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

It's Firing Day

A bit of an old news at this point, but the previous thread is overloaded with yet another should the Cubs spend or wait to develop some talent first argument. A good 2-3 years more of that discussion...I'm excited.

The big news is that the Cubs fired Oneri Fleita, VP Of player personnel. Of course, last September, Fleita was about to jump ship to the Detroit Tigers and Ricketts gave him a 4-year deal before hiring Theo Epstein. Some thought such a move before hiring a GM would scare off potential top candidates and that was obviously proved wrong. Ricketts did his homework, knowing Fleita was well-respected in the business, while certainly assuring any prospective candidates that if they decided otherwise, he'd eat the contract...better to whiff on a 4-year management contract than a 4-year player contract. 10 months later, that seems to be happening. Epstein had nothing but nice things to say about Fleita and Fleita will certainly catch on somewhere else, which probably means Ricketts will only on the hook for the difference in salaries.

Besides Fleita, the Cubs manager of Baseball Information was also fired, Chuck Wasserstrom. I'm guessing his Excel spreadsheets running on Windows 3.1 weren't sophisticated enough for the TheJedi. Ari Kaplan's job title (Manager of Statistical Information) was also eliminated, but Kaplan will remain within the organization as a consultant.

Cubs are laying a 6-1 ass-whooping through 5 on the Astros behind 2 DeJesus home runs and 1 by Castro along with the pitching of Justin Germano.

Comments

with the Melky news, wonder if Giants would be interested in a DeJesus waiver deal? or maybe Soriano changes his mind.

Navin (Pasadena, CA): What are your thoughts on the dismissal of Oneri Fleita? John Manuel: Jim and Will Lingo will remember my rant about Oneri during the 2007 Prospect Handbook book tour. It was inevitable; he played at Creighton and was clearly part of Jim Hendry's posse in Chicago. Being in a baseball front office is like being in Congress in a way, there's a long voting record to go through and pick over and see hits and misses. Oneri has hits and misses too.I'm sure he has his fans, friends and allies in the industry; I just don't know any of them. How impressive are Dan Vogelbach's numbers -- .326/.391/.691 in 181 AB in Rookie Ball and Short Season -- given that he turns 20 in December? How high do you see his ceiling? John Manuel: Another guy who can flat-out hit, like Winker. Ceiling is definitely as a first-division starter at 1b, or as a Travis Hafner-ish DH. No one really questioned the hitting ability out of HS; some scouts even tried to throw a Prince Fielder comp on Vogelbach. One problem is all the value is in the bat, but that's a huge start to a pro career. The feel for hitting is what everyone underestimated about Prince Fielder back in 2002; his feel for hitting allowed him to get to his power. Vogelbach has some of that, but let's see him cut down on the K's next year when he goes to full-season ball before he gets Fielder comps as a pro. Former Kent State slugger and 2008 BA Freshman AA Ben Klafczynski, after a very short stint with the Cubs, is now pitching for Lake Erie in the Frontier League. The plus/plus armed former RF has been working 92-94 touching 96 with developing secondary pitches, smooth delivery, effortless, and is currently riding a 14 inning streak of NO hits allowed.(0-42) Is this profile something an affiliate desires for Fall Instructional, maybe some winter ball to further the development? Thanks John Manuel: Funny, we were just talking about Klafczynski in the office today. Klafczynski was a solid college hitter for four seasons with the Golden Flashes but was released in spring training by the Cubs; JJ Cooper will have the story in our next issue of how he latched on in indy ball as a pitcher after not pitching at all in four college seasons, and it's an interesting one. He apparently hit 94 with his first pitch in a workout, so the velocity should attract a pro club sooner than later. http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1345042821

ITs a bit of a head-scratcher to me because I thought that Oneri was "The (Latin) MAN". They invested a LOT on the Dominican campus, and they sure need someone with pedigree/respect enough to run the place full-time. No doubt HoyStein must have had someone allied with their philosophy in-mind before this move was made. We will have to see who this is, and how they do. Basically, Castro is the one player Fleita can promote as his baby, right? So, the Hendry house-cleaning is pretty much complete - which is another reason why I am curious how Wilken made the cuts?

