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

A VogelBomb, a VogelTrip, and Two VogelSongs Rx for Cub Victory at HoHoKam

Dan Vogelbach homered, tripled, and singled twice, drove-in three runs, and scored two more, leading the AZL Cubs to a come-from-behind 9-7 victory over the AZL Athletics in Arizona League action this evening at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.  

box score

After hitting just 189/306/379 in 26 Extended Spring Training games (111 PA), Vogelbach has been on fire in AZL play, ripping a league-leading seven doubles and hitting a robust 471/514/824 through his first eight AZL games.

Although he has been an AZL "double machine"so far, Vogelbach had not hit a HR going into tonight's game. But he made up for it by blasting a 420+ foot HR to the right of the light-standard in right-centerfield in the bottom of the 5th.

And watching Vogelbach tear around the bases on his opposite-field RBI triple smoked into the left-centerfield gap in the bottom of the 6th reminded me of a man carrying a briefcase and an umbrella trying to catch a bus that's pulling away from the stop.

Vogelbach was really messed-up for most of Extended Spring Training (both at the plate and in the field--he committed a whopping ten errors at 1st base), and that's why he was left behind in Mesa, (Extended Spring Training is approximately equivalent to Boise, while the AZL is considered to be the next click below). And Vogelbach's frustration was clearly evident as EXST was coming to a close, too, as he was slamming his bat into the ground harder & harder with each out (and doing a fairly decent impression of somebody with Tourette's Syndrome) as he probably realized he wasn't going to Boise.

But he finally began to show some life in the intrasquad games played at Fitch Park between the close of Extended Spring Training and the start of the AZL, and it has carried over into league play. He is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and opposing teams are pitching him very carefully (albeit to no avail). This is the Dan Vogelbach I saw at Fitch Park last year.    

INF Tim Saunders (Cubs 2012 32nd round draft pick out of NCAA D-III champion Marietta College) pumped out two more hits in tonight's game, and is now hitting a league-leading .483. (Vogelbach is 2nd in the AZL in BA, and Trey Martin-moved up to Boise last week--is 5th).

Both Vogelbach and Saunders will probably get moved up to Boise sooner rather than later (Saunders might even score a ticket to Peoria), with Vogelbach and Rock Shoulders likely alternating between DH and 1B in Boise once Vogelbach gets there.

Although the Cub offense produced nine runs on 13 hits and six walks, none of the AZL Cubs pitchers who threw in the game tonight showed much.

RHP Ethan Elias got the start and allowed two runs on five hits and a walk in three innings of work, RHP Ryan Hartman had trouble throwing strikes (again), and when he did get the ball over the plate he got hammered (including back-to-back-to-back doubles at one point), and LHP Nathan Dorris (Cubs 2012 17th round draft pick out of Southern Illinois) had command issues (26 pitches - only 11 strikes) and was pulled after throwing just one inning.

2012 21st round pick RHP Steve "Percolator" Perakslis (U. of Maine) also struggled with his control in the 7th and 8th innings, walking two batters before getting himself together just in time to strike out the last two men he faced on six pitches.

And while closer Alvido Jimenez did get the save, it was only after he hit the first batter he faced (on an 0-2 pitch), followed by a 1st degree brain fart.

Up by three runs in the top of the 9th, Jimenez decided to try and pick the A's runner off 1st base, except 1st baseman Dan Vogelbach was playing well behind the runner and about eight steps off the bag, resulting in a two-base error as the ball sailed past the baserunner and 1st base coach and into the 1st base box seats. What makes the play especially stupid is that after Jimenez hit the batter, the Cubs bench, catcher Carlos Escobar, and 1st baseman Vogelbach all yelled at Jimenez (with Vogelbach crossing his arms for emphasis) to let him know that Vogelbach would not be holding the runner. But Jimenez threw to 1st anyway.  

Recently-signed 20-year old Cuban mega-defector Jorge Soler ($30M nine-year contract) is taking BP with the AZL Cubs, but he isn't quite ready for game action yet.

Comments

Once again, the official scorer at the AZL Cubs game managed to screw-up the box score... Danny Lockhart replaced Carlos Penalver at 2nd base and ripped an RBI single in the bottom of the 6th. Penalver was 0-3 with two strikeouts and a 4-3 GIDP, and Lockhart was 1-2 with the RBI single and a 4-3 GO.

