Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

2022 Cubs MLB First-Year Player Draft Ticker Tracker

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

CUBS 2022 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS 

DAY ONE (7/17)

1st ROUND (7) 
Cade Horton, RHP 
R/R, 6'1 211, Age 20 
U. of Oklahoma 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT FRESHMAN   
COMMENT: Considered to be the best college pitcher in the draft... was named to the Baseball America Freshman All-American team in 2022... attended Norman HS and then stayed home and enrolled at the University of Oklahoma as a two sport guy (baseball pitcher / third-baseman & football QB) after decomitting from Ole Miss, but eventually gave up football to concentrate on baseball... he didn't play baseball in 2020, he redshirted the 2021 season after undergoing TJS, and finally made his college game debut this past March... 5-2 with a 4.86 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 14 games (11 GS), with 15/64 BB/K, 55 hits (8 HR), and 7 HBP, in 53.2 IP, but went 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 6/49 BB/K in 31 innings in post-season tournament play (Big 12 tournament, NCAA regional and super-regional, and College World Series)... set a record by striking out 13 batters in the CWS championship game loss versus Ole Miss and was named to CWS All-Tournament team... best pitch is an upper 80's SL with a high spin-rate, but he also throws a 94-97 MPH FB, an 80 MPH CV, and an upper 80's CH...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $5,708,000

2nd ROUND (47) 
Jackson Ferris, LHP 
L/L, 6'4 195, Age 18
IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL  
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Ole Miss 
COMMENT: Considered to be one of the top three HS LHP in the 2022 draft... transferred to IMG from Mt. Airy HS in North Carolina in 2020... features a 93-97 MPH FB, a high-spin mid-70's CV, and a deceptive CH... was better in his junior year at IMG in 2021 when he posted a 0.55 ERA with 13/82 BB/K over the course of 50.2 IP than he was in his senior year (2022) when he had some command issues stemming from a mechanical problem with his crossfire delivery... will enroll at 2022 CWS champion Ole Miss if he does not sign with the Cubs...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,660,400


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


DAY TWO (7/18)

3rd ROUND (86)
Christopher Paciolla, SS 
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 18 
Temecula Valley HS - Temecula, CA 
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: UCLA 
COMMENT: Hit 390/533/695 with 4 HR & 21 RBI with 16/14 BB/K in 29 games for Golden Bears in 2022... has above-average power... good fielder with average arm and below average speed... will likely move to 3B in pro ball... will enroll at UCLA if he does not sign with Cubs... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $735,200

4th ROUND (113)
Nazier Mule, RHP (ex-SS) 
R/R, 6'3 210, Age 17 
Passaic County Technical HS - Wayne, NJ 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Miami 
COMMENT: Last name is pronounced Moo-LAY... athletic two-way player (SS / RHP) with a shortstop arm compared to Shawon Dunston... hit .427 with 8 HR & 37 RBI, 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 14 walks for Bulldogs in 2022... raw power arm off the mound featuring a 92-96 MPH FB (was touching 100 with FB in his junior year) and inconstent slider... 3.23 ERA with 10 hits allowed and 6/29 BB/K in 13 IP for Bulldogs in 2022... played mostly 1B / DH in 2022 while nursing a sore arm... will pitch (only) in pro ball but will be a two-way player at "The U" if he does not sign with Cubs...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $538,400 

5th ROUND (143)
Brandon Birdsell, RHP
R/R, 6'2 240, Age 22  
Texas Tech 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: Friday starter for Red Raiders in 2022... features a 95-99 MPH FB, a mid-80's dive-bomb SL, and a so-so 86-87 MPH CH... has the stamina to be a starter but may be confined to the pen as a two-pitch power arm (FB / SL) in pro ball... went 9-2 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, allowing 67 hits (7 HR) with 29/106 BB/K, 7 HBP, amd 10 WP in 15 games (15 GS) and 85 IP for Red Raiders in 2022... had a shoulder injury (rotator cuff) in 2021 but was healthy in 2022... was selected by Houston Astros in 39th round of 2019 draft but did not sign and enrolled at Texas A&M... was selected by Minnesota Twins in 11th round of 2021 draft but did not sign and returned to Tech... started college career at Texas A&M, then transferred to San Jacinto JC, before ending up in Lubbock...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $402,100

6th ROUND (173)
Will Frisch, RHP 
R/R, 6'0 222, Age 22  
Oregon State 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT SOPH 
COMMENT: Was a swingman for Beavers in 2021 and was supposed to move to starting rotation in 2022 before March TJS put him on the shelf... should be ready for Spring Training 2023... went 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, 48 hits (3 HR) allowed with 30/66 BB/K in 27 games (7 GS) and 53.2 IP 2020-21... features a 94-98 MPH FB with sinking action, a swing & miss CH, and an inconsistent SL... profiles as a sinker / change-up bullpen arm in pro ball... was selected by Minnesota Twins in 36th round of 2019 draft but did not sign and enrolled at OSU... was a two-way player (RHP / 3B) at Stillwater HS in Minnesota and was a member of National Honor Society... Stillwater won Minnesota Class 4-A state baseball championship when Frisch was a junior...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $303,700

7th ROUND (203)
Nick Hull, RHP
R/R, 6'2 205, Age 22 
Grand Canyon U.  
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: Is attending graduate school at GCU... worked out of Antelopes bullpen 2018-21 and led WAC in lowest ERA (1.77) in 2021, then became GCU Friday starter in 2022. .. went 7-1 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, allowing 90 hits (8 HR) and 28/102 BB/K, 4 HBP, and 10 WP, in 16 games (16 GS) and 90.2 IP for GCU in 2022... pitched for Bellingham in West Coast League (a collegiate wood bat league) in 2018, for Mankato in Northwoods League (another collegiate wood bat league) in 2019, and for Orleans in Cape Cod League (the top collegiate wood bat league) in 2021...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $237,300

8th ROUND (233)
Mason McGwire, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 190, Age 18 
Capistrano Valley HS - Mission Viejo, CA 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Oklahoma
COMMENT: Son of Mark McGwire... two-way player at CVHS (RF / RHP)... features a 89-92 MPH FB and a dive-bomb splitter... older brother Max is a first-baseman at the University of Oklahoma, and Mason will attend OU if he does not sign with Cubs...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $188,900

9th ROUND (263) 
Connor Noland, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 215, Age 22 
U. of Arkansas 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: Razorbacks Friday starter... went 8-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, allowed 109 hits (7 HR) with 34/113 BB/K, 8 HBP, amd 2 WP, in 20 games (19 GS) and 116 IP in 2022.... features a reliable if unspectacular three-pitch mix with plus-command, including an 89-91 MPH FB, a mid-80's SL, and a CV... was an ESPN 4-star football recruit at Greenwood HS (top three college football prospect in Arkansas) and came to Fayetteville as a two-sport player (QB in football and RHP in baseball), but he quit football after freshman year in 2019 to concentrate on baseball...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $164,500

10th ROUND (293) 
Brody McCullough, RHP 
R/R, 6'4 205, Age 22 
Wingate University 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: D-2 2022 Southern Region Pitcher of the Year... Bulldogs' Friday starter, went 9-1 with a 2.40 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, allowing 48 hits and no HR with 24/100 BB/K in 12 games (11 GS) and 63.2 IP in 2022... is currently pitching for Hyannis in Cape Cod League, where he has put up a 2.70 ERA with 8/30 BB/K in 20 IP... is having an outstanding summer at the Cape, and was named T-Mobile Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 10th... features a low 90's FB, a mid-80's CH, a low-80's SL, and plus command... nickname is "Bird"... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $154,200


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


DAY THREE (7/19)

NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $125,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-20 as well as for any player eligible for selection in the draft who is not selected and who is subsequently signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) count against a club's Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool (SBP). 

