/5.

Although Castro did not have the right to elect free-agency if outrighted (he had not been outrighted previously in his career and/or accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time), he will be automatically declared an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the fnal game of the World Series if he is not added back to the 40 or signs a 2023 minor league successor contract. 


9/5 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of RHSP Hayden Wesneski from AAA Iowa and he has been added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). He was acquired by the Cubs from the Yankees at the MLB Trade Deadline for RHRP Scott Effross, and he would have been eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft if he had not been added to the 40. 

Like Javier Assad, Jeremiah Estrada, Luke Farrell, and Nicholas Padilla, Wesneski will have Rule 5 Draft Excluded Player status until twenty days prior to 2023 MLB Opening Day. 


9/1 UPDATE:

The Cubs have selected the contract of RHRP Jeremiah Estrada from AAA Iowa and he has been added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). He had been temporarily added to the Cubs MLB 26-man Active List roster as a replacement player this past Tuesday (8/30) for the series in Toronto. 

Estrada would have been eligible for selection in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft if he had not been added to the 40 by the 11/18 reserve list filing deadline. He was also eligible for selection in the 2021 Rule 5 Draft, but the Major League Phase was canceled due to the CBA lock-out. 

Like Javier Assad, Luke Farrell, and Nicholas Padilla, Estrada will have Rule 5 Draft Excluded Player status until twenty day prior to 2023 MLB Opening Day. 


8/24 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of RHSP Luke Farrell from AAA Iowa.

He is out of minor league options, and he has the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted because he has been outrighted previously in his career. 

As is the case with Javier Assad and Nicholas Padilla, Farrell will have Rule 5 Draft-Excluded Player status until 20 days prior to 2023 MLB Opening Day. 


8/23 UPDATE #3: 

The Cubs have released OF Greg Deichmann. He was acquired by the Cubs along with RHP Daniel Palencia from the Oakland A's in July 2021 for LHRP Andrew Chafin. 

The Cubs could not trade Deichmann because although he was on a minor league reserve list, he had been sent outright to the minors earlier this season. 


8/23 UPDATE #2: 

The Cubs have also selected the contract of RHRP Nicholas Padilla from AAA Iowa. Like Javier Assad, Padilla was eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA post-World Series if he had not been added to the 40, and also like Assad, Padilla will have Rule 5 Draft-Excluded Player status until 20 days prior to 2023 MLB Opening Day.


8/23 UPDATE #1:

The Cubs have selected the contract of RHSP Javier Assad from AAA Iowa. 

Assad would have been automatically declared an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA if he was not added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or signed a 2023 minor league successor contract by 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the 2022 World Series. Other notable Cubs minor leaguers eligible to be minor league 6YFA post-2022 are LHRP Bryan Hudson, RHRP Nicholas Padilla, and OF Yonathan Perlaza (see full list of post-2022 Cubs Rule 5 Draft-eligibles and potential minor league free-agents below). 

Also, because he was added to the 40 after August 15th, Assad will have Rule 5 Draft-Excluded Playerstatus until 20 days prior to 2023 MLB Opening Day. 

With Assad selected to the MLB 40-man roster, the Cubs now have 159 players on their 180-man minor league Domestic Reserve List (21 slots are open). However, the twelve 2022 draft picks not on the 60-day IL who have not yet played in a minor league game must be added to the DRL when they play in their first game or on the day after the conclusion of the 2022 MLB regular season (whichever comes first).

There are also 27 Cubs minor leaguers presently on a minor league 60-day IL (including two 2022 draft picks) who must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, although the DRL roster limit will expand from 180 to 190 - AND - minor leaguers eligible to be a Rule 9 minor league 6YFA or second contract free-agent who have not signed a 2023 successor contract are declared free agents at that exact same time).  


8/18 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have released RHP Jose Miguel Gonzalez (2017 IFA - Dominican Republic). He was Rule 5 Draft-eligible post-2022 (see full list below). 


8/13 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have released RHP Raynel Espinal (was eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA post-2022). He had been acquired by the Cubs in a minor league trade from the San Francisco Giants on 7/31 for INF Dixon Machado.

The Cubs now have 159 players on their 180-man in-season minor league Domestic Reserve List (21 slots are open).

Note that players on Optional Assignment to the minors, players on a minor league 60-day IL or Restricted List, and first contract players who have been "Signed for Future Service" do not count against the DRL, and players who signed after being selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) do not count against the DRL until the player plays in a game or until the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (whichever comes first), or at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series if a drafted player is placed on a minor league 60-day IL prior to playing in a game (as is the case with 2022 6th round pick RHP Will Frisch and 16th round pick RHP JP Wheat).  

The Domestic Reserve List expands from a maximum 180-man limit to a maximum 190-man limit at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, which is the exact same moment in time that MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA and second contract players not signed beyond 2022 will be declared free-agents (they don't have to file, it's automatic), and the exact same moment in time that all players on an MLB or minor league 60-day IL must be reinstated. 


8/5 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have released LHP Brandon Leibrandt (was eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA post-2022) and RHP Tanner Jesson-Dalton (was Rule 5 Draft-eligible post-2022), as well as 1B / LHP Matt Warkentin (2021 NDFA) and C-INF Bryan Serra (2020 NDFA). 


8/4 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contracts of LHP Sean Newcomb and LHP Matt Dermody from AAA Iowa.

Newcomb is out of minor league options, and Dermody has two remaining.

Newcomb was sent outright to Iowa on June 20th, and as an Article XX-D player (he had accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time prior to being outrighted) he had the right to elect free-agency immediately and forfeit what remained of his 2022 salary ($900K salaty pro-rated at about $450K asof 6/20), or accept the outright assignment, get his full $900K, and defer his right elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the 2022 MLB regular season (during a window beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season through October 15th).

He opted to accept the outright assignment and defer the right to elect free-agency.

However, because he has now been added back to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), Newcomb cannot elect free-agency  as an Article XX-D player after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, unless he is outrighted again. 

Also, Newcomb will be eligible for salary arbitration post-2022 if he is still on the 40 as of the 12/2 contract tender date.  

Dermody also is an Article XX-D player (he has been outrighted previously in his career), and so he will have the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted again. 


8/2 UPDATE #3:

The Cubs have released RHRP Eury Ramos.

Ramos was scheduled to an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA if he was not added to the 40 post-2022.


8/2 UPDATE #2: 

The Cubs have traded RHRP Mychal Givens to the New York Mets for minor league RHRP Saul Gonzalez.  

Gonzalez is eligible for selection in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft if he is not added to the 40 by the 11/18 reserve list fiiing deadline. 


8/2 UPDATE #1: 

The Cubs have traded RHRP David Robertson to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league RHSP Ben Brown. 

Brown is eligible for selection in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft if he is not added to the 40 by the 11/18 reserve list filing deadline.


8/1 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have traded RHRP Scott Effross to the New York Yankees for minor league RHSP Hayden Wesneski.

Wesneski is eligible for selection in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft if he is not added to the Cubs 40-man roster by the 11/18 reserve list filing deadline.

 
7/31 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have traded minor league INF Dixon Machado to the San Francisco Giants for minor league RHP Raynel Espinal. Both players were eligible to be minor league free-agents after the 2022 season, but Machado was selected to the Giants MLB 40-man roster after the trade. Machado is out of minor league options. 


7/28 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have released C-INF Cam Balego.


7/21 UPDATE: 

RHP Matt Swarmer has been sent outright tp AAA Iowa. (He had been Designated for Assignment last Saturday). Because he has not accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time and/or been outrighted to the minors previously in his career, he does not have the right to elect free-agency. However, he will be declared an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the 2022 World Series if he is not added back to the 40 in the meantime. 


7/17 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contracts of LHP Steven Brault and RHP Erich Uelmen, and RHP Aneuris Rosario and OF Carlos Morfa have been released.   


7/13 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have released RHP Robert Gsellman. 


6/30 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of OF Narciso Crook. 


6/24 UPDATE:

The Cubs have released LHP Conner Menez and LHP Ben Holmes. Also, LHP Sean Newcomb was sent outright to AAA Iowa on Monday 6/20, and as an Article XX-D player, he had the right to elect free-agency or defer the right to be a free-agent until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (if he is not added back to the 40 in the meantime). He had 48 hours to decide, and he has accepted the outright assignment and deferred free-agency.


6/17 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of RHP Adrian Sampson, and OF Clint Frazier has been sent outright to AAA Iowa. As an Article XX-D player, Frazier had the right to elect free-agency or defer the right to be a free-agent until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (if he is not added back to the 40 in the meantime). He accepted the outright assignment and deferred free-agency. 


6/14 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of LHP Eric Stout, and 1B Grayson Byrd has been released. 


6/6 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have sent LHP Conner Menez outright to AAA Iowa. As an Article XX-D player, Menez had the right to elect free-agency, or defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (if he isn't added back to the 40 in the meantime). He accepted the outright assignment and deferred free-agency. Also, OF Flemin Bautista has been released.


6/4 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of RHP Caleb Kilian, and RHP Roberrt Gsellman has been sent outright to AAA Iowa. As an Article XIX-A player, Gsellman had the right to refuse an outright assignment and demand his outright release, but he accepted the outright assignment and now will have the opportunity to elect free-agency after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (if he isn't added back to the 40 in the meantime).
NOTE: It is likely that Gsellman signed an Article XIX-A 45-day waiver sometime prior to having his contract selected on 5/3. This type of waiver allows a club to outright an Article XIX-A player within 45 days of having his contract selected.   


6/3 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have signed second contract free-agents RHP Stanley Guzman (previously released by TEX), RHP Fraiman Marte (previously released by STL), and RHP Abel Moya (previously released by LAD) to minor league contracts. Moya was assigned to DSL Cubs Blue, and S. Guzman and F. Marte were assigned to DSL Cubs Red.


5/31 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contracts of LHP Brandon Hughes and RHP Matt Swarmer, and FA RHP Adrian Sampson has been signed to a minor league contract.  


5/22 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of C-INF P. J. Higgins


5/10 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contracts of LHP Conner Menez, RHP Adrian Sampson, and INF Ildemaro Vargas. 


5/3 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of RHP Robert Gsellman, and RHPs Kevin McCarthy and Eric Yardley have been released. 


4/25 UPDATE:

INF Edwin Figuera has been released.  


4/22 UPDATE: 

OF Greg Deichmann has been sent outright to AAA Iowa. He will be eligible for selection in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, and he will be under club control through the 2023 season.


4/16 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contracts of RHP Mark Leiter Jr and LHP Locke St. John. 


4/14 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have signed FA RHP Luke Farrell to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to Extended Spring Training.  


4/5 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have released RHP Benjamin Rodriguez and OF Jose O. Lopez.  


4/4 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have released RHPs Tyler Suellentrop and Austin Krzeminski. Both were second contract players (Suellentrop was previously released by SEA and Krzeminski was previously released by LAA). 


4/2 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contract of RHP Jesse Chavez from AAA Iowa and he has been added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). 


3/22 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have officially signed RHP Robert Gsellman to a minor league contract. 


3/21 UPDATE: 

Cubs have signed LHSP Steven Brault to a minor league contract with a supposed July player opt-out. He didn't get the expected MLB contract because of medical issues detected in his physical. 

Also, RHP Shane Combs (Cubs 2019 31st round pick - U. of Notre Dame) has retired. 


3/20 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have signed FA INF Robel Garcia to a minor league contract. 


3/19 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have re-signed RHSP Adrian Sampson to a minor league contract. He had elected free-agency after he was outrighted to AAA Iowa by the Vubs post-2021. 


3/17 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have signed FA LHP Brandon Leibrandt to a minor league contract. 

TEXT:  

As things stand right now...

67 Cubs minor leaguers are eligible for selection in the December 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft, and 37 Cubs minor leaguers (27 post-2022 6YFA and ten 2022 second-contract players) are eligible to be declared MLB Rule 9 minor league free-agents at 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the 2022 World Series (or at 5 PM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is cancelled). 

Among the notable Cubs first-time Rule 5 Draft eligibles post-2022 are RHSPs Ben Brown, Ryan Jensen, Kohl Franklin, Chris Clarke, and Richard Gallardo, RHRPs Cayne Ueckert and Michael McAvene, C Pablo Aliendo, INF Chase Strumpf, 1B Bryce Ball, and OFs Brennen Davis, Kevin Alcantara, Yohendrick Pinango, Darius Hill, and Cole Roederer. (The post-2022 reserve list filing deadline will be on November 15th). 

