Nic Jackson, Luis Montanez, Brandon Sing Opt for Free Agency

[CaliforniaRaisin]

He's a 6-year minor league FA and Scout.com says he'll test free agency. No word on two other big named minor league free agents, Luis Montanez and Brandon Sing.

 

Carmen Pignatiello did re-sign.

Edited October 21, 2006 by CaliforniaRaisin

[BigbadB]

Okay, so Nic is a 6 year free agent, but isn't he also 6 years out of college.

[biittner77]

I could see all 3 of those guys staying or leaving or retiring.

 

Predictions:

 

Nic retires after next season.

 

Monty gets signed by somebody else

 

Sing becomes the next David Kelton

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I always held out hope for Nic. I just don't think he has a future in the majors. If he hangs around long enough, he might get a call-up when someone gets injured, but he's roster filler at this stage in his career.

[Post Count Padder]

That's a shame. I always like Jackson. I always wanted to at least see him reach the majors in a Cub uniform.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

That's a shame. I always like Jackson. I always wanted to at least see him reach the majors in a Cub uniform.

 

This doesn't mean he won't re-sign with the Cubs.

[Post Count Padder]

That's a shame. I always like Jackson. I always wanted to at least see him reach the majors in a Cub uniform.

 

This doesn't mean he won't re-sign with the Cubs.

Yes, I know. However, at this point, he'd have to stay injury-free (unlikely) and put up very good numbers to see time in the majors. I still hold hope for him.

[mhuber92211]

i have a Nic Jackson baseball card in my office. Its one of those with a piece of a bat in it. Pretty cool stuff

[Guest]

I have a Nic signed jersey. It's one of the few pieces of memorabilia that I own.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Per the same web site, Luis Montanez and Brandon Sing have also opted for free agency.

[CubinNY]

Luis Montanez

 

What a wasted draft pick.

 

That must have been a pretty weak draft though

 

First round

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2000/draft/news/2000/06/05/round_1/

 

All rounds

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2000/draft/index.html

 

In that draft the Cubs drafted a SS in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th round.

they also drafted Dontrell Willis in the 8th round.

[USSoccer]

Bonser, Wainwright and Utley all taken after Luis.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Bonser, Wainwright and Utley all taken after Luis.

 

But hey. Luis does have a HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT sister.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bonser, Wainwright and Utley all taken after Luis.

 

But hey. Luis does have a HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT sister.

 

This is true.

 

http://cdn.maximonline.com/girls/swim_2005/joanne_montanez-gm_l1.jpg

[nilodnayr]

Luis Montanez

 

What a wasted draft pick.

 

That must have been a pretty weak draft though

 

First round

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2000/draft/news/2000/06/05/round_1/

 

All rounds

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2000/draft/index.html

 

In that draft the Cubs drafted a SS in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th round.

they also drafted Dontrell Willis in the 8th round.

 

Was the draft really that bad? There are some pretty good players in the first few rounds. Maybe not the quantity that you would like, but some good quality. First round was weak, but it picks up.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

That was one of the worst first rounds in quite some time.

[BeerHere]

Luis Montanez

 

What a wasted draft pick.

 

That must have been a pretty weak draft though

 

First round

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2000/draft/news/2000/06/05/round_1/

 

All rounds

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2000/draft/index.html

 

In that draft the Cubs drafted a SS in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th round.

they also drafted Dontrell Willis in the 8th round.

 

Funny though that the Cubs have two others from that draft in the system. Harrington just signed and Negron played for W. Tenn in 2006.

[SouthSideRyan]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/262709.html

 

Ex-Cubs

 

Frank Beltran

Mike Mahoney

Jon Leicester

Adam Morrissey

Bobby Hill

John Webb

Alan Benes

Terry Adams

Ray Sadler

Gookie Dawkins

Talley Haines

Pete Bergeron

Randall Simon

Mark Watson

Scott McClain

Sandy Martinez

Mark Johnson

Adam Greenberg

Nate Bland

Alan Zinter

Mike Nannini

Jason Karnuth

Jackson Melian

Ryan Jorgenson

Stephen Randolph

Jermaine Van Buren

Matt Bruback

Jon Searles

Andrew Lorraine

 

I'd add Cliff Bartosh to the list of '06 Cubs that are interesting potential losses.

 

Other interesting names for one reason or another

 

Mike Ryan

Raul Chavez

Frank Brooks

Mark Quinn

Matt Kata

Jared Sandberg

Brