Topps released its 2015 MLB All-Star Rookie Team on Friday and this year’s team includes three Cubs and a former farmhand.
Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber were all named to the Topps Rookie Team. The Cubs have more players on the team than any other organization followed by the Mets and Marlins.
2015 Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team: C – J.T. Realmuto (Marlins), 1B – Justin Bour (Marlins), 2B – Addison Russell (Cubs), 3B – Kris Bryant (Cubs), SS – Carlos Correa (Astros), OF – Kyle Schwarber (Cubs), OF – Randal Grichuk (Cardinals), OF – Michael Conforto (Mets), LHP – Carlos Rodon (White Sox), RHP – Noah Syndergaard (Mets), RP – Roberto Osuna (Blue Jays), DH – Miguel Sano (Twins)
Esurance MLB Awards
The 2015 Esurance MLB Awards were announced Friday night and both Jake Arrieta and Kris Bryant received more accolades for their outstanding performances this past season.
Jake Arrieta received the awards for Best Starting Pitcher and Best Breakout Player. And Kris Bryant took home the Best Rookie Award. The Cubs also received an award for the Best Fan Catch.
Cubs 40-Man Roster
The Cubs added five players to the 40-man roster Friday, which now officially stands at 37 players.
RHP Spencer Patton was acquired from the Rangers for minor league infielder Frandy Delarosa and four of the organization’s top prospects had their contracts selected from Double-A Tennessee.
C Willson Contreras, 3B Jeimer Candelario, RHP Pierce Johnson and 1B Dan Vogelbach were placed on the 40-man roster prior to the Friday deadline.
Contreras, Candelario and Johnson were locks to be added to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. Vogelbach was a player that some thought the Cubs would leave exposed to the draft and add another player to the Major League roster instead.
- Cubs Add Contreras, Candelario, Johnson and Vogelbach to 40-Man Roster
- Cubs Acquire RHP Spencer Patton from the Rangers for INF Frandy Delarosa
- Report from Comcast SportsNet
Corey Black
Corey Black was not added to the 40-man roster Friday and was left unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft. It’s difficult to see a team not selecting Black in a couple of weeks.
Black had a rough year pitching as a reliever for the first time in his career. The Cubs moved Black to the bullpen and he had trouble throwing strikes. Black spent the entire season with Double-A Tennessee and pitched in 37 games, making nine starts before shifting to the pen. Black went 3-5 with a 5.65 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. Black gave up 54 hits with 47 walks and 101 strikeouts in 86 innings.
Black’s struggles that started in Spring Training continued in the Arizona Fall League. Black had little command, especially in the Fall Stars Game, and went 1-0 in eight relief appearances with an 11.42 ERA and 2.19 WHIP. Black gave up 12 hits with seven walks and only six strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings. Black has a dynamic arm with great stuff and a fastball that hits triple digits, but he struggles with his command. If Black can hit the reset button this off-season he could be a viable option in the backend of a Major League bullpen in 2016.
Corey Black tweeted Friday night, “There is always a plan. Time to get back on the grind after a couple of days off.”
Player Movement
There was a lot of player movement throughout the league Friday leading up to the deadline for teams to set their reserve rosters at the Major and Minor League levels. Here are just a few of the moves that were made, several include former Cubs.
• The Blue Jays acquired Jesse Chavez and sent one-time Cubs RHP Liam Hendriks to Oakland.
• The Braves traded OF Cameron Maybin and cash to the Tigers for LHP Ian Krol and LHP Gabe Speier.
• The Red Sox added INF Marco Hernandez, RHP Pat Light and LHP Williams Jerez to the 40-man roster. Hernandez was the PTBNL in the deal with the Cubs for LHP Felix Doubront last year. RHP Anthony Varvaro was outrighted to Triple-A and elected free agency. INF Josh Rutledge was designated for assignment.
• The A’s announced the one-year deal with LHP Rich Hill and designated A.J. Griffin for assignment.
News, Notes and Rumors
• Jake Arrieta has talked to Jeff Samardzija and he thinks “there is going to be a lot of teams wanting him.” Arrieta feels Samardzija would make the Cubs better. And ESPN Chicago reported a Jeff Samardzija reunion makes sense.
• According to Bob Nightengale, Jordan Zimmermann is of the Dodgers top targets.
• John Manuel was a “little stunned” that the Cubs added Dan Vogelbach to the 40-man roster. Manuel did not think Vogelbach would stick on a 25-man roster if a team selected him in the Rule 5 Draft.
• Jon Paul Morosi reported the Orioles and Reds have talked about Jay Bruce “but there was no momentum toward a deal” as of Friday night.
• Some see rival Giants as big threat to Dodgers for Zack Greinke according to Jon Heyman.
• The Cardinals have talked to Scott Boras about Chris Davis. The Redbirds are looking into signing the slugger according to Jon Paul Morosi.
• With all of their awards, young Cubs bear heavy burden of expectations for 2016 according to Rick Telander.
This Day In Cubstory
2012 – Cubs released Bryan LaHair
2008 – Cubs signed free agent Jason Waddell
1990 – Cubs signed free agent Danny Jackson
1984 – Quintin Berry, born
1972 – Cubs traded Bill North to the A’s for Bob Locker
1967 – Cubs traded Bob Raudman and cash to the Indians for Dick Radatz
1959 – Cubs acquired Dick Gernert from the Red Sox for Dave Hillman and Jim Marshall
1958 – Mike Mason, born
1954 – Alan Hargesheimer, born
1934 – Cubs traded Bud Tinning, Dick Ward and cash to the Cardinals for Tex Caleton
1933 – Cubs acquired Chuck Klein from the Phillies for Harvey Hendrick, Ted Kleinhans, Mark Koenig and $65,000
1905 – Freddie Lindstrom, born