Some of the noteworthy Cubs minor leaguers who were eligible for selection in the 2021 Rule 5 Draft and who will be eligible again in 2022 include RHSPs Cam Sanders, Riley Thompson, and Luis Devers, RHRPs Danis Correa and Yovanny Cruz, LHRP Brendon Little, and INFs Jake Slaughter, Andy Weber, and Levi Jordan.   

The most noteworthy Cubs minor leaguer who will be eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league free-agent for the first time post-2022 (if he is not added to the 40 or signs a 2023 minor league successor contract prior to being declared a 6YFA at 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series) is OF Yonathan Perlaza.  

The most noteworthy Cubs minor leaguer who will be eligible to be a Rule 9 minor league free-agent once again post-2022 (if he is not added to the 40 or signs a 2023 minor league successor contracr prior to being declared a 6YFA at 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series) is LHRP Bryan Hudson.  

There are almost always one or two unexpected pop-up break-out guys every season, so a lot is still TBD.  

NOTE: If not added to the MLB 40-man roster, the players underlined and in bold below will likely be placed on the 38-man AAA Iowa reserve list on 11/15 so that they will be eligible for selection only in the Major League Phase of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft   

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN 2022 RULE 5 DRAFT (last updated 11-10-2022):
Kevin Alcantara, OF
Pablo Aliendo, C
Elian Almanzar, RHP
D. J. Artis, OF
Bryce Ball, 1B
Hunter Bigge, RHP 
David Bote, INF (Article XX-D player) 
Craig Brooks, RHP (on Restricted List) 
Ben Brown, RHP
Jesus Camargo, RHP (on Restricted List)
Derek Casey, RHP 
Chris Clarke, RHP
Danis Correa, RHP
Yovanny Cruz, RHP
Brennen Davis, OF
Bradford Deppermann, RHP
Christian Donahue, INF 
Luis Devers, RHP
Manuel Espinoza, RHP
Miguel Fabrizio, C-1B
Kohl Franklin, RHP
Richard Gallardo, RHP
Reivaj Garcia, INF
Saul Gonzalez, RHP
Ben Hecht, RHP
Darius Hill, OF
Josue Huma, INF
Ryan Jensen, RHP
Levi Jordan, INF
Chris Kachmar, RHP
Bryan King, LHP
Caleb Knight, C
Trey Lang, RHP 
Adam Laskey, LHP
Brendon Little, LHP
Joel Machado, LHP
Nelson Maldonado, 1B
Luis Marte, RHP
Michael McAvene, RHP
Juan Mora, INF
Rafael Morel, INF
Joe Nahas, RHP
Eduarniel Nunez, RHP
Miguel Pabon, INF-C
Ezequiel Pagan, OF
Jack Patterson, LHP
Fabian Pertuz, INF
Yohendrick Pinango, OF
Malcom Quintero, C
Jake Reindl, RHP
Peyton Remy, RHP
Samuel Reyes, RHP
Luis Angel Rodriguez, LHP
Cole Roederer, OF
Cam Sanders, RHP
Yeison Santana, INF
Jake Slaughter, INF
Chase Strumpf, INF
Riley Thompson, RHP
Cayne Ueckert, RHP
Didier Vargas, LHP
Luis Vazquez, INF
Luis Verdugo, INF
Jake Washer, C
Andy Weber, INF
Blake Whitney, RHP
Bryce Windham, C-INF

Additionally, a free-agent who signs a 2023 minor league contract prior to the 2022 Rule 5 Draft will be eligible for selection if the player was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 5th Rule 5 Draft following his first qualified season, and a minor league player who was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract becomes eligible for selection starting with the 4th Rule 5 Draft following his first qualified season.

NOTE: If not added to the MLB 40-man roster, the players underlined and in bold green below will likely be offered a 2023 minor league successor contract prior to being declared a minor league free-agent on the 5th day after the final game of the 2022 World Series, and if the player signs the successor contract, he will likely be placed on the 38-man AAA Iowa reserve list so that he will be eligible for selection only in the Major League Phase of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft   

MLB RULE 9 FREE-AGENT POST-2022 WORLD SERIES

SIX-YEAR MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:
Jose Albertos, RHP
James Bourque, RHP (Article XX-D player)
Steven Brault, LHP (Article XX-player)
Erick Castillo, C (Article XX-D player)
Kervin Castro, RHP (Article XX-D player)
Narcisco Crook, OF (Article XX-D player) 
Zach Davis, OF
Donnie Dewees, OF
Anderson Espinoza, RHP (Article XX-D player) 
Trent Giambrone, INF (Article XX-D player)
Stephen Gonsalves, LHP (Article XX-D player)
John Hicks, C (Article XX-D player)
Jonathan Holder, RHP (Article XX-D player)
Bryan Hudson, LHP
Dakota Mekkes, RHP
Alec Mills, RHP (Article XX-D player) 
Tyler Payne, C (Article XX-D player)
C. D. Pelham, LHP (Article XX-D player)
Yonathan Perlaza, OF
Franmil Reyes, OF (Article XX-D player) 
Carlos Sepulveda, INF
Wyatt Short, LHP
Jonathan Sierra, OF
Matt Swarmer (Article XX-D player) 
Dauris Valdez, RHP
Brad Wieck, LHP (Article XX-D player) 
Delvin Zinn, INF
NOTE-1: Article XX-D means players can elect free-agency if sent outright to minors, and Article XIX-A means player must give his consent before he can be sent to minors by optional or outright assignment. 
NOTE-2: A minor league player who is on the Restricted List for the entire 2022 season will not accrue a minor league season and thus would not qualify as a post-2022 6YFA - IF - the 2022 season was needed to qualify as a 6YFA (as is the case with Brooks and Camargo).    

SECOND CONTRACT MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS (see NOTE-3 below)
Michael Arias, RHP (previously released by TOR)
Andres Bonalde, LHP (on Restricted List - previously released by CUBS)
Stanley Guzman, RHP (previously released by TEX)
Kyle Johnson, RHP (previously released by NYY)
Fraiman Marte, RHP (previously released by STL) - see NOTE-4
Abel Moya, RHP (previously released by LAD)
Dalton Stambaugh, LHP (previously released by BAL)
Tim Susnara, C (previously released by AZ)
Harrison Wenson, C (previously released by LAA)
NOTE-3: With mutual consent (player & club), a second-contract minor league player who has accrued fewer than seven minor league seasons can be signed to a multi-year minor league contract with club control extending up through the player's seventh minor league season. So it is possible that one or more of the Cubs minor league second contract players are signed beyond the 2022 season (TBD).
NOTE-4: RHP Fraiman Marte (previously released by STL) is a second-contract player, but he is not yet eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft. 

ARTICLE XIX-A MINOR LEAGUE FA POST-2022:
NONE 

ARTICLE XX-A MINOR LEAGUE FA POST-2022:
David Bote, INF (was sent outright to minors on 11/10 / has right to elect free-agency)   
 

Tags
2022 Rule 5 Draft
Cubs Minor League free-agents

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:28 am

So keep in mind that Stephen Gonsalves, John Hicks, Dixon Machado, Kevin McCarthy, and Ildemaro Vargas are out of minor league options if they are added to the 40 at some point in 2022. All of the other players signed by the Cubs to 2022 minor league contracts will have an option available if added to the 40. 

Submitted by Cubster on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:09 am

Tribune article Saturday says Cub coaching changes include: Mike Napoli as the 1st base coach, Craig Driver replacing departed Mike Borzello as "game strategy/catching" coach and Garrett Lloyd as bullpen coach (minor league dev coach in 2021). 

Official workouts begin Monday.  40 man roster required to report by Sunday. Spring training schedule starts at Giants on 3-18 and they host the WSox on 4-4.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:28 am

If Caleb Kilian is called up during the 2022 season and he is subsequently optioned back to the minors, he would get a 4th minor league option in 2025, but if he is added to the 40 post-2022 without getting a call-up during the season he will get only three minor league options (last option year in 2025).

So if the Cubs believe he is close to being ready but aren't 100% sure, there is no reason not to call-up Kilian in 2022 (like maybe as the 27th man SP in a doubleheader), even if it means optioning him back to the minors. It wouldn't make any difference, because either way his last option year will be 2025. 

This also would apply to Ryan Jensen and Cayne Ueckert, two other pitchers who are probably close to being MLB-ready. The way things look right now, the Cubs will likely add both Jensen and Ueckert to the 40 post-2022 anyway, so there is no reason not to bring them up for a look-see during the season, because they would get a 4th minor league option in 2025 if one is used in 2022, but they would only get three minor league options if not called-up and then optioned back to the minors in 2022. 

BTW, this does NOT apply to Brennen Davis, who is (besides Kilian) the most-likely post-2022 Rule 5 Draft eligible to get called-up during the season. He would not be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2025, so bringing him up in 2022 and then optioning him back to the minors would burn one of his three option years. 

A couple of Rule 5 Draft-eligible position players who could get called up during the season are infielders Andy Weber and Levi Jordan. Both are polished guys in the upper levels of the Cubs system. 

Also, three pitchers who are going to be minor league 6YFA post-2022 could get called up in 2022. That would be RHRPs Dakota Mekkes and Dauris Valdez and LHRP Bryan Hudson. There would be no reason not to take a look at them if they are pitching well at AAA, since they will be free-agents after the season if left in the minors. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:37 am

The Cubs have one slot open on the 40 that they can use for Andrelton Simmons, but if the Cubs need additional MLB 40-man roster slots in the coming days, RHRP Codi Heuer (2022 TJS), INF David Bote (post-2021 shoulder surgery), and C Miguel Amaya (2021 TJS) could be placed on the 60-day IL once Spring Training officially begins (which will be tomorrow - 3/13)  

Also, Amaya can be optioned to the minors (even though he is injured) because he did not accrue any MLB service time in 2021, which is why Heuer and Bote would need need to go on the 60-day IL first (ahead of Amaya).

The deadline to option an injured player who did not accrue any MLB Service Time the previous season is 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day (which will be March 23), so unless his 40-man roster slot is needed sometime in the next ten days, I would expect Amaya to be optioned to the minors by 3/23 so that he won't accrue MLB Service Time or have to be paid at the MLB rate ($700K).    

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:42 am

The Cubs also have four players with Draft-Excluded Status on the 40 (Scott Effross, Alfonso Rivas, Nelson Velazquez, and Ethan Roberts), and they cannot be optioned or outrighted to the minors any earlier than twenty days prior to MLB Opening Day (meaning no earlier than 3/18).  

Velazquez and Roberts did not accrue any MLB Service Time iun 2021, so the Cubs will want to option them to the minors no later than 3/23 so that they can be optioned even if injured. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:02 pm

It's very likely that MLB active list rosters will expand from 26 to 28 and the 13 pitcher maximum will be relaxed for a period of time (maybe as much as 30 days) at the beginning of the MLB regular season, and with the DH making the bench less important because pinch-hitters for the pitcher won't be needed, it is likely that  most clubs will start the season with 16 pitchers, possibly even 17.

So one of the most-important missions of the Cubs in Spring Training will be to find 11 or 12 relief pitchers who can get outs, and the way it looks right now, that could be a really big problem. So I expect the Cubs to sign at least two veteran MLB relievers in the next few days. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:50 pm

With the likelihood that most clubs will carry 16 pitchers and 12 position players the first month of the season  before transitioning to the 13 / 13  pitcher / position player ratio after that, roster flexibility coming out of Spring Training will matter even more than usual.

Michael Hermosillo (VERY likely to get dropped from the 40 before anybody else), Sergio Alcantara (next most-likely to get dropped), Harold Ramirez (likely to get dropped if the Cubs sign a DH), and Rafael Ortega (not as likely to get dropped from the 40 because he can play all three OF positions) are out of minor league options, making them prime candidates to get dropped from the 40 to make room for the DH (or 1B with Schwindel being the DH) and probably two veteran MLB relievers the Cubs will likely sign in the coming days. 

Clint Frazier's spot on the 40 is probably not in danger, because even if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster, he does have a minor league option available. That in itself makes him much less-likely to get dropped from the 40 than Hermosillo, Alcantara, Ramirez, or Ortega. 