Couple of good posts the last two days. Cubster's was interesting to me, particularly, and AZ - you are just being AZ. TCR has really good content. I hope Rob gets a chance to beef up the UI - not because I care, but I think it will get the site more hits from the outside world.

here's the link to the Ian Stewart tweets... http://twitter.com/#!/ian_stewart_9
Leaving soon to get it RT @MarykathrynT: @IAN_STEWART_9 surgery???!!! Did you already have it? Or in the process??? Surgery says anywhere from 6-10 weeks...u do the math RT @MarykathrynT: @IAN_STEWART_9 you really don't think you will play for the rest of the year? Looks like next spring training if the cubs bring me back RT @RiseAboveHate1: @IAN_STEWART_9 IAN WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK I MISS SEEING NUMBER 9 AT WRIGLEY!

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In reply to by QuietMan

The Cubs have signed Frandy de la Rosa, the No. 19 international prospect for July 2, for $700,000. ---- here is the full Ben Bader report:
19. Frandy de la Rosa, ss, Dominican Republic Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180. B-T: B-R. De la Rosa is a 16-year-old who lives in Boca Chica, plays in the Dominican Prospect League and trains with Valentin Monero. Like many players at the bottom of the Top 20 and below, de la Rosa does a few things that scouts like but brings question marks. Scouts like his ability to handle the bat as a switch-hitter. He has a simple, short swing and quick hands at the plate and has shown he can barrel balls up, but he's more of a line-drive hitter than much of a power threat right now. His tools beyond the bat aren't as flashy. He's not quite an average runner and he doesn't have the range or arm for shortstop, though he's made strides with his arm and hands. Teams who like him see a potential offensive-oriented second baseman, but where he ends up playing in the field remains to be seen. The Cubs have been the team most prominently linked to de la Rosa, though the Astros and White Sox are also believed to have interest.

Lineup vs Bravos... Campy, Castro, Rizzo, Soriano, LaHair, Clevenger, Barney, Valbuena, Shark I think DeJesus must be nursing some injury as he was replaced in the 9th inning by Campana in yesterday's game, even though DeJesus was put into the game in the 8th as a defensive replacement for JBaker (DeJesus played CF in the 8th and RJohnson moved to RF for Baker; Mather played LF all game as Soriano got the day off). I haven't read anyone commenting on DeJesus status, he never batted so maybe he tweaked something on a catch (Jason Castro flied out to CF for the 2nd out).

With Rizzo, LaHair, and Samardzija all starting and Campana potential getting a chance to run the bases, I deem this game worthy of our collective attention. Also, if LaHair doesn't get to participate in the HomeRun Derby, I'll be organizing the boycott.

thanks for the ATL-only cubs/atl feed MLB EI. chip caray quit caring long ago and joe "monotone depression" simpson can put his own team's fans asleep...nevermind the effect on outsiders. between the 2 of them you'll never hear so much dead air in your life.

rizzo needs to shape up that casual "laziness"...he almost got himself out on a single to CF by walking back to 1st after routinely passing the bag on a knock to the OF. it was nothing out of the ordinary, but a throw was offered back to 1st for a sweep tag he didn't see because he assumed it wouldn't happen...just walking back to 1st casually... he's taking too many things for granted at 1st on D, too...as pointed out yesterday. but hey, he got a hit. heh.

how do you not suicide or safety squeeze with Campana up?

I'll be interested in seeing if he's going back to the Cleveland Clinic for his surgery. I'll expect it to be an arthroscopic procedure for DWI (Dorsal Wrist Impingement) but recently there was some mention of calcifications near a nerve (carpal tunnel syndrome? which can be done endoscopically or through small incision surgery), so some specific information from the press would be helpful. The 6-10 week recovery makes sense for most of the diagnosis that have been discussed here. ------------- Carrie Muskat answers my Stewart questions! Also this is the first time the press has formally mentioned Dr. Graham (other than me). Her blog post even mentions that Stewart had an old fracture in the wrist which has lead to the impingement. Apparently the surgery will include arthroscopy but when they say it will be done in two stages, it implies that there will be an open component to the procedure (after the arthroscopy), probably to remove the impinging bone (not sure exactly which carpal bone is the problem, remember there are 8 carpal bones) but it might not be completely accessible via the arthroscope, hence a second stage to the procedure. Stewart will come back with a multi-plane swing since the good Dr. Graham will fix the problem...not only that but Stewart will be able to play piano after the operation even though he's never been able to play piano before!
Ian Stewart will undergo surgery in the next week to 10 days on his left wrist and is likely done for the season. But the Cubs third baseman is relieved that doctors found something wrong. Stewart has been slowed by soreness in his wrist, and on June 18, saw a specialist, Dr. Thomas Graham, at the Cleveland Clinic, and received a cortisone shot. However, Stewart still had discomfort. A few years ago, Stewart had fractured a bone in his wrist, and Graham determined that another small bone was in contact with the larger one, and if removed, should alleviate the pain.
When could Stewart return? Doctors said it might not be until early or middle September. "You don't know if there's enough time [to play]," he said.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120702&content_id=34… http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2012/07/02/72-stewart-to-have-surgery/