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/04/2013-mlb-free-agents.html FA's for next season Cubs will certainly sign a pitcher or two, and I'm guessing they'll look for smaller contracts (1-2 years) and ones they can trade if possible. Some names with the caveat that I have no idea what these guys will ultimately get, but they shouldn't be too expensive (something like $10M max per yer/1-3 year deals). E. Jackson F. Liriano S. Baker C. Lewis S. Marcum B. McCarthy Dice-K I also wouldn't be shocked if Dempster came back, but without the NTC this time (2/20 range).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Jackson, McCarthy, and/or Marcum would be fine with me in 2-3/yr contracts at reasonable $$$. For a team that doesn't project to have a productive core (i.e. Rizzo, Soler, Almora, Baez, with Castillo and maybe Castro) for 3 -4 years, I just don't get get a 5-yr Sanchez/Grienke contract unless you're into putting Mercedes hood ornaments on a Yugo.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

Is the plan really to wait out Soler,Baez, Almora etc. to get here from A ball? We might be setting ourselves up for 2016 or 2017 before we even realize those guys are busts. I hope the plan is MUCH more aggressive than that.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

if they didn't have issues, they wouldn't be available on short-term deals. Marcum might get a 1 year qualifying offer from Brewers too since they traded, they have some money to burn.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

My wife and I took our daughter to our first game of the season. This morning, thinking about the Seattle lineup, I thought to myself, the only way this'll be interesting is if Felix pitches a NH. He did me one better! This was the first NH I've seen live, so I'm pretty stoked. Felix was nasty.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

@Rob & John: She's five and she asked quite often what was happening during the game...why are people cheering? I explained to her that this was a very good game (at about the 7th or 8th) and then she took credit for choosing this game, but she was mostly interested in her cotton candy. Then the final strike was called, the crowd erupted and she freaked out and started crying. She had no idea how big of an event it was, but at least she'll have pictures and a ticket stub for when she's older:) As far as expectations, she knows we're Cub fans, but I've decided to let her discover for herself what a hopeless enterprise that is.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

my girls are in it for the ice cream usually, one of them likes to dance a lot between innings. They get into it a bit when the crowd starts going though, but that's just been Angels games so far. The Cubs games have been road games so I spend a lot of time trying to explain what's happening and they spend a lot of time asking me when are we getting ice cream.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

Awesome first game experience, even if she has no clue what she just watched. I took my 3-year old to her first game at Wrigley last month. She watched some of it. Kind of. But she had fun. Sometimes I feel bad about teaching her to be a Cubs fan. Oh well...

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

recent conversation at my house Gracie: Did the Cubs win today? Me: No, they lost. Gracie: Man, they never win. Me: Not often this year. Gracie: Have they won any games this year? Me: They've won about 40 games, the Angels about 60 Gracie: They have to do better. Me: They sure do.

Just got a phone alert that Soriano cleared waivers. Siri knows everything.

so ricketts/cubs-co has fired 2 of the first guys ricketts hired...neat. the o.f. move is weird given less than a year ago he was worth a 4 year deal.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

so ricketts/cubs-co has fired 2 of the first guys ricketts hired...neat. Fleita and Wasserstrom date back 10-12 years I believe. Maybe you mean Kaplan, but he's still with them in a different role.

"He was a tremendous contributor to the Cubs for a long, long time and helped get the organization to the point where it's at now. " That's a compliment?

Buehrle 10 victories for 12 straight years. Nice accomplishment.

Here's one for you stats guys - how many seasons in modern era have the Cubs gone through the whole season without being in 1st at all, including opening day and obviously, this year...?

not much worth mentioning from last night's milb games... Almora went 2-5 with a solo HR that is all.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

I disabled Javascript to avoid the register pop up, fwiw. "Accounting by CSN Chicago finds that with Fleita the Cubs now will have paid about $49 million to players, managers, coaches and executives who no longer work for them. That sounds to me like a crazy way to run the business." A lot of that has nothing to do with Kenney. He's mixing up the money paid to guys like Soriano with front office staff. I don't disagree with the article - I don't really know the first thing about Kenney other than the fact he's a TCR punching bag, but that's fuzzy math if I ever saw it.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

if you reload the page and press "stop" on your browser once the story loads it keeps the script from completing and popping up the pop-up page because they can't sling code worth a fuuuu....

Say what you will about Soriano and his right like all of us to choose where to work/play, and to choose elements of work that effect his quality of life, and his family - but I think it is absolutely incontrovertible that he doesn't prioritize winning very high. It really is quite amazing that we all care about winning more than most of these superstars. He honestly looks so out of place on this current team, but oh well.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Sigh...we have discussed this issue at length. Players EARN the right to veto a trade. Period. And they have to right to excersize that right for whatever reason they would like.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I did. And I disagree with it. Maybe he also cares about other things. Or maybe he cares about winning, in Chicago, and still hopes that they can win here during the life of his contract. Or maybe he cares about winning, but just really doesn't want to go go SF for 2.5 years.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

winning? ask adam dunn about that. keep the paychecks coming while asking... having a few million to your name to recreate with changes some people's priorities even if they "do all the right things" to keep in playing shape. ...as long as they show up in playing shape *shrug*