It will also mean that the four extra relievers added for the first month of the season will ideally have minor league options left, making pitchers signed to minor league contracts who are out of minor league options if added to the 40 (Stephen Gonsalves and Kevin McCarthy) a bit more problematic if on the Opening Day roster, unless they are expected to remain on the MLB active list roster once the 13 pitcher maximum is reinstated.  

Submitted by CubsCentral08 on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:22 pm

While you have Estrada on this list, he is not on the depth chart fo any affiliate.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 03:18 pm

CC08: I have fixed that. Thanks for checking! Let me know if you find anything else. 

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Submitted by crunch on Sun, 03/13/2022 - 03:57 pm

minor league/split contract.

i know he's getting toward the end of his career, but after how he ended the season with ATL i'm surprised he had to settle for that kind of deal.

he can still throw 91+mph and when you're a fastball/cutter guy that works.  dude gave up an alarming amount of homers during his couple years in TX, but he threw 33.2ip last season with the braves without giving up a single one.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 03/14/2022 - 03:04 pm

reds fans are revolting hard against ownership.

they are not happy with the sell-off or the returns (so far) from the sell-off.

NL Central looking weak as hell on whole...

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/15/2022 - 03:16 pm

alzolay evidently hurt his shoulder/lat 3 weeks ago and probably won't be realy to go for "1-2 months."  he won't even test things out for another week+.

that should lock in alec mills and let the kids battle for the 5th slot.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 03:19 am

cubs are supposedly close to signing psychodelic fish scale arm lefty starter steven brault.

meh.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 03:50 am

CRUNCH: Steven Brault missed most of the 2021 season with a lat strain that wouldn't quit, but he was one of the better SP in MLB in 2020. As for why the Pirates dropped him, he was arbitration eligible coming off an injury, and risking a potential arbitration loss would not have been a good play for a bottom feeder like the Bucs. 

Also, Brault does have one minor league option left, and he won't be a FA until post-2023. 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 03:09 pm

Although the 13 pitcher maximum rule will likely be relaxed the first month of the season, once it is established there will be a premium on multi-inning relievers, so I would expect both Justin Steele and Keegan Thompson to work out of the pen, with Stroman, Hendricks, Miley, Mills, and Alzolay the five SP and Brault at AAA presuming the other five are healthy. 

Keep in mind that Adbert Alzolay is out of minor league options, so while it's a lock he will be on the MLB roster, the Cubs will need to determine if he is best-suited as a SP or as a multi-inning RP like Steele and K. Thompson. If Alzolay works out of the pen, then that opens up a SP slot for Brault (presuming he is healthy). Also, Caleb Kilian could very well be ready at some point in 2022.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 03:00 pm

spring training televised cubs game start tomorrow (thursday) afternoon with a split squad vs wsox (7 inning game).

mlb.tv is now including pre+postgame coverage for most teams/games...no idea about cubs/marquee.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 03:54 pm

the ricketts family and hedge fund shit stain ken griffin are partnering up to attempt to buy Chelsea Football Club.

the current team has a payroll of around 250m (USD) and a "brand value" around 1.1 billion (USD).

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 03:44 pm

"Opening Day remains scheduled for April 7 and the 2022 regular season concludes on October 5. The revised schedule includes 31 doubleheaders to make up for the week-long delay to the impending campaign. There will be very few off days, including after the All-Star break, for most teams this upcoming season."

162 games...

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 03:59 am

unless it's an error rolling out the new season of MLB.tv it seems today's cubs games (split squad) and the cubs games this weekend are all "Free" broadcasts.

both of the thursday games are 4pm EST start times.

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Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 03:08 pm

he's going to be out a while with his shoulder.  this crew of guys won't make it too easy to get ABs when he gets back, though.

patrick wisdom can't be too thrilled right now...but i imagine he didn't think he had a strangle-hold on 3rd given how weakly he ended the season (homers aside).

the cubs not having an obvious DH should help all these guys find ABs.

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Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 03:53 pm

The Cubs are making a push to maybe hang around in the race for expanded playoff positions. That may be not a pipe dream with a view more moves on the margins. Another splash or two in the Stroman / Suzuki realm would do more. But they should probably prioritize these depth/marginal improvements in bullpen and rotation depth.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 03:17 pm

hendricks showing amazing command/control in his 1st inning of work.  everything where he wanted it.

single, 2 Ks, groundout

cubs/wsox lineups in both games are full of minor leaguers who have been in camp longer than the rest of the guys.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 03:29 pm

chris martin going into the pen jumble.  1y/2.5m deal finalized.  i didn't think he was coming with a MLB deal.

cubs 40-man roster currently sits at like...60 or 70 or something.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 03:36 pm

brad wieck seems to have injured himself rather badly...elbow...60-day DL.

he "felt something" in a pen session earlier in the week.

some of these recent pen moves starting to make more sense.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 03:39 pm

d.ross got guys out here playing shifts on minor league batters in the 1st spring training game.

no days off.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 03:15 pm

crow-armstrong's legs seems to be in mid-season form.  he attempted a jumping catch (not on the run) at the wall with a big leap and landing.  he missed it by a ton and even kevin kiermaier wouldn't have snagged it.  he tried again 2 innings later, and was much closer, but not close enough.

...and the unforgiving sky makes 3 wsox converge to miss a popup, too.

spring in arizona open skies...fun times.

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 03/18/2022 - 03:30 am

all the cubs spring games are free stream through the 24th @mlb.tv

all the games are free stream, actually.  enjoy some poorly played sub-par baseball everyone.  woo spring training...can't believe how much they charge for spring game tickets the past few years, but there's 0 issue filling seats.

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 03/18/2022 - 03:06 pm

s.suzuki deal finalized at 5/85m (17m a year average).

2022: $7M | 2023: $17M | 2024: $20M | 2025: $18M | 2026: $18M

$5M signing bonus + full no-trade clause

he was introduced at a press conference this afternoon in AZ.  he is expected to play RF (not a shocker).

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 03/20/2022 - 03:29 pm

The Cubs have signed FA switch-htting INF Robel Garcia to a minor league contract. He was with the Cubs for a while in 2019, and with the Houston Astros for a time in 2021.

Submitted by Craig A. on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 03:38 pm

The Cubs keep signing pitchers. Is there a possibility of a taxi squad that travels with the team, as they had the last two years? They have to have room in the minors for pitchers who are still in development. 

Submitted by DavidP on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 03:45 pm

I thought I read that Russell was playing in the Korean league and doing rather poorly, but I am not sure that is correct.  Nor am I sure that your question was sarcastic, so ignore this if it was.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 03:09 pm

big backlash on social media (trending #NoToRicketts in multiple countries) about the Ricketts interest in buying Chelsea (soccer club) because of the elder Ricketts racist emails from years ago.

a former Chelsea player is leading a campaign against them buying the team.  fun times.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 04/03/2022 - 04:45 pm

manuel rodriguez and cayne ueckert sent to minor league camp.  not shocking news, but there was an outside shot for both to break with the club, rodriguez especially.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 04/03/2022 - 04:07 pm

waiting around for a late game only to get the cleveland announce crew on marquee.  well, at least we get games rather than not showing it...props to marquee for hooking that up.

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Submitted by crunch on Sun, 04/03/2022 - 04:15 pm

thanks for reminding me mlb.tv can overlay radio options...got 670 The Score feed going.

haven't used this in a while.  listened to len call some white sox games early in the season when he moved across town...was weird.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 04/04/2022 - 04:31 pm

hendricks - steele - stroman

that's the first 3 SP out of the gate.  wade miley gonna start the season on the 10d IL.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 04/04/2022 - 04:28 pm

ethan roberts makes the team...that one is a slight surprise.

dunno if the numbers will play out as ready, but mentally and stuff-wise, he's ready.  guy throws a variety of pitches well, even if not for high velocity.

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 04/05/2022 - 04:43 pm

I can never get enough of the good vibes when a player makes the opening day roster for the first time. Again, Ethan Roberts gets highlighted in today's Tribune Cub update.

His quest to make the roster concluded with another scoreless inning Monday; he didn’t allow a run in 5 1/3 Cactus League innings. He returned to the Cubs dugout at Sloan Park, receiving praise for his outing and inquiries as to how his hand felt (he had knocked down a comebacker off José Abreu’s bat with his bare right hand to record his final out Monday against the White Sox).

Roberts sensed weird looks. Then manager David Ross approached him: “Hey, can you still shake my hand?”

“I promise it’s good,” Roberts told Ross.

“And he’s like, ‘Well, good, you just made the team,’ ” Roberts said. “I just melted.”

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Submitted by crunch on Thu, 04/07/2022 - 04:15 am

last year they dumped almost everyone of value and going into 2022 we only have madrigal to show for all the high-end trades.  if not for injury they would have a decent reliever added to the mix, too.

the NL Central is the weakest division in baseball and the richest team in the NL Central is only weakly trying to compete rather than taking advantage of the situation.

the 1st game hasn't been played and it feels like last year where we're looking at the roster and assuming a big chunk won't be here past the trade deadline.

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 04/07/2022 - 04:50 am

The Sweeper? Article about Daniel Norris learning a new pitch (or a variant of the slider).

Moskos has helped teach a pitch called the sweeper. It is a slider that became popular within the Yankees organization, where Moskos spent last year coaching after a year at Driveline. The pitch is also utilized by other forward-thinking organizations like the Dodgers. Athletic subscription article.

https://theathletic.com/3232180/2022/04/06/cubs-notes-daniel-norris-and…

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 04/07/2022 - 04:00 am

I drove by the park on Tuesday. The entire RF side, Addison and Sheffield entrance is still fenced due to ongoing construction. Anyone know how long that's going to take?

Submitted by tim815 on Sun, 05/22/2022 - 05:16 pm

Okay, I'll bite. Why isn't Chris Martin included in the "Note 8" section of the 40 man roster. He was signed to an MLB deal after November 1? Why should he be able to be dealt without concern before June 15th?

 

I'm staring at the reason, but not seeing it.

 

If he can be traded for dimes on the dollar, tomorrow? Do it. Before he pumpkins. For a 2021 Draft Pick doing well.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 05/23/2022 - 05:27 pm

TIM: Only an Article XX-B MLB free-agent (minimum six years of MLB Service Time) who signs a major league contract at least ten days prior to MLB Opening Day gets the automatic "no trade" through June 15th. So for example, while Jesse Chavez was a post-2021 Article XX-B free-agent, he signed a - MINOR LEAGUE - contract, and then was subsequently added to the 40 prior to Opening Day. That's why the Cubs could trade Chavez without any restriction, even though he was a post-2021 Article FA just like Givens, Gomes, Norris, Robertson, Simmons, Smyly, Stroman, and Villar.  

In the case of Chris Martin, he was an Article XX-D minor league FA, meaning he was outrighted to the minors after the 2021 season and elected free-agency. He didn't have enough MLB service Time to qualify as a post-2021 Article XX-B MLB FA. So while he signed a 2021 major league contract with the Cubs, he was not a post-2021 Article XX-B MLB free-agent like Givens, Gomes, Norris, et al, so he didn't get the automatic "no trade" through June 15th. 

Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 05/31/2022 - 05:18 am

Phil, can Miley be traded before June 16th?

He might still be on the IL at that point so it could be a moot point, but would it be possible since he was claimed off waivers? 

You've mentioned this before but I can't find your explanation.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 05/31/2022 - 05:00 am

Childersb3: Wade Miley does not have an automatic "no trade" through 6/15 because he was not a post-2021 Article XX-B free-agent. Cubs with the automatic Article XX-B "no trade" through 6/15 are Givens, Gomes, Norris, Robertson, Simmons, Smyly, Stroman, and Villar. 

Jesse Chavez did not have a "no trade" because although he was a post-2021 Article XX-B FA, he signed a minor leage contract with the Cubs and then was selected to the 40 at the end of Spring Training. A player has to be an Article XX-B FA and then sign a major league contract ay least ten days prior to MLB Opening Day in order to get the automatic "no trade" through 6/15.   

Submitted by First.Pitch.120 on Thu, 06/09/2022 - 06:37 am

AZ Phil:  just for fun & curiosity... who do you think will get poached from the Cubs in the minor league portion of the R5 draft? Who would you take if you were a competing GM?