11th ROUND (323)
Branden Noriega, LHP 
L/L, 6'2 180, Age 21 
Miami-Dade College  
JC REDSHIRT SOPH  
COMMENT: Pitched for West Virginia in the MLB Draft League (an MLB "partner league" formerly known as the NYP League) in 2022... recorded a 4.91 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, with 6 hits (1 HR) allowed and 10/14 BB/K in 10 games (11 IP) for Black Bears in 2022... attended Miami-Dade College prior to pitching in the MLBDL... spent HS years at Somerset Academy - Silver Palms in Homestead, FL... 

12th ROUND (353)
Mathew Peters, RHP
R/R, 6'4 215, Age 21 
Ivy Tech CC - Northeast (Ft Wayne) 
JC REDSHIRT SOPH  
COMMENT: FB clocked at 100+ MPH in March... previously pitched at Hillsborough CC in Plant City, FL, before coming home to Ft. Wayne... went 1-2 with an 8.03 ERA, allowing 31 hits and 18/30 BB/K over the course of 24.2 IP in 13 games (3 GS) for HCC in 2021...   

13th ROUND (383)
Luis Rujano, RHP 
R/R, 6'5 205, Age 19 
Sunshine State Elite Academy - Kissimmee, FL
HIGH SCHOOL   
COLLEGE COMMIT: South Florida 
COMMENT: Rated by Perfect Game as the #11 HS player in Florida in 2022... features a 96 MPH FB and a CH... will enroll at U. of South Florida if he does not sign with Cubs... was born in Venezuela...

14th ROUND (413)
Shane Marshall, RHP (ex-C) 
R/R, 6'4 210, Age 22  
U. of Georgia 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: A light-hitting back-up catcher with a plus arm who occasionally threw off the mound in blow-outs... will be converted to pitcher at pro level... hit 210/354/287 with five doubles, 1 HR & 19 RBI, and 21/73 BB/K in 95 games (201 PA) as a catcher over the course of four seasons at Georgia...     

15th ROUND (443)
Haydn McGeary, C-1B  
R/R, 6'5 235, Age 22 
Colorado Mesa University 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: A bat-first catcher who also plays 1B and corner OF, but is primarily a DH... was named ABCA National Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2022... hit 448/522/930 with 75 HR & 243 RBI, 65 doubles, and 81/88 BB/K in 722 PA (163 games) in three seasons at CMU... is presently hitting 403/482/622 with 4 HR & 28 RBI over the course of 30 games for Bluefield in the Appalachian League (collegiate wood bat summer league)... finished in the top 10 in the nation in HR in his senior year at Thunderbird HS in Glendale, AZ... will transfer to U. of Kentucky if he does not sign with Cubs... first name is spelled Haydn (like the composer)...   

16th ROUND (473)
JP Wheat, RHP 
R/R, 6'5 185, Age 19 
Next Level Academy - Wetumpka, AL 
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: Georgia Tech 
COMMENT: 19-year old HS senior... ex-OF converted to pitcher in his junior year of HS ... features a 91-96 MPH FB, a 69-74 MPH CV, and a 79-83 MPH CH... will enroll at Georgia Tech if he does not sign with Cubs...  

17th ROUND (503)
Andy Garriola, OF 
R/R, 6'5 235, Age 22 
Old Dominion 
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: 2022 second team NCBWA All-American... started all 58 games for the Monarchs and finished 9th in the nation in HR and seventh in the nation in RBI in NCAA D-1 in 2022... hit 324/377/617 with 49 HR & 214 RBI, 53 doubles, and 54/163 BB/K in 784 PA (170 games) over the course of three seasons at ODU... hit 256/319/488 for Cobuit in Cape Cod League (the top summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2021... was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2019... 

18th ROUND (533)
Garrett Brown, RHP 
L/R, 6'7 218, Age 22  
U. of Georgia
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR 
COMMENT: Posted a 1-3 record with a 6.64 ERA and 1.83 WHIP, 48 hits (4 HR) allowed and 29/30 BB/K, 3 HBP, and 9 WP in 42 IP over the course of 16 games (14 GS) combined in 2020 and 2022... missed the 2021 season after undergoing TJS... was a football QB and also played basketball in addition to baseball at Manchester HS in Georgia... 

19th ROUND (563)
Brock Blatter, RHP 
R/R, 6'6 215, Age 18 
Billings Central Catholic HS - Billings, MT 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Alabama 
COMMENT: Pitched for State College in MLB Draft League in 2022 and displayed a 91-95 MPH FB, a mid-80's SL with a high spin-rate, and a CV... had command issues and posted a 0-1 record with a 3.97 ERA and 2.21 WHIP, allowing 11 hits (no HR) and 14/16 BB/K and 3 WP in 11.1 IP over the course of 5 games (5 GS started) for the Spikes... his HS did not have a baseball team so he had very little game experience prior to 2022... he did participate in a showcase in Arizona during Spring Training 2022 but did not pitch well there... he will enroll at the U. of Alabama if he does not sign with the Cubs, and since he signed the NLI with the Crimson Tide more than a year ago he may want significantly more than $125K to turn pro...     

20th ROUND (593)
Ke'Shun Collier, OF  
L/R, 5'8 160, Age 21 
Meridian CC  
JC SOPH 
COMMENT: "Old school" high-contact lead-off hitter with no power but plus-speed... hit 368/462/496 with 14 doubles and six triples, 37/32 BB/K, 37 SB (10 CS), and 81 runs scored in 80 games played over the course of two seasons at MCC (2021-22)... he was also a star football player (RB/CB/KR) in HS in Mendenhall, MS... he will transfer to the University of South Alabama if he does not sign with the Cubs...  

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


The First-Year Player Draft (or "MLB Rule 4 Draft") is held annually over a three-day period in July.
NOTE: Prior to 2021 the draft was held in June. 

There are 20 rounds, and draft order is based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie.

Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted in two groups (Competitive Balance Round "A" is slotted after the 1st Round, and Competitive Balance Round "B" is slotted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds). 
NOTE: Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd round) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.

