The Cubs made a minor trade today sending former top prospect Brett Jackson to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Blake Cooper according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
Jackson, 26, was hitting .210/.298/.348 in 252 AAA plate appearances with an eye-popping 94 strikeouts and only 24 walks. Jackson was once considered a Cubs top prospect but his inability to make consistent contact affected his ability to really show his talents.
Cooper, 26, has also struggled for the Diamondbacks AAA affiliate posting an ERA of 6.00 in 17 appearances for the Reno Aces after dominating for their AA affiliate. His primary issues has been his control with 17 walks in just 24 innings on top of 20 strikeouts.
I think this is a smart deal for both sides as both players can still turn out to be fairly solid players if they can rebound. Jackson did struggle in his MLB debut with a .175/.303/.342 line in 2012 so it will be interesting to see if the Diamondbacks can rework his swing to make more contact. I think Cooper has the potential to turn into a fringe reliever at the big league level if he can improve on his horrendous walk rate in AAA.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
What to expect from Javier Baez?
The Cubs have called up top prospect Javier Baez from AAA Iowa to make his major league debut at second base for the Cubs. Baez, 21, is hitting .260/.323/.510 in 434 plate appearances in AAA Iowa and has rebounded after an awful start where he hit .172/.238/.379 in April but managed to hit .300/.344/.600 in July for the I-Cubs.
Baez is the first player from the "Core Four" to make the big leagues and was Jim Hendrys last first round pick back in 2011 and shot through the Cubs minor league system by hitting 37 home runs last season between Class-A Daytona and AA Tennessee.
Of course it is unrealistic to expect Javier Baez to come up and hit 4 home runs in his debut especially since he got off to a slow start at every stop in the professional level. I think Baez will get off to a slow start in August with a .163/.211/.352 line in August but improve slightly and hit .211/.265/.400 to finish out the season. These next 2 months are important but it is also important to remember that he is just 21 years old and still has a few years to develop and adjust before he could be labelled a bust.
Baez is the first player from the "Core Four" to make the big leagues and was Jim Hendrys last first round pick back in 2011 and shot through the Cubs minor league system by hitting 37 home runs last season between Class-A Daytona and AA Tennessee.
Of course it is unrealistic to expect Javier Baez to come up and hit 4 home runs in his debut especially since he got off to a slow start at every stop in the professional level. I think Baez will get off to a slow start in August with a .163/.211/.352 line in August but improve slightly and hit .211/.265/.400 to finish out the season. These next 2 months are important but it is also important to remember that he is just 21 years old and still has a few years to develop and adjust before he could be labelled a bust.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Cubs trade Samardzija, Hammel to A's for prospects and pitcher
The first domino of the trade deadline frenzy fell on Friday when the Cubs dealt Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel for top A's prospects Addison Russell, Billy McKinney and pitcher Dan Straily with a player to be named later included.
The deal makes perfect sense for both teams as the A's needed 2 front line pitchers that could help them in their run towards the division crown and it gives the Cubs two top prospects with the potential for a 3rd one to be included.
The Cubs are getting a potential superstar in Addison Russell who was often ranked in the top 15 by multiple baseball resources including MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus, and Baseball America. He has the numbers in AA to prove it although it is a small sample size with a .333/.439/.500 in only 48 at bats. The Cubs also get a player who was often ranked as the A's #2 prospect in Billy McKinney, 19, who has been hitting fairly well in High-A with a .240/.330/.400 line with 10 home runs and 5 stolen bases. This only continues the Cubs way of acquiring offensive weapons to build into an amazing offensive juggernaut and building a team off of scoring runs.
The Cubs also got a young major league pitcher in Dan Straily, 25, who has spent parts of 3 seasons with the A's big league team including 152.1 good innings back in 2013. Although he has slightly struggled in 2014 with a 4.93 ERA his FIP suggests that it could be much worse. His issue this year has been the long ball and a 2.1 HR/9 rate proves that with 9 home runs surrendered in 38.1 innings.