[ ]

Submitted by Wrigley Rat on Thu, 06/09/2022 - 06:52 pm

FIRST.PITCH: I can't speak for Phil, but I would take the first player in this list that doesn't end up being protected:

  1. Brennen Davis
  2. Kevin Alcántara
  3. Cam Sanders
  4. Bryce Ball
  5. Jeremiah Estrada
  6. Danis Correa
  7. Bryan Hudson
  8. Brendon Little
  9. Erich Uelmen
  10. Eury Ramos
  11. Chase Strumpf
  12. Cayne Ueckert

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Submitted by Wrigley Rat on Thu, 06/09/2022 - 06:19 pm

FIRST.PITCH: My bad - you said that. Here's my attempt at your actual question! IMO, most guys worth taking would amount to organizational filler - decent player but no upside. If you need a High A catcher, you grab a 25 year old from someone else's organization and plug him in for the year. I believe that the Cubs will choose to protect the following players at the Major League level:

  1. Brennen Davis
  2. Kevin Alcántara
  3. Cam Sanders
  4. Bryce Ball
  5. Jeremiah Estrada
  6. Danis Correa
  7. Bryan Hudson
  8. Brendon Little
  9. Erich Uelmen

And, I believe that the Cubs will choose to protect the following players at the AAA level:

  1. Eury Ramos
  2. Chase Strumpf
  3. Cayne Ueckert
  4. Yohendrick Piñango
  5. Kohl Franklin
  6. Richard Gallardo
  7. Riley Thompson
  8. Manuel Espinoza
  9. Nelson Maldonado
  10. Darius Hill
  11. Levi Jordan
  12. Yonathan Perlaza
  13. Juan Mora
  14. Ryan Jensen
  15. Javier Assad
  16. Cole Roederer
  17. Luis Devers
  18. Chris Clarke
  19. Blake Whitney
  20. Yovanny Cruz
  21. Bryce Windham
  22. Yeison Santana
  23. Andy Weber
  24. Dalton Stambaugh
  25. Gabriel Jaramillo
  26. Ezequiel Pagan
  27. Luis Angel Rodriguez
  28. Luis Vazquez
  29. Adam Laskey
  30. Michael Arias
  31. Derek Casey
  32. Joel Machado
  33. Fabian Pertuz
  34. Luis Verdugo
  35. Alberto Sojo
  36. Ben Hecht
  37. Michael McAvene

That leaves one spot open for a minor league free agent or a selection in the AAA phase of the draft. The following unprotected players could be worth selecting. Some of the players listed are 6-year free agents who would have to sign a successor contract in order to be available for the Rule 5 Draft.

I would do so in this order (but it likely is based on need):

  1. Anyone on the above list that is not protected.
  2. Malcom Quintero (young, true lottery ticket - very unknown - solid offensive numbers in limited action)
  3. Eduarniel Nunez (High spin rate - FB up to 99mph, struggles with command/control - would hurt to lose him)
  4. Nicholas Padilla (former AAA Rule 5 Draft Pick by the Cubs - healthy and having a solid year)
  5. Bryan King (Healthy, left-handed relievers are always worth grabbing - old for his levels, but a 0.00 ERA this year so far)
  6. Jake Slaughter (3B,2B,1B with doubles/gap power and solid defense - starting to hit HR's - could be a late bloomer)
  7. Jack Patterson (Great numbers, ordinary stuff, but a lefty who's been hurt forever and getting old)
  8. Chris Kachmar (Setup or long relief - throws 95mph)
  9. Wyatt Short (Lefty reliever who is getting old and coming off injury and ineffectiveness - can't seem to handle AAA)
  10. Dauris Valdez (Threw 100+ mph at one point - been hurt - always was wild)
  11. Jake Washer (Hitting well this year, but an older backup catcher with a limited skillset)
  12. Greg Deichmann (Went unclaimed this year, but starting to improve - needs to fix something (e.g. swing, glasses, who knows!))
  13. Peyton Remy (can handle lots of innings as a SP or LR - low draft pick - might not find much more success at higher levels)
  14. Jared Young (similar to many minor league free agent 1B/COFs - seems to be running out of time)
  15. Jose Miguel Gonzalez (Been given lots of chances so Cubs must see something - I haven't seen it yet)
  16. Jonathan Sierra (No power - Pretty much limited to 1B - Looks terrible in the outfield - lots of better 1Bmen ahead of him)
  17. Miguel Pabon (former infielder-turned catcher, hasn't ever hit but limited sample - unknown)
  18. D.J. Artis (Injured, limited to LF, no power - doesn't project well to the majors)
  19. Grayson Byrd (minor league roster filler - almost got cut prior to this season - batting .087 right now)
  20. Delvin Zinn (FAST - minor league roster filler - batting .028 right now) (Should be released soon)

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 06/11/2022 - 06:00 am

W-RAT: Elian Almanzar's FB was up to 96-99 MPH in the ACL game Thursday night versus the Brewers Blue squad, and while he has zero command of it, he is now very likely to be placed on the AAA Iowa reserve list on 11/18, because he just has too much of a raw power arm to risk losing him in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft. 

Almanzar did not pitch in EXST games until the last week. He threw only "live" BP and to LH-hitters only up until then, because his FB command was really bad and he appeared to have a hang-up about throwing to RH-hitters.

The FB command Is somewhat better now than it was last month (he has no trouble throwing his FB for strikes in the bullpen or when warming up on the mound before an inning), but it's still not good when he pitches to a batter, especially if it's a RH-hitter. He is at least able to drop his 81-84 MPH slurvy breaking ball in for strikes, after showing his heater and scaring the shit out of the hitter.  

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 06/10/2022 - 06:54 pm

First Pitch 120: I update the watch list whenever a Rule 5 Draft eligible player or a player eligible to be a minor league free-agent is added to or removed from the Cubs Minor League Domestic Reserve List or Internatinal Reserve List, so on any given day different players might be in bold/green/underlined, and these are the players on that day I project will be placed on the AAA Iowa Reserve List on 11/18 (normally 11/20, but 11/20 falls on a Sunday in 2022). 

I believe at least seven and perhaps as many as ten post-2022 Rule 5 Draft eligible players and/or players eligible to be Rule 9 Minor League free-agents presently on the Cubs 180-man Minor League Domestic Reserve List will be added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster by the 11/18 deadline (some perhaps even during the MLB regular season, after the trade deadline), so there will be a number of players I do not currently have highlighted who will be likely be placed on the AAA Iowa Reserve lIst on 11/18... 

in this oder: 

1. Alberto Sojo, RHP 
2. Ben Hecht, RHP 
3. Gabriel Jaramillo, RHP 
4. Samuel Reyes, RHP
5  Bryan King, LHP  
6. Adam Laskey, LHP 
7. Derek Casey, RHP 
8. Hunter Bigge, RHP 
9. Joe Nahas, RHP  
10. Peyton Remy, RHP 

General rule of thumb is you do not want to lose pitchers with upside in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

Some of the ten pitchers on the list above are injured or in the process of rehabbing, so how that process is going would influence whether or not one or more of them will be placed on the AAA Iowa Reserve List when it is submitted to the MLB Commissioner on 11/18. It also means that one or more pitchers or position players presently projected to be placed on the AAA Iowa Rerseve List on 11/18 might not be. 

Again, the significance of the AAA Reserve List is that Rule 5 Draft-eligible pitchers and position players on the 38-man AAA Reserve List can be selected in the Major League Phase ONLY ($100,000 draft price with the possibility of reclaiming the drafted player later for $50,000).

Rule 5 Draft-eligible Players not placed on the AAA Reserve List can be selected in the AAA Phase where the draft price is only $24,000, and where there is no possibility of reclaiming the drafted player later.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 06/27/2022 - 06:45 am

azbobbop: Darius Hill is a bat-first LF / high-contact hitter without the defensive chops needed to play CF or the arm to play RF, so he doesn't really project as a 4th OF (like Rafael Ortega) at the big league level. Rather, Hill is more like Ian Happ, a guy who can handle LF OK, but who would hurt a team defensively if he plays CF or RF.

Hill absolutely murders RHP, but he holds his own against LHP, so he could actually be an everyday MLB LF. At the very least he will be an MLB platoon LF with somebody. Or he could be more than that. He has a 70 hit tool. In fact, his max ceiling-comp would be Michael Brantley, which is to say a high-contact 300 hitter and potential batting champion who doesn't strike out much but also doesn't walk much, hits a lot of doubles, but not a lot of HR. 

Hill probably has the highest floor of any of the Cubs outfield prospects. He - WILL - play in MLB. The only problem is that the Cubs have a number of other OF prospects (Brennon Davis, Pete Crow-Armstring, Kevin Alcantara, Yohendrick Pinango, Owen Caissie, Cole Roederer, Nelson Velazquez, and Alexander Canario) with higher ceilings than Hill, either because they are better defensive outfielders, or because they can play CF and/or RF in addition to LF, or because they have more speed and/or more HR power. But none of those OF prospects have Hill's high floor. 

To summarize, Darius Hill is a legit MLB LF prospect. He will play in MLB. Just maybe not with the Cubs, but that's only because the Cubs have so many other legit OF prospects with higher ceilings than Hill. 

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Submitted by bradsbeard on Mon, 06/27/2022 - 06:19 pm

Any insight into Jake Slaughter's offensive outburst in AA this month? I know he got left behind at EXST to start the year and you mentioned him taking it well and being deserving of another shot. Was there any particular change he made while he was down there? What do you make of what he's doing right now in Tennessee?

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 06/27/2022 - 06:06 pm

BRADSBEARD: Jake Slaughter was "left behind" at Extended Spring Training at the end of Minor League Camp, mainly because there wasn't room for him with a full season affiliate thanks in large part to all of the trades for position player prospects the Cubs made post-2020 and during the 2021 season.

EXST (April - May) is different from being at a full season affiliate in that there is pre-game instructional work done every day, there are one or two instructional "camp days" scheduled every week, and players not scheduled to play in the EXST game that day do a full day of instructional work on those days. So a player can work on a lot of things at EXST he would not be able to work on if he was at Myrtle Beach, South Bend, Tennessee, or Iowa.

What separates EXST from ACL is not the games (the players play EXST games EXACTLY the same way they play ACL games, the only differences being the games are not "official," and some of the goofy rules variances allowed in EXST games that are not permitted in ACL games). Rather, it's the opportunity to work on things pre-game, on camp days, and on days the player isn't playing in games that makes EXST unique. 

So Slaughter was at EXST with several other older position players (Byrd, Sepulveda, Garcia, Huma, Warkentin, Rivero, et al) who also were left behind, and Slaughter in particular really took full advantage of the opportunity to work with Cubs minor league hitting coordinator Tom Byers, minor league infield coordinator Ryan Serena, and minor league baserunning coordinator Doug Dascenzo on improving various areas of his game. 

Slaughter's exit velocity increased, he changed his launch angle to elevate balls more, he improved his base-stealing technique, and his defense (especially at 3B) improved as well. He essentially re-invented himself. Maybe it's because he saw his future as a professional baseball player at stake. I don't know. But he is a different player today than he was three months ago. 

As far as Jake Slaughter's future in concerned, he is in a similar class as Levi Jordan, Trent Giambrone, Chase Strumpf, and Andy Weber, which is to say a David Bote-type AA/AAA utility infielder with some MLB upside. Slaughter can play 1B-2B-3B, he has HR power, and he can steal bases. Right now I would say Slaughter is a legit MLB utility infielder prospect, with a ceiling at or above Jordan, Giambrone, Strumpf, and Weber, and even Bote, because of his combination of power, speed, and infield versatility.  

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Submitted by bradsbeard on Mon, 06/27/2022 - 06:47 pm

Excellent info. Thanks, AZ Phil! I have noticed him and Strumpf trading off 3B and 2B lately, so it is interesting to see both of them having some versatility. He's certainly crushing the ball right now without striking out, so as long as he keeps that up he'll keep getting chances somewhere I imagine.  

Submitted by videographer on Mon, 06/27/2022 - 06:42 pm

 I watched Slaughter a couple of times last year on TV and in person and didn't think much of him as a prospect - org filler at best.  Over the weekend, I watched him twice on Marquee and he is a very different hitter.  He is hitting the ball the other way, a natural opposite field stroke.  He looks good in the box, confident in his ABs, nothing like the hitter I saw last year.  Who knows what to make of his turn around.  He is 25 years old and played 3B and 2B this weekend.  The Cubs could have sent him back to South Bend or MB, but promoted him to Tennessee after his stay at extended spring training.  Another lab success?  We will have a better idea at the end of August.

