Roster Watch and Offseason Notes

[waldo7239117]

I don't hate the Jackson and signing and I think he'll surprise a lot of people. I think he'll be effective this year. He's technically only makeing 11 million a year, so that's not that bad.

 

[Rice Cube]

Cubs not pursuing Yuni:

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/31/the-cubs-are-out-on-yuniesky-betancourt/

 

[Rice Cube]

Muskat's 2012 notes:

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2012/12/31/1231-one-more-look-back-at-2012/

 

[Rice Cube]

Edwin Jackson added to roster. Roster's full:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=chc

One more spot to clear up assuming the Cubs still wanted to sign Carlos Villanueva and that he passed his physical.

 

[Rice Cube]

Based on comments Epstein made on WEEI's Hot Stove Show (audio link), it doesn't sound like the Cubs will be targeting impact players like Michael Bourn, Rafael Soriano, Kyle Lohse, and Adam LaRoche since they are tied to draft pick compensation. Epstein explained that the changes to the draft and international spending mean that high draft picks are more valuable than ever, writes Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#ebM2J0WlIOmQC4lS.99

Oh thank goodness.

 

[Rice Cube]

Blast from the past!

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/01/cubs-sign-dontrelle-willis.html

D-TRAIN!!!!! :woot:

 

[Rice Cube]

BN today, re: the need to free up a spot for Villanueva:

That means it’s time for another round of 40-man roster watching – a quick look shows that Lendy Castillo, Steve Clevenger, and Tony Campana (maybe Brooks Raley or Chris Rusin) are probably the leading candidates for bouncing, though Castillo might be the only one the Cubs wouldn’t lose if they waived.

 

[Rice Cube]

Luis Valbuena ---> $930K to avoid arbitration

:woot:

 

[waldo7239117]

The Chicago Cubs announced today that they have avoided arbitration with infielder Luis Valbuena. If he makes the team out of spring training, he'll earn 930,000 for the season. However, if he does not make the team out of spring training, the Cubs don't have to pay him anything.

Valbuena came over from the Cleveland Indians days before the start of the 2012 season. He was designated for assignment by them. Valbuena started in Triple A and was eventually called up to the majors. He took most of the playing at 3B when Ian Stewart went down with an injury.

I expect the Cubs to platoon Stewart and Valbuena at the hot corner. Both players have non-guarantee contracts, but I expect both players to make the team out of spring training and their contracts to become guaranteed.

The Cubs still have 3 players that are arbitration elgible and don't have a deal yet ... SP Matt Garza, SP Jeff Samardzija and RP James Russell.
The Cubs also announce 16 players whom received a spring training invitation (more are expected to come out at a later date.)

*Ex-White Sox IF Brett Lillibridge
*Ex-Houston Astro OF Brian Bogusevic
*Ex-Atlanta Brave C J.C. Boscan
*Ex-Seattle Mariner OF Johermyn Chavez
*Ex-Texas Ranger IF Alberto Gonzalez
*Ex-Cleveland Indian P Jensen Lewis
*Ex-Milwaukee Brewers IF Edwin Maysonet
*Ex-New York Yankee OF Darnell McDonald
*Ex-Milwaukee Brewer IF/OF Brad Nelson
*Ex-Pittsburgh Pirate P Hisanori Takahashi
*Ex-New York Yankee P Cory Wade
*P Jaye Chapman
*P Blake Parker
*P Andrew Carpenter
*P Dayan Diaz
*P Zack Putnam

**In my honest opinion, I think only pitchers Jaye Chapman and Cory Wade have a chance to make the team out of spring training. Chapman impressed me a lot last year as a September call-up. Everyone else I think is for depth in the minors and an injury insurance policy for players in the majors.

http://www.chicitysports.com/2013/0...h-luis-valbuena-and-spring-training-invitees/

 

[dabynsky]

Cubs signed Brent Lillibridge and Darnell McDonald to minor league deals with invites to spring training according to Bleacher Nation. It is included in Waldo's post but I wanted the excuse to post this:
[video=youtube;aaMwZK-VddM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaMwZK-VddM[/video]

 

[MRubio52]

Cubs signed Brent Lillibridge and Darnell McDonald to minor league deals with invites to spring training according to Bleacher Nation. It is included in Waldo's post but I wanted the excuse to post this:
[video=youtube;aaMwZK-VddM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaMwZK-VddM[/video]

I loved, and still love, this video.

 

[dabynsky]

I loved, and still love, this video.

It is perfect the reaction to having a favorite player traded for the first time in one's life.

 

[waldo7239117]

I saw this somewhere I think, but it's unlikely. What if the Cubs work out a 3-team trade for Stanton. Something like this:

Cubs get:
Stanton

Rangers get
Garza (if healthy)
Maybe Marmol/Lake

Marlins get:
Olt
Perez
Baez
Szcur

That would be 3 top 3 prospects. A 1,2,3. I know this won't happen, but could make the Marlins strongly considered.

 

[waldo7239117]

Boston Globe: The Cubs seek a player of note in return for Soriano. Whatever that means...

 

[Rice Cube]

I saw this somewhere I think, but it's unlikely. What if the Cubs work out a 3-team trade for Stanton. Something like this:

Cubs get:
Stanton

Rangers get
Garza (if healthy)
Maybe Marmol/Lake

Marlins get:
Olt
Perez
Baez
Szcur

That would be 3 top 3 prospects. A 1,2,3. I know this won't happen, but could make the Marlins strongly considered.

Why would the Rangers want any part of this?

 

[Rice Cube]

Boston Globe: The Cubs seek a player of note in return for Soriano. Whatever that means...

The context was:

Cubs President Theo Epstein has come to realize Alfonso Soriano is an excellent clubhouse presence because of his willingness to help younger players. With that and his excellent 2012 season, Epstein wants a player of note in any deal where the Cubs eat a majority of the $36MM left on Soriano's contract.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#wSj4ooStMEumbP2O.99

It sounds like you're not only having to replace the bat but also the leadership and personality. So that does have some value to the Cubs, even if it's an albatross of a contract. If you throw in money you expect at least a useful piece back, though you don't necessarily bank on the next Giancarlo Stanton.

 

[waldo7239117]

Why would the Rangers want any part of this?

They were gunna offer Perez and Olt for Garza in July before he got injured. I know Garza's price has gone down because it's only 1 year now, but teams overpay all the time. If Garza shows to be healthy, he'll likely to be gone during spring training. So, that's a full year. That's why.

 

[Rice Cube]

They were gunna offer Perez and Olt for Garza in July before he got injured. I know Garza's price has gone down because it's only 1 year now, but teams overpay all the time. If Garza shows to be healthy, he'll likely to be gone during spring training. So, that's a full year. That's why.

I don't know how "likely" it will be, but even if we were to assume that the Rangers played ball, I think the Marlins would want more for four years of Stanton. Just a hunch though.

 

[waldo7239117]

I don't know how "likely" it will be, but even if we were to assume that the Rangers played ball, I think the Marlins would want more for four years of Stanton. Just a hunch though.

Maybe, but that's a great offer and I doubt any offer will beat that. That's why I just can't see Stanton going anywhere.

 

[waldo7239117]

The context was:



It sounds like you're not only having to replace the bat but also the leadership and personality. So that does have some value to the Cubs, even if it's an albatross of a contract. If you throw in money you expect at least a useful piece back, though you don't necessarily bank on the next Giancarlo Stanton.

That sounds like David DeJesus to me.