On the A's side they are getting 2 proven players in Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel who both were having great seasons for the Cubs and have proven to be excellent pitchers who could easily help the A's as they are trying to advance past the ALDS for the first time since 2006.
There are some positional concerns involving this trade as the Cubs already have Starlin Castro at shortstop and Javier Baez already in the minor leagues so the decision to add another shortstop is questionable but the Cubs can always shift Baez to another position and Russell to another position as well.
The deal makes perfect sense for both teams as the A's needed 2 front line pitchers that could help them in their run towards the division crown and it gives the Cubs two top prospects with the potential for a 3rd one to be included.
The Cubs are getting a potential superstar in Addison Russell who was often ranked in the top 15 by multiple baseball resources including MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus, and Baseball America. He has the numbers in AA to prove it although it is a small sample size with a .333/.439/.500 in only 48 at bats. The Cubs also get a player who was often ranked as the A's #2 prospect in Billy McKinney, 19, who has been hitting fairly well in High-A with a .240/.330/.400 line with 10 home runs and 5 stolen bases. This only continues the Cubs way of acquiring offensive weapons to build into an amazing offensive juggernaut and building a team off of scoring runs.
The Cubs also got a young major league pitcher in Dan Straily, 25, who has spent parts of 3 seasons with the A's big league team including 152.1 good innings back in 2013. Although he has slightly struggled in 2014 with a 4.93 ERA his FIP suggests that it could be much worse. His issue this year has been the long ball and a 2.1 HR/9 rate proves that with 9 home runs surrendered in 38.1 innings.
On the A's side they are getting 2 proven players in Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel who both were having great seasons for the Cubs and have proven to be excellent pitchers who could easily help the A's as they are trying to advance past the ALDS for the first time since 2006.
There are some positional concerns involving this trade as the Cubs already have Starlin Castro at shortstop and Javier Baez already in the minor leagues so the decision to add another shortstop is questionable but the Cubs can always shift Baez to another position and Russell to another position as well.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Cubs activate Wellington Castillo, DFA Eli Whiteside
According to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald the Cubs have activated Welington Castillo from the disabled list and in a corresponding move designated Eli Whiteside for assignment.
Whiteside was filling in while Castillo was on the disabled list and hit .120/.115/.160 with 2 doubles and posting a -0.1 dWAR. Miles also said Whiteside would be the backup catcher for Iowa if he clears waivers.
Castillo was hitting only .242/.287/.385 at the time of the injury which was the result of a horrible May in which he hit .214/.250/.310. Welington would most likely be in the lineup for todays game.
Whiteside was filling in while Castillo was on the disabled list and hit .120/.115/.160 with 2 doubles and posting a -0.1 dWAR. Miles also said Whiteside would be the backup catcher for Iowa if he clears waivers.
Castillo was hitting only .242/.287/.385 at the time of the injury which was the result of a horrible May in which he hit .214/.250/.310. Welington would most likely be in the lineup for todays game.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Pirates defeat Cubs 5-3
After a long 2 hour rain delay baseball finally started at 8:15 with Travis Wood and Vance Worley squaring off at Wrigley Field tonight.
The Pirates took an early lead on a Jordy Mercer solo home run leading off the 3rd but Anthony Rizzo gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead on a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 4th. The Pirates came back taking a 3-2 lead on RBI singles by Josh Harrison and Andrew McCutchen and added on a 2-run home run by Harrison.
In the bottom of the 7th Eli Whiteside hit an RBI double that JUST missed being a home run to make it a 5-3 game but that was it as the Pirates bullpen shut the Cubs down to give them a 5-3 victory.
The Pirates took an early lead on a Jordy Mercer solo home run leading off the 3rd but Anthony Rizzo gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead on a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 4th. The Pirates came back taking a 3-2 lead on RBI singles by Josh Harrison and Andrew McCutchen and added on a 2-run home run by Harrison.
