Roster Watch and Offseason Notes

[Rice Cube]

Muskat:

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2012/11/20/1120-decision-day/

Today is the deadline for Major League teams to file their reserve lists and set their 40-man rosters prior to the Rule 5 Draft, which will be held Dec. 6. The Cubs’ 40-man roster is at 39.

Players who have been in the Cubs’ Minor League system for four years and were 19 years old or older on June 5 the year they were drafted are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. If a player was 18 or younger on June 5 of his Draft year, that player becomes eligible after five years.

Among the names of players who could be selected are Logan Watkins and Nick Struck, who were picked as the Cubs’ Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, in 2012. Here’s a list of Cubs prospects eligible for Rule 5 Draft. We’ll update later when the team announces any changes to the roster:

Jeffry Antigua, Frank Batista, Jason Berken, Justin Bour, Michael Brenly, Michael Burgess, Kyler Burke, David Cales, Esmailin Caridad, Marcelo Carreno, Matt Cerda, Hunter Cervenka, Evan Crawford, Willengton Cruz, Michael de la Cruz, Antonio Encarnacion, Carlos Figueroa, Eduardo Figueroa, Marcus Hatley, Ty’Relle Harris, Jay Jackson, Alvido Jimenez, Austin Kirk, Luis Liria, Jeff Lorick, Marcos Mateo, Edwin Maysonet, Trey McNutt, Pedro Medina, Jose Montesino, A.J. Morris, Jonathon Mota, Felix Pena, Starling Peralta, Nelson Perez, Dae-Eun Rhee, Greg Rohan, Jose Rosario, Zac Rosscup, Julio Sanchez, Brian Schlitter, Ryan Searle, Matt Spencer, Nick Struck, Larry Suarez, Francisco Turbi, Christian Villanueva, Brett Wallach, Logan Watkins, Casey Weathers, Rob Whitenack, Ty Wright.

 

[MRubio52]

LaHair got DFA'd, likely to play in Japan.

 

[Rice Cube]

Yeah, I just started a new thread. Looks like they're leaving Nick Struck unprotected.

 

[Rice Cube]

Roster watch before the end-of-month non-tender deadline:

Pitchers
Scott Baker
Jeff Beliveau
Michael Bowden
Alberto Cabrera
Shawn Camp
Lendy Castillo
Jaye Chapman
Casey Coleman
Gerardo Concepcion
Rafael Dolis
Matt Garza
Carlos Marmol
Trey McNutt
Zach Putnam
Brooks Raley
Chris Rusin
James Russell
Jeff Samardzija
Arodys Vizcaino
Robert Whitenack
Travis Wood

Catchers
Welington Castillo
Steve Clevenger
Dioner Navarro

Infielders
Darwin Barney
Starlin Castro
Junior Lake
Anthony Rizzo
Ian Stewart
Luis Valbuena
Christian Villanueva
Josh Vitters
Logan Watkins

Outfielders
Tony Campana
David DeJesus
Brett Jackson
Dave Sappelt
Jorge Soler
Alfonso Soriano
Matt Szczur

 

[Rice Cube]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/cubs-sign-brian-bogusevic.html

The Cubs signed outfielder Brian Bogusevic to a minor league contract, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports (on Twitter). The Cubs also signed infielder Alberto Gonzalez, right fielder Johermyn Chavez and catcher J.C. Boscan, according to Eddy.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#wJlQ2df8ApQR7QYL.99

 

[dabynsky]

I kind of like nabbing these guys on minor league deals. Bogusevic has done some damage against the Cubs in the past, and he could push Sappelt for that 4th/5th OF spot. More than likely these are just bodies for AAA, but we might get a surprise or two.

 

[Rice Cube]

Didn't feel like starting a new thread, but remember Bobby Scales? He's an Angels employee now.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sport...pton-bogar-20121109,0,2459319.story?track=rss

 

[MRubio52]

Didn't feel like starting a new thread, but remember Bobby Scales? He's an Angels employee now.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sport...pton-bogar-20121109,0,2459319.story?track=rss

Good for him. He seemed like a good guy.

 

[Rice Cube]

Bruce Levine ‏@ESPNBruceLevine
Chicago Cubs hire Rob Deer as Asst hitting coach.

No idea who this guy is.

 

[Rice Cube]

I assume it's this guy:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/deerro01.shtml

Lots of strikeouts, lots of power, OBP consistently 100 points higher than average. If nothing else he probably can teach a patient approach even if everyone fans seven times a game :lol:

 

[MRubio52]

I assume it's this guy:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/deerro01.shtml

Lots of strikeouts, lots of power, OBP consistently 100 points higher than average. If nothing else he probably can teach a patient approach even if everyone fans seven times a game :lol:

Yeah that guy. I sent this via ChatBox but this website is delicious. @ProductiveOuts on twitter is killing it:

http://vizubat.com/

 

[Rice Cube]

I suppose I should wonder if this was a good hire or a bad hire then :lol:

 

[MRubio52]

I suppose I should wonder if this was a good hire or a bad hire then :lol:

The more I hear him talk the more I don't think it was a good hire, but I'll evaluate during the season.

 

[Rice Cube]

Well, he did create that awesome batting tool :lol:

I think the power and the OBP-minus-AVG split is probably what they were looking at. Pitch selection. Maybe the head hitting coach will deal with contact issues.

 

[Rice Cube]

Brett seems to agree:

http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/11/26/cubs-reportedly-hire-rob-deer-as-assistant-hitting-coach/

He didn't diss the Vizubat too much though

 

[brett05]

Wow, Rob Deer as a hitting coach. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that. It's like making Adam Dunn a hitting instructor.

 

[MRubio52]

Brett seems to agree:

http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/11/26/cubs-reportedly-hire-rob-deer-as-assistant-hitting-coach/

He didn't diss the Vizubat too much though

Internet commenters always give me a sad.

 

[Rice Cube]

Internet commenters always give me a sad.

Why do you think I usually skip through the comments?

The guy who says Deer is more like Russell Branyan than Dunn is probably right though. Not as much power, but Deer walked a bunch and did damage when he made contact. I think that kind of approach could work in the player's favor. As I said before, someone else can deal with the contact issues.

 

[Rice Cube]

Quick look at non-tender decisions. Most of these are no-brainers, but the interesting thing is what they plan to do with Ian Stewart...

http://worldseriesdreaming.com/2012/11/26/in-advance-of-the-non-tender-deadline/

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

you knew it was coming