If an Article XX-B Qualified Player subsequently signs a Major League contract with another (different) MLB club prior to the MLB Rule 4 Draft (MLB First-Year Player Draft), the player's former club (the club that lost the Qualified Player) normally will receive a compensatory draft pick in the MLB Rule 4 Draft between the 2nd & 3rd rounds (after Competitive Balance Round "B"). 
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would receive a compensatory draft pick immediately after the conclusion of the 1st round (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") - IF - the Qualified Player signs a contract worth at least $50M (the club would receive a compensatory draft pick between the 2nd & 3rd rounds and after Competitive Balance Round "B" if the Qualified Player signs a contract worth less than $50M), and an MLB club that is a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would receive a draft pick between the 4th & 5th rounds. 
NOTE: If more than one club receives the same type of compensatory pick, the draft order for the comp picks is the same as it is for all other rounds in that draft (clubs select in inverse order of league standings from the previous season, and in the case of two clubs finishing with the same record the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie, and if If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie). 

An MLB club that signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club forfeits its 2nd highest selection in the next MLB Rule 4 Draft and $500,000 is subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next full International Signing Period (ISP). 
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would surrender its 3rd highest selection in the draft but nothing is subtracted from the club's ISBP in the next full ISP, and an MLB club that is a CBT payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 2nd & 5th selection in the draft and have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP. 
NOTE: The Competitive Balance Tax threshold was $210M in 2021, and will be $230M in 2022, $233M in 2023, $237M in 2024, $241M in 2025, and $244M in 2026.

The next highest Rule 4 Draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed). 
NOTE: A CBT payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 3rd & 6th highest selections if the club signs a second Qualified Player, its 4th & 7th selections if the club signs a third Qualified Player, and its 8th & 9th highest selections, 10th & 11th highest selections, etc, for additional Qualified Players signed. 

Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 Draft picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks awarded as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade). Competitive Balance draft picks (including Competitive Balance draft picks acquired in a trade) and a compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft are - NOT - subject to forfeiture.
NOTE: Prior to the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks were subject to forfeiture.

A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).

Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, any MLB club that had a payroll from the previous season that was $40M or more above the Competitive Balance Tax threshold will have its highest draft selection moved down ten slots, unless its first selection is among the top six picks in the draft, in which case it will have its second-highest draft slot moved down ten slots.
NOTE: In determining whether a club would have its highest or second-highest draft pick moved down ten slots, the six "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft -- these compensatory draft picks are already "protected."


FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT)  - ELIGIBILITY

An individual is eligible for selection in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) if the person is at least 17 years old, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, and is either a resident of a U. S. state or territory or Canada and has been for at least one year, or is not a resident but was enrolled in a high school (known as "secondary school" in Canada) or college in a U. S. state or territory or Canada within the previous year, and...

1. Player has graduated from high school and has received a diploma (if the player graduates early from high school and receives a diploma prior to turning 17, the player is eligible for selection if he turns 17 no later than 45 days after the draft and the player submits written notice of early graduation to the MLB Commissioner by January 15th); or

The player's high school class has graduated (12th grade) and 

2. Player has not yet graduated from high school but player's high school athletic eligibility has expired; or

3. Player dropped out of high school at least 365 days prior to the draft; or

4. Player attended a junior college the previous school year; or

5. Player is attending a four-year college and the school has no baseball program, or

6. Player is attending a four-year college and player has completed at least junior year of athletic eligibility, or

7. Player is attending a four-year college and is age 21 or older (or will turn 21 within 45 days of the draft); or

8. Player withdrew from a four-year college at least 120 days prior to the draft.

A player dismissed from a four-year college for academic reasons less than 120 days prior to the draft is eligible for selection only with the consent of the MLB Commissioner. 

For purposes of draft eligibility, a GED is not considered a high school diploma.
NOTE: Prior to the 2017 draft, a GED was considered equivalent to a high school diploma for purposes of draft eligibility. 

A club is not permitted to select a player in the Rule 4 Draft two years in a row, unless the player gives his approval in advance.

A high school player eligible for selection may elect (in advance) to have his name removed from draft eligibility in that particular Rule 4 Draft.


FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DTAFT  ) - NEGOTIATION LIST 

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

In most cases, a player selected by a club in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until either the player signs or until the signing deadline (whichever comes first), and if a club does not sign a Rule 4 Draft pick by the deadline, the player is removed from the club's Negotiation List and becomes eligible for selection again in the next Rule 4 Draft in which the player would be eligible for selection.
EXCEPTIONS: A college senior with no baseball eligibility left and a player who enrolls in a junior college will remain on the club's Negotiation List until the player signs or until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft (whichever comes first).
NOTE: The signing deadline is August 1st in 2022.  

A player selected in the Rule 4 Draft will be declared a free-agent if he is not offered a contract by the signing deadline.

A player eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft who is not drafted ("Non-Drafted Free-Agent" or "NDFA") can sign with any club after the conclusion of the draft any time up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft, unless and until the NDFA enrolls in a  four-year college, in which case MLB Rule 4 Draft eligibility rules apply.
NOTE: A player eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft who is not selected can be signed by any MLB club as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) beginning at 9 AM (Eastern) on July 20th, but clubs are not permitted to discuss with a draft-eligible player the possibility of signing the player as a NDFA prior to the draft, during the draft, or anytime after the conclusion of the draft prior to 9 AM on July 20th. 

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

A player who signs after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be traded until after the conclusion of the World Series (no earlier than 9 AM on the day after the final game of the World Series), or for 90 days if the player signs after the World Series. 
NOTE: Previously, a player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft could not be traded until the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract.

A player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be a PTBNL in any trade made prior to the conclusion of the World Series.

CUBS 2022 MLB RULE 4 NEGOTIATION LIST 
TBA 

CUBS 2022 MLB RULE 4 NDFA SIGNED
TBA 


FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - SIGNING BONUS POOL 

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

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

The Cubs 2022 Rule 4 Draft SBP is $10,092,700  

If a club fails to sign a player selected in the first ten rounds (including supplemental draft picks), the value of that slot is deducted from the club’s SBP. There is no bonus value assigned to draft slots after the 10th round, but if a club pays a signing bonus in excess of $125,000 to a player selected in the 11th round or later or to a player eligible for selection who was not drafted, the amount of that bonus in excess of $125,000 is deducted from the club’s SBP.
NOTE: A player eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft who is not selected can be signed by any MLB club as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) beginning at 9 AM (Eastern) on July 20th, but clubs are not permitted to discuss with a draft-eligible player the possibility of signing the player as a NDFA prior to the draft, during the draft, or anytime after the conclusion of the draft prior to 9 AM on July 20th.  

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

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


FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - COMPENSATION DRAFT PICKS 

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

A player who submits to a pre-draft physical must be offered a signing bonus equal to at least 75% of the slot value in order for the selecting club to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign.

If a player selected prior to the 3rd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season.

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

A club would receive another compensation pick in the next Rule 4 Draft after that if a player selected with an extra compensation pick does not sign (same slot as the extra compensation draft pick for a player not signed after being selected prior to the 3rd round, and between the 3rd round compensation picks and the 4th round for a compensation draft pick not signed after being selected after the 3rd round), but there is no additional compensation pick awarded the following season (three years removed from the original draft pick) if a club is unable to sign that player.