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In reply to by Rob Richardson

Um. Right field? Center? Byrd was horrible which would've left Reed Johnson and Tony Campana as his competition for playing time. We all know LaHair shouldn't be in RF. I would've been okay if the Cubs had LaHair in LF, DeJesus in CF and Colvin in RF by the All-Star break. Of course, the Cubs still wouldn't have had a third baseman then. It's not my favorite trade, but I can see why the regime did it. I definitely thought they sold low on Colvin, but somebody had to play 3B I guess, and Stewart seemed like a possible bounce-back guy (maybe after the surgery, though I have to wonder if they'll pursue somebody else for 3B next year or give Vitters a shot--he's only really had one bad month in AAA so far this year).

And in the "Foot in Mouth" category on the minutiae of "Not Stretching Enough" by Billybucks: Re: We Could Use a Hero Why does Rizzo catch throws so close to his body instead of stretching out a bit? I was at the game, and noticed this early in the game. The infield hit in the 8th should have been a routine out, but Rizzo waited for the ball to get to him before catching it... I don't know, but it seems like he figured it out on a couple terrific plays tonight. And, a nice scoop to dig out a ball on a great Barney play.

tidbits from the sun times... http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/13553776-573/cubs-third-ba… on Stewart: Speculation of a carpal bone compression fracture dating back to 2006 injury. In 2006 he was 21 in AA Tulsa and had 462 AB and 120 games (so I'm not sure how to sort that out based on performance)
injured left wrist that has bothered him for a year — and might go back to a compression fracture he suffered in 2006.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Ian-Stewart --------- and this tidbit is for Crunch:
Whether he returns as the Opening Day third baseman next season involves more than the health of the wrist. ‘‘He’s got all the ability to do it,’’ manager Dale Sveum said. ‘‘But I’d like to see some adjustments in the swing. Whether it was the hand or not, there still needs to be some adjustments.’’
-------- and finally, Rizzo history:
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, first baseman Anthony Rizzo is the first player with three game-winning RBI in his first five games as a Cub.

With two-for-four last night, Vitters nudged his BA above .300. His slash line is .301/.352/.514 (.866) compared to a career line of .281/.324/.451 (.775). He should exceed his career highs in doubles (28, currently 22), home runs (18, currently 13), walks (22, currently 19) and strikeouts (65, currently 46).

I don't know how Wrongway keeps his job. Said on Twitter that LaHair was one of the NL's "best hitters in April and May." And this was in a post that was using his stats to support his inclusion on the All-Star team. May: .253 AVG .792 OPS 5 HR 8 RBI "one of the best"