Submitted by azbobbop on Fri, 07/01/2022 - 07:57 pm

Phil, thanks as always for all the great information. You got anything on Marquez, Alzolay or Davis? Are they working to a return soon?

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 07/02/2022 - 07:09 am

azbobbop: Brailyn Marquez has been down here in the rehab group. I don't know where Adbert Alzolay is right now. Brennon Davis is out indefintely after undergoing back surgery, but the Cubs hope he might be able to see some game activity in post-season Instructs and/or in the Arizona Fall League or maybe in Latin winter ball. 

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 07/17/2022 - 07:12 pm

bottom 8th, contreras hit a single and asked for the ball.  there's no personal milestone on that single.

cubs start after the a/s break on the road for 3 games before coming back to wrigley.

it looks like he's asking for the ball for his possible last cubs hit, or his last possible hit at wrigley.  either way it seems like contreras knows he may be quickly on the way out after rep'ing the cubs at the a/s game.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 07/30/2022 - 07:29 pm

ALEXANDER: Cam Balego lasted in the Cubs system as long as he did only because he went through the catcher conversion program in 2018, but he was never really good enough at it to be anything more than a #3 catcher, and the Cubs have other better options for that role at AA. 

Balego did show some signs of maybe becoming a bat-first C-1B-3B utility guy at Myrtle Beach in 2019, but by the time minor league baseball resumed in 2021 whatever mojo he found in 2019 was gone.  

Submitted by Mike Wellman on Mon, 08/01/2022 - 08:31 pm

Maybe I'll get a look at HW this week. Sounds more like an insurance agent than a ballplayer but what's in a name?

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 08/01/2022 - 08:20 pm

Mlbtr info on our new insurance agent sound interesting. Mid 90's FB and Baseball America projected him as a 4th starter. "MLB.com has already updated its ranking of the Cubs’ top prospects with Wesneski slotting in No. 8, right behind fellow pitching prospects Caleb Kilian and Jordan Wicks." He was ranked 4th in the Yanks farm system but I'm not sure that means much.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/01/2022 - 08:24 pm

HOU deals for trey mancini.  they gave up jose siri and a ranked 10-15 type system prospect SP in a 3-way trade also involving TB.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/01/2022 - 08:32 pm

astros snag christian vazquez from BOS...pretty safe to assume they're no longer in the market for contreras or happ (mancini aquired earlier in the day).

Submitted by azbobbop on Mon, 08/01/2022 - 08:28 pm

I'm a little concerned that the Contreras market may be drying up. Houston is out, San Diego seems preoccupied with Soto and who knows what the Mets are thinking. I hope the Cubs have multiple balls in the air. Also surprised some of the smaller stuff (e.g. Smyly, Ortega) hasn't been cleaned up today. Jed needs a big 24 hours. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:36 am

If Ian Happ and Willson Contreras and/or a RP (Givens or Robertson) go to Tampa Bay, look for RHP Cole Wilcox (2021 TJS) to be part of the return. 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:58 am

Another Rays prospect the Cubs might target is CF Mason Auer, a potential two-way player who was drafted by the Cubs out of HS in 2019 but did not sign. And of course there's INF Isaac Paredes, who the Cubs sent to Detroit with Jeimer Candelario in the Justin Wilson / Alex Avilas deadline trade in 2017 and then was traded to the Rays for OF Austin Meadows this past April.  

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:11 am

WAS pretty much traded for a farm system starter kit.  they got 2 extreme high end pieces (cj abrams + robert hassell) and some other guys who should go into the offseason being highly ranked not just in the organization, but all of baseball.

abrams or hassell, alone, would be key pieces of a major trade.  getting them both is...wow.

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Submitted by springs on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:58 pm

I very much wanted the Cubs to draft Wood over Triantos (or underslot instead of Jordan Wicks, as I didn't think he'd make it to us in 2nd rd).  I was not at the time, and still really am not, that impressed with Triantos as a 2nd rd pick.  His biggest calling card was high contact/high average (only swing and missed 4 times, or soimething like that), but of course he is striking out at a 20% rate in the minors with an under .400 slg and under .350 OBP.  Triantos drafted 56th last year, signed overslot $2.1m, is a nice prospect, far from top in system, really struggling to get footing (.222/.271/.322 in June, .241/.309/.437 in July), while Wood (drafted 6 picks later, slightly higher bonus but both well overslot) is easily a top 100 prospect who is a valuable part of Soto deal.

Padres get players like Soto because (i) they develop players well, (ii) they take high-end players, and (iii) they maximize value in trades.   They made tons of major acquisitions pre-Soto (Darvish, Snell, Hader) without using marquee prospects, whereas seems every prospect of any value for Cubs was being included in deals for players like Quintana or Justin Wilson.

Cubs have significantly improved player development, seem to have somewhat improved player identification (Triantos and Chase Strumpf second round types notwithstanding) and hopefully will now focus solely on maximizing value in trades.  I hate we kept Contreras, but would much rather have the draft pick than a Jose Quintana like return.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:01 am

padres get soto...finally that's settled.  they're getting josh bell, too, so that's 2 targets off the market.

hosmer is going to WAS, hopefully keeping that dead weight away from the cubs.

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:51 pm

Ruh-roh: Hosmer rejects trade to Nats. Nats were on his No trade list. SD working to move him elsewhere (where he can't block a deal).

added: Hosmer, Soto and Bell are all Boras clients, so we know who benefits most on this one.

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Submitted by Alexander Dimm on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:19 pm

Crunch - I agree.  All the talk this year is 'how do we get rid of Jason Heyward' and now we're talking about getting another Jason Heyward?  I know it's a means to an end, but that didn't work out that well with Davies last year either.

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:07 pm

From an article by Sharma and Mooney in the Athletic: "Cubs assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos, who spent the 2021 season as a Double-A pitching coach for the Yankees, previously worked with Wesneski at that level and had a role in that organizational turnaround. Moskos’ insights and relationship surely had some impact on this decision."

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:11 pm

Jim Bowden rumors... from Twitter: 

Contreras w/ Rays, Mets Guardians in hunt
Happ with Blue Jays, Dodgers mentioned
Mahle/Syndegaard with Phillies, Twins involved

and Mark Feinsand rumors: 

With Juan Soto seemingly headed to San Diego, the Dodgers are looking at Ian Happ and David Robertson of the Cubs, per sources. Plenty of competition for both players, however. Mets said to be interested in Robertson and Willson Contreras, as well

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:27 pm

dodgers dealing for joey gallo.

i guess they have an empty space for "absolutely useless power hitter" in the roster without pujols around.

doesn't bode well for dodgers/happ rumors.

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:31 pm

Cubs avoiding the Hosmer dump. He's going to Boston. 
 

Rosenthal: 

Padres almost certainly paying vast majority of remaining financial obligation to Hosmer - more than $7M this season, plus $39 million from ‘23 to ‘25 - in deal with Red Sox. Boston not on his no-trade list. First: @sdutSanders.

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:12 pm

Wittenmeyer on Ben Brown: 

Brown, 22, was the Phillies' 33rd-round pick in 2017. He's 3-5 with a 3.70 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 16 games (15 starts) in High-A this season (73 innings).

He underwent Tommy John in 2019, his first year of full-season ball, after just 13 2/3 innings.

Brown, who's 6-foot-6, wields a fastball in the 95-98 mph range with a 90-mph slider and 84-87 mph curveball, according to MLB Pipeline.

additional stuff by Matt Gelb, Philly:

Brown, 22, was just promoted to Double-A Reading after striking out 105 batters in 73 innings at High-A Jersey Shore. His career had been defined by injuries before 2022.

Some evaluators see him as a future reliever; he must be added to the 40-man roster this offseason.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:18 pm

cubs release their lineups for tonight with no delay.

contreras and happ in the lineup...subject to change, of course.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:34 pm

brandon drury to the padres.

if they're still in on contreras i dunno what they're trading with.  hopefully the cubs have enough simoniz and infield rakes.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:58 pm

1 hour to go!

1 out of 3 "top" targets gone, leaving contreras + happ

givens and smyly also looking new homes.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:13 pm

There are usually about a half-dozen trades that go down in the last 30 seconds before the deadline, but they don't get announced until maybe 20 or 30 minutes after the deadline. 

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:09 pm

"Jon Heyman @JonHeyman
Mets don’t see a likelihood for a Contreras deal at this point"

mets fans are not happy about this possible news.  they have a weak C crew in-house.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:02 pm

might be looking at QO for contreras and the "happ issue" waiting until the off-season...past deadline, no good rumors going into the deadline

shame smyly is still around, kinda...  they may not want to push killian yet.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:50 pm

Sonicwind: If the Cubs extend a QO to Willson Contreras post-2022 and he signs a major league contract with another MLB club prior to the 2023 draft, the Cubs get a comp pick between rounds 2 & 3 in the 2023 draft.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if Contreras accepts the QO (which will likely be somewhere around $20M in 2023). He might even be amenable to signing a relatively short / high AAV extension (maybe three years with an opt-out), as long as he gets a "no trade" with it.  

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:13 pm

so the cubs have a punt year and the talent they picked up to flip brings an A-ball starter for robertson and a "low level prospect" for givens.  oh yeah, and c.martin for k.mckinstry.

i'm not couting the effross trade because i can't imagine shopping effross was part of the plan, just a covienent fit during conversations.

this did not go as planned, i imagine...

Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:14 pm

Not trading Happ is okay. If offers didn't come to Jed that made him trade Happ, no big deal. 

But, the Willy situation is weird. Did other teams not see him as an All Star? 

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:41 pm

seriously, though...unless contreras says something "controversial" following this trade season drama...dude is gonna get a hell of a standing O when the team plays in wrigley again.

hepp probably get some love, too.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:11 pm

same.  selfishly for contreras and if happ's price couldn't be met there's always the off-season.

i would welcome a 3-4 year contreras extension.  i would pause on anything longer.  i could live with a QO, too.

i just want the team to -legitamately- attempt to compete next year, period.

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:04 pm

Per Sharma...

 - Nick Madrigal reinstated from the 10-day IL
 - Michael Rucker and Anderson Espinoza recalled from Iowa
 - Steven Brault placed on COVID-19 related IL
 - RHP Kervin Castro claimed off waivers from San Francisco, optioned to Iowa

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:13 pm

As I have mentioned here before, just because the MLB Trade Deadline has passed doesn't mean players can't be moved.

Minor league players who were not outrighted to the minors after signing a 2022 MLB contract (that is anyonr except Deichmann, Frazier, Newcomb, and Swarmer) can be traded without restriction up until a week prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season. 

Also, players on an MLB 40-man roster can be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers and potentially claimed off waivers by another MLB club for the $50,000 waiver fee. (For players on an MLB IL, the player must be both eligible to be reiunstated and healthy enough to play). The claiming club would also assume 100% of what remains of the player's salary, so there would at least be some financial savings involved for aq club that loses  a player this way.  

A player does - NOT - have to be outrighted if waivers are secured. It's just as procedure to offer a player to other MLB clubs after the Trade Deadline has passed, but it's a tactical decision when to place the player(s) on waives.  A player can be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers only once in a given waiver period if he isn't claimed, so if a player is placed on Outright Assignment Waivers during the month of August (which is a separate waiver period), a club can't put him on waivers again until the next waiver period starts on September 1st, and if he is claimed off waivers after August 31st, the player would not be eligible ro play in the post-season.  

EXAMPLE: Let's say Drew Smyly pitches really great in four starts in August, so the Cubs place him on Outright Assignment Waivers at 2 PM (Eastern) on August 27. Any MLB club can claim him for $50,000 while also assuming what remains of his salary. The waiver ride ends at 1 PM (Eastern) on August 29, and if he isn't claimed off Ouitright Assignment Waivers, the Cubs could then place him on Outright Release Waivers at 2 PM (Eastern) on 8/29, and his release waiver ride would end at 1 PM (Eastern) on 8/31, giving him 11 hours to sign a contract (probably a minor league contract) with a club of his choosing. If he does that, he would at least be eligible to particpate in the posi-season, as long as he signs a major league or minor league contract with another MLB club before midnight on 8/31 and is subsequently added to the new club's MLB 40-man roster.