A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after the club is unable to sign a player selected in a previous draft is NOT subject to forfeiture if that club signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another club.

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

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

A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player to another club is subject to forfeiture if that club signs a player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another MLB club.


FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - COMPETITIVE BALANCE DRAFT PICKS 

"Competitive Balance" Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted between the 1st and 2nd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "A") and between the 2nd and 3rd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "B").

Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs, some of which are the same club) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd rounds) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.

Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be subject to forfeiture by clubs signing a Qualified Player.

A Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only during a period of time starting on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft). The slot cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the slot cannot be "flipped" to a third club.
NOTE: 2020 and 2021 Rule 4 Competitive Balance draft picks cannot be traded beginning on March 28, 2020, and extending through the conclusion of the 2021 draft.  

If a player selected with a Competitive Balance draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a Competitive Balance compensation draft pick does not sign.


FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - SBP FORFEITED DRAFT PICKS 

A Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft pick that is forfeited because a club exceeded its Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool limit will be reassigned to another club by lottery to be held on the Wednesday following the MLB Rule 4 Draft signing deadline. All MLB clubs that have not exceeded its SBP limit as of that point in time are eligible to participate in this lottery.

As with Competitive Balance draft picks, Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft picks can be traded, but only during a period of time beginning on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft), and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Rule 4 forfeited draft pick can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the pick cannot be "flipped" to a third club.

If a club that is awarded a Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft pick subsequently exceeds its SBP, the pick will be forfeited and another lottery will be held (date and time TBA by the MLB Commissioner) to allocate the pick to another club.

If a club trades a Rule 4 Forfeited Draft pick to another club, it cannot subsequently sign a player subject to the club's Rule 4 SBP if signing the player causes the club to exceed its SBP.

If a player selected with a Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than the forfeited draft pick slot from the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a compensation Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign.

Tags
Cubs Draft picks
Cubs 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 07/17/2022 - 07:01 pm

brooks lee?  jace jung?  zach neto under the radar pick?

wish there were top-draft pitching options.  hottest arms are highschool kids and they're not (or barely) top-10 talent.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 07/17/2022 - 07:29 pm

TEX with the first shocker pick...takes kumar rocker for the 3rd pick.  he was expected to go late 1st or 2nd at best because of arm wear concerns (elbow and shoulder).  talent is 100% there, but will his body hold?

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Sun, 07/17/2022 - 07:30 pm

I was more surprised about passing on Parada. Maybe a little surprised on Collier too. I thought for sure if they're going underslot it would be Neto.

I get gambling on an arm but like, idk it feels like this was a bit of a reach and it might not have been the best draft to gamble on an arm. Or maybe I'm just having Hayden Simpson flashbacks

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 07/17/2022 - 07:43 pm

Horton was ranked at 24 on the mlb list. Here is a key excerpt. Scouts loved his last 5 games in the tournament.

 "After he finished the regular season with a 7.94 ERA, his stock soared when he logged a 2.61 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 31 innings over five postseason starts as Oklahoma finished second at the College World Series. 

Horton's fastball velocity came back quickly but his life and command didn't (after TJS), so his heater got hit until the playoffs, when he sat at 94-96 mph and topped out at 98 with improved armside run and carry. His biggest difference-maker was a slider that got much better after he toyed with trying to add a cutter before the Big 12 Conference tournament, giving him a wipeout breaking ball that parks in the mid-80s and reaches 90 mph with two-plane depth. It's an upgrade over his low-80s downer curveball."

click on #24 to see the full writeup...https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:23 am

I'll preface this with I really want to see Horton succeed.

It just seems like there were better options available than a guy who strung together 31 good innings. I do hope very much he's able to hold the stuff he showed and becomes a top-mid rotation starter.

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Submitted by George Altman on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:03 am

I watched Horton in the CWS and he kind of reminded me of a RH Jon Lester. The kind of SP who could, at best, dominate for 6 innings. And, at worst, gut it out for 5-6 keeping his team in the game. Being a Cubs fan, optimism is in my DNA, but with Collier going 18th, these might be the 2 most underrated picks in Round 1.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:13 pm

One of the problems with a pre-draft top seven talent like Cam Collier dropping to the Reds at #18 is his projected bonus slot went from would have been $5M- $7M if he had been selected in the top seven to about $3.6M at #18, and so the Reds are going to have to be very creative with their Signing Bonus Pool if they want to sign him. Collier might be the toughest sign among the 1st round picks. 

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:04 am

From the WSCR website...

Horton was recommended by Cubs area scout Ty Nichols, and Ferris was recommended by area scout Tom Clark.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:04 pm

Besides talent evaluation, knowing how to use a stop watch, operating a radar gun, setting up video, and writing reports, one of the most important jobs of the area scout is to gauge the interest of the prospective draft pick in playing pro ball, and determining how much the player would want if he were to be drafted.  

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:45 am

Although it is usually a mistake to draft for need (especially at the top of the 1st round), at most ten of the Cubs Top 30 prospects right now are pitchers. The Cubs need pitching, and if they want to try and solve the problem from within, casting a wide net is probably the best way to address it.  

Maybe the Cubs will do what the Angels did last year, and select only pitchers will all 20 picks! 

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Submitted by Sonicwind75 on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:03 am

Eric Longenhagen at Fangraphs is thinking that Cubs likely cut a deal with Horton to overpay Ferris who has a commit to Ole Miss.  The savings from Horton's expected slot to his actual aligns with the overpay Ferris is looking for supposedly.  Does this square with what you've heard or believe?  Also, do you expect Ferris to be a tough prep player to sign? 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:40 am

I believe Eric has it right.

Cade Horton is the prototypical 1st round pick who signs for a pre-arranged underslot bonus ro free-up bonus space for a HS pitcher who you suspect will be there when you pick at #47 but who will want "1st round money" to give up his college dream.

The Cubs basically used the #7 and #47 slots to select one pitcher (Horton) who was rated as a lower half of the 1st round talent and another (Ferris) who was rated as a top of the 2nd round talent but who wants "1st round money" to give up going to Clemson.

So if you take the combined bonus slots values from picks #7 and #47, that equals about $7.3M, and if you split that in half, that's about $3.65M each, which is almost exactly equal to the #18 slot in this year's draft. 

So I guess you could look at this this way: The Cubs "traded" the #7 and #47 picks for two #18 picks. They essentially traded "down" from their first pick, and traded "up" from their second pick. It's almost like trading picks in the NFL or NBA drafts!  

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:51 am

Keep in mind that if a club doesn't sign its first, second, or third round pick, the club gets a compenstion pick in the next draft, one slot lower if it's a first or a second round pick who does not sign, or at the end of the third round if it's a third round pick who does not sign.

So a club can afford to gamble more with a first, second, or third round pick who might not sign, than (let's say) with a fourth or fifth round pick who might not sign.  

