Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Q&A with the Magic Q-Ball

 

Really, I don't like to question the manager.
God only knows what's going on in a game that I'll never be aware of with little injuries, a weird stat, SOME kind of inside information... I've got enough to worry about without questioning the manager.
But...MOTHER OF GOD!
Leaving Koyie Hill in to hit for himself with the tying run on 3rd in the 8th inning of a game against the White Sox? 
When Geovanny Soto is sitting RIGHT THERE?

(thanks to whoever came up with the "Q Ball" nickname here - it inspired the animation.)

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Not a lot of excitement inside that link. Mentions the 4 players that will be toughest to trade: Z, Ram, Sori, Fuku I wouldn't be suprised to see Pena, Baker and Marshall get much more consideration. I would assume that Wood/Dempster are not interested in leaving and wouldn't be traded against their wishes (Demp has no trade anyway). I also assume that Marmol, Soto and Barney would be "untouchable" at this point. Castro ain't going anywhere.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

I also assume that Marmol, Soto and Barney would be "untouchable" at this point I doubt that any of them would be untouchable, except for maybe Marmol. But what's the point of a very good closer on a bad team? And if Barney is "untouchable," I may have to stop being a Cubs fan. Also - I too would think that Pena would merit attention, but there are not a ton of contending teams in need of a 1b. Marshall will merit a TON of attention, but the Cubs would also be able to demand a ton in return. If he is available, he's probably the best bullpen arm available in MLB.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Does anyone have any faith that Hendry will be able to turn these guys into a useful piece for the future? We don't have any prospects forcing their way into the lineup, and the fruit of Hendry's salary dump trades (pun recognized if not intended) is DeWitt, whatever Archer was worth,Justin Berg and Jeff Stevens. Just keep the shitty old vets and win 73 games, instead of 68. At least that's my take from a fan's perspective. It's hard to believe Hendry will be able to turn any of those guys into a building block, unless Pena stays hot until the deadline.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

If there is a chance for Draft Pick compensation, then maybe you keep a guy. ****** A G.M. who knows the in's and outs of free agency compensation would keep them, but Hendry won't offer arbitration to someone just to get compensation, even when the player is obviously going to get a multi-year deal elsewhere. And one other thing to remember is they are not allowed to offer Fukudome arbitration, per his contract. So either we deal him for some useless part or he walks for free (or maybe Hendry re-signs him for 2 years, plus a player option, at $8 million per year and gives him a full no trade clause). :) To be fair, offering Fuku arbitration would be pointless because of the salary he's already making. I don't want Hendry in charge of making any more deals, period. He's a lame duck G.M., whether it's by the end of this season or the end of next season, he's almost certainly gone. I wouldn't be shocked if Ricketts refused to fire him just to avoid eating any part of a contract, but who knows.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Does anyone have any faith that Hendry will be able to turn these guys into a useful piece for the future? Not necessarily, which is why I, personally, wouldn't want to trade Marmol, Soto, or Marshall (or, obviously, Castro). But the rest of the team I wouldn't have much concern about trading. FWIW, Hendry doesn't have much of a record of salary dump trades. Maddux and DeRosa are the only two that come to mind. And the DeRosa package was actually pretty good. Am I missing anything else? I guess you could include Sosa and Bradley, but both are pretty exceptional circumstances. Oh yea - DLee - jury is still out on that one. Based solely on stats/very limited reading of scouting reports, Harris seems to have potential, but wild. Lopez is supposed to be special, but is still very young and hasn't done anything. Lorick doesn't look very impressive to me.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Hendry has had a few trades late in the season of veterans for prospects in what can be best described as salary dump trades: During 2002 Tom Gordon to the Houston Astros for Russ Rohlicek, Travis Anderson, and Mike Nannini Jeff Fassero to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jared Blasdell and Jason Karnuth Bill Mueller and cash to the San Francisco Giants for Jeff Verplancke During 2005 Mike Remlinger to the Boston Red Sox for Olivo Astacio Matt Lawton to the New York Yankees for Justin Berg Todd Hollandsworth to the Atlanta Braves for Todd Blackford and Angelo Burrows During 2006 Scott Williamson to the San Diego Padres for Joel Santo and Fabian Jimenez Angulo Todd Walker to the San Diego Padres for Jose Ceda Greg Maddux to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Cesar Izturis Neifi Perez to the Detroit Tigers for Chris Robinson Phil Nevin to the Minnesota Twins for Adam Harben During 2010 Derrek Lee to Atlanta Braves for Jeffrey Lorick, Robinson Lopez, and Tyrelle Harris Mike Fontenot to San Francisco Giants for Evan Crawford. Most of these netted nothing, but in most cases, Hendry wasn't working with much. Saving a month's worth of Fassero's $2.8 million salary in 2002 was the goal, not getting any decent prospects for someone sporting an ERA of nearly 7.00 at the time. Ditto with the Neifi trade.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"Does anyone have any faith that Hendry will be able to turn these guys into a useful piece for the future?" I have some faith in Hendry when he goes after unproven players and doesn't consult Gary Hughes. Here are a few perhaps overlooked pieces that JH has gotten in trades recently. Evan Crawford (Fontenot) Matt Spencer (with Gray for Fox, Miles) John Gaub (with Archer for DeRosa--Gaub is still lights-out though erratic) Zac Rosscup (with Garza for Archer, Lee et al.) Levine has been saying that there is interest in Byrd if he shows he is still comfortable in the batter's box. He could bring a prospect. No reason to trade Soto, Marshall, Zambrano, Dempster, Pena, in my opinion, since they're not readily replaceable.

