Tuesday was the deadline for players to file for salary arbitration. 156 players across the league filed prior to the deadline, and seven of those players are on the Cubs’ big league roster.
Jake Arrieta, Chris Coghlan, Justin Grimm, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Adam Warren and Travis Wood filed for arbitration. Tuesday’s deadline is really just procedural, players that have not avoided arbitration by the deadline have to go through the process.
Each of the seven players will exchange salary arbitration figures by Friday. Most players agree to terms on a one-year contract prior to Friday’s deadline. Players can avoid arbitration at any point leading up to the actual hearing, and those are scheduled between Feb. 1-21.
The Cubs have already signed two arbitration eligible players to contracts for the upcoming season. LHP Rex Brothers and LHP Clayton Richard inked one-year contracts last month.
Cubs Salary Arbitration Eligible Players
- Jake Arrieta, RHP – 2015 salary – $3.63 million; Projected $10-11 million for 2016
- Chris Coghlan, OF – 2015 salary – $2.505 million; Projected $3.3-3.8 million for 2016
- Justin Grimm, RHP – 2015 salary – $532,000; Projected $800,000-1.2 million for 2016
- Hector Rondon, RHP – 2015 salary – $544,000; Projected $3.2-3.9 million for 2016
- Pedro Strop, RHP – 2015 salary – $2.525 million; Projected $4.3-4.5 million for 2016
- Adam Warren, RHP – 2015 salary with Yankees – $572,600 – Projected around $1.5 million
- Travis Wood, LHP – 2015 salary – $5.685 million; Projected $6.2-6.8 million for 2016
Jake Arrieta is not expected to sign a multi-year contract or long-term extension prior to Friday’s deadline according to ESPN Chicago. Reports suggested early in the off-season the Cubs would try to sign Arrieta to a long-term deal this winter. With Arrieta coming off an historic season, winning the NL Cy Young Award and being represented by Scott Boras, it’s unlikely Arrieta will sign an extension over the next two seasons.
Arrieta is under club control through the 2017 season.
The Cubs have not gone to arbitration with a player since Theo Epstein took over Baseball Operations, and should be able to avoid a hearing with each of the seven players this year.
Cubs Caravan
The Cubs Caravan kicks off Wednesday and will start with Joe Maddon “preparing and serving a traditional home-cooked Italian dinner to homeless community members at the Chicago Help Initiative.” Players and coaches will help Maddon “raise awareness about Chicago’s homeless population.”
The Caravan will make stops Thursday at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, three elementary schools, “serve lunch to 200 military service personnel and veterans at the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine base” and Jahn Elementary School.
Anthony Rizzo, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler, Jason Hammel, Travis Wood, Rex Brothers, Carl Edwards Jr., Dan Vogelbach, Jeimer Candelario, Pierce Johnson and Edgar Olmos are among the players scheduled to participate in the Caravan
Comcast SportsNet will air a brand new documentary chronicling Joe Maddon’s return to his hometown of Hazelton, PA on Thursday, Jan. 14.
Kieran Powell
According to reports from USA Today and Rob Biertempfel, the Cubs are one of 11 teams that will attend a tryout by Kieran Powell on Wednesday. Powell is a former international cricket player and has been training at the IMG Academy in Bradenton. The Dodgers, Pirates and Tigers are also interested and will attend the workout.
Powell would like to play Major League Baseball and the former star cricket player has already worked out for the Dodgers, Mets and Brewers.
Powell believes once a team gives him a chance, he will play in the big leagues and has a goal to be in the majors in two or three years.
Powell views himself as a right fielder. The USA Today indicated he was told by the Brewers and Mets he might be able to utilize his speed better by moving to center field.
For the past five weeks, Powell has been training at the IMG Academy with Dee Gordon and Kevin Quackenbush.
News, Notes and Rumors
• A must read … Joe Maddon’s long climb to the top prepared him for the craziness of the Cubs job according to Patrick Mooney.
• Comcast SportsNet and CSNChicago.com will broadcast the Opening Ceremonies live from the 2016 Cubs Convention on Friday.
• The Cubs and Marlins were among the teams to reportedly make “a strong push” to sign Yaisel Sierra, but the Cuban right-hander inked a six-year, $30 million contract with the Dodgers.