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In reply to by kaluk8

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 12:15pm — kaluk8 Hey Phil, on the AZL Cubs, what's Vogelbach looking like these days? Has he dropped some lbs since the draft? Can you wager a waist size guess without feeling weird about the fact that he's a 19 year old? ================================= KALUK8: I've had the good fortune to be able to watch Dan Vogelbach a lot throughout his short pro career (AZL Cubs and AZ Instructs last season, and Minor League Camp, EXST, and AZL Cubs this year), and the way he's hitting right now is the way he was hitting for the AZL Cubs last August right after he signed. He's looking for a good pitch to hit, he's not afraid to go deep into the count, and he's driving the ball to all fields with authority. He has not lost any weight that I can see, but being out of shape was not his problem earlier this year at Minor League Camp and Extended Spring Training. He was (and is) in shape (for him), but he was very anxious at the plate at EXST, swinging at anything and everything, and trying to pull everything, and then he seemed to take his offensive struggles out to the field with him (he committed ten errors--and all different kinds of errors--at EXST). But you can really see the difference in his confidence right now. He's an engaging loud mouth on the field (I swear, he must be John Kruk's long lost son), and he is just chomping at the bit to get to the plate, especially with men on base. If the Cubs promote Justin Bour to Iowa, Rebel Ridling back to AA, and Paul Hoilman to Daytona in the next couple of weeks (which I think might happen), I would not be at all surprised if Vogelbach gets skipped over Boise and goes directly to Peoria. He's hitting that good right now. But he should at the very least be at Boise within the next few days, if not at Peoria. I think it would be great if the Cubs can somehow keep Javier Baez, Dan Vogelbach, Jeimer Candelario, Gioskar Amaya, Jorge Soler, and Albert Almora together on the same team as they move up the pipeline, like the Dodgers did in the 70's with Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, Ron Cey, Bill Buckner, Bobby Valentine, Tom Paciorek, Joe Ferguson, et al, or like the Braves of the early 90's (Chipper Jones, Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko, Mike Kelly, Melvin Nieves, et al), or even the Cubs of the late 80's (Mark Grace, Dave Martinez, Rafael Palmeiro, Jerome Walton, Dwight Smith, Joe Girardi, et al). Win some championships in the minors, and then come to the big leagues as a confident group of winners who can't stomach losing. Now, how about some pitchers?

it took almost 3 days, but someone (unfortunately k.millar on Intentional Talk) finally brings up that "larussa's girlfriend" part of cueto's bash on larussa. i wonder why no one's touching that...millar/rose laughed it off and moved on. fwiw, larussa's been married for quite a while.

Trotting Volstad out with the same outcome, game after game. One big blowup inning. Tonight's debacle, 5 run 5th. Tough to keep trotting him out any more. Maybe he should be the long reliever rather than Casey Coleman but who cares about the last man on a bad pitching staff? We need to see some fresh options for a 5th starter beyond Wells, Volstad and Coleman. Slow hook by Sveum but it was only the 5th. I knew sending Bosio out with the bases loaded was going to be useless as Volstad was already looking like a deer in headlights.

From Rotoworld: Andrew Cashner left Tuesday's start against the Diamondbacks after two innings with a possible elbow injury. There's no word yet from the team, but Cashner's last warm-up pitch prior to the third inning went to the backstop, and he then appeared to point to his elbow when trainers arrived. He had looked good early on, limiting the D'Backs to one hit over two scoreless innings. The Pads should update his status shortly. Update: Andrew Cashner has been diagnosed with a strained latissimus dorsi muscle.