So root, root. root for Smyly, Miley, and Simmons to have a great August, so that they can be claimed off waivers by another MLB club before September 1st. 

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:20 pm

saul gonzalez (givens trade) looks like a professional wrestler...no, seriously, dude is huge.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:36 pm

jed hoyer interview...

contreras offers "didn't cross that threshold" of a player that could help the team in trade offers.

jed has talked to ross, but not contreras or happ because "they're preparing for a game"...and to be fair, he is that kind of GM so that's not out of character even for something this major.  he says he will talk to both later this evening.

jed won't "talk about contract negotiations in this forum" (a zoom call with reporters) when asked about whether contreras is a guy they want to build a team around.

jed has been in contact with contreras's agent "all month"...but there was an assumption he would be traded for obvious reasons that didn't involve outright saying he's going to be traded no matter what.  he doesn't believe there's a mismatch of communication with anyone involved (cubs/contreras+agent).

jed doesn't think not trading contreras/happ was a missed opportunity and doesn't think the market was as "motivated" for talent as they were last year.

soto held the market up a little bit, but didn't ultimately hold the market up noticably...feels that teams wanting to go to the deadline is an on-going trend of how things work now (and how it worked last season).

jed seems to be putting a premium on starting pitching for the cubs and talking about how "tight" the market is for it all over baseball.  it's the main reason for the effross trade.

jed is saying a lot about what they're "trying to build" but there's been no "2023" or "next season" attached to any of it...hmm...

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:21 pm

As I always say the Cubs love to collect former TJS patients.  2 of the 5 (Brown (Robertson) and Espinal (Machado)) trade and the waiver claim Castro have.  3 out of the 6 new players to the Cubs have had TJS.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 08:44 pm

So AZ Phil I don't know how much you know about the new kids but with Brown, Wesneski, and Gonzales all elgible for the rule 5 draft does anybody make the 40 or is it too early to tell and which of the other Cubs aren't likely to make it now, especially for pitchers since you just added 3 new arms.  I can't believe that they wouldn't select at least Wesneski and Brown  (given Brown that's all they got for Robertson) (dissappointing)).  I feel like the Effross return in Wesneski  is the best of them and I have to believe Jed could have gotten more for the others, but they all called his bluff and he lost...maybe

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:14 am

cubbues.4ever: Hayden Wesneski is probably the only one of the three new pitchers who is likely to be added to the 40 post-2022, and I would say barring significant injury or implosion he is VERY likely to get added. 

Also, I strongly suspect that the FA QO system remaining in place after the MLBPA and MLB owners were unable to agree on an international draft by July 25th changed the outlook for Hoyer at least with respect to trading Contreras this year. I actually believe the Cubs would be fine with Contreras accepting a QO for 2023 (probably about $20M), especially given how much he seems to really, really, REALL Y love playing for the Cubs, It was not the same case with Robertson and Givens, because there is no way they get a QO post-2022, so the Cubs had to take what they could get.

Remember, the one really good prospect the Cubs got back at this season's MLB Trade Deadline (Hayden Wesneski) was acquired for a pitcher (Scott Effross) who is years away from free-agency and was in line to be the Cubs new closer. The Cubs will probably have to do this type of thing going forward, that is, trade young, controllable guys from areas of depth and redundancy (like perhaps one or more of their better outfield prospects) for young, controllable pitchers, catchers,or infielders from other clubs. 

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:38 am

So the model of signing scrap heap veterans to one year deals and flip them at the deadline is on its way out as a means to meaningfully rebuild a farm system is what I get out of this. And that makes sense in the modern game. I hope the Cubs adjust accordingly. It's fine to reclaim a scrap heap player, just use them as a means to try to win as opposed to hoping to get real value at the trade deadline.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:30 pm

DJL: The trade that sent Scott Effross to the Yankees for RHSP Hayden Wesneski or the Angels trading CF Brandon Marsh to the Phillies for C Logan O'Hoppe is the type of trade the Cubs will probably need to make going forward.

For example, maybe Nico Hoerner to the Dodgers for catcher Diego Cartaya, or a couple of Cubs top prospects (let's say Cristian Hernandez, Kevin Alcantara, and/or D. J. Herz) to the Padres for catcher Luis Campusano or to the Mets for 3B Brett Baty. There are scoutts from contending teams watching the ACL Cubs every game, and they are not scouting Miguel Fabrizio. That's why it is important to accumulate as much talent as possible, regardless of position or age or level of experience. 

In other words, you can't count on acquiring top prospects for impending free agents like the Cubs somehow managed to do in 2021. Rather, you will need to trade either a young cost-controlled MLB player (like Marsh or Hoerner) for a top prospect (like O'Hoppe or Cartaya), or two or three top five prospects (like Hernandez, Alcantara, and/or Herz) for another club's #1 or #2 prospect (like Campusano or Baty), especially if that prospect is at a position of need and you are dealing from depth and/or redundancy.

It's almost like "trading up" in the 1st round of the NBA or NFL draft, where you trade your #5 overall pick plus your #1 next year and maybe the year after that to get the #1 or #2 overall pick. 

Then you sign just a very few free-agents to complete the team.

So if the Cubs were to trade (let's say) Hoerner for Cartaya or (ley's say) Hernandez, Alcantara, and/or Herz for Campusano or Baty, they could then go heavy after a free-agent SS like Carlos Correra or Xander Bogaerts.

Something like that.   

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Submitted by Childersb3 on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:31 pm

We're going to have another good draft pick in 2023

I don't see this Cubs team playing .500 ball the rest of the yr like they did last yr after the TDL.

Jed will keep the pitchers down in the MiLB. There won't be any true prospects coming up in Sept until the MiLB season is over and then it won't be much at all for the arms. Like 5 innings total.

So we could end up with a top 3 pick. At worst a top 6 pick in 2023

Jed should try to add some name Vets this winter and trade a couple of OF prospects for an IF prospect like AZ Phil has suggested.

Signing Correa, keeping Willy, and adding a SP vet would signal to all agents and players the Cubs are serious.

Would we have to overpay for them. Except for Willy, yeah we would because we aren't good right now. So pony up the cash Jed/Ricketts!

And for those saying Nico is a better option at SS than Correa....really? Nico is solid but he isn't a stud. I'd argue that Morel is a more important hitter than Nico. But I like Nico and don't want to throw him away. Put him at 2B. He'd be great there.

We need a LH DH. Maybe Mervis at 1B if he continues his great yr at Iowa in Aug/Sept

Happ could play 1B and that opens up a spot in OF for BDavis or another LH bat.

But the lack of a trade market this yr should make Jed think about another tank and sell-off in 2023. Miley, Smyly, Kyle and Stro getting hurt messed up the trade options for us. The rotation next yr of Stro, Kyle, Sampson?, Steele, Keegan, Kilian, Wesneski, Assad?, JWick, Herz is fairly set and only has two sell-off candidates in Stro and Kyle. Stro has probably too much cash for mid season add-on. Kyle would need a huge turnaround to create a market for him.

So, Happ is really the only sell-off option. Gomes I guess could be. Wisdom and the other older cheaper Vets might get you something small but that's a pipedream.

So, Jed can see this and say let's build up the roster now. Selling off isn't there next yr.

And, of course, I could be completely wrong. Love being a fan. I don't have to be right or rationale ever!

But Wisdom, Schwindel, Ortega, Gomes, even Willy and maybe Happ, don't need more ABs in Aug/Sept than Morel and Velazquez need.

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Submitted by Childersb3 on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:14 pm

Phil, Ben Brown has to be added to 40man or go to Rule5 unprotected, correct? Even without a lot of innings in AA under his belt, you think Jed will leave him off the 40?

If so, doesn't that mean guys like KFranklin, Devers, Pinango, etc will be left off 40man as well? They're in the same boat effectively 

Just curious

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:04 pm

Childersb3: Who the Cubs will add to the 40 prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season and then post-season prior to the 11/18 reserve list filing deadline is still TBD, but Ben Brown is in the mix. 

The only slam-dunk locks to be added to the 40 by 11/18 I see right now are OF Brennon Davis, OF Kevin Alcantara, and RHSP Hayden Wesneski, but there are many others "on the bubble" (alphabetically they are 1B Bryce Ball, RHSP Ben Brown, RHSP Chris Clarke, RHRP Danis Correa, RHRP Yovanny Cruz, RHSP Luis Devers, RHRP Jeremiah Estrada, RHSP Kohl Franklin, OF Darius Hill, RHSP Ryan Jensen, LHRP Brendon Little, 1B-OF Nelson Maldonado, OF Yohendrick Pinango, OF Cole Roederer, RHSP Cam Sanders, INF Jake Slaughter, INF Chase Strumpf, RHSP Riley Thompson, RHRP Cayne Ueckert, and INF-OF Jared Young), plus LHRP Bryan Hudson, RHSP Javier Assad, RHRP Nicholas Padilla, and OF Yonathan Perlaza are among the players eligible to be minor league 6YFA post-2022 if not added to the 40 or unless the player signs a 2023 minor league successor contract, but if the player signs a successor contract, he is eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft, which BTW is exactly how the Cubs ended up selecting RHRP Hector Rondon in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft). 

This is why the Cubs need as many open 40-man roster slots as possible by the reserve list filing deadline on November 18th. They can't wait to non-tender guys on 12/2. They have to open up slots by 11/18. 

So obviously there is a lot T-B-D between now and then!

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 08/04/2022 - 08:29 am

Clearly the Cubs will need to drop a lot of players from their MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the 11/18 reserve list filing deadline to open up slots for the many prospects who are Rule 5 Draft eligible.

The easy ones listed alphabetically (and some of them may be gone before the end of the MLB regular season)...   

1. David Bote (will be outrighted if not claimed - will accept it and play at AAA Iowa in 2023) 
2. Steven Brault (will be outrighted if not claimed - will elect FA)   
3. Willson Contreras (free-agent - he will receive a QO and he just might accept it) 
4. Narciso Crook (will be outrighted if not claimed - will be declared minor league 6YFA after World Series or he could sign a 2023 successor contract) 
5. Michael Hermosillo (will be outrighted if not claimed - will elect FA) 
6. Jason Heyward (release)
7. Mark Leiter Jr (will be outrighted if not claimed - will elect FA) 
8. Wade Miley (free-agent)
9. Alec Mills (will be traded or outrighted if not claimed - will elect FA if outrighted) 
10. Rafael Ortega (will be traded or outrighted of not claimed - will elect FA if  outrighted)   
11. Frank Schwindel (will be traded or outrighted if not claimed - will be declared minor league 6YFA post-World Series)
12. Andrelton Simmons (free-agent) 
13. Drew Smyly (2023 club option declined - free-agent) 
14. Brad Wieck (will be traded or outrighted if not claimed - will elect FA if outrighted) 

That would get the 40-man roster down to 31 by 11/18 (or 32 if Contreras accepts the QO), but probably at least a half-dozen more slots on the 40 could be opened by either trading a player or outrighting a player to the minors (if the player isn't claimed off waivers), depending on how individual players perform the last couple of months of the season and how many slots on the 40 the Cubs feel they actually will need for Rule 5 Draft-eligibles. 

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Submitted by Childersb3 on Thu, 08/04/2022 - 08:45 am

I had 20 guys "leaving"

I'm hoping Willy stays, so Higgins or Gomes is gone in that case. That keeps your 14 spots above.

Also leaving: Alexander Vizcaino, Rucker, Marquez, Hendricks, Rivas and McKinstry

That gets the roster to 25 total

Add: BHudson, BLittle, CSanders, RJensen, JAssad, DCorrea, CClarke, BBrown, HWesneski, BBall, CStrumpf, DHill, YPinango, KAlcantara, BDavis

That gets back to 40 total

Morel and at least one other rookie/prospect starts in the lineup. BDavis or NellyV.

Honestly I hope we trade Madrigal and a couple of OF prospects for a some IF prospects. We sign Correa and a SP. Can we say pipedream!!

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Submitted by Childersb3 on Thu, 08/04/2022 - 08:48 am

And that's not even adding YPerlaza who's on fire right now as a 23 yr old SW Cr OF in AA. He hits ~260 with 800+ OPS from both sides of the plate.