Is Jim Hendry's nickname really 'donuts' or is it a wiki-prank? The first line of the Jim Hendry entry refers to him as Jim "Donuts" Hendry.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Riggleman is an idiot, in my opinion. Here's why... His reason for leaving, that his contract situation "was weighing on him," means he can't handle stress, which in the past he's made statements about stress. Then quitting on his team in the middle of the season when he is only in the same situation a million other managers have faced, has to make a very negative impression on G.M.'s and players around the league. I wouldn't be so certain he's going to get another big league managing job, at least not anytime soon. And I've always liked him, except for when he was Cubs manager and announced that he banned his pitchers from ever retaliating for a hit batter.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

I bet he lost it when he found out that Q-Ball has a 2 yr/nearly $2 Million dollar contract with the Cubs. Biz of Baseball noted:
This offseason, the Nationals chose to bring Riggleman back for $600,000 rather than pay him a $100,000 buyout. The Nationals can exercise a team option to bring Riggleman back for the 2012 season, again at $600,000. With Edwin Rodriguez having resigned as the Marlins’ manager, Riggleman is believed to be the lowest-paid manager in baseball.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

good. he's a huge piece of shi... he signed a contract to manage a team...not just play, but manage...and quit in the middle of a season he signed a contract for because the team wouldn't give him more years. at least pinella has the decency to wait til the season was over to quit on TB and managed to quit SEA via trade in the offseason. that was at least considerate of the men he's supposed to manage. the teams had warning and time...and no players were screwed over in the process. unless there's something unknown about riggy and his bosses i haven't heard he's no leader of men.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

I think in those cases, the coaches and managers get paid. Here the Nationals have no compensation. However, just like in the real world, if someone who respects him gets a GM job, he could get in the running for a manager position again. Pinhead quit on two teams and got hired... no one screamed about how he would never have another job in baseball again after he quit on the Cubs last season.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

in the real world, you give 2 weeks notice if you quit and not under contract and if you're under contract, you tend to need to negotiate some settlement if you want out early. Also this is baseball, not the real world. Also they just won 9 straight or something and he thought he'd leverage that into his option being picked up, which is a bit retarded. more power to him, he doesn't deserve the 7th ring of hell or anything, but a dick move in my opinion. But I doubt he'll ever manage again unless it's similar to how he got the Nats job as a bench coach that got promoted when someone else got fired.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

this is more akin to an army sergeant leaving mid-battle...only without the lives on the line. he deserted his team over some suits that have nothing to do with them. it wasn't undue pressure or anything shady...he decided to take his ball and go home early when he tried to play hardball with the suits. this ranks up there with d.bell's "operation shutdown" threat...only riggy didn't just threaten, he threatened and followed through. this is a guy who publicly dressed down n.morgan over disrespecting the team and game.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

He's also a guy who was expected to play by a different set of rules than every other manager in the game, and got tired of it. If you do well, you got your option picked up. That's how it works. He was the lowest paid manager in the game, and the GM seemed quite happy to string him along, year after year, presumably so he could replace him when the team got good, without having to buy him out.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

