I tend to agree, especially on Chapman. He has previously worn out his welcome.
I’m with Lucas. no thanks to both. I’d definitely go Kimbrel before Chapman, but I’d take Robertson back over both if we’re talking about re-runs. There are plenty of arms out there that could fill the bill.
Robertson who is off the playoff roster for a celebration injury? I’d kick the tires.
He never got above South Bend. That’s going to be one of the tough calls. Has MLB cracked down on teams that claim and stash prospects? I know the Cubs did it a few years ago. Claim a guy then hide him with an injury for awhile.
He’s definitely in the margins, but I think he’sa guy someone would stash, to whatever extent they can get away with it.
We can quibble on this one, but the overall reality is that the organization actually has lots of tough decisions to make regarding the 40 man roster, and will lose some decent guys this year.
That’s very true. Davis, Alcantara and Brown are non-negotiable to me. After that it gets tough when you figure guys on the 40-man that might have to go to make space.
I think he’ll make it through the roster crunch. There are other guys I’d lose first. As it stands now, the Cubs have 47 guys on the 40-man. Miley and Contreras go away once the WS is over (unless Willson accepts the QO). Heyward goes away. I’m sure Alexander Vizcaino goes away since he never reported. I think Brault, Mills, Weick, Quiroz, Ortega get DFA/non-tendered. That’s 9 and there could be more. I think Weick would likely make it through waivers and the Cubs could sign him back and they might even try the same with Marquez. If they do that with Marquez, that’s 10 and they’re down to 37. I don’t think David Bote is safe and someone from Espinoza, Leiter, Uelmen go. Not sure if they’ve decided on Franmil, either. Rivas is at risk.
Triantos has apparently made big impressions with his bat, which is great.
I think that’s correct, but the two sides could agree to a lower contract or the Cubs could non-tender him and then also re-sign him as a FA for a smaller contract full of incentives/option targets after the Rule 5.
Not sure what "crack down" means, unless MLB has not been enforcing its own rules. A player taken in the R5D needs to be on the active roster the entire season following the draft (i.e. cannot be optioned or outrighted). If he ends up on the IL, the team can only keep him if he is active for 90 days, which can spill over into the next season.
I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong lots. I doubt it happens much. But, I seem to recall the Cubs claiming someone and stashing him during the 2012-2014 period. Pretty sure he spent awhile on the IL and everyone knew it was a sham. They had him working on stuff in Arizona, and he would up pitching pretty well in the majors. Not every player has a powerful agent. Not every player is a huge prospect. This may have been seen as a quicker pathway to the majors versus being in an organization where he was blocked. I want to say it was Hector Rondon?
I think it was Hector Rondon.
I don't think Rondon spent any time on the IL in 2013 after getting taken by the Cubs in Nov 2012. He was used sparingly with rather poor results, then spent the next offseason in Winter Ball, after which he became much more effective. Wasn't a bad deal for him or the Cubs (not so great for Cleveland
).This sounds like more of a typical "sham" that we've seen. I guess nothing wrong with collecting a Major League salary despite spending most of your time on rehab assignment. I suppose teams can get away with it as long as the player's agent and the team that lost the prospect allows them to.
It was one of the first few games he pitched for the Cubs after a May call up in 1976, he was called in to save a 1 run lead at Pittsburgh one night. Pittsburgh had some great hitters at the time in Al Oliver, Willie Stargell, Richie Hebner, Manny Sanguillen, Richie Zisk, and many others. My dad and I were watching the game and Bruce gave up 3 long, warning track fly balls to retire the side in order in the 9th for his first save. I sarcastically said to my dad that, "Well, we have found our closer," more so in a relieved way that none of the balls left the park. Little did I know he was going to turn out like he did.
Yes, I think that's what them be this year. The Qualifying offer each year is determined by averaging the top 125 salaries in baseball.
I love the pic of him and Ryno together in the Cubs jerseys!
Sutter was a good Cub, but he helped to make Ryno a star. I’ll always be thankful to Sutter for his role in making Ryno my favorite Cub.
I would judge based on spring training, but I would also build the roster in such a way that Mervis playing 1B isn’t critical. Give him space to fail and still recover. If he tears up spring training, maybe he does start in Chicago, but if he’s hitting a buck forty five in May, let him go back down and make the necessary adjustments…..and if he doesn’t kill it in spring training, don’t force it and let him start in AAA.
I don’t hate it. Would probably be a 2 year deal with maybe an option. He can hit and that contract wouldn’t block Mervis long-term. Mervis could even be up and contributing next year, but without the pressure of being forced into that role.