Hard to leave him off the 40man.

Of course, a lot of those guys I added don't have a chance to get drafted in Rule5. Just don't want to lose them.

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Submitted by George Altman on Sat, 08/06/2022 - 08:04 pm

Phil,

Here would be my Rule 5 adds:

P--Wisneski, Estrada, Jensen, K. Franklin

IF--Slaughter

OF--B. Davis, Alcantara, Pinango

If there's room (and I could find these 4 Roster slots) -- Devers, R. Thompson, Perlaza, D. Hill.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 08:35 am

GEORGE A: 

If I were to hazard a guess right now, I would say something like: 

VIRTUAL LOCKS:  
1. Brennen Davis 
2. Kevin Alcantara 
3. Hayden Wesneski  

VERY LIKELY 
4. Jeremiah Estrada
5. Ben Brown 
6. Yohendrick Pinango 

Then it's up for grabs.

I can think of another dozen beyond the six I listed above who have a legit chance of being added to the 40 depending in part on how they finish the season (and in some cases their performance in the AFL), but I can't see the Cubs adding more than five or six (and that seems like a lot!) beyond the six virtual lock / very likely ones, which will leave about six or seven guys who in other years would have been added to the 40 without a second thought, but there just won't be room for all of them this time.  

The Cubs will probably need to be seriously looking to make trades prior to the 11/18 reserve list filing deadline, where they send one or more of their Rule 5 Draft eligibles they are not planning to add to the 40 to another club that has 40-man roster slots available in exchange for maybe DSL or ACL/FCL player(s) or pitcher(s)... that is, legit prospects who are not yet Rule 5 Draft eligible (AKA "lottery tickets").  

Self scouting (that is, the Cubs own scouts assigned to scout Cubs affiliates) will need to be really good. 

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Submitted by George Altman on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 08:40 pm

Thanks for the response, Phil, as always.  You hit the nail on my biggest reservations on this Organization  -- Self Scouting. Hopefully, with successes like Effross, Hughes, and Slaughter they're getting better at my 2nd reservation  -- Player Development. 

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Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 08:46 pm

No way on Franklin.  He's been brutal and missed a lot of time.  Jensen is questionable being the 1st rd pedigree.  Slaughter is good, but there are too many of his type of player.  Thompson is the same category as Franklin.  Devers, Hill, and Peralza wouldn't be worth a MLB roster spot.  My question is where is the love for Matt Mervis??  He's a runaway for Cubs milb POY.  The only person close is Canario and he's only doing in lower level and 60 points less in AVG.  Mervis has hit in every level this year.  Plus who do the Cubs really have at 1st base?  Rivas, Higgins, Schwindel.  The 3 combined don't have as good as numbers.  I'm not saying call him a top 10 Cubs prospect, but right now I'd take him over (and over rated) Amaya any day of the week and twice on Sunday.  He can't crack MLB Top 30 Cubs, that's BS.

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Mon, 08/08/2022 - 08:36 am

MLB hasn't really Re-ranked their list. I'm sure Mervis will be on their top 30 whenever they do. He's getting plenty of love, just not on MLB.com yet. That said he's got 0% chance at the 40 man this off-season. He's not rule 5 eligible.

Agreed with you on Amaya, by the way.

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Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 08/08/2022 - 08:02 am

I wasn't sure if Mervis was because he was a NDFA, not drafted (well was previously, but chose not to sign with WAS) and not an INTFA.  Rule 5 eligible or not he's still might currently be better than the ones currently in Chicago.  I think we found Schwindel's ceiling, Rivas is still TBD, and Higgins, which is the real one this or previous years version?  Either way not a high ceiling.  I do realize it's a business of squeezing every last day out of a player, just ask Kris Bryant, so they might hold him back as long as possible to see if he's for real and gets full PT etc.

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:58 am

Any thoughts on the system ranking change the Padres trade deadline moves will have on their system? 

Submitted by First.Pitch.120 on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:31 am

I think that I tend to believe Jed when he says that the market (in general) wasn’t robust.  Feels like the competitive balance of the various races shifted in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline & I can see there being not a ton of motivation for buying teams.  Some teams that were certain to be buyers faded (BOS, CWSx, SF) and others in a potential buy-position in the standings aren’t all-in yet (BAL).

3/6 divisions are virtually locked up & a 4th competitive race is in our own division (which may make trading less likely people say). 3/4 of the “bye slots” are basically set due to the 3rd division leader in each league lagging considerably behind the pace.

Plus you have the weird dynamic that in both leagues where a team would much rather be the 6 seed than the 5 (or even arguably the 4).  If I’m ATL & I fail to catch NYM for the division title, would I rather try to win 2 games against SDP @ home or MIL on the road (probably at home, but not by a huge margin).  If I’m STL or PHIL, where is my motivation to claw my way from #6 to #5?  At 6 you play on the road vs. MIL; at 5 you play on the road vs. SDP or ATL.

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Submitted by crunch on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:39 am

BOS catcher christian vazquez got wilyer abreu + enmanuel valdez...guys that ranked in the 20s in the HOU team prospect rankings.  after going to boston they slot in #28 and #29 according to MLB's team prospect rankings.

they are putting up great numbers, but there's questions about projections and stregnth of defense for both guys.

vazquez wasn't as ranked as highly as contreras in the trade market, but vazquez and contreras were the 2 hot C going into the trade season.  BOS was probably looking more, but they settled on the 2 prospects they got.

losing HOU as a potential trading partner and SD blowing their load on soto didn't help the cubs.

ultimately, the cubs biggest chip...a catcher...wasn't as hot of a market as the cubs needed it to be...

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:53 am

Losing HOU and SD as trade partners definitely had an effect. NYM and TB both likely saw that and knew competition was minimal, so they lowballed.

 I'm not as down on Jed as most everyone, though my mind is very much not made up on him (I mostly blame the Ricketts for the current situation). But I have to say I respect the decision to not trade for pennies on the dollar, even with free agency for Willson coming. It sends a message for the future to trade partners. I can't imagine the negativity if he traded Willson for guys who ended up in the 20s in our system.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:00 pm

I think it's fairly obvious that the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline was a seller's market only with respect to Juan Soto,  Josh Bell, and Josh Hader (all three of whom went to SD, BTW), plus three semi-elite SP (Castillo, Montas, and Mahle). Otherwise, it was strictly a buyer's market.  

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:05 pm

I truly believe there is now better than a 75/25 chance that Willson Contreras will accept the QO post-2022 (which will be about $20M), and better than a 50/50 chance that he signs a front-loaded four-year extension (something like 25/15/15/15) with a full "no trade," a player opt-out after the first or second year, and maybe a club option after the second or third year. 

Contreras has all the signs of suffering from Ernie Banks Syndrome. He really, really, REALLY loves playing for the Cubs, and he wears it on his sleeve. Unfortunately for him (and his agent) it doesn't give him a lot of leverage in bargaining. 

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:18 pm

Brewers acquired Dinelson Lamet in the Hader trade but just DFA'd him. I think he's worth a claim if they can get him. Reports say it made sense to include him in the trade but they added Rosenthal and Bush putting his roster spot in jeopardy.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:45 pm

CUBSTER: Dinelson Lamet (more specifically Lamet's contract) was included in the Hader deal to keep the Padres $1M under the CBT threshold (that why Brewers GM David Stearns said Lamet was included to "balance out the deal"), although that all got blown to smithereens after the Soto trade when Mr. Hosmer and his $23M AAV refused to go to Washington.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:20 pm

RHP Dinelson Lamet has been Designated for Assignment by the Brewers, 48 hours after he was acquired from the Padres in the Josh Hader trade. Lamet cannot be traded so he will have to be placed on waivers. The Cubs have the #6 waiver claim priority and they should put in a claim and if they are awarded the claim give him a shot at late-inning relief. He is making less money than the Cubs saved by trading Robertson, Givens, and Martin.  

Lamet is under control through the 2023 season (he will be arbitration eligible post-2022), but the Cubs can always non-tender him post-2022 if they don't like what they see of him.   

WAS, OAK, KC, DET, and PIT (in that order) presently have a better waiver claim priority than the Cubs, but by the time Lamet finishes his 47-hour "waiver ride" (probably by Friday or Saturday), the Cubs waiver claim priority  could be as high as #3 (TBD). 

Beginning on the 31st day of the MLB regular season and extending through the conclusion of the MLB regular season. MLB waiver claim priority is based on the standings as of 9 AM (Eastern) on the day the player's 47-hour waiver claiming period ends, with the tie-breaker being the clubs' record from the previous season.

Then beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, and extending through the 30th day of the MLB regular season, the previous season's standings are used to determine waiver claim priority, with the tie-breaker being the clubs' record from two seasons back (or three, four, five, etc seasons back if necessary to break the tie).  

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 08/04/2022 - 08:46 pm

Something to keep in mind about Dinelson Lamet is that although he has minor league options remaining, he reached five years of MLB Service Time last Thursday so he cannot be sent to the minors (optioned or outrighted) without his consent. So if the Cubs do claim him off waivers, he almost certainly will have to remain on the Cubs MLB 26-man active list roster going forward.

Lamet is under club control through the 2023 season, and he will be arbitration-eligible for the final time post-2022.   

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 08/05/2022 - 08:16 pm

Dinelson Lamet has been claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies, so obviously the Cubs (as well as the Nationals, A's, Royals, Tigers, Reds, Pirates, and Angels) passed on the opportunity to acquire him for $50,000 plus what remains of his 2022 salary (about $1.75M).  

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:34 pm

lamet's inability to develop a 3rd pitch really hurt him.

he's got a great fastball and slider, but the combo hasn't worked out.  with a 3rd pitch he'd still be a starter rather than a pen guy.  some teams may view him as a starter, but good luck on that 3rd pitch.  they've tried matching a sinker with his 4-seam, nope.  they've tried a change, nope.  *shrug*

30 years old, but there's still promise in a 95+mph arm that's got a slider.

Submitted by azbobbop on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:51 pm

Phil, can David Bote be outrighted this fall but remain under contract for the future?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 08:36 pm

azbobbop: Presuming he isn't claimed off waivers, David Bote can be sent outright to the minors without his consent up until he has accrued five years of MLB Service Time. As of today, Bote has accrued exactly four years plus 49 days of MLB Service Time (4+049), and so he has to accrue 123 more days before he will reach five years (5+000) of MLB Service Time, and unless he is optioned or outrighted to the minors in the meantime, he will hit five years of MLB Service Time right around June 1st of next season. 

However... 

Even though Bote does not have to give his consent (yet) before he can be sent outright to the minors, if he is outrighted he can elect free-agency immediately, or defer election of free-agency until a window that begins on the day after the conclusion of the MLB season through October 15th (unless he is added back to the MLB roster in the meantime). Or he doesn't have to elect free-agency at all. 

The problem with Bote (in particular) electing free-agency after he is outrighted is that he would forfeit the balance of his contract and what remains of his salary. Unlike most players in his class (player has accrued at least three years but less than five years of MLB Service Time), Bote signed a multi-year multi-million dollar contract that pays him $2.5M in 2022, $4M in 2023, $5.5M in 2024, $7M club option (or $1M buy-out) in 2025, and $7.6M (or $1M buy-out) in 2026, and It's not likely he would get another contract like that if he were to elect free-agency after being outrighted.     

So if the Cubs outright Bote prior to the conclusion of the 2022 MLB regular season or sometime during the post-2022 off-season, he will likely (reluctantly) accept the outright assignment and play at AAA Iowa next season, even through 2024 if necessary. He would not become a minor league 6YFA until after his contract expires, probably after the 2024 season when the Cubs would be able to (finally) pay a buy-out and make the contract go away.  

He could get called up by the Cubs periodically in 2023 and 2024 and then get outrighted again each time (presuming he isn't claimed off waivers, which given his contract is unlikely), but once he has acrued five years of MLB Service Time he can't be outrighted (or even optioned) back to the minors without consent. 

Getting outrighted prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season or sometime during the post-2022 off-season and accepting the outright assignment and not electing free-agency would put an immediate stop to Bote's accrual of MLB Service Time, but it would start ticking (accruing) again anytime he gets called up to MLB. So the Cubs would have to be careful not let him accrue too many days of MLB Service Time each time he gets called up in 2023 and 2024, otherwise he would reach a point (five years of MLB Service Time) where he can't be outrighted without his consent.

