Cubs Release 1B Jesus Guzman and OF Mike O’Neill
The Cubs made two more changes to the highest level of the minor league system. The Cubs released 1B Jesus Guzman and OF Mike O’Neill.
According to the team’s official transactions page, the Cubs released Guzman and O’Neill on March 30.
Jesus Guzman signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in the off-season that included a non-roster invite to big league camp. Guzman did not report on time due to Visa issues.
Guzman played in 11 games and was 8-for-23 with two doubles and a home run (.348/.375/.565) for a .940 OPS. Guzman was reassigned to minor league camp on March 25.
Jesus Guzman spent last season in Japan playing for the Hiroshima Carp. Guzman played for Houston in 2014. Guzman batted .230/.336/.420 with eight doubles, a triple and three home runs for a .756 OPS in 34 games for Hiroshima. Guzman hits and throws from the right side and is 31 years old.
Guzman put up his best numbers in the majors in 2011 while playing for Jed Hoyer in San Diego. Guzman hit .312/.369/.478 in 76 games with 22 doubles, two triples and five home runs for a .847 OPS.
Over five seasons in the big leagues, Guzman owns a .247/.316/.390 slash line with 61 doubles, four triples and 25 home runs. And against left-handed pitching, Guzman has hit .263/.337/.410 with a .746 OPS in his Major League career.
The Cubs selected OF Mike O’Neill in the Triple-A Phase of the Rule 5 Draft in December from the Cardinals. O’Neill is an on-base machine but a corner outfielder with little no power. O’Neill was in minor league camp with the Cubs.
O’Neill batted .257/.373/.271 in 33 games for Triple-A Memphis last season. In 90 games between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, O’Neill hit .289/.400/.319 with eight doubles and no home runs for a .719 OPS.
Three players the Cubs signed to minor league contracts in off-season have been released over the last week. 1B Matt Clark and LHP Nick Greenwood were released last week.