• Starlin Castro will primarily play second base for the Yankees and he will likely serve as the backup at third base to Chase Headley. Brian Cashman thinks Castro can plug a hole at third base for the Yankees.
• Ken Davidoff asked if Yoenis Cespedes will wind up getting the big deal he expects.
• The Padres are viewed as the favorites to sign Ian Desmond, which would end A.J. Preller’s search for a shortstop. A.J. Preller told Dennis Lin, “We’ve gotten to a spot where we’ve looked at a lot of shortstop options. Thinks could come to a head in the next few days to a week.” The Padres have also been connected to Alexei Ramirez.
• According to Jon Heyman, the Royals, Nationals, Astros and Rockies are the “most likely spots” for RHP Ian Kennedy.
• LHP Wei-Yin Chen inked a five-year, $80 million deal with the Marlins that includes a vesting option for a sixth season and an opt-out after two years … the total value of the contract including the option is $96 million. Ken Rosenthal reported that Chen received an $8 million signing bonus and will be paid $6 million for the 2016 season. Chen’s contract calls for $14 million in 2017
• Marcell Ozuna is no longer on the block according to Joe Frisaro. Signing Wei-Yin Chen ended the Marlins shopping him for pitching. And also removed any possibilities the Marlins would sign Dexter Fowler.
• OF Gerardo Parra agreed to terms on a three-year, $27.5 million deal with the Rockies that includes an option for a fourth year worth $12 million. And with Parra on board, the Rockies are talking with teams about their three outfielders … Carlos Gonzalez, Corey Dickerson and Charlie Blackmon.
• Jon Paul Morosi reported the Orioles and Rockies are “engaged in ongoing trade talks on Colorado outfielders.” The Orioles would not seem to match up with the Rockies considering they are looking for pitching in return for an outfielder. Jim Bowden has heard the Orioles are interested in making a deal for either Carlos Gonzalez or Charlie Blackmon.
• The White Sox and Rockies have had ongoing trade conversations throughout the off-season according to Bruce Levine. The Sox are interested in Carlos Gonzalez and could be willing to send OF Avisail Garcia and a pitcher to Colorado for Cargo.
• Jim Bowden reported Tuesday night on his radio show (MLB Network Radio) that the Angels are interested in one of the Rockies outfielders. Mike DiGiovanna has heard the Angels and Rockies “have not engaged in trade talks for an outfielder in recent weeks.”
• The Yankees acquired LHP Tyler Olson and INF Ronald Torreyes from the Dodgers for INF Rob Segedin and a PTBNL or cash.
• The Dodgers announced hiring Alex Anthopoulos. The former Blue Jays GM is the Dodgers new Vice President of Baseball Operations.
• Teams received a memo from the Commissioner’s office, according to Jerry Crasnick, instructing them to “have a full-time Spanish Language translator for 2016.” Crasnick explained it is a joint effort between MLB and the MLBPA to “have a uniform program available to all players.”
This Day in Cubstory
2012 – Cubs signed free agent Kerry Wood to a one-year contract.
2012 – Cubs signed free agent Alfredo Amezaga
2003 – Cubs signed free agents Midre Cummings and Aaron Small
1986 – Cubs traded Rick Rembielak and Larry Whitford to the Brewers for Mike Martin
1983 – Andy Sisco, born
1981 – Cubs selected Billy Hatcher in the sixth round of January’s draft. Hatcher signed with the Cubs on May 22, 1981.
1978 – Hall of Fame manager Joe McCarthy passed away at the age of 90. McCarthy managed the Cubs from 1926-30 and punched his ticket to Cooperstown as the Yankees skipper from 1931-46. McCarthy was also the manager of the Red Sox (1948-50) and compiled a 1,460-867 (.627) record. McCarthy won nine pennants and seven World Championships.
1974 – Cubs released Jack Aker
1971 – Cubs selected Steve Stroughter in the second round of January’s draft. The Cubs were unable to sign Stroughter.
1969 – Kevin Foster, born
1964 – Jose Nunez, born
1950 – Mike Tyson, born
1918 – Emmett O’’Neill, born
1918 – Steven Mesner, born