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In reply to by Cubster

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 5:23am — Cubster AZ Phil, can you give us your take on the big spud (he's from Idaho), OF Izzac Garsez? (Was 4-5 yesterday with a 3 run HR) ================================================ CUBSTER: Izaac "Big Spud" Garsez is a polished college senior RF who played at an NAIA school called College of Idaho (not to be confused with JUCO baseball factory College of Southern Idaho), and like a lot of college seniors who make their debut in the AZL, he is a man among boys. It's hard to get much of a read on Garsez until he moves up to Boise, but he looks like a good hitter with some power, a decent right-fielder, and a savvy baserunner. He's older and not as toolsy as Bijan Rademacher (who was moved-up to Boise last week), so he will have to hit (and keep on hitting) in order to advance through the system. The likely path for Garsez is this... He might get moved-up to Boise this season, but that isn't for sure because there are already five outfielders there who are above him on the prospect "pecking order," so he can get more playing time if he stays in Mesa. But if a Boise OF gets hurt or gets promoted to Peoria or is sent back to the AZL, he could get a shot there before the end of the 2012 season. Even if he doesn't have a long pro career, getting a chance to play for the Boise Hawks would probably be a Dream Come True for an Idaho guy like Garsez. Garsez is not a top prospect so he probably won't get invited to AZ Instructs in September, but (because of his age and experience) he will probably initially be assigned to the Daytona squad when he reports to Minor League Camp next March, and then he wiil likely be gradually moved down to Peoria and then to Boise/Mesa (Extended Spring Training) during the course of Minor League Camp. Then he will play at Extended Spring Training for the first two months of the 2013 season while waiting for an outfielder to get hurt at Peoria or Daytona. If he doesn't get moved-up to Peoria or Daytona before the end of 2013 Extended Spring Training, he will probably get assigned to Boise, although he also could get released if he struggles even a little bit. The thing Garsez has to do is keep on hitting. As long as he hits, he probably can find a roster slot somewhere, although he might get jobbed out of a roster spot at a higher level by a better prospect even if he outhits the other guy. That's the lot of guys like Garsez. A good example of a player who just keeps on hitting and getting ignored is Greg Rohan. He has been passed over for promotions even when they were deserved, but he kept on plugging away and biding his time, and he finally got moved-up to AA Tennessee a couple of days ago and went 4-4 in his first game. If he can continue to rake at Tennessee as he did at Daytona, he could find himself in Iowa next season, and then anything can happen (see Russ Canzler). MLB clubs are always on the look-out for cheap club-controlled extra men who can play multiple positions and hit off the bench, and Rohan looks like he might possibly be that type (RH corner IF-OF who can play 1B-3B-LF-RF and PH). BTW, I usually try to predict which Cubs minor league position player will be the next one to get moved to catcher (I accurately tagged Anthony Giansanti this time last year), and this year I'm going with AZL Cubs 3B Ben Carhart (2012 35th round draft pick out of Stetson). When you look at Carhart, his body screams "I AM A CATCHER TRAPPED IN A THIRD-BASEMAN'S BODY!" He is stocky and bottom heavy and (dare I say) fat, and he makes Dan Vogelbach look svelt. But he has a strong arm and some power, so if the Cubs offer Carhart a chance to move to catcher, my advice is that he needs to be ready to say yes. To put it bluntly, that's probably the only way he is going to survive long-term in pro ball.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Fri, 07/06/2012 - 6:18am — VirginiaPhil Garsez looks like a toolsy lefty-hitting outfielder. Rohan is an offense-first righty hitter who, with a .904 FP, probably doesn't project as a 3B and must therefore endure the fate of nearly every right-handed 1B/LF/DH. A better comp for Garsez might be Adduci, a 42nd rounder who got plenty of looks in the high minors and in ST while they waited for him to develop some power, which he never did. (His dad hit 116 HRs in the minors to Junior's 22). ============================= VA PHIL: The comparison I was trying to make between Rohan and Garsez was that both are polished college senior position players who can hit and who were selected in lower rounds of the draft and who did not get significant bonuses and who were/are (at least initially) projected as minor league organizational players. James Adduci was a raw, toolsy, athletic HS OF drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 42nd round of the 2003 draft who received an overslot bonus to give up an opportunity to play college ball at Northern Illinois. A good comp to Adduci (among current Cub minor leaguers) might be somebody like Trevor Gretzky as far as getting drafted out of HS but needing time to develop, or maybe John Andreoli as far as type of player (good defensive outfielder, plus-arm, above-average speed and a good base-stealer, a big guy who can't hit HR).

Unless Stewart miraculously plays a few games in September demonstrating his wrist (and swing) are healed, is there really any way this guy is tendered a contract for 2013? Theo wouldn't take a $2M+ risk he 'might' be ready to play in 2013, would he?

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In reply to by George Altman

