According to a report in the Daily Herald, the Cubs added three players to their 40-man roster a day before the November 20th deadline. Mitch Atkins, Justin Berg and Marcos Mateo. Atkins and Berg pitched for Triple-A Iowa last season while Mateo was with the Daytona Cubs in Class-A ball.
The Cubs 40-man roster now stands at 36 with the three additions.
Mitch Atkins (23) was the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2008. Last season he was a combined 17-7 with a 4.00 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 28 starts with the Tennessee Smokies and Iowa Cubs. Atkins was 9-6 with a 3.76 ERA in Double-A before his promotion. Atkins won his first 7 starts at Iowa and 12 in a row from June to August.
Justin Berg (24) was 4-9 with a 5.16 ERA in 32 games, 21 starts, in Double-A and Triple-A last season. Berg was acquired from the Yankees for Matt Lawton in 2005. Berg is pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Marcos Mateo (24) was 5-3 with a save and a 3.22 ERA in 33 games, 16 starts, for the Peoria Chiefs and Daytona Cubs last season. Mateo was acquired in the deal that sent Buck Coats to the Reds in 2007. Mateo is pitching in the Dominican Winter League.
Notably absent from the adds: Donald Veal. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if he was a Rule-5 pick. His control is suspect, but I can see a KC or Pittsburgh stashing him in the back of the bullpen.
I don't know why we wouldn't protect Veal, yet keep 40-man deadweight like Jake Fox and Sam Fuld around.
Keith....my thoughts exactly. I am surprised Fuld and Fox were left on and Veal was not added. There is still a day left, but it looks like those three moves would have been done.
I agree, keep Veal, dump Fox and Fuld.
Yeah, I don't get that either. Hendry makes a LOT of very puzzling moves with roster adds, etc.
I also would've thought he would at least add Kroeger. Kroeger has, by far, earned the add with his performance in winter ball and during the last 2 seasons.
Veal could be very useful in a trade, this just does not make sense to me one bit.
Who's this Atkins kid? Sounds really promising.