According to Baseball America’s Matt Eddy, the Cubs signed C Tim Federowicz and INF/OF Kris Negron to minor league contracts. The Cubs have not confirmed the signings, both deals appear to include non-roster invites to Spring Training.
Tim Federowicz has a connection to the front office. Boston selected Federowicz in the seventh round of the 2008 draft. Federowicz was dealt to the Dodgers, along with RHP Stephen Fife, in the three-team trade with the Mariners that sent Erik Bedard and Josh Fields to the Red Sox.
Federowicz spent last season with the Padres after he was included in the Matt Kemp deal in December 2014. The Dodgers traded Kemp, Federowicz and cash to the Padres for Zach Eflin, Yasmani Grandal and Joe Weiland.
Tim Federowicz played in only 27 games in the Padres system last year, not one in the majors. Federowicz hit only .202/.257/.383 with five doubles and four home runs over two levels with Low-A Fort Wayne and Triple-A El Paso.
Federowicz underwent knee surgery last March that forced him to miss a majority of the season. Federowicz suffered a complete tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee.
In 89 games over four seasons in the Majors for the Dodgers, Federowicz put together a .194/.247/.300 line with 11 doubles and five home runs for a .547 OPS.
• Tim Federowicz’s Page on Baseball-Reference
The Cubs front office is also very familiar with Kris Negron. The Red Sox selected him in the seventh round of the 2006 draft. The soon-to-be 30-year old (Feb. 1) was sent to the Reds for Alex Gonzalez in 2009.
Negron hit .140/.238/.161 in 43 games in the big leagues with the Reds a year ago. Negron appeared to be getting his career on track in 2014. Negron played in only 49 games in the majors but hit .271/.331/.479 with 10 doubles, a triples and six home runs for a .810 OPS.
Kris Negron did not fare much better with Triple-A Louisville last season. In 59 games, the versatile Negron had a .216/.280/.309 line with a .589 OPS.
• Kris Negron’s Page on Baseball-Reference
2016 Minor League Contracts
The following players have signed minor league contract with the Cubs this off-season. Additional minor league signings should be reported in the coming days.
Pitchers
- Brandon Gomes, RHP
- Stephen Fife, RHP
- Jean Machi, RHP
- Drew Rucinski, RHP
- Luis Parra, LHP
- Scott Barnes, LHP
- Luis Cruz, LHP
- Miguel Mejia, RHP
- Jeffry Antigua, LHP
- Fernando Cruz, RHP
- Jack Leathersich, LHP
Catchers
- Tim Federowicz
Infielders
- Jesus Guzman
- Kris Negron
Outfielders
- Kelly Dugan
- Juan Perez
Drew Rucinski, Luis Parra, Jean Machi, Brandon Gomes, Scott Barnes, Stephen Fife, Jesus Guzman, Tim Federowicz, Kelly Dugan and Kris Negron should receive non-roster invites to Spring Training. The full list of players that will be non-roster invitees to big league camp should be released late-January, first week of February.