And then of course rounds 6-10 are often used to draft players (usually college seniors) who have agreed in advance to a very low signing bonus (sometimes as low as $1,000), in order to free up more of the club's aggregate Signing Bonus Pool for impact talent taken in the first five rounds. 

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:53 am

More Horton, from Twitter @LanceBroz, Lance Brozdowski...

Data loves the slider Cade Horton developed late this season. #Cubs

Averaging 85, up to 90, and generating ~9"+ of horizontal mvmt.

Most harder sliders are thrown w/ more backspin & less horizontal. Not many SPs with that shape - Carlos Rodón comes to mind (obviously a LHP).

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:16 pm

The signing deadline for most draft picks is August 1st, but for the first time in about 15 years, players selected in the draft who do not sign and then go to a a junior college can be signed by the club that drafted the player up until one week prior to the next year's draft. It's called "draft & follow." The club has to have the Signing Bonus Pool space to sign the player, however. Thus rule also applies to draft-eligible players who are playing independent ball (like Kumar Rocker). 

JC players are also eligible for the draft every year, so Cam Collier might return to Chipola JC for another season instead of transferring to Louisvile, and then either sign with the Reds as a "draft & follow" prior to next year's draft, or else take his chances in the draft again next year. 

Clubs also retain negotiatng rights to college seniors who have no college eligibility remaining up until one week prior to the next year's draft, but that's nothing new. 

Submitted by azbobbop on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:33 pm

Kantrovitz has a history of drafting players with "loud tools". It seems like the first three picks fit that mold. Trust the scout -- they have seen the players, few of us have (other than Horton's very impressive run in the CWS)

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:37 pm

Another high schooler, Nazier Mule at #4 seems to have loud tools as pitcher and hitting, think they want him as a pitcher. But need to read more.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:34 pm

Seems like they are awful ambitious with 4 HS players.  Given I'm not sure the talent of them.  McGwire isn't highly rated, but opportunity to play with family in NCAA cost the Cubs with Avilia going to Grand Canyon St last year.   I'm not sure how much underslot they'll get with Horton being as they kind of reached for him.  My guess is Frisch having TJS in March and will be out until 2023 and graduate student Hull are gonna get next to nothing.

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Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:56 pm

BTW what is the Cubs obsession with players who had TJS?  "Well they already blew it out once, so their good to go?"  Horton FR in college, Birdsell in HS, and Frisch in March.  Look at their just 40 man (including IR).  Mills, Thompson, Steele, Sampson, Smyly, Espinosa (twice), Leiter Jr, Robertson, Heuer and Roberts that's 10 of 26 + catcher Amaya.  That's 40%.

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Submitted by crunch on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:04 pm

that's moneyball, bro.  let other people pay for the surgery drafting them post-surgery.  more money for higher thread count sheets at the hotel zachary.

seriously, though...no idea.  technically the surgery makes most pitchers stronger than nature and evolution built them, but it's not like it's a sure thing fix.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:12 pm

They can't exactly say take it or leave it.  Because say a player turns down a $10,000 offer on a $100,000 slot value to go do something else rather than play for the Cubs they lose that $100,000 slot value money totally  ($90,000 which they planned to use somewhere else)  The year Alex Lange signed he took them down to the last day and the Cubs had a couple of other kids waiting for the underslot money they hoped Lange would take.  Lange ended up taking underslot due to possible arm issues and the Cubs couldn't have signed the couple others if they lost Lange's entire slot money because he didn't sign and for underslot.  Andy Weber did a similar to the wire a couple years back, except he signed for over and the Cubs couldn't sign some later picks.  My hope is they worked out a deal like with Schwarber before the draft rather than Bryant, Almora, Happ, Hoerner and Wicks who all signed full slot I believe

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:56 pm

The round 6-10 "below slot" deals with college seniors (some as low as $1,000) are made in advance. No one is telling the player to take it or leave it, but the guys offered such a deal know that they aren't getting drafted in a top 10 round if they don't accept it, and getting picked in a top 10 round can look pretty cool on a resume. These are the kind of guys who used to get selected in the 36th round or in the 44th round or signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) back in the day. 

OF Peter Matt was the Cubs 10th round pick last year as a 5th year senior, and got a $5,000 bonus that saved the Cubs about $125K+ in bonus slot that they used to sign James Triantos for over-slot money.

Matt was drafted by the Cubs after having received his undergrad degree from Penn (an Ivy League school) and a master's degree from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke. He had a year of eligibility left so he played for the Blue Devils baseball team as a graduate transfer while he was at Fuqua. He was a decent college baseball player at both Penn and at Duke, a "four-corner" guy (1B-3B-LF-RF). He had a little bit of speed, a little bit of pop, and he could play good fundamentally sound baseball.

Matt was used as minor league roster filler last year after he was drafted, playing at ACL Cubs and at Lo-A Myrtle Beach. He even got to play in a couple of games at AAA Iowa. He was back at Myrtle Beach at the start of the 2022 season, but then he retired and is now working on Wall Street. 

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:19 pm

You only hear about the great successes with TJS like Adam Wainwright etc.  Cubs Corey Black had it 3 times (twice with Cubs once in NCAA) and never pitched higher than Iowa and spent the majority of his career rehabbing in AZ.  And it's just not pitchers either.  Cubs C Will Remillard had to have it back to back similar to current Cub Anderson Espinoza spending like 3 years rehabbing. 

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Submitted by crunch on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:28 pm

cubs kinda lucked out on corey black fading into obscurity.

he was very prone to outbursts on social media, extremely well beyond the ones stroman has (but hasn't yet with the cubs).  think more "alt-right" and waaaaaaaaay more insults + an extreme victim complex he hides behind while lashing out at others.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:23 pm

Billy Beane doesn't have a choice because the A's don't have money to spend.  Hoyer is stuck playing moneyball because the Ricketts are cheap asses that are running the team into the ground.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:27 pm

This is where David Ross/Jed Hoyer needs to channel their inner Lee Elia and do a tirade on the Rickets.  For those too young to understand that reference look up Cubs manager Lee Elia's tirade in 1983.  It's the most legendary post game press briefing ever.  Warning a lot of f-bombs.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:52 pm

that website is a nightmare in a traditional computer browser...maybe it displays better on mobile.

i had to block 3 large real estate eating display elements to read more than 10 lines on a page at a time.

i guess the point is for me to stick around longer and actually listen to the content rather than reading it...but...well, yeah.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:39 pm

about time.  if they think they want to cheap out on 1st base going into 2023 we might as well see if there's someone in the pipeline ready to take over for the existing 2 awful options.

that said, dunno what to think of the guy's D at first...heard/read mixed reviews leaning on the worse side of things.

i'll take some sketchy D with 30 doubles/30 homers production, though...plus the DH exists...

Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:18 pm

Peters is committed to Miami(OH). 

Question: does draft and follow still work if a JUCO players gets drafted then transfers to a 4yr school? That's what Peter's and Collier's situations are. I wasn't sure if draft and follow only was allowed if the drafted stays in JUCO after being drafted. It's been awhile on knowing that rule.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:44 pm

Mathew Peters announced an intent to transfer to Miami University (Ohio) back in 2021 when he was at Hillsborough CC in Florida, but then he ended up going home to Ft. Wayne (and Ivy Tech) instead. I don't know if he still intends to go to Miami U.