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 9:52am — George Altman The Ian Stewart saga........... Unless Stewart miraculously plays a few games in September demonstrating his wrist (and swing) are healed, is there really any way this guy is tendered a contract for 2013? Theo wouldn't take a $2M+ risk he 'might' be ready to play in 2013, would he? ================================= GEORGE A: Ian Stewart, Chris Volstad, Geovany Soto, Manuel Corpas, Jose Asencio, Blake Parker, Blake Lalli, Scott Maine, and Marcos Mateo ((June 2012 TJS) are the most-likely Cubs 12/2 non-tender condidates post-2012 (and any of them could get outrighted or released prior to getting non-tendered). BTW, here are the Cubs Article XX-B MLB free-agent eligibles post-2012, the aribitration-eligibles post-2012, the minor league free-agents post-2012, the out of option guys, etc, for 2013: PLAYERS ON CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER SIGNED FOR 2013: Alfonso Soriano Carlos Marmol Paul Maholm (club option with $500K buy-ou) David DeJesus Gerardo Concepcion Jorge Soler ===================== CUBS MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS POST-2012: ARTICLE XX-D MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT: Frankie de la Cruz, RHP Blake DeWitt, INF Rodrigo Lopez, RHP (MLB Article XX-B FA post-2012 if added to MLB 40-man roster) Randy Wells, RHP NOTE: ARTICLE XX-D minor league free-agents can file for free-agency beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular seson through October 15th as long as the player is not added back to an MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season. RULE 55 MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT: SIX-YEAR MINOR LEAGUE FA: Jim Adduci, OF Alfredo Amezaga, IF-OF Juan Apodaca, C Justin Berg, RHP (TJS rehab) Michael Bowden, RHP Kyler Burke, LHP (ex-OF) Brian Esposito, C Diory Hernandez, INF Hong-Chih Kuo, LHP Mike MacDougal, RHP (MLB Article XX-B FA post-2012 if added to MLB 40-man roster) Jonathon Mota, INF Ryan Rowland-Smith, LHP Nate Samson, INF Matt Tolbert, INF PREVIOUSLY-RELEASED MINOR LEAGUE FA: Carlos Figueroa, INF Michael de la Cruz, RHP (previously released by TEX) NOTE: A player eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 MINOR LEAGUE FA automatically is declared a free-agent at 5 PM on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series unless the player is added to an MLB 40-man roster or agrees to a Successor Contract (2013 minor league contract) prior to that deadline. ============================== CUBS ARTICLE XX-B MLB FREE-AGENTS POST-2012: Jeff Baker Shawn Camp Ryan Dempster Reed Johnson Paul Maholm (club option) NOTE: A player eligible to be an ARTICLE XX-B MLB FA is declared a free-agent the day after the conclusion of the World Series, and then is free to sign a major league or minor league contract with any club, but only after a five day "quiet" period during which time the player can only re-sign with his former club. ========================= ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE POST-2012: Starlin Castro (likely "Super Two”) Manuel Corpas Matt Garza James Russell Jeff Samardzija Geovany Soto Ian Stewart Luis Valbuena (likely "Super Two”) Chris Volstad NOTE: If a player eligible for salary-arbitration is not tendered a contract on 12/2, the player is automatically declared a free-agent. AUTO-RENEWAL (PRE-ARBITRATION) POST-2012: Jairo Asencio Darwin Barney Jeff Beliveau Alberto Cabrera Tony Campana Adrian Cardenas Lendy Castillo Welington Castillo Starlin Castro (unless “Super Two”) Steve Clevenger Casey Coleman Rafael Dolis Bryan LaHair Junior Lake Blake Lalli Scott Maine Marcos Mateo Blake Parker Anthony Rizzo Dave Sappelt Matt Szczur Luis Valbuena (unless “Super Two”) Josh Vitters Travis Wood NOTE: If an auto-renewal or pre-arbitration player is not tendered a contract on 12/2, the player is automatically declared a free-agent. ========================================= ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN DECEMBER 2012 RULE 5 DRAFT Jeffry Antigua, LHP Frank Batista, RHP Justin Bour, 1B Michael Brenly, C Michael Burgess, OF David Cales, RHP Esmailin Caridad, RHP Matt Cerda, INF Hunter Cervenka, LHP Evan Crawford, OF Willengton Cruz, LHP Antonio Encarnacion, RHP Eduardo Figueroa, RHP Luis Flores, C Gregori Gonzalez, IF-OF Marcus Hatley, RHP Ty’Relle Harris, RHP Brett Jackson, OF Jay Jackson, RHP Alvido Jimenez, RHP Austin Kirk, LHP Luis Liria, RHP Jeff Lorick, LHP David Macias, IF-OF (player-coach) Nate Maldonado, C (player-coach) Trey McNutt, RHP Pedro Medina, RHP (ex-OF) Jose Montesino, INF A. J. Morris, RHP Enyelberth Pena, RHP Felix Pena, RHP Starling Peralta, RHP Nelson Perez, OF Roderik Pichardo, RHP Brooks Raley, LHP Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP Rebel Ridling, 1B Greg Rohan, IF-OF Melvin Rosa, RHP Jose Rosario, RHP Zac Rosscup, LHP Chris Rusin, LHP Julio Sanchez, RHP Brian Schlitter, RHP Ryan Searle, RHP Matt Spencer, LHP (ex-OF) Nick Struck, RHP Larry Suarez, RHP Francisco Turbi, RHP Brett Wallach, RHP Logan Watkins, INF Casey Weathers, RHP Rob Whitenack, RHP Ty Wright, OF NOTES: 1. A player on this list is not eligible for selection in Rule 5 Draft if added to an MLB 40-man roster by 11/20. 2. Any free-agent signed to a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection. ====================================================== ON CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER - NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT IN 2013: Jairo Asencio Welington Castillo Bryan LaHair Marcos Mateo Joe Mather Jeff Samardzija Geovany Soto Luis Valbuena Travis Wood