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 08/04/2022 - 08:56 am

Per Sharma tweet for todays DH...

RHP Matt Dermody added as the Cubs 27th man, Sean Newcomb will be called up (corresponding move to come) and start Game 2 of the DH.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 08/09/2022 - 08:22 pm

DAVID P: If Alexander Vizcaino were to spend the entire 2022 season on Optional Assignment (he was optioned to AA Tennessee during Spring Trainng) and the Restricted List (which he must, because he cannot be reinstated from the Restricted List during the season if he has not been reinstated by August 1st), he will - NOT - accrue a year of minor league service toward being an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA, if he were to be outrighted to the minors at some point in the future.

Coming into the 2022 season, Vizcaino had accrued six seasons of minor league service, and he needs all or part of at least seven separate minor league seasons -- including seasons spent on Optional Assignment to the minors -- to qualify for minor league free agency - IF - he is on a minor league reserve list as of 5 PM  (Eastern) on the 5th day following the final game of the World Series.   

So because he will be on the Restricted List for the entire 2022 season, he will need to accrue one more minor league season post-2022 to qualify to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA, but that's only if he were to be outrighted to the minors at some point in 2023 or beyond. 

Also, Vizcaino will be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2024. 

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 08:11 am

Small sample size disclaimer but excellent first start...

Final line for Ben Brown in his debut for Tennessee tonight:

5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 9 K 2 BB

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 08:56 pm

CUBS VETERAN MINOR LEAGUERS LIKELY TO BE TRADED TO A CONTENDER DURING AUGUST: 

1. John Hicks, C-1B 
2. Luke Farrell, RHSP 
3. Jonathan Holder, RHRP
4. Erick Castillo, C 
5. Raynel Espinal, RHP (acquired from SF for Dixon Machado on 7/31)
6. Tyler Payne, C 
7. Trent Giambrone, INF-OF
8. Zach Davis, OF

Each of these players will be minor league 6YFA post-2022 and are unlikely to get added to the 40 or sign a 2023 minor league successor contract. 

Players on the MLB 40-man roster cannot be traded, and OF Clint Jackson Frazier, OF Greg Deichmann, and RHP Matt Swarmer cannot be traded after the MLB Trade deadline because they are outighted players. 

Submitted by Alexander Dimm on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 08:36 pm

I saw in one place where Matt Dermody was about to sign with a KBO team.  Haven't seen it anywhere else.  Could it be another Matt Dermody, not the one who pitched an inning during the doubleheader with the Cards last week?

Submitted by jdrnym on Mon, 08/08/2022 - 08:43 am

AZ Phil,

I've never been able to get this rule straight -- If a player is optioned and another is recalled between games of a doubleheader, do *both* players get credit for a day of service *and* a day on optional assignment? Thanks in advance.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 08/08/2022 - 08:21 pm

jdrnym: Both players get credit for a day of MLB Service Time (the same day, as it happens). The 10 or 15-day option clock (minimim number of days a player must spend on optional assignment) for the player optioned to the minors after the first game starts ticking rhe next day.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 08/08/2022 - 08:13 pm

Franmil Reyes acquired off waivers from the Guardians. Carter Hawkins must have had a deciding vote.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 08/08/2022 - 08:52 pm

While Franmil Reyes must be added to the 40 immediately, a 26-man roster move will not be necessary until he physically reports (he has up to 72 hours to report).

Reyes will remaun under club control through 2024, is arbitration eligible post-2022 and post-2023, and he has two minor league options available (at least up until he reaches five years of MLB Service Time, which if he remains on the MLB active list roster continuously until that time would be about June 1st of next season. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 08/23/2022 - 08:16 am

With Javier Assad having been added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster, the 40 is now full. However, if additional 40-man roster slots are needed in the near future (like for Manuel Rodriguez, Adbert Alzolay, and/or Michael Hermosillo, all three of whom are presently on minor league rehab assignments), Wade Miley has already spent more than sixty days on the 15-day IL so he could be transferred to the 60-day IL and still be reinstated at any time, and we know that Jason Heyward will not be playing anymore this season, so he could be transferred to the 60-day IL as well.

Also, Alec Mills will have spent 60-days on the 15-day IL as of 8/31, and Kyle Hendricks will have spent 60 days on the 15-day IL as of 9/3, so one or both could be transferred to the 60-day IL at any time and still be eligible to be reinstated by the end of August (Mills) or by the first week of September (Hendricks), presuming they are ready and able to pitch by that time (which doesn't seem too likely at the moment). 

In addition, keep in mind that MLB active rosters will expand from 26 ro 28 on September 1st, and (per the CBA)  all clubs  - MUST - add two players to their active roster at that time (no more than 14 of the 28 can be pitchers).  Back when the MLB active list roster limit expanded from 25 to 40 on September 1st, clubs could add as many as 15 or as few as no extra players to their active list roster in September (100% club option), but the 28-man September roster is now mandatory.

The reason why AAA leagues now continue to play past Labor Day and do not conclude until the last week of September is because with a 28-man roster, MLB clubs will be sending players back & forth between the MLB club and the club's AAA affiliate throughout the month of September (something that did not happen back when the MLB active roster limit expanded to 40 in September). 

Submitted by azbobbop on Tue, 08/23/2022 - 08:31 pm

I first saw Javier Assad pitch in the AZL in 2016. Very poised for his age, extremely nice kid but just didn't seem to have the arsenal to go far. Now six years later, he has reworked his style, picked up some much needed velocity and is in the majors. Congratulations  to Javier and the Cubs on a terrific player development path.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 09/01/2022 - 09:44 pm

good for j.estrada.

aside from a slew of baseball injuries (including TJ) to slow his career, he had COVID bad enough to get a 2 week hospital stay.

for those wondering, no not vax'd...got vax'd afterwards at the encouragement of the cubs...almost a year later (this july)...because a 2 week hospital stay for a 23 year old athete evidently doesn't speak for itself.  i don't get it, yall...i really don't.  anyway...

very promising addition to the pen.  he picked up where he left off last year without missing a beat and jumped from A-ball to the bigs.  he's probably here to stay.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 10/17/2022 - 10:05 am

With Michael Hermosillo having filed for free-agency, the Cubs now have 166 players on their 180-man minor league Domestic Reserve List (14 slots are open).

There are also presently 23 players on a minor league 60-day IL, and they must be reinstated by 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series. While that will increase the DRL to 189, it so happens that at that EXACT same moment in time (5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series) the DRL limit increases from 180 to 190. (The DRL limit remains at 190 during the off season and Spring Training, and does not revert to 180 until MLB Opening Day). 

Also at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, minor league players eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA or second contract free-agent will be automatically declared a free-agent, so that will open up even more slots on the DRL for free agents signed to 2023 minor league contracts during the off season. (Unlike Article XX-D minor league free-agents like Frazier, Newcomb, and Hermosillo, Rule 9 minor league 6YFA and second contract FA do not have to file, it happens automatically, as long as the player has not signed a 2023 minor league contract). 

At present, 32 Cubs minor leaguers (23 6YFA and nine second contract FA) are eligible to be free-agents at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, but it is likely that the vast majority of the second contract players are signed for 2023, and at least a handful of the 23 potential 6YFA will sign a 2023 successor contract prior to being declared a free-agent (and OF Yonathan Perlaza could possibly get added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster -- TBD).

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 10/19/2022 - 10:25 pm

should be an interesting off-season for the angels.

ohtani's not thrilled about finishing up his 5th season of sub-.500 baseball.  the owner is looking to sell the team.  trout is making 37m a year until 2030.  their farm system is near dead-last.

step 1 seems to be firing the hitting coach and extending phil nevin on a 1yr deal while they try to figure out what's going on.

i can't imagine they'd do any move without input from the pool of possible new ownership, but it's highly likely either ohtani or trout will be traded to replenish the farm...maybe both...maybe neither...mindreading billionaires is hard.

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Submitted by Sonicwind75 on Wed, 10/19/2022 - 10:03 pm

Yeah, its Mike freakin' Trout, but how much of a trade package would Angels get back given the contract and injury history of late. Not like the Rockies got a ton back for Arenado and they chipped in a hefty hunk of money too. That's the most recent comp I could think of.   

Offseason, armchair, keyboard warrior GMing is fun.

Submitted by DavidP on Fri, 10/21/2022 - 10:58 am

I believe it will be an interesting off season.  I would expect that the Cubs will target a shortstop, probably Correa, but I would prefer Turner if available.  I would not go after Bogaert unless the price was attractive.  I also expect them to go after Senga and a short term closer.  Beyond that, since there is no great third baseman available, I think they will fill in with mid level short term help.  Center field doesn't make sense, with Canario, Davis and PCA waiting in the wings.

All in all, I expect most Cubs fans to be disappointed with the off season, as many were when they "only" signed Stroman and Suzuki last year.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 11/02/2022 - 11:29 pm

The Cubs have reinstated RHP Trey Lang (Cubs 2012 6th round draft pick - Gateway CC) from the Voluntary Retired List.

Now 30 years old, Lang retired in February 2015 after spending three seasons in the Cubs organization. He has been working out at a baseball training center in Phoenix. 

Lang will be eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft next month, and he is under club control through the 2026 season.  

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 11/09/2022 - 11:44 pm

Tomorrow (Thursday 11/10) at 5 PM (Eastern) the following will take place, all at once: 

1. All players still on an MLB or minor league 60-day IL must be reinstated. Players on MLB 40-man rosters may not be placed on the 60-day IL again until the first official day of MLB Spring Training in February, and minor league players may not be placed on a minor league affiliate's 60-day IL until Opening Day of the minor league affiliate to which the player is assigned.   

2. All unsigned minor league players eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 6YFA or second contract free-agent will automatically be declared a free agent. They don't have to file. It's automatic. 

3. The minor league Domestic Reserve List expands from 180 to 190, and will remain at 190 until 2023 minor league "full season" opening day. 

4. MLB Article XX-B free-agents are free to sign with all 30 MLB clubs. (During the first five days after the conclusion of the final game of the World Series free-agents can only re-sign with their own club, although they are permitted to have conversations with other clubs regarding a club's  general interest in that player, but the two sides are not permitted to discuss the specific terms of a contract).  

5. The MLB Labor Relations Department (MLB LRD) will deliver a list of MLB players receiving an Article XX-B Qualifying Offer to the MLBPA. The MLBPA then forwards the QO to the individual player and/or to the player's agent.

The player then must decide whether to accept or decline the QO.  He will have five days to decide. If he accepts the QO, the club must add the player back to their MLB 40-man roster immediately, and the player receives a one-year guaranteed contract with a salary of $19.65M, full no trade rights through June 15th, and the knowledge that he can never receive a QO again in his career.

If the player declines the QO and subsequently signs a major league contract with another MLB club prior to the 2023 First Year Player Draft, the player's former club gets a 2023 draft pick as compensation. For the Cubs, a compensation draft pick will be slotted between the 2nd & 3rd rounds.

If the Cubs sign a player who received a QO, they will forfeit their second-highest draft pick, and if they sign more than one player who received a QO, they would forfeit their third highest, fourth highest, etc, draft picks (including conceivably the compensation draft pick between the second and third rounds they received for losing a Qualified Player), one pick lost for each Qualified Player signed. 

Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

26 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST, plus two are on the 15-DAY IL, one is on the 10-DAY IL, and eleven are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors  

Last updated 5-31-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad
Jeremiah Estrada
Michael Fulmer
Kyle Hendricks
* Brandon Hughes
Mark Leiter Jr 
Julian Merryweather
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon 
Hayden Wesneski

CATCHERS: 2
* Tucker Barnhart 
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
Nico Hoerner
* Miles Mastrobuoni 
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
* Edwin Rios 
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4 
# Ian Happ
Trey Mancini 
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

OPTIONED: 11
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Miguel Amaya, C
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Ryan Jensen, P 
Caleb Kilian, P  
Nick Madrigal, INF 
Michael Rucker, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Nelson Velazquez, OF

10-DAY IL: 1 
* Cody Bellinger, OF 

15-DAY IL: 2 
Brad Boxberger, P 
Nick Burdi, P  

60-DAY IL: 3 
Codi Heuer, P 
Ethan Roberts, P
Adrian Sampson, P 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents