Cubs release INF Munenori Kawasaki … Return LHP Caleb Smith to Yankees … Assign INF Jemile Weeks and INF Chris Dominguez to minor league camp The Cubs inched closer to finalizing the Opening Day roster Tuesday. The Cubs cut the Spring Training roster by four players, leaving only one competition as the exhibition season comes to an end. The Cubs released INF Munenori Kawasaki, returned LHP Caleb Smith to the Yankees and assigned INF Jemile Weeks and INF Chris Dominguez to minor league … [Read more...]
Cubs Invite 24 Non-Roster Players to Major League Spring Training
OF Eloy Jimenez, 2B/OF Ian Happ, RHP Ryan Williams, RHP James Farris, OF John Andreoli, OF Mark Zagunis and INF/OF Chesny Young among the 24 players receiving non-roster invites to big league camp The Cubs announced Friday the list of players that will be in Major League Spring Training on non-roster invitations. And six of the top prospects in the organization received NRIs ... OF Eloy Jimenez, 2B/OF Ian Happ, RHP Ryan Williams, RHP James Farris, OF John Andreoli, OF Mark Zagunis and INF/OF … [Read more...]
Cubs Re-Sign Munenori Kawasaki, Sign Carlos Corporan and Chris Dominguez to Minor Deals
Cubs re-sign INF Munenori Kawasaki, sign C Carlos Corporan and 3B Chris Dominguez to minor league contracts According to Baseball America’s Matt Eddy, the Cubs added depth to the organization with three players on minor league deals. The Cubs re-signed clubhouse and Joe Maddon favorite, veteran infielder Munenori Kawasaki to a minor league contract. Reports surfaced last week that Kawasaki was on the verge of re-upping with the Cubs. Veteran catcher Carlos Corporan, who will provide the … [Read more...]
Cubs 2016 Position Review – Third Base
The hot corner lived up to its namesake this season for the Chicago Cubs. It featured the National League MVP in Kris Bryant and one of baseball’s rising stars in Javier Baez. Six players logged time at third base and collectively they batted .275/.358/.481 with 36 doubles, two triples, 30 home runs, 88 RBI and 10 stolen bases. As Kris Bryant gets better and better, it’s hard to argue with the front office’s decision to delay his service clock to earn seven years of control. Bryant became … [Read more...]
Cubs 2016 Position Review – Second Base
Last year brought a lot of wholesale changes to the second base position for the Chicago Cubs. First, the club signed veteran utility man Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million deal during the Winter Meetings and shipped Starlin Castro to the Yankees. Zobrist, one of the most patient hitters in baseball really lengthened the lineup and helped the position post an overall mark of .288/.383/.458 with 31 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 90 RBI and 12 stolen bases. One of the biggest … [Read more...]
Seven Cubs Become Free Agents
Aroldis Chapman, Travis Wood, Trevor Cahill, Chris Coghlan among seven Cubs to become free agents 139 players have become free agents since the end of The World Series. And the Cubs have seven players that are officially free agents, including David Ross who is retiring from baseball. LHP Aroldis Chapman, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Trevor Cahill, OF/INF Chris Coghlan, INF Munenori Kawasaki, RHP Joe Smith and C David Ross became free agents Thursday, Nov. 3 and are eligible to sign with any team … [Read more...]
Cubs Backups Comeback and Win the Season Finale – Cubs 7, Reds 4
Game One Hundred Sixty-Two – Cubs 7, Reds 4 WP – Justin Grimm (2-1) LP – Raisel Iglesias (3-2, BS 2) Save – Carl Edwards Jr. (2) Down 4-3 with the bases empty and two outs in the ninth, Albert Almora Jr. walked. Munenori Kawasaki followed with a single to center. With two on, Matt Szczur worked a full count. Szczur sliced the 3-2 offering from Raisel Iglesias down the first baseline. Almora Jr. and Kawasaki scored and the Cubs took a 5-4 lead on Szczur’s two-out double. Miguel Montero … [Read more...]
Lester Labors, Cubs Lose in Cincinnati – Reds 7, Cubs 4
Game One Hundred Sixty-One – Cubs 4, Reds 7 WP – Tim Adleman (4-4) LP – Jon Lester (19-5) Save – Raisel Iglesias (6) For only the second time this season in nine games, the Cubs lost a game to the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Jon Lester did not have it Saturday as he tried for his 20th win of the season. Lester struggled with his command. Lester surrendered five runs in five innings, his worst start since July 9. The Cubs lost for the fourth time all season to the Reds on Saturday … [Read more...]
Cubs Scratch Out a Rain-Shortened Tie Game with the Pirates – Cubs 1, Pirates 1
Game One Hundred Fifty-Nine – Cubs 1, Pirates 1 - 6 innings WP – None LP – None Save – None With the Cubs and Pirates tied at one and one out in the top of the sixth, the rains came and put the game in delay. After one hour and 23 minutes, Thursday’s game between the Cubs and Pirates was officially suspended tied at one. The game will not be resumed and will go down in the record books as a tie game at the end of the season. The Cubs will finish the season series against the Pirates … [Read more...]
Jake Arrieta Pummeled by the Pirates – Pirates 8, Cubs 4
Game One Hundred Fifty-Eight – Cubs 4, Pirates 8 WP – Jameson Taillon (5-4) LP – Jake Arrieta (18-8) Save – None For just the fourth time in 18 games this season the Cubs lost to the Pirates. Jake Arrieta did not have it Wednesday night at PNC Park and was hit rather hard. Arrieta lasted five innings and struggled against the Pirates for the third straight start this season. Anthony Rizzo gave the Cubs a short-lived lead with a solo homer in the first inning. The Cubs managed only four … [Read more...]