The Cubs announced Friday that LHP Drake Britton cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa. The roster moves clears a spot on the 40-man roster and reduces the Spring Training roster to 31 players. LHP Drake Britton was claimed off waivers from the Red Sox on Feb. 4 and added to the 40-man roster. Britton struggled with his command throughout Spring Training. In nine appearances this spring, Britton gave up eight hits in 8 1/3 innings with four walks and five strikeouts (3.24 ERA, … [Read more...]
Cubs Option Javier Baez to Triple-A Iowa, Re-Assign Kris Bryant and Addison Russell to Minor League Camp
The Cubs announced the fifth round of spring roster cuts Monday morning. Javier Baez was optioned to Triple-A Iowa and both Kris Bryant and Addison Russell were re-assigned to minor league camp. With Monday’s roster moves, the Cubs spring roster officially stands at 35 players. The Cubs optioned 2B Javier Baez to Triple-A Iowa. Baez thought he had made the team and told the Sun-Times that he would be with the Cubs on Opening Night. Optioning Baez to Iowa at this point comes as a … [Read more...]
Roster Questions Remain for the Cubs a Week Before the Season Opener
The Cubs made two roster moves Saturday. LHP Eric Jokisch was optioned to Iowa and LHP Felix Doubront was granted his unconditional release. And the Cubs reduced the spring roster and opened a spot on the 40-man roster in the process. With a week before the opener against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, the Cubs have several decisions to make before finalizing the first active roster of the season. A lot is made about which players are on a team’s Opening Day roster, but with the way a big … [Read more...]
From the Wire: Cubs Grant Unconditional Release to LHP Felix Doubront
The Cubs announced Saturday LHP Felix Doubront was granted his unconditional release. Felix Doubront received 45 days termination pay, which amounts to around $473,000. Doubront and the Cubs avoided arbitration this winter when the two sides agreed to a $1.925 million salary for the 2015 season. By cutting ties with Doubront, the Cubs save around $1.452 million. By granting Felix Doubront his unconditional release, the Cubs Spring Training roster officially stands at 38 players with RHP … [Read more...]
Cubs Option LHP Eric Jokisch to Triple-A Iowa, Reduce Spring Training Roster to 39 Players
The Cubs announced the fourth round of roster cuts Saturday, and it was just one player. LHP Eric Jokisch was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. And the Cubs Spring Training roster officially stands at 39 players. Eric Jokisch was expected to begin the year at the top of Iowa’s rotation. Jokisch was rather inconsistent in four appearances, two starts, in Cactus League play. Jokisch allowed 11 runs, eight earned, on 15 hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 12 innings. Jokisch showed this … [Read more...]
Albert Almora, Kyle Schwarber Included in Third Round of Cubs Spring Roster Cuts
The Cubs announced the third round of spring roster cuts Thursday afternoon, and there really were not any surprises. The Cubs sent 12 players to minor league camp and reduced the Spring Training roster to 40 players. The Cubs optioned two relievers to Triple-A Iowa, RHP Blake Parker and LHP Joseph Ortiz. And 10 players in camp on non-roster invitations were re-assigned to minor league camp. OF Albert Almora, RHP Daniel Bard, 1B/OF Mike Baxter, LHP Francisley Bueno, RHP Anthony Carter, … [Read more...]
Cubs Option RHP C.J. Edwards to Triple-A Iowa, Reduce Spring Training Roster to 52 Players
The Cubs reduced its Spring Training roster to 52 players Thursday when the team optioned RHP C.J. Edwards to Triple-A Iowa. Edwards is the third player the Cubs have optioned to Iowa this spring, joining INF Christian Villanueva and C Rafael Lopez. Edwards will spend the next three weeks in minor league camp. Edwards is expected to begin the season with Double-A Tennessee. C.J. Edwards was very good in his first big league camp. Edwards appeared in two Cactus League games and pitched … [Read more...]
Pierce Johnson, Corey Black and Rafael Lopez among First Round of Cubs Spring Roster Cuts
The Cubs announced the first round of spring cuts Monday and reduced the spring roster to 53 players. The Cubs moved eight players to minor league camp. C Rafael Lopez and INF Christian Villanueva were optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Both players will be on optional assignments all season. Six players in camp on non-roster invites were re-assigned to minor league camp: RHP Pierce Johnson, RHP Corey Black, RHP Armando Rivero, RHP Donn Roach, LHP Hunter Cervenka and INF Logan Watkins. There … [Read more...]
Joe Maddon Announces Cubs Rotation for First Six Spring Games, Jon Lester to Make Debut Friday
The Cubs begin play in the Cactus League on Thursday with a split squad day. And on Monday, Joe Maddon announced his starting rotation for the first six exhibition games. Travis Wood (A’s) and Jacob Turner (Giants) get the Cactus League openers on Thursday. And Wood will oppose fellow lefty Barry Zito at Sloan Park. Jon Lester makes his Cubs debut on Friday (March 6) against the Reds at Sloan Park. Jason Hammel takes on one of his old teams on Saturday (March 7). Hammel and Felix … [Read more...]
Cubs Storylines of the Spring: The Catchers
The Cubs Storylines of the Spring series continues with a look at the catchers in big league camp. While Miguel Montero and David Ross get to know the pitching staff, the two biggest storylines to follow when it comes to the Cubs catchers this spring are health and Welington Castillo. Welington Castillo is on the trade block and could get moved at any time. Several teams are reportedly interested in Castillo, most notably the Phillies, and if Theo Epstein or Jed Hoyer finds the right deal … [Read more...]