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Bottom line is he is 36 years old and I don't believe he has a world series ring. I think he went twice with the Yanks and lost both times. If I am wrong that would change things. But assuming I am correct, he apparently has no qualms with being a 38 year old with no world series rings. And that is not hyperbole: the Cubs will not win the world series in the next two years. So draw your own conclusions. Say what you will about the NBA but those dudes at least want to get a ring.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

He seems obsessed with being the best player he personally can be, to the point at his age he radically improved his defense and has very much improved his bat. That to me is more commendable than any vague hope he can win a World Series title by riding on the coat tails of another team like a lot of players are doing with the Miami Heat.

Kevin Goldstein info based on "A minor league update consisting solely of players from the game I attended last night in Beloit, Wisconsin":
Jorge Soler, OF, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 2-for-3, 2B, R. You don't want to judge any player on just one look, but especially a guy like Soler. A few months ago he was a Cuban refugee, and now he's a guy with millions of dollars in his pocket playing baseball in Wisconsin. That's a big adjustment, mentally, but Peoria is a great fit for him, as Soler is being guided along by Chiefs batting coach Barbaro Garbey, a fellow Cuban. On just one game, I certainly get it. He's a big, athletic outfielder who catches your eye the second he takes the field. He he tremendous hands and wrists, with a remarkably short swing for a power hitter, and a swing that helps explain his excellent contact rate. He wasn't challenged in the field and he put up a middling 4.4 time to first on a double-play ball, and he's a bit of a strange runner who stays on the balls of his feet. Not enough data to really make a call here, but again, I get it.
Austin Reed, RHP, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 2 K. A 12th round pick in 2010, Reed doesn't have great numbers this year out of the bullpen, with a 3.60 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 55 innings, but you do sit up a bit when he touches 96 mph while generally sitting at 92-94. Command/control is an issue.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=18010

@thekapman: Jed Hoyer says he "kicks himself" for bringing up Anthony Rizzo too early in San Diego and "won't make that mistake again" #rightnow Yet Brett Jackson and Vitters are in the majors

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

i dunno what the hell they're doing with b.jackson, but at this point vitters is as good of an option as anyone on the FA market unless D.Wright hits it and Theocorp loses their minds signing him (soooooo unlikely). might as well see if he can handle big league pitching. mark tehan/ian stewart + j.vitters 2013...woo...alright...sigh.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

great stuff...another scout in the 3b camp "He's got some instincts for the position," said the scout on Baez's ability to play shortstop. "But I feel like as he gets older, as he gets bigger and loses a step, he's gonna have to move to third base. With his current range and hands, he's playing as good a defensive shortstop as he ever will."

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I'm sure Jed left San Diego to just be a P.R. person. Totally makes sense... But yes, Theo is the ultimate decision maker (obviously), but I think there's a lot of cooks in this kitchen now.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

I know everything's a conspiracy theory in your view of the baseball world, but sometimes there are genuine people behind all of this who care for the people they work with. ....from a radio interview with Moorad Moorad let Hoyer go even though he was under contract with the Padres because he wants to let Hoyer map his own career forward. "There is a bit of a human side to this equation." The Chicago job made the most sense for Hoyer and his career. He leaves the Padres organization in a better spot than when he got here. If Byrnes wasn't already working with the Padres he absolutely would not have let Chicago talk to Hoyer. Theo Epstein called and asked Moorad if there was any chance he could hire Hoyer. Moorad answered on the spot saying it was Hoyer's choice and allowed the two to talk. Moorad told Hoyer privately that he could be General Manager of the Padres for as long as he liked but he didn't want to stand in the way of his career. Byrnes was not hired 10 months ago to replace Hoyer. Moorad and Hoyer were trying to help Byrnes get a GM job elsewhere. http://www.gaslampball.com/2011/11/2/2533033/moorad-says-he-didnt-want-… ultimately Hoyer loses some control and great weather for a more stable organization with greater resources(Padres were being sold), a longer contract and I'm guessing the promise that Ricketts will stay out of the way and let Theo and his chums build the organization as they see fit.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Not conspiracy. Just pretty widely reported at the time. I also have a feeling that Theo would be in serious trouble in Boston right now. And he realized that and jumped to Chicago while he still had a chance. Not too much of a leap IMHO.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Reported or conjectured? The fact that it takes any sort of leap means it's anything but a fact. Theo got what he always wanted, full control over baseball operations. Enjoy the ride...it'll make the destination that much sweeter.

