Veteran catcher David Ross told Nick Cafardo he will honor the final year of his contract and return to the Cubs next season.
David Ross signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Cubs last off-season. Ross will make $2.25 million next year in what could be his last season as a player. Many in the game think Ross will be a coach and then eventually a manager in the big leagues.
“It was a great ride. It’s more sad we didn’t play well and the Mets played great. A lot of positives as I look back, but I thought we had a chance at the World Series,” Ross said in the Boston Globe. “I really wanted to get Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta another start.
David Ross helped turn the Cubs clubhouse around and was one of the leaders of the 2015 Cubs. Joe Maddon said throughout the season that Ross meant more to the Cubs than his batting average.
Ross turns 39 in March and had another good year behind the plate. Offensively, Ross batted .176/.267/.252 with nine doubles and a home run. Ross pitched for the first time in his career. Ross appeared in two games and retired all six batters he faced.
David Ross should help Kyle Schwarber with his development next season, catch Jon Lester every five days and continue to be a leader for what will still be a young team.
Carl Edwards Jr.
According to the Tribune, Carl Edwards Jr. could fill the spot in the Cubs pen next season that will be vacated by Tommy Hunter, who is expected to leave via free agency. Hunter struggled after the trade from the Orioles. He was not on the post-season rosters and would not mind returning to Baltimore.
Hunter appeared in 19 games for the Cubs and was 2-0 with a 5.74 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.
Carl Edwards Jr. made his big league debut this past season. The one-time top pitching prospect was a starter leading up to this year. The Cubs caught most off guard when he was moved to Double-A Tennessee’s bullpen to start the season instead of in the rotation. Edwards Jr. performed well with the Smokies and was bumped up to Iowa before a September call-up landed him in The Show.
It was believed in April, the Cubs were not only creating an option for the big league bullpen later in the season but shifting him to the bullpen allowed his innings to be monitored and increased slightly from the 53 2/3 innings he completed in 2014.
Edwards Jr. was a combined 5-3 in 36 games for Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa with a 2.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Edwards Jr. allowed 23 runs, 17 earned, on 26 hits with 41 walks and 75 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. Edwards picked up 4 2/3 innings in the majors and finished with exactly 60 innings for the season.
Multiple reports have suggested Carl Edwards Jr. would return to a starting role after this season. Based on the report from the Tribune, that does not appear to be the case and Edwards Jr. will be an option for Joe Maddon’s bullpen next year.
News, Notes and Rumors
• Addison Russell made his presence felt during rookie year with the Cubs according to a report from Comcast SportsNet.
• Bud Black is the leading candidate to be the next manager of the Washington Nationals according to Jim Bowden. Black could be offered the job as soon as Monday. Dusty Baker is the only other candidate for the job.
• According to Paul Sullivan, shoring up pitching and locking up Theo Epstein should be Cubs’ priorities.
• Now the first wave of prospects is at the big league level, according to Gordon Wittenmyer more are on way for the Cubs.
• The Sun-Times reported to expect arms race for Cubs in the hunt for more Octobers.
• The Cubs are weighing options in center field beyond Dexter Fowler according to a report from Comcast SportsNet.
• ESPN Chicago posted five Cubs storylines to follow this off-season.
This Day In Cubstory
2012 – Cubs granted free agency to Manny Corpas
2012 – Royals claimed Chris Volstad off waivers from the Cubs
2011 – Cubs officially named Jed Hoyer Executive Vice President and General Manager
2011 – Cubs officially named Jason McLeod Senior Vice President of Player Development and Amateur Scouting
2008 – Aramis Ramirez won the Hank Aaron Award for being the top offensive player in the National League
2003 – Cubs granted free agency to Doug Glanville
2001 – Cubs released Jose Fernandez
1994 – Cubs granted free agency to Chuck Crim
1992 – Cubs granted free agency to Greg Maddux and Dave Smith
1990 – Cubs granted free agency to Curt Wilkerson
1978 – Cubs released Rudy Meoli
1951 – Steve Ontiveros, born
1934 – Cubs traded Pat Malone and cash to the Cardinals for Ken O’Dea