The Cubs announced Tuesday the team released OF Ryan Sweeney. The Cubs designated Ryan Sweeney for assignment Sunday prior to submitting the first roster of the season. Sweeney struggled in Spring Training and was outplayed by Matt Szczur. The team also decided to begin the year with an extra infielder, selected the contract of Jonathan Herrera and added him to the 40-man roster. With Ryan Sweeney no longer in the organization, the Cubs’ 40-man roster officially stands at 39 … [Read more...]
Cubs Set Opening Day Roster: Szczur, Herrera Take Last Two Spots, Sweeney DFA’d
The Cubs finalized the first roster of the season Sunday afternoon. Matt Szczur made the team’s Opening Day roster and will be joined on the Cubs’ bench by INF Jonathan Herrera. The Cubs selected the contract of Jonathan Herrera and added him to the 40-man roster. The Cubs designated OF Ryan Sweeney for assignment. Sweeney is owed $2 million in guaranteed salary, $1.5 million for this season and a $500,000 buyout on a $2.5 million club option for 2016. With the two 40-man roster moves, … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Maddon Announces Cubs Rotation, Wood In, Jackson to the Bullpen
Countdown to Opening Night: 1 day Joe Maddon made it official before Friday night’s practice game against the Diamondbacks, Travis Wood made the rotation and Edwin Jackson would start the season in the bullpen. The decisions to have Wood stay in the rotation and Jackson to be the team’s long man in the pen were expected. Wood will slot in behind Jason Hammel in the rotation. The Cubs will start the season with a Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel, Travis Wood and Kyle Hendricks … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Two Announcements and Two More Exhibition Games on Tap for the Cubs
Countdown to Opening Night: 2 days The Cubs still have business to take care of before the team makes its way from Arizona to Chicago to open the 2015 season on Sunday night against the Cardinals. The Cubs have two exhibition games with the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Edwin Jackson starts Friday night, Travis Wood and Kyle Hendricks are scheduled to pitch Saturday in a game that will be played by minor leaguers and could include Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Javier Baez. At some … [Read more...]
Rambling about the Cubs on the Eve of the Eve
Hello again, everybody. Real games are so close I can almost taste them. Well, to be fair, I just had some hot dogs, so I like, literally just tasted baseball. And yes, I am very well aware that is an erroneous use of “literally.” The North Side is abuzz with the excitement of baseball, video boards and construction helmets. With the distractions of the offseason, it is hard to imagine real baseball is less than 72 hours away, but the year is here, so it is time to get down to BRASS TACKS and … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Joe Maddon’s First Cubs Roster is Coming into Focus
Countdown to Opening Night: 3 days Joe Maddon said Wednesday that he expects the team’s first roster of the season to be finalized by Friday. The Cubs made three spring roster cuts prior to Wednesday’s Cactus League finale. RHP Brian Schlitter, LHP Zac Rosscup and OF Junior Lake were optioned to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs technically have 32 players in camp, but only 28 players are healthy enough to start the season on the active roster. The pitching staff is believed to be set. Lefty … [Read more...]
The Ins and Outs of the Cubs Outfield Decision
Based on reports and barring an unexpected decision by the front office or injury, the Cubs first roster of the season is all but set. The Cubs’ 12-man pitching staff should consist of Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel, Travis Wood, Kyle Hendricks, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Neil Ramirez, Justin Grimm, Jason Motte, Phil Coke and Edwin Jackson. And unless a team steps up and pays Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer what they are asking for Welington Castillo, three of the 13 spots for position … [Read more...]
Edwin Jackson and the Cubs Surprise the Royals with a Spring Shutout – Cubs 7, Royals 0
Spring Training Game Twenty-Eight – Cubs 7, Royals 0 WP – Edwin Jackson (2-1) LP – Edinson Volquez (1-3) Save – None Edwin Jackson pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Miguel Montero, Junior Lake and Matt Szczur homered. The Cubs scored five runs in their last two at bats Sunday afternoon off Wade Davis and Greg Holland and beat the Royals in Surprise. Edwin Jackson put together his best outing of the spring. Jackson was very sharp and did not allow three errors, one of which he committed, … [Read more...]
Jake Arrieta’s Big Day Leads the Way in a Blowout Spring Win – Cubs 18, Rockies 4
Spring Training Game Twenty-Six – Cubs (ss) 18, Rockies 4 WP – Jake Arrieta (3-1) LP – Jonathan Gray (0-2) Save – None Jake Arrieta shut the Rockies out for four innings and drove in four runs with a three-run homer and a double. The Cubs scored seven runs against Jonathan Grey and knocked him out of the game in the first inning. The offense kept hitting while the pitching staff held Colorado in check as the Cubs pounded the Rockies on Saturday afternoon in Mesa. The Cubs scored 18 runs … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: The Cactus League is Coming to an End, Lester Completes Start and Other Cubs News
One last weekend in Arizona for the Chicago Cubs and it’s going to be a busy three days for Maddon’s men. The Cubs host the White Sox this afternoon, Jason Hammel against Jeff Samardzija, then the spring roster will be split in two one more time. Half of the Cubs will host the Rockies on Saturday afternoon while another group of players make the trip to Goodyear to face the Reds. The Cubs last Sunday of the spring in Arizona will be spent in Surprise taking on Royals. The Cubs wrap up … [Read more...]