WINTER LEAGUE REPORT: TRANSACTIONS AS OF NOV. 14
The Chicago Cubs are World Series Champions! It's a sentence many have been waiting a lifetime to say and Cubs fans will be celebrating all the way through the off-season.
While the fans celebrate, baseball executives - including Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, and the Cubs baseball operations staff - are already hard at work thinking about ways to improve their rosters for next season. Each week at iowacubs.com, we'll take a look around baseball at transactions impacting the Chicago Cubs, their minor league system, and former Iowa Cubs players looking for opportunities in other organizations.
CHICAGO CUBS NEWS
While a great majority of the players that helped lead Chicago to the World Series this year will be back in blue next season, there will be roster changes. Dexter Fowler became a free agent on November 5th. The Cubs did extend him a qualifying offer (one-year deal for $17.2 million) and today (November 14) is the deadline to accept that offer. If he declines, it doesn't mean the Cubs can't negotiate a different contract with him. Fowler is seeking a multi-year deal, so the terms of the qualifying offer aren't ideal. If Fowler declines the offer and chooses to sign with another club, the Cubs will receive a draft pick as compensation.
The other free agents that didn't receive qualifying offers are: Trevor Cahill, Aroldis Chapman, Chris Coghlan, David Ross, and Travis Wood. Ross, of course, announced his retirement and has been busy on the talk show circuit as a fan favorite from this year's team.
There was a club option for 2017 in pitcher Jason Hammel's contract that would have returned him to the Cubs at a "team friendly" price, but in keeping with a pledge Epstein made to Hammel two years ago, the Cubs front office didn't pick up that option. Coming off arguably the best season of his Major League career, Hammel appears to be in a good position to secure a pretty lucrative contract in what is considered a thin free agent market.
The Cubs claimed RHP Connor Mullee off waivers from the New York Yankees on November 2. Mullee appeared in three games for New York this year, but spent most of the season at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre where he was 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA (4ER/36.1IP) in 25 appearances. He converted six of seven save opportunities and struck out 45 while walking 11 and allowing just one home run. He went on New York's 60-day DL in August with "carpal tunnel syndrome-like symptoms" according to MLB.com.
RHP Aaron Brooks, LHP Zac Rosscup, and 3B Christian Villanueva were activated from the 60-day disabled list and remain on the Cubs' 40-man roster. Brooks (hip contusion) appeared in five games (four starts) with Iowa on a rehab assignment, but was never activated during the season. Rosscup had surgery on his left shoulder in May and didn't pitch this year. Villanueva broke his leg early in spring training and missed the entire season. He is currently playing winter ball in Mexico.
RHP Dallas Beeler also spent the entire season on the 60-day DL and had a brief rehab stint with Iowa, going 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA (4ER/8.2IP) in eight games in June. The Cubs also activated him and sent him outright to Iowa. LHP Andury Acevedo and C Tim Federowicz were also outrighted off the 40-man roster to Iowa. Acevedo and Federowicz are both minor league free agents.
On October 22, the Cubs designated LHP Giovanni Soto for assignment to open a roster spot for Kyle Schwarber to be activated for the World Series. The Oakland A's claimed Soto off waivers on October 26, but then designated him again before he was claimed by the Chicago White Sox on November 7. Soto joined the Cubs last April on a waiver claim from the Cleveland Indians and spent the entire season in Iowa, posting a 1-3 record and a 5.14 ERA (28ER/49IP) in 33 relief appearances.
The Cubs selected the contract of RHP Jose Rosario, adding him to their 40-man roster. Rosario made a successful return from Tommy John surgery that kept him out for the entire 2015 season. In 2016, he combined to go 1-2 with a 2.50 ERA (15ER/54IP) while converting all 14 of his save opportunities between high-A Myrtle Beach, double-A Tennessee, and Iowa. He struck out 47, walked 17, and allowed just one home run. He was 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA (7ER/21.1IP) and five saves in 22 games with Iowa to finish the year. He joins his cousin, INF Jeimer Candelario, on Chicago's 40-man roster.
According to Baseball America, the Cubs re-signed RHP Nick Sarianides and C Gioskar Amaya on minor league deals. Sarianides began last season at double-A Mobile in the Diamondbacks' organization, but was released on May 5. The Cubs signed him on May 11, and after a stint in extended spring, assigned him to Tennessee where he was 3-3 with a 3.60 ERA (10ER/25IP) in 22 appearances. Amaya, an I-Cub for one game in 2012, combined to hit .215 (59-for-274) with six home runs and 25 RBI in 88 games between Myrtle Beach and Tennessee this year.
Baseball America lists the following players from the Cubs' organization as minor league free agents:
RHP Frank Batista, Cole Brocker, Aaron Crow, Stephen Fife, Miguel Mejia, Starling Peralta, and Drew Rucinski; LHP Scott Barnes, Brian Matusz, and Joe Thatcher; C David Freitas; INF Kristopher Negron and Logan Watkins; and OF Lane Adams, Kelly Dugan, Ryan Kalish, Matt Murton, and Juan Perez.