In the bottom of the 7th Eli Whiteside hit an RBI double that JUST missed being a home run to make it a 5-3 game but that was it as the Pirates bullpen shut the Cubs down to give them a 5-3 victory.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Cubs defeat Pirates 6-3.
It was Edwin Jackson vs Charlie Morton today as the Cubs began an 11-game home stand with a 6-3 victory that brought their record to 31-40. It happened to be Jacksons 250th career start.
After Anthony Rizzo swung at a wild pitch that supposedly got away from Russell Martin that allowed Chris Coghlan to score but after the Pirates challenged it revealed the pitch hit Rizzo and was a dead ball forcing Coghlan back to third.
The Pirates challenged again in the second after Pedro Alvarez singled to right but Ike Davis was thrown out at home in what was ruled to be a controversial violation of rule 7.13.
In the third the Cubs loaded the bases with one out with Anthony Rizzo up and he ripped a 2-run double to make it 2-0 then Starlin Castro launched a 3-run homer to make it a 5-run inning and put the Cubs up 5-0. A 3-run homer by Jordy Mercer made it a 5-3 game but Chris Coghlan hit a solo home run to make it 6-3 and that was the final score as Hector Rondon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 8th save of the season.
After Anthony Rizzo swung at a wild pitch that supposedly got away from Russell Martin that allowed Chris Coghlan to score but after the Pirates challenged it revealed the pitch hit Rizzo and was a dead ball forcing Coghlan back to third.
The Pirates challenged again in the second after Pedro Alvarez singled to right but Ike Davis was thrown out at home in what was ruled to be a controversial violation of rule 7.13.
In the third the Cubs loaded the bases with one out with Anthony Rizzo up and he ripped a 2-run double to make it 2-0 then Starlin Castro launched a 3-run homer to make it a 5-run inning and put the Cubs up 5-0. A 3-run homer by Jordy Mercer made it a 5-3 game but Chris Coghlan hit a solo home run to make it 6-3 and that was the final score as Hector Rondon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 8th save of the season.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Cubs defeat Marlins 5-4 in 13 innings
In a close, hard fought game the Cubs emerged victorious thanks to an RBI double by Travis Wood. Jason Hammel had a shaky outing giving up 4 runs over 6 innings striking out 9 and walking only 1.
Giancarlo Stanton gave the Marlins an early lead with a 2-run line drive that left in a huge hurry. Casey McGehee added an RBI single make it a 3-0 game.
In the 6th after an infield single, a sacrifice bunt with the force out at second, and a pair of single Anthony Rizzo grounded out to first to put the Cubs on the board to make it a 4-1 game. Then Starlin Castro hit a big 3-run home run to put the Cubs on top 4-3. However a sacrifice fly by Adeiny Hechavarria tied the game at 4.
Both bullpens pitched very well combining for 14 innings with 8 hits, 17 strikeouts, and 9 walks. But the Marlins blinked first with Travis Wood ripping a RBI double that scored Junior Lake and James Russell came in and shut the door on the Marlins to give the Cubs a 5-4 win.
Player of the Game: Starlin Castro 3-6 with a 3-run home run that gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead.
Giancarlo Stanton gave the Marlins an early lead with a 2-run line drive that left in a huge hurry. Casey McGehee added an RBI single make it a 3-0 game.
In the 6th after an infield single, a sacrifice bunt with the force out at second, and a pair of single Anthony Rizzo grounded out to first to put the Cubs on the board to make it a 4-1 game. Then Starlin Castro hit a big 3-run home run to put the Cubs on top 4-3. However a sacrifice fly by Adeiny Hechavarria tied the game at 4.
Both bullpens pitched very well combining for 14 innings with 8 hits, 17 strikeouts, and 9 walks. But the Marlins blinked first with Travis Wood ripping a RBI double that scored Junior Lake and James Russell came in and shut the door on the Marlins to give the Cubs a 5-4 win.
Player of the Game: Starlin Castro 3-6 with a 3-run home run that gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead.
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