In November the CCO published a list of the top 15 prospects in the Cubs' system. With the two trades last month, the Cubs minor league system took on a different look. With pitchers and catchers reporting to Fitch Park in just three days, it is time to revisit the CCO's list of the top prospects down on the farm. … [Read more...]
Baseball America’s Top Cubs Prospects for 2011
The CCO's off-season look at the Cubs' farm system continues today with the top 31 prospects in the Cubs organization according to Baseball America. Baseball America's 2011 Prospect Handbook was recently released with the Nationals' Bryce Harper on the cover. BA was very complimentary of the Cubs' system before the trade with the Rays last month ... and Brett Jackson and Trey McNutt cracked their editor's top 50 lists. The Cubs system made it into the top 10 before the trade (ranked number 8), … [Read more...]
Another View of the Cubs Minor League System
Keith Law of ESPN.com and Scouts, Inc. released his annual prospect lists and organizational rankings earlier in the week, as well as his list of the Top 100 prospects in all of baseball. Law was rather complimentary of the Cubs' system in the wake of dealing two of the top prospects in the organization for Matt Garza. Law is a big fan of Chris Archer and Hak-Ju Lee and his ranking of both players in his top 100 proved the point. Trey McNutt made Law's list of the top 100, and four of the … [Read more...]
FanGraphs Top 10 Cubs Prospects
FanGraphs recently released their list of the top 10 prospects in the Cubs system, the first since the Cubs traded five minor leaguers to the Rays for Matt Garza. The Cubs system took a hit when Jim Hendry dealt Chris Archer, Robinson Chirinos, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer and Sam Fuld to Tampa. But the Cubs picked up a nice package for Tom Gorzelanny from the Nationals ... including former supplemental round pick Michael Burgess. Here's how the Cubs' system stacks up according to FanGraphs ... … [Read more...]
Garza, Quade and Cubs Baseball
It is only 33 days until pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park and the Cubs Convention kicks off in four days. The baseball season is just around the corner. The Matt Garza trade remained in the headlines two days after the trade became official. Mike Quade spent time discussing the trade and his team on XM Radio ... and Matt Garza joined Dave Kaplan on Monday night. The Cubs also made a roster move on Monday when they claimed Max Ramirez off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Here's the … [Read more...]
The Garza Trade – A Minor League Perspective
I'm taking some time out from preparing the Down on the Farm report in order to offer some observations on the recent eight-player trade. Please keep in mind that these are just observations ... from a Minor League perspective. … [Read more...]
Weekend Update … Cubs Accomplish Off-Season Goals
Jim Hendry began the off-season with three main goals ... add a frontline starting pitcher, add a left-handed power-hitting first baseman and add a power reliever. And with very little payroll flexibility, the Cubs' GM accomplished what he set out to do. With the addition of Matt Garza, Hendry has added three of the pieces on his off-season to-do list and in the process added less than $10 million to the Cubs' 2011 payroll ... Kerry Wood, $1.5 million plus incentives, Carlos Pena, $3 million … [Read more...]
From the Wire … It’s Official, Cubs Acquire Matt Garza in Eight-Player Trade
The Cubs and Rays officially announced the eight-player trade that sent five minor leaguers to the Tampa Bay Rays for Matt Garza, Fernando Perez and Zachary Rosscup, a left-handed minor league pitcher that was the Rays 28th round pick in the 2009 draft. The Cubs paid a big price for Matt Garza by dealing Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Robinson Chirinos, Brandon Guyer and Sam Fuld for Garza, Perez and a minor league lefty. Jim Hendry told the media that the Cubs "are not giving away the farm to try … [Read more...]
Waiting for the Official Word on Garza Deal
According to multiple reports, including one from Fernando Perez, the eight-player trade between the Cubs and Rays is done and the only things missing are the press releases from the clubs and for Jim Hendry to hold a press conference. The Cubs sent five players to Tampa for Matt Garza, Fernando Perez and an unnamed minor league player ... some reports have suggested a pitcher (possibly a reliever with Major League experience), others an infielder and one from ESPN 1000 indicated the third … [Read more...]
From the Wire … Cubs Acquire Matt Garza from Rays in Eight Player Trade
According to a report from Bruce Levine, the Cubs have acquired Matt Garza and two minor league players from the Rays for Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos and Sam Fuld. Levine is reporting the two players coming from Tampa are a minor league outfielder and a minor league infielder. Updated - 11:10am CT - According to Bruce Miles, the Cubs will receive Fernando Perez, a switch-hitting outfielder in the deal. Updated - 2:28pm CT - According to a report from ESPN 1000, … [Read more...]