During the final weekend of the regular season, Thatcher was telling teammates and staff that he planned on retiring. That isn't official until a player files "Voluntarily Retired" papers with the Commissioner's Office. There is always a market for veteran left-handed relief specialists, so time will tell if Thatcher will be in a spring training camp when March rolls around. Kalish had another knee surgery during the summer (his 10th career surgery) and said he was eyeing a possible return in 2018 if his rehab went well. We wish him all the best!
MAJOR LEAGUE NEWS
The following former Iowa Cubs became big league free agents after the World Series was over. Their 2016 club and year(s) with Iowa are in parentheses after their name:
SS Andres Blanco (Phillies, 2008), INF Emilio Bonifacio (Braves, 2015), OF Julio Borbon (Orioles, 2013), RHP Andrew Cashner (Marlins, 2010-11), OF Sam Fuld (A's, 2007-10), RHP Gonzalez Germen (Rockies, 2015), LHP Rich Hill (Dodgers, 2005-06, '08), 3B Casey McGehee (Tigers, 2006-08), RHP Joe Nathan (Giants, 2016), OF Angel Pagan (Giants, 2006-07), LHP Clayton Richard (Padres, 2015-16), LHP James Russell (Phillies, 2009-10, '15), C Geovany Soto (Angels, 2005-07, '12), INF Luis Valbuena (Astros, 2012), and RHP Jerome Williams (Cardinals, 2005-06).
Hill holds Iowa's records for best season ERA and WHIP for a pitcher with at least 100IP after posting a 1.80 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 2006. He is Iowa's career WHIP leader at 1.05 and is third on the franchise's career ERA list at 2.97. Soto was the PCL MVP for Iowa in 2007 and the NL Rookie of the Year in 2008.
The following former I-Cubs were outrighted off the 40-man roster of another organization following the World Series and are free agents:
C Steve Clevenger (Mariners, 2009, '11-13), RHP Jim Henderson (Mets, 2007-08), C Blake Lalli (Braves, 2012), C Rafael Lopez (Reds, 2014-15), RHP Donn Roach (A's, 2015), RHP Ben Rowen (Brewers, 2015), and OF Justin Ruggiano (Mets, 2014). Lalli has already re-signed with the Braves on a minor league deal. Roach has signed with the KT Wiz in Korea.
Other former I-Cubs in the news:
The Angels claimed RHP Blake Parker (2008-15 with Iowa) off waivers from the Yankees. Parker is Iowa's all-time leader in saves (66) and appearances (194) and was named a PCL All-Star in 2014.
The Reds claimed INF Arismendy Alcantara (2014-16) off waivers from the A's. Alcantara is Iowa's career leader in triples and was a PCL All-Star in 2014 and '15. He was traded to the A's this past June when Chicago reacquired Coghlan.
The Rockies released RHP Brian Schlitter (2010, '13-15). Schlitter is second behind Parker on Iowa's career saves list with 59.
The Royals released J.C. Boscan (2013). The former catcher spent 2016 attempting to become a pitcher, but that experiment didn't work out. He will turn 37 in December.
RHP Josh Collmenter finished the minor league season with Iowa this year, but the Cubs didn't call him up in September. Instead, they traded him to the Braves on September 14th and he ended up making three starts for Atlanta to finish the season. He went 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA (5ER/19.0IP). The Braves avoided arbitration with Collmenter and signed him to a one-year deal for 2017. It appears he will have a chance to compete for a spot in their starting rotation for Opening Day next year.
According to Baseball America, the following former I-Cubs are all minor league free agents. Their 2016 organization and year(s) with Iowa are in parentheses following their name:
INF Angelo Amendolare (LA Angels, 2015), 1B Lars Anderson (LA Dodgers, 2014), RHP Mitch Atkins (Boston, 2008-10), OF Mike Baxter (Seattle, 2015), LHP Jeff Beliveau (Baltimore, 2012), RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (Texas, 2010-11), LHP Drake Britton (Detroit, 2015), OF Tony Campana (Chicago White Sox, 2011-12), C Luke Carlin (Cleveland, 2015), RHP Jaye Chapman (Tampa Bay, 2012-13), RHP Casey Colemen (Tampa Bay, 2010-14), LHP Neal Cotts (Texas, 2007-09), INF Jake Fox (Philadelphia, 2007-09), LHP Eric Jokisch (Texas, 2014-16), OF Junior Lake (Toronto, 2013-15), RHP Jean Machi (San Francisco, 2016), INF Mike Olt (San Diego, 2013-15), RHP Carlos Pimentel (San Diego, 2014-15), RHP Neil Ramirez (Minnesota, 2014-15), INF Elliot Soto (Miami, 2014), RHP Chris Volstad (Chicago White Sox, 2012), and INF Sutton Whiting (Miami, 2016).
In coaching news, the Chicago Cubs have not announced minor league field staffs and coordinators for 2017 yet, but the Detroit Tigers announced that their staff at Triple-A Toledo would include Hitting Coach Brian Harper. Harper has been the hitting coach with Iowa the last four seasons. He will replace former Cub Leon "Bull" Durham in Toledo as the Tigers promoted Durham to be the assistant hitting coach in the big leagues. The pitching coach in Toledo is former Chicago Cub, and Iowa Cub from 1987-90, Jeff Pico.
Be sure to check back frequently to iowacubs.com for more updates on player movement this off-season as well as updates on former I-Cubs and current Cubs prospects in action around Winter Ball throughout the off-season.