How many MLB managers are getting paid $600K a year, and are on their second year of "team option" contracts? You can look it up, but to save you the time, it's zero. There haven't been a million different managers and players - and I guess they should just brand his forhead and make him a slave to continue your argument, since you're not interested in discussing the context of his contract situation amongst his peers - which is the way that you, and I and just about everyone else in the world evaluates whether they're being "fairly" compensated. The guy realized that he wasn't going to get an extension, no matter what he did, so he decided "fuck you, fuck it" - and quit. Sandberg did the same thing.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

the guy deserted his team mid-season on a threat to the owners prompted by nothing at all. this isn't something you do mid-season just because you need/want more commitment. it wasn't management giving him static or players he couldn't control or even a sick parent (sup lou). he has no peers. he's in a class of his own on this one. sandberg playing 2nd base while the team bangs his wife isn't even in the realm...he wasn't managing anyone but himself.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

So, you, and others would have just finished out the season, then went looking for work elsewhere? ------------ Just like every manager, coach, and player have always done who didn't get an extension. What's also so ridiculous about this was his demand that they pick up his option or he would not get on the bus and quit on the spot, which he claims he never said, but his actions show that's what he did.

Paul Hoilman, off to a good start slugging-wise with 2 HRs and a double in 19 ABs at Boise, also has 11 walks.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

cant imagine he'd fetch much considering lou/quade refused to bat him vs. lefties...even if they put in a righty who couldn't hit very well. he sees leftys pretty decently for a guy that don't see many of them...not much power vs. them, though. he's not an automatic out.

Three interesting items related to I-Cub win last night at home. Attendance was 13,549. LaHair hit his 20th (and Castillo his 10th). Jay Jackson pinch-hit for the pitcher in the fifth. It was a three-run at-bat: Jackson drove in two with a double and later scored. He did not pitch in the game.

Nats new manager is Davey Johnson. Rumor has it Earl Weaver has been apt hunting in Chicago. Quade must be getting nervous.

highlight from tonight's wgn telecast... Len starts talking about his interview with Fukudome including asking Fuk what his favorite word is in English Bob says: "I think I know what it is but this is a family show" (although the back to back HRs from birthday boy and Soto are a close second)

other than Barney in his PCL rehab of his PCL injury...the I-Cubs lineup doesn't have any mlb potential in it Fernando Perez, Barney, Snyder, LaHair, Ty Wright, Scott Moore, Chris Robinson, Jon Mota and Russ Ortiz. (yeech) and so far Barney is 0-2 with a K.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I generally agree with this, but I'll look forward to when the Cubs can fill out the AAA team without Bobby Scales types. I do think players could add some polish to their game facing some more crafty AAA types, be they MLB rejects or AA graduates that haven't pushed through to the majors yet. I'm hoping that following the draft pick signing season we purge the system a bit and move up some organizational guys in place of Scales, Moore, etc.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

You're right. I realize that there are a certain number of roster fillers that get signed just to fill out a minor league team. It seemed to me that our AAA club had a lot of guys like this instead of players from within the organization moving up to that level. For example, a lot of players will go directly from AA to MLB. Some won't be good enough to do that or be blocked, etc. Facing AAA competition would provide a different challenge than AA for those prospects (maybe not more talented necessarily). Moving them to AAA gets them out of the way for the next wave of talent to come to AA.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