As for application of the re-activated "Draft & Follow" rule, it's only for players who enroll at (or remain at) a JC. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:08 pm

Presuming they sign, about half of the pitchers drafted by the Cubs will be going directly to the Pitch Lab in Mesa. I can't remember ever seeing a team select so many raw arms in one draft. It's definitely an unusual approach. 

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Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:37 pm

I haven't seen a Cubs draft like this in my time. Drafting pure risk/reward, "unknown" guys / diamonds in the rough, and no system/position fillers. I really love it. 

I'd say in the "old days" a lot of picks this yr would have been tryout undrafted signings. 

Cubs are trusting data/scouts this yr

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Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:23 pm

Burl Carraway. Hadn't thought about him for a min. He's quite a bit smaller than the crew they drafted this yr. Frisch and Horton and the shortest guys this yr and both of them are fairly stout fellas. They other 14 arms are 6-4 to 6-7. I hope they haven't given up on Burl though. Wildness can be corrected, at least sometimes. Don't give up on lefties with velo and a hook!! 

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Submitted by crunch on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 07:19 pm

i think the main reason he was pegged as a fast riser is he was a college reliever that the cubs had 0 intention of trying him out as a starter.

high 90s fastball and a curve...comfortable pitching from the stretch and works fast.

that said, that curve was supposed to be a lot more steady than he's showed, but they knew they were drafting a guy with spotty command/control even in college.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:31 pm

watched some video of Ke'Shun Collier...he's got a quick swing considering there's no power in it.

dude gets out of the box like a pro.  wonder how fast he is as a base stealer...

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 07/22/2022 - 07:40 pm

i remember so little about campana at the plate and a whole lot about him on the basepaths.

collier has a nice swing, but especially with an alluminum bat i would expect a bit more pop.  he is very quick out of the box on the end of his swing, though...for a guy who relies on speed that's a skill to have well developed and it's "there" already.

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Submitted by JoePepitone on Sat, 07/23/2022 - 07:45 pm

My recall of Tony C. is that he put the ball in the air too much to take advantage of his speed to first base but without the kind of power or exit velocity needed to be even an average hitter for power or average. Never learned how to be a slap hitter that could have driven the defense buggy on otherwise routine grounders. Once he got on base, however, he was Pete Wheeler from 2003 Backyard Baseball. (Best computer baseball game in history!)

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Submitted by springs on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 07:39 am

Agreed,  His development, along with the development of other pitchers like Pierce Johnson, Alex Lange, and Zack Godley elsewhere and improvement to Bryan Hudson, Michael Rucker, Matt Swarmer and others, has made me change my analysis of those years.  It wasn't necessarily we were drafting terribly outside of the 1st round (which it seemed at the time) but our player development system was terrible.  Indeed, this same thought process runs through my mind seeing Schwarber as an All-Star -- everyone expected this with the Cubs but he never took the step (albeit injuries played a part).

If we incorporated our current pitching and hitting labs (and drafting style) in 2012/13, the post-2016 Cubs trajectory may have been extremely different.  At a minimum, we would have had a stronger stream of ancillary players to help the squad or at least more minor league talent to undertake trades without including our gold star prospects. 

Potentially we could have had one or more parties able to join the rotation or fill the closer role, which would have itself retained significant talent.    The Cubs would've had a very different trajectory in mid-2022 to 2023 with Keegan Thompson, Dylan Cease, Justin Steele as part of the rotation and Eloy and Schwarber as part of the lineup.

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Submitted by First.Pitch.120 on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 07:20 pm

Yes to all, and I also think that HS pitcher development can take a long time. With that sub-group of draftees, I see more probability of someone eventually putting it together someplace else ( due to trades, rule 5, cuts, etc). With HS pitchers, it feels like a "yield" mentality is even more necessary than with other draft sub-groups. Select X number of HS pitchers, with success being if Y number reach majors & Z number having impact. 

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Submitted by bradsbeard on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 07:43 pm

I'm not sure there was anything wrong with the Cubs' development of guys like Blackburn, Cease, or Lange. Those guys were all pitching well enough in the minors to be attractive as trade candidates, and they all returned MLB value. I do think pitching development has been more of an issue than drafting for sure. But I also think trades and just not having opportunities on the big league roster are big factors as to why the Cubs didn't produce more pitchers during the "window."

Submitted by DavidP on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 07:05 am

At the same time we were drafting Johnson, Lange and Godley that others ultimately improved, we were improving Arrieta, Hendricks and Strope where others had not succeeded.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 07:51 pm

wow.  TEX actually signed brock porter.  he was picked in the 4th round and was a pre-draft top 20 overall on pretty much any list, some top 10.

one of the top highschool pitchers in the draft...arguably the top highschool pitcher in the draft.

he's getting 4m.  they signed kumar rocker under-value for 5.3m (7.56m slot value).

well f'n played TEX.

Submitted by jdrnym on Fri, 07/22/2022 - 07:41 pm

Phil --

I know drafted players do not count against the Domestic Reserve List until the end of the season or they play in a game. Does that apply to non-drafted free agent signings as well?

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 07/22/2022 - 07:28 pm

jdrnym: A drafted player must be added to the organization's Domestic Reserve List on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season or when he plays in his first "official" minor league game (whichever comes first). 

A non-drafted free-agent (NDFA) who was eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft must be assigned to the organzation's Domestic Reserve List within 15 days after signing or when he plays in his first "official" minor league game (whichever comes first), and an international free-agent must be assigned to the organization's International Reserve List within 15 days after signing or when he plays in his first "official" game (whichever comes first).

HOWEVER... 

With consent of the player and the club, a player who signs his first contract after July 1 but before January 1 can be "Signed for Future Service" (meaning the player's first contract is for the next season). A player who is "Signed for Future Service" cannot play in an "official" minor league game until Milb Full Season Opening Day (for domestic players) or DSL Opening Day (for international players). A player who has been "Signed for Future Service" can participate in the Arizona Fall League, post-season anf/or pre-season instructs, international winter ball, minor league spring training, and extended spring training without restriction, however. 

Note that because the International Signing Period (ISP) commenced on January 15, 2022, the deadline to sign an international free-agent to a "future service" contract was temporarily extended from Decembe 31, 2021, to February 28, 2022. I don't know if this change will be permanent, but it probably will be if the start of the new ISP remains January 15th going forward. 

And if the start of the ISP remains January 15th, and what with the Rule 4 Draft having being moved from June to mid-July, the start date for when a player can be "Signed for Future Service" might be moved from July 2nd to sometime after the Rule 4 Draft's August 1st signing deadline (8/1 being the deadline to sign Rule 4 drafted players and Rule 4 NDFA who have college eligibility remaining, otherwise the Rule 4 signing deadline for college seniors with no eligibility remaining and drafted JC players on a club's Rule 4 Negotiation List is one week prior to the next Rule 4 Dtaft).  

