Can Ballesteros be an MLB catcher? He’s very chonky—looks more like a 1B/DH. Very Prince Fielder-ish physique.
*******Official Cubs 2025 Thread*******
- Thread starter hawkifann
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I believe he has worked hard and got under 200 last year so far from Kruk territory now but hard to fathom him being a starting catcher for 100+ games a year.
Our long national nightmare is over my friends. Pitchers and catchers reported and hit the fields today for some workouts.
I’ll be pretty surprised if it’s not Shota vs. Yoshinobu in the opener
HawkeyeHitman with a "Japs" remark in 3...2...1...
IF Amaya’s improved hitting persists this season the Cubs will have quietly turned a question mark position into a top 10 in the league tandem. Both work well with pitchers, true Amaya must get better throwing out runners, but he’s a worker
Who?
A shocking abrogation by the mods to refuse to clean that up.
So, among Brujan, Workman and Canario, are any of them left in the organization on Opening Day?
Brujan and Canario don't have options, and Workman can't be optioned without being offered back to the Tigers first.
The only way all of them are still here is if Nico opens the season on the 15-day IL (likely), the Cubs don't acquire another infielder (possible) and Shaw is not brought up (unlikely).
If the Cubs actually signed Bregman or Turner, then they might all be gone. I don't think Brujan or Canario clear waivers, although it's possible the Tigers would let the Cubs keep Workman (especially if the Tigers are the team that gets Bregman).
I'd like to think that they'll figure out how to keep Canario, even though Brujan has more Major League experience. Brujan can play IF and OF, but I don't think the Cubs are hurting for IF depth, and Canario is a viable backup option to PCA in CF. Plus, I'm pretty sure AC will be a higher quality bat. But then again, Brujan could be the only potential left-handed bat off the bench....
I know this roster crunch thing is something all teams deal with, but I hate losing young guys before they even have a chance to prove themselves....
Brujan and Canario don't have options, and Workman can't be optioned without being offered back to the Tigers first.
The only way all of them are still here is if Nico opens the season on the 15-day IL (likely), the Cubs don't acquire another infielder (possible) and Shaw is not brought up (unlikely).
If the Cubs actually signed Bregman or Turner, then they might all be gone. I don't think Brujan or Canario clear waivers, although it's possible the Tigers would let the Cubs keep Workman (especially if the Tigers are the team that gets Bregman).
I'd like to think that they'll figure out how to keep Canario, even though Brujan has more Major League experience. Brujan can play IF and OF, but I don't think the Cubs are hurting for IF depth, and Canario is a viable backup option to PCA in CF. Plus, I'm pretty sure AC will be a higher quality bat. But then again, Brujan could be the only potential left-handed bat off the bench....
I know this roster crunch thing is something all teams deal with, but I hate losing young guys before they even have a chance to prove themselves....
Welp, so much for improving on our pitching staff's health this season. Assad and Birdsell already hurt...
www.marqueesportsnetwork.com
A pair of young Cubs pitchers are opening camp with injuries | Chicago Cubs News
Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced on Monday that right-handed pitchers Javier Assad and Brandon Birdsell suffered injuries as camp began.
www.marqueesportsnetwork.com
I’ll be shocked if Brujan makes the opening day roster. I think he’s on a short rope in spring training. Just too redundant with Shaw, Nico, Workman, Triantos, Cowles and even Nicky Lopez. I’ll be just as surprised if Workman doesn’t stick (unless he has a terrible spring). Cubs RARELY take Rule 5 position players, so I think they really see something in him and will give him at least a couple months into the regular season.
Canario is the big question for me - I’d love to see him be the 4th/5th OF (he’s played CF in the minors, so could give PCA a day off here and there) and you’re right, he wouldn’t clear waivers. It’s really going to be tight. Bregman likely pushes out Canario or Workman. If no Bregman, then Shaw starts at 3B and you can have C, Berti, Workman & Canario. Justin Turner would push someone out, quite possibly Canario.
If Nico is on IL to start the year, then you can keep all of Berti, Workman and Canario, at least for a little bit.
That’s pitching in 2025. This is why they added depth, depth and more depth. Glad it was identified and addressed quickly. If it winds up being a 6-week thing, I’d rather start it Feb 10 than April 1.Welp, so much for improving on our pitching staff's health this season. Assad and Birdsell already hurt...
A pair of young Cubs pitchers are opening camp with injuries | Chicago Cubs News
Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced on Monday that right-handed pitchers Javier Assad and Brandon Birdsell suffered injuries as camp began.
The Justin Turner rumors are very “meh”, to me. I doubt he gives you anything more than Berti at this point of his career.
Listening to Bruce Levine on 670 this morning he suggested the Cubs are a hard no on anything past 3 years for Bregman, and it’s basically the Cubs and Ref Sox. The Astros appear to have moved on, and Levine seems to think, or have been whispered to, that Bregman wants Chicago or Boston. Not Detroit or Toronto.
Listening to Bruce Levine on 670 this morning he suggested the Cubs are a hard no on anything past 3 years for Bregman, and it’s basically the Cubs and Ref Sox. The Astros appear to have moved on, and Levine seems to think, or have been whispered to, that Bregman wants Chicago or Boston. Not Detroit or Toronto.
I don’t hate Turner as a bench bat. He’s not much with the glove at this point, though maybe he could give Busch some days off at 1B. ZiPS projects Turner at a 112 wRC+ and Steamer has him at 106, so there’s still reason to expect an above average bat as long as not over-used.
Welp, so much for improving on our pitching staff's health this season. Assad and Birdsell already hurt...
A pair of young Cubs pitchers are opening camp with injuries | Chicago Cubs News
Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced on Monday that right-handed pitchers Javier Assad and Brandon Birdsell suffered injuries as camp began.
Why can’t we have nice things?