Submitted by Jumbo on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 4:56am. AZ Phil Did you get a chance to see DeValle pitch? =============================== JUMBO: No I didn't. BTW, the Cubs have signed their 6th Cuban defector in the last six months, OF Eliecer Bonne, who played for Santiago de Cuba in the Cuban National Series (SNB), which is the Cuban major leagues. Bonne is 24 years old and was a member of the Cuban Junior National Team as a teenager, and while he was initially assigned to DSL Cubs #2, he will probably get jumped to Peoria or Daytona (or maybe even to Tennessee) once he arrives in the U. S.(probably next season). Same goes for 24-year old OF Mayke Reyes, who was signed by the Cubs in May and is presently assigned to DSL Cubs #1. Several of the Cuban players who have been signed by the Cubs over the past few years are older guys who have played in the SNB. A couple (Peoria OF Smaily Borges and Daytona INF Rafael Valdes) are clearly minor league "organizational players" (AKA "roster-filler"), but the others are at least second-tier prospects (Daytona RHP Juan Yasser Serrano, Peoria OF Rubi Silva, Boise C Yaniel Cabezas, AZL Cubs LHP Frank Del Valle, and DSL Cubs #2 OF Eliecer Bonne). Because of their age and experience, Mayke Reyes and Eliecer Bonne should be expected to dominate the DSL, just as Smaily Borges did when he played there as a 25-year old in 2009 (and in fact, Mayke Reyes presently leads the DSL in OBP and OPS, is 3rd in SB and SLG, 4th in BB, 6th in HR, and 7th in BatAvg), so we'll have to wait to see how they do against the better pitching they will see at Peoria or Daytona (or maybe even Tennessee) before coming to any conclusions about their future. But because they are 24 (and both will be 25 next season) they will have to be prepared to hit the ground running once they arrive in the U. S., and then keep moving forward. Like Reyes and Bonne, OF Smaily Borges was 24 when he signed with the San Francisco Giants in 2008 (his contract was voided in 2009), and was 25 when he was signed by the Cubs in 2009 (the year he played in the DSL). The Cubs brought him to the U. S. for Minor League Camp in 2010 and gave him a shot at making the Iowa Cubs Opening Day roster, but he just didn't have the talent to play at AAA, and ended up at Daytona. Then this year Borges spent most of Minor League Camp with the AA (Tennessee) squad, before getting moved down to Peoria, were he is serving as a "player-coach" (probably his ultimate destiny). INF Rafael Valdes was 27 years old and a veteran of the Cuban SNB (Pinar Del Rio) and international play with Team Cuba when he was signed by the Cubs a couple of months ago. He was initially brought up to Extended Spring Training to get into playing shape, and then he was assigned to Daytona on May 31st. Bonne, Serrano, Silva, Cabezas, and Del Valle were members of the Cuban Junior National Team when they were teenagers, so I think you can probably expect a bit more from them than you might get from Borges and Valdes.

22-year old Venezuelan supersub IF-OF Marwin Gonzalez has been promoted from Tennessee to Iowa. A switch-hitter who can play anywhere in the infield and outfield, Gonzalez was hitting 301/359/421 with a team-leading 18 doubles in 64 games (239 PA) for the Smokies so far in 2011, after hitting 324/412/419 (4th in LVBP in BatAvg, 6th in OBP and doubles, and 8th in walks) for Caracas in the Venezulan Winter League (LVBP) this past off-season. Because of his defensive versatility and improvement as a hitter, Gonzalez is likely to get added to the Cubs 40-man roster post-2011. Gonzalez replaces Marquez Smith on the Iowa Cubs 24-man roster. Smith suffered a hand injury on Friday.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I was thinking ahead to the trade deadline and figured that Baker would be an easy guy to trade. I thought about Flaherty as a guy who could be Baker for next year's team. Do you think Marwin could compete for that same role? I suppose it would be better for either of them to play every day, but I don't know if Flaherty would be considered for the full time 3B job next year. Any thoughts on internal candidates?

Had some fun Saturday night out at Peoria, watching a Chiefs game. Not a great night for the Chiefs (lost 11-5), but I enjoyed watching a lot of the prospects we talk about here often. Crappy weather -- had a rain delay of 2:42 and when play resumed after 9:30 pm, it seemed like no more than 100 ppl were left in the park. Matt Szczur had a poor night at the plate and field (0-5 with 2 K's and failed to catch up to a deep fly to center that would have made for a nice catch). Eric Jokisch was torched for 9 ERs in 3.1 innings and Hayden Simpson (his usual piggyback guy) was in street clothes (he pitched today). I also got to observe the Peoria debut of PJ Francescon (40th round pick in this year's draft, 1 ER in 1 IP. I'm interested in him as he hails from a sister college of where I work -- Trevecca Nazarene U., I work at Olivet Nazarene U.) On the plus side, I got a foul ball and tossed it to a kid and I got a good look at some real, live minor league "baseball bunnies". They were real obvious, as four of them all trooped in after the rain delay and sat in a row all by themselves with no one else near them about ten rows behind the plate. The minute the last out was recorded, they got up and walked up to the lounge just outside of the player's entrance. I saw them in there as I was leaving -- they were talking to one of the players as I left. They were pretty obviously dressed to attract attention -- in the words of Rain Man, "very sparkly".

I'm so numb to this team. I don't know the last time I watched a game. More importantly, I don't remember the last time I cared about them winning a game. Sadly, the only thing I'm excited for (or hoping for) are veteran trades and rookie callups. Also, a firing of Hendry/Quade/Can Rickets be Fired??. Basically, I'm most excited about people leaving the team. Right now the only thing the Cubs are good for is playing fantasy matchups up against. To hell with the vets, with management and with Wrigley. I'm not saying anything new, but I'm still here and I need to vent.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.