Submitted by Childersb3 on Fri, 07/22/2022 - 07:31 pm

According BA: Cubs are one of four teams who haven't signed an UDFA, yet. Cubs office guys said they didn't see a lot of ABs available for additional hitters in the system. So maybe that can explain not having signed anyone. Maybe they just haven't reported any, yet. Could also be explained by the Phillies and Padres signing all the UDFAs. They've combined for 23 signings so far.

Please don't take this message as anything but mindless, boring, and nonsensical observations.

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Sat, 07/23/2022 - 07:32 pm

Brewers sign Ashby to an extension. What a novel idea, I've never heard of such things

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 07/23/2022 - 07:35 pm

c.horton (1st) - 4.45m (1.26m under slot)

b.birdsell (5th) - 385k (17.4k under slot)

n.hull (7th) - 25k (212.5k under slot)

h.mcgeary (15) - 125k

no slot value for picks 11+, but 125K for a 15th rounder is on the high end (college junior) though not out of whack with the slot's expectations.

"Along with Horton, the Cubs reached deals with infielder Christopher Paciolla (third round) and six right-handers: Brandon Birdsell (fifth), Will Frisch (sixth), Nick Hull (seventh), Mason McGwire (eighth), Connor Noland (ninth) and Brody McCollough (10th)."

...supposedly mule (4th) has agreed to sign.  farris expected to sign, but not as far along as the others.

also, lol the cubs signed mark mcgwire's son.

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Submitted by crunch on Sat, 07/23/2022 - 07:46 pm

yup.

" NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $125,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-20 as well as for any player eligible for selection in the draft who is not selected and who is subsequently signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) count against a club's Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool (SBP). "

the mcgeary signing is rather nice.  dude put up absurd D2 college numbers, but as important he put up sick numbers in wood bat App summer league.  he was set to transfer to UKentucky, which currently isn't a great program, but it's in a highly competitive D1 division so you don't easily get into the program.  even for a guy that will have to put in work to be an average 1st baseman or LF'r, it's a great way to gamble 125K.

Submitted by Mike Wellman on Sun, 07/24/2022 - 07:13 am

My two boys LOVED Backyard Baseball. Ah, Pablo Sanchez, who can ever forget the player he was?!

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 07/26/2022 - 07:02 pm

keshun collier (20th) signs for 100K.  neat.

i'm not expecting much, but im intrigued to see where his skills match up to higher quality pitching and fielding.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 07/27/2022 - 07:33 pm

8 of 10 out of the top-10 picks are signed.

that leaves 3.58m to sign the #2 and #4 picks (1.38m over slot values).

jackson ferris (2nd pick) is absolutely going to want more than his 1.66m slot value.  you can easily tack another 1m onto his ask as a floor given he projected as a top-20/25 overall pick on many draft prospect lists.  slot value in the 1st round as pick 20 is 3.4m and pick 25 is 2.88m.

dunno wtf is up with nazier mule (4th pick).  he is actually in arizona at the cubs facility, spotted by others and social media posted by himself.  so like...yeah, okay...*shrug*

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 07/27/2022 - 07:46 pm

13th round pick RHP Luis Rujano signed for $210K ($85,000 over-slot), so that leaves $3,484,700 for Ferris and Mule, or less if the only other two unsigned picks (Wheat and Blatter) sign for an over-slot bonus (something greater than $125K).  

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 07/27/2022 - 07:57 pm

If for some reason the Cubs don't sign 2nd round pick Jackson Ferris, they lose the $1,660,400 slot value, but they would still have $1,834,300 available in over-slot they could use to sign Wheat and/or Blatter for about a million a piece - AND -the Cubs would get a comp pick (#49 overall) in next year's draft.  

Submitted by azbobbop on Wed, 07/27/2022 - 07:31 pm

I'm sure they had verbal agreements with Mule and Ferris before the picks were made. They are concealing the amounts to see if they can get Wheat and Blatter signed.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/28/2022 - 07:34 pm

So far, 17 of the twenty drafted players have signed.

With several minor league players having recently been activated from the 60-day IL, the Cubs presently have 14 slots open on their in-season 180-man minor league Domestic Reserve List, but keep in mind that a drafted player only counts against the club's Domestic Reserve List if he plays in a minor league game. Otherwise the drafted player does not count against the DRL until the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

And not all of the draft picks will play in a minor league game in 2022.  For example, 6th round pick RHP Will Frisch is rehabbing from pre-draft TJS and so he won't be ready to pitch until 2023.   

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/28/2022 - 07:43 pm

The smallest signing bonuses for Cubs draft picks who have signed so far are: 

RHP Nick Hull ($25,000) 
OF Andy Garriola ($50,000) 
RHP Garrett Brown ($80,000) 
OF Ke'Shun Collier ($100,000) 

So at least none of the draft picks signed for $1,000 (LHP Riley Martin) or $5,000 (OF Peter Matt), as happened last year. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 07/30/2022 - 07:39 pm

All Cubs draft picks except 19th round pick RHP Brock Blatter have signed. Deadline is Monday. 

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

I was at Wrigley on 7/26 when Willy got multiple fond (and false it turns out) farewells. I can't imagine his welcome back Os will be much louder/longer.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 08/20/2022 - 08:39 pm

Pro debut Saturday morning at Sloan Park for Cubs 2022 10th round draft pick RHP Brody McCullough versus ACL Athletics: 2.0 IP, no runs, two hits (a single and a triple), no walks, and three strikeouts (two swinging). Like NDFA Grant Kipp, McCullough was pitching in the Cape Cod League prior to the draft (in fact he was named Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Week the Saturday before the draft) so he didn't need much ramp-up time. FB: 92-95 - SL: 83-85 - CH: 84. Threw 24 pitches (19 strikes), including 14 FB, eight SL, and two CH. Got four swing & miss (one on FB and three on SL, but also hard contact on two hanging sliders). He telegraphs his CH so he is basically a FB / SL guy. He likes to use his FB to get ahead of hitters and SL is his put-away pitch.  

Kevin Valdez got the start for the ACL Cubs Saturday morning and he hurled three perfect innings with three strikeouts (all three swinging). He worked fast and threw strikes - 41 pitches - 29 strikes (71% strikes). FB: 89-92 - CH: 80-81 CV: 75-76. Threw 34 FB, five CH, and two CV, and he clearly did not have a feel for the CV so he threw only two and went FB heavy. This is the first time I have seen him throw a CH and he got one swing & miss with it. Also got five swing & miss with FB. 

Oliver Roque threw two innings to record the save. 20 pitches (15 strikes). FB: 87-89 and CV: 79-80. Got three swing & miss with 88 MPH FB and one with a 80 MPH CV. While his FB velo is tied with Cristian Rojas for the lowest of any pitcher currently on the ACL Cubs, Roque is long and lanky, he throws strikes, and his hard CV is a plus-pitch that makes his high 80's FB appear "sneaky fast."

