Recent comments

Cubster 1 week 1 day ago (view)

Tribune reporting that 4th round draft choice, Nazier Mulé will undergo TJ surgery next week and miss the entire 2023 season. I'm not sure how this affects his two way potential, but it's a moot point for now.

Childersb3 1 week 1 day ago (view)

AZ Phil, 

How'd Jensen look? Stat line is solid.

crunch 1 week 1 day ago (view)

walk off, bottom 9th, 2 run double...japan vs usa in the finals.

crunch 1 week 1 day ago (view)

oh wow, trey lang is back.

crunch 1 week 1 day ago (view)

the WBC doesn't have a long history (yet), but wow...there have been some insane high-quality games with huge player+fan engagement this year.  truly exciting stuff.

First.Pitch.120 1 week 1 day ago (view)

Thinking about Phil's comment about a trade w/ Hou, I went to MLB pipeline to look at the Top 30 for the Astros. 13 out of 30 are OF... LOL. And none of them rate above a 55 on fielding. Just odd.

Dolorous Jon Lester 1 week 2 days ago (view)

Here’s hoping the Cubs don’t let that happen.

I would be perfectly fine if Bote never wears a Chicago Cubs uniform again.

Arizona Phil 1 week 2 days ago (view)

DJL: David Bote stlll has an option year left, so he can be optioned to the minors if he is added to the 40. 

However... 

Once Bote accrues 89 more days of MLB Service Time he will hit 5+000 MLB ST and become an Article XIX-A player, at which point he cannot be sent to the minors (optioned or outrighted) without his consent. 

So if Bote were to be added to the 40 on MLB Opening Day (3/30), the Cubs would have until June 25th to option or outright him to the minors. 

Dolorous Jon Lester 1 week 2 days ago (view)

Phil, just wondering if he’s added back to the 40 man, has Bote used his final option year?

Arizona Phil 1 week 2 days ago (view)

GEORGE A:

1. Of course Eric Hosmer should be released, but I doubt that he will be. I suspect he was given some assurance by the Cubs that he will have a job at least until Matt Mervis is ready, and that the Cubs do not believe Mervis will be ready by Opening Day. 

2. Zach McKinstry is having a bad spring both offensively and defensively so I believe he will be placed on waivers (if  he isn't traded first). BTW, McKinstry can NOT elect free-agency if he is outrighted. And if he is claimed off waivers, so be it. Miles Mastrobuoni can do everything McKinstry can do (including play SS) AND do it better. 

3. Nick Madrigal still does not appear have a spot on the Cubs 26-man Opening Day roster and the Astros just lost 2B Jose Altuve for a lengthy period of time, so there you go... 

4. If Adrian Sampson does not win the 5th SP gig (and right now it is probably no better than 50/50 that he will), I cannot see him working out of the MLB bullpen. Also, the Cubs would probably like someone to claim his $1.9M AAV contract off waivers. But even if he does clear waivers and gets outrighted, he might elect free-agency (although I doubt he would want to give up his $1.9M salary, which would happen if he elects free-agency immediately after being outrighted). But at least he would be off the 40 while staying stretched-out at Iowa. 

5. Rowan Wick is making $1.2M and is no better than several other candidates for the pen making MLB minimum ($500K less than Wick), so if they can't trade him I would think the Cubs would be fine with another club claiming his $1.2M AAV contract off waivers. If he isn't claimed off waivers, then (as with Sampson) you outright him to the minors (which at least gets him off the 40) and maybe he will elect free-agency (but probably not because he won't want to give up his contract and forfeit his salary). 

6. Michael Rucker has value as a Chicago - Des Moines shuttle guy making essentially MLB minimum salary, but I could see the Cubs taking a chance on getting him through waivers if they absolutely need his slot on the 40, although he might get claimed and the Cubs know that and so the Cubs would probably prefer not to take that chance. 

Also, if David Bote is added back to 40 (and MLB 26-man roster) on Opening Day, I believe he would remain in Chcago only until Seiya Suzuki is reinstated from the 10-day IL, and then the Cubs will put Bote on waivers (just like they they did during the off-season) and hope that another club will claim his $3M AAV contract. If he doesn't get claimed, he will be outrighted and the Cubs will hope that Bote wil elect free-agency and forfeit the balance of his contract, except of course he won't do that.