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In reply to by George Altman

theo gave up 2 players and $2.3m to play him this year. if the surgery is successful there's not much difference in signing him or letting him go, imo. "minimum wage" is almost 1/2 million these days and any vet worth a damn is going to want something really close or more than what stewart would probably get. there's nothing in the system unless they wanna go with vitters/valbuenanana...which they may do. *shrug* he tracks the ball well, sees it all the way to the bat...there's more "work" beyond that to be done with the swing, of course. his defense is decent even with a few rough hiccups he had toward the end before he got shut down.

"Zeller was promoted from Boise earlier Tuesday to take Gerardo Concepcion’s turn in the rotation. Concepcion was scratched because of illness." g.concepcion was supposed to go tonight...no idea wtf the illness is, but it was announced yesterday he'd miss today's start.

Any chance Barney is hitting enough to win a Gold Glove? I doubt it, but all the defensive numbers say voters should probably vote for him. I wish the voters would be a little more wise, although his .997 fielding percentage and 1 error in the first 79 games ought to grab him at least some votes. I certainly appreciate what he's brought this year. That's easier to handle with his $400K salary. I still don't think he's anything more than a utility infielder on a championship team, but I admit he's been fun to watch.

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In reply to by QuietMan

Jim Callis: As someone who does our Cubs Top 30 for the Prospect Handbook every year, I talk to people incessantly about Vitters. He has made some progress, but his ceiling is solid regular and the guys on this list have higher ceilings than that. I'm also not sold Vitters could be an everyday third baseman at the big league level. I think you'd want a better defender than that. So no, I can't tell you he even received consideration for the Top 50. Jim Callis: I think they'll sign Underwood in the next couple of days and then get Almora done sometime next week, perhaps on deadline day (July 13). I don't see them signing Wiseman, who's going to attend Vanderbilt. How close were Brett Jackson, Matt Szczur and Josh Vitters from making the list? J.J. Cooper: Not that close, further away and not that close to making the list. Jackson's K-rate is a major concern for a guy who doesn't have a lot of 65s on his scouting report. Szczur is a solid prospect, but didn't really compare yet to the guys at the back end of the 50 and Vitters is having a much better season, but there still doesn't appear to be a whole lot of ceiling there. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2613648.html

Houston received two very good prospects, both in top 10 of Marlins list. I hope that is a good sign for what we can get for our guys. I would not have thought they could two top ten for Lee. Very surprising. Is there something I am missing?

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In reply to by Cubster

Fri, 07/06/2012 - 6:26am — Cubster Dustin Geiger is quietly having a nice season with the bat at Peoria including 3 HR in the last two games. Does he have any chance at 3B or is he just another Jeff Baker type. ==================================== CUBSTER: When the Cubs drafted Dustin Geiger in 2010, they anounced in the draft conference-call that they were drafting him as a RF, because that's how he was projected by the Cubs area scout who turned him in. But when he signed with the Cubs (to an overslot bonus) the Cubs designated him a 3B, and although he has played both 3B and 1B over the past three seasons, he is a shaky infield defender, so he ultimately probably still projects best as a RF because of his plus-arm. I would think he will eventually morph into a corner IF-OF (1B-3B-LF-RF).

from a BP/Kevin Goldstein "future shock" article... First Base: Dan Vogelbach, Cubs A second-round pick last year who signed for first-round money with a $1.6 million bonus, Vogelbach drew some Prince Fielder comparisons during his high school career in Florida, both for his monstrous power, as well has his physique. At just six feet tall and somewhere around 250 pounds, Vogelbach is the definition of a bat-only prospect, as he's a 20 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale and a poor defender. While it's early, he's hit .432/.368/.773 in 10 Arizona League games, and he wouldn't have gotten that kind of bonus without scouts believing that the bat can play. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=17573

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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.