RHP Kenyi Perez started for the Cubs Friday night at Sloan Park versus ACL Diamondbacks Black and showed his  93-96 FB and 85-87 SL. Like Valdez did on Saturday, K. Perez worked three innings and threw 41 pitches, but  unlike Valdez, K. Perez threw only 18 strikes (only 44% strikes) as he was behind on every hitter. He allowed two runs on only one hit (a line drive rope RBI single over a leaping Reggie Preciado at SS with one out in the top of the third), walked two, hit a batter, and uncorked two WP. He threw 35 FB and six SL and all six of the sliders were non-competitive pitches. He was behind on the count on every D'backs hitter. There were only only two foul balls among the 41 pitches (which kept his pitch count low), and only one swing & miss and that was on his very last (41st pitch) when he (finally) recorded a strikeout on a 3-2 pitch. 

The Brennen Davis two-run HR in the bottom of the first inning Friday night was on a 3-2 pitch 90 MPH FB against a LHP on the 8th pitch of the AB. The ball landed halfway up the LF berm to the right of the bullpen. In his previous game at Sloan Park on Thursday night, B. Davis hit a towering near-HR F-8 to the warning track in CF, and he lofted a high fly to the warning track in RF on Saturday. 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 08/23/2022 - 08:06 pm

Two more Cubs 2022 draft picks have made their pro debut, pitching for ACL Cubs versus ACL Athletics Tuesday morning at HoHoKam Park in Mesa: 

7th round pick RHP Nick Hull threw one inning (5th inning), allowing a two-out ground single through the 5.5 hole, while striking out one (looking), and retiring two others (P-3 and GO). Threw 15 pitches (10 strikes), including six FB, eight SL, and one CV. Got one swing & miss with FB and three swing & miss with SL. (Clearly SL is his "go=to" pitch). FB 90-93, SL 82-85, and CV 78.   

12th round pick RHP Mat Peters worked the sixth inning, and was relieved with one out after throwing 31 pitches (17 strikes). He is a max effort pitcher who grunts when throws the FB and telegrahs his CH by slowing his arm down. Wore down during the course of the inning. FB 94-96 the first ten pitches and then went down to 92-94 after that. SL/CT 87-89, CH 84-86. and CV 81-83. He walked the first two men he faced (first one a nine pitch walk on a 3-2 pitch, then a WP, and then the second walk on a 3-1 pitch). He should have been out of the inning unscathed but 3B Rafael Morel muffed what should have been a routine 5-4-3 DP (it was scored a hit). He struck out one swinging (on his 31st and final pitch, which was his only swing & miss). Threw 21 FB, four SL/CT, four CH, and two CV. He threw most of his 21 FB for strikes, but ten were fouled back as he just could not put hitters away with the heater, and he could not command his secondaries, so it made for a long inning with a very high pitch count.

SP Michael Arias was VERY good, working two shutout hitless innings. FB 94-97, CV 79-82, and SL 87-89. He threw 25 FB, four CV, and two SL. He walked one and hit a batter, but he also struck out five (four swinging). He threw 31 pitches (22 strikes), and got - NINE - swing & miss, including six on his FB and three on his new CV (which has replaced the upper-80's SL as his primary seconday pitch), so three of the four CV he threw got a swing & miss. Pitch Lab strikes again! 

Submitted by azbobbop on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 08:36 am

Moises Ballesteros is going to be getting some Top 100 love soon. True breakout prospect.

Pedro Ramirez also off and running in Myrtle Beach.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 08:41 pm

CRUNCH: Moises Ballesteros threw out 36% of basestealers in DSL in 2021 and 40% in EXST games (plus two PO) this past April-May, so he has a history of throwing out basestealers.

Watching Ballesteros in ACL games prior to his promotion to Myrtle Beach, it was clear that pitchers were not paying much attention to baserunners (probably somewhat intentionally, because of the staff-wide extreme command issues), so a lot of the SB charged against Ballesteros in the ACL were uncontested, which was not the case in EXST. 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 08:36 am

DAVIDP: 333 BB in 419 IP for ACL Cubs, 7.1 BB/9 (by far the worst BB/9 rate by any Cubs minor league affiliate in team history), pitchers (especially SP) continually getting pitch counted out of games (even in the 1st inning), a combined 52% K for all ACL Cubs pitchers, a number of pitchers unable to throw a strike even on a 3-0 pitch, etc. Some of the games were almost unwatchable. Even the scouts got up and left. 

Submitted by DavidP on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 08:27 pm

Thanks, Phil.  I should have been able to figure that out by myself, but for some reason, my mind went in the direction of the coaching staff.

Recent comments

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Mastrobuoni can't come back, yet

    Wisdom does have an option left. He can hide in Iowa if Jed DFA's someone else

    Does Brennan Davis get shown the door? I know it's too early for that, but these injuries are crunching the roster of a 12-7 team playoff demands and BDavis isn't going to help anytime soon.

    Someone has to go to add Peralta. And Canario isn't going to get to play everyday regardless of RHers or LHers. Neither is Tauchman. Also don't see PCA getting a chance over Peralta.

    If Jed does those moves:

    4 OF: Belli, Peralta, Canny, Tauch

    2 C: Gomes and Amaya

    2 DH: Cooper and Mervis

    5 INF: Busch, Nico, Dansby, Morel, Madrigal

    Little short on OF depth but two injuries will do that  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I have had the pleasure of watching some of the young A's pitchers lately (first Joe Boyle the last day of Minor League Spring Training in March, and more recently Luis Morales last week and Steven Echavarria yesterday at Extended Spring Training), and it reminds me of the Miami Marlins a couple of years ago. A really nice collection of young pitchers. It will be interesting to see what the A's will get for two years of ex-Cub Paul Blackburn at the Trade Deadline (there should be a robust market for Blackburn). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Good deal

    MB needs some talent infusion!

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Very possible. Suriel, too. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: if a pitcher is recalled to be the 27th man for a doubleheader and then is optioned back to the minors the next day, the 15-day "clock" does NOT reset. The one day call-up for the doubleheader is treated like it never happened with respect to a pitcher having to spend at least 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Probably the only reason David Peralta is still in the organization (he is at AAA Iowa) is to be available in case anything bad were to happen to Ian Happ (which it just did). So if Happ needs to go on the IL, the Cubs can select Peralta to play LF, DFA Wisdom (and hope he and what remains of his $2.725M salary gets claimed off waivers), and recall Mervis to platoon at DH with Cooper (with Canario / Tauchman sharing RF), at least until Suzuki and Happ are back...

     

  • crunch (view)

    i'd just like to take a moment to express to the world i'm still pissed willson contreras is not a cub when the pricetag was 5/87m (17.5m/yr).

    it would be nice to have a legacy-type player to stick around, especially one with his leadership and the respect he gets from his peers.  cubs fans deserved more than 1 season of contreras + morel...that was gold.

  • crunch (view)

    happ, right hamstring tightness, day-to-day (hopefully 0 days).

    he will be reevaluated tomorrow.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I guess I'm not looking for that type of AB 

    Just a difference of opinion

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.

    I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.

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