All of the Cubs starters and big bats participated in live batting practice on Saturday. And it ended up being quite the power display by the end of practice. Travis Wood, Edgar Olmos, Felix Pena and Armando Rivero had the pleasure of facing Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist, Dexter Fowler, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward. And on Field 5, Kyle Hendricks had to deal with the likes of Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, Tommy La Stella and Shane Victorino. The hitters are still … [Read more...]
Travis Wood to Start Cubs Spring Training Opener
Travis Wood to start Cubs Spring Training Opener ... Kyle Hendricks to follow Wood in Opener Joe Maddon made it official after Saturday’s practice. Travis Wood will get the ball in the Cubs’ Cactus League Opener on March 3 in Maryvale against the Brewers. Travis Wood threw live batting practice Saturday which put him in line to make the start in five days. Kyle Hendricks, Andury Acevedo, Pedro Strop, Edgar Olmos, Hector Rondon, Armando Rivero and Felix Pena also faced batters Saturday at … [Read more...]
Cubs Prospect Profile: RHP Andury Acevedo
One of the few under the radar moves the Cubs made this off-season was signing RHP Andury Acevedo in mid-November. Baseball America is high enough on Acevedo to rank him as the 29th best prospect in the Cubs’ system. Acevedo was a minor league free agent the Cubs scooped up and signed to a Major League deal just two days prior to the deadline to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them the Rule 5 Draft. Acevedo spent the first six years of his pro career in the Pirates system. Andury … [Read more...]
Cubs 2016 Spring Training Preview: Relief Pitchers
Over the last couple of seasons for the Chicago Cubs, the front office has taken a patchwork approach to building a bullpen. Mainstays like Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Justin Grimm were cast-offs from other organizations and have excelled since joining the team. The approach had 20 total pitchers pitch in relief to a tune of a 3.38 ERA, eighth in the majors with no real star among them. During the offseason, the Cubs tinkered with the bullpen in much the same way, adding Rex Brothers who … [Read more...]
ESPN Ranks Cubs Bullpen Fifth in Baseball
Buster Olney posted his list of the top bullpens, and Olney ranked the Cubs behind the Yankees, Royals, Red Sox and Astros as having the fifth best pen in baseball. According to Buster Olney, teams like the Yankees “might have more dynamic options at the back end, but the Cubs might have more depth than any other team in baseball.” Olney pointed to seven different relievers picking up saves last season as being a strength that shows versatility. Olney feels the Cubs should once again have … [Read more...]
Report: Cubs Currently Focused on Trading for Relievers
Prior to the Winter Meetings a report surfaced that the Cubs were actively exploring a trade for one of the top closers. The Cubs were not linked directly to a ninth inning guy at the time but soon after Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger were two names that popped up. And it was discovered the Cubs had conversations with the Rays about McGee and Boxberger prior to July’s non-waiver trade deadline. Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday the Cubs “current focus is on trades for relievers, according to … [Read more...]
Cubs 2015 Position Review – Bullpen
In our last installment, we analyzed a starting pitching staff that despite a lack of depth was one of the best in all of baseball. While their accomplishments were impressive, what may be even better was a bullpen that finished eighth in overall ERA at 3.38 with 20 pitchers and two position players making at least one appearance. Let’s take a look back at the Cubs patchwork bullpen. Much like last year, the bullpen was again headlined by three pitchers, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Justin … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: The BBWAA was Good to the Cubs, Bosio Signs an Extension and Other News and Rumors
Major awards week came to an end Thursday with the announcement of the Most Valuable Players. Bryce Harper and Josh Donaldson took home the MVP awards and three Cubs were in the final voting. Anthony Rizzo was fourth in the voting for NL MVP, Jake Arrieta was sixth and Kris Bryant finished 11th after all the votes from the BBWAA were counted. The BBWAA recognized the excellent regular season the Cubs had by naming Jake Arrieta the NL Cy Young Award winner, Kris Bryant the NL Rookie of the … [Read more...]
From the Wire: Cubs Sign RHP Andury Acevedo
According to the Cubs official transactions page, the team signed RHP Andury Acevedo. The Cubs inked the free agent Wednesday and added him to the 40-man roster. With the addition of Andury Acevedo, the Cubs’ 40-man roster officially stands at 31 players. Andury Acevedo is a converted position player, making the move to the mound in 2012. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound right hander has spent time in the Pirates and Yankees organizations. Acevedo turned 25 in August. Based on the numbers, … [Read more...]