Jesus Christ! Any of you who have MLB.com or access to the braves game. Watch the highlight called Chipper's Outstanding Play . . . Chipper Jones does make a great play but the 2nd baseman CLEARLY drops the ball all the way out of his glove RIGHT IN THE UMPS FACE and they call him out and nobody talks about it. WTF? Umpiring is so bizarre these days. There was no transfer to another hand ... Just bounces it out of his glove and back into it. I know the argument is he had possession (for what - a millisecond?) but I have never seen that call before. Damn

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

I put that in the same category as the one where Todd Helton was three feet off first base but still got the "out" call. Horrible call. In my mind, I see Bob Uecker sitting way up in the nosebleed section of the right field stands yelling, "He dropped the ball!" (Lite Beer from Miller commercial reference, for you youngsters out there).

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

Totally...I guess there are just freak plays where no one sees what happened, but with all the cameras out there it's getting pretty ridiculous. Still, like Selig says, no one wants expanded replay.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

one of the things i find "rough" on the umps is the newish super-slo-mo cameras that have such a high frame capture rate that playing back 1 second of footage over 15-20 seconds looks so smooth that you can easily forget it's a bang-bang play. this play in question, though...*shrug*

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Right, it looks so obvious for us...but maybe not for them on the field, which is kinda my point. It's silly to be relying solely on the eyes on the field when we have so many other tools available.

Jaye Chapman (Maholm/Johnson trade) to Iowa DL with an elbow strain.

Baez figuring out High-A, Daytona with 4-1 lead over Lakeland in 7th, Baez double, 2 run HR, 3 RBI

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Kaplan smugly states that he wouldn't put Castro at short . . . but that Cubs will. I know Starlin has his moments, but I think he is a fine shortstop . . . And that's where his value is at. I think he's a great investment. When the Cubs have something to play for he'll sharpen his concentration, and have better players around him ..., age experience and human nature. But I like him at short.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

On the right deal it should be great value. He's going to get better. At least power wise, though his 2B totals make we want to look at how much his 2012 power surge may continue. But his floor is pretty solid, to me, he doesn't seem like a guy who's just going to crash.

[ ]

In reply to by Newport

yeah, the next 3 years he should be "only" worth $25-35m tops, imo. he gets arb next year, but it's not the "big payday" arb...though it'll be a hell of a raise from where he's at. jose reyes's current "bar setting" SS contract is worth $17.5m a year. plus, castro has the advantage of getting $$ security + being able to hit the FA market still in his prime if he signs a 5-6 year deal. he might be more receptive to taking a financial security contract more-so than a 26/28 year old who would normally be in this situation after 3 full seasons.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Starlin Castro with a huge amount of money makes me nervous. I don't know why, it just does. Nothing can be done about it, the deal should get done. I also think he's a good shortstop who still has some rough edges that most players experience in the minors instead of for everybody to see.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

It makes you nervous because worst case scenario a 6/60 to Castro easily becomes an albatross contract. Worst case scenario is that after 1,700 plate appearances, the league has figured out how to pitch him so his contact rate drops, he'll never be an elite defender, and he's actually a 25 year old named Juan Placencio. The odds of this scenario happening is like 7% with a Cubbery factor of 56.2%.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If it's anywhere close to 6/60, I have no heartburn over that. When you consider Altcantara, Baez, M. Hernandez, and Amaya in the pipeline, Theo must feel one of them could replace Castro if he burns out on Chicago nightlife. And if he stays, he's as likely to play 2B as stay at SS.

Pierce Johnson tonight for Boise: 1ip 3 strikeouts (and a BB). Baby steps!!

Saw this in the CCO posts by one of their writers (Neil)... Ryan Searle promoted from Daytona to Iowa, Frankie De La Cruz released from Iowa. DLC supposedly will go to a Taiwan team.

Late-season milestones: Rohan drove in his 100th run last night; Bour has 105; Andreoli with 50 SBs.

dumpster on the restricted list for "personal reasons" ...what a crap deal it's turning out to be for TEX.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

The Cubs should sign old' #22 to a one day contract so he can retire as a Cub in the same year as KW. Putting some serious finality to 2003. Alex Brown, Chicago Bear...approved this message.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I hope that next year at the park there's a day to mark the 10-year anniversary of that fun little run. I hope Prior chooses to attend. And I hope that it's the beginning of the team's eventual re-embrace of Sosa, which should have began a year or two ago anyways.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

I dunno about ole' Sammy. I'm still feeling kind of icky inside when I think about him. It's not that I feel only one way about him -- I'm conflicted -- but still feel icky.

Rockies win, Cubs only 1/2 game behind in the chase for the #2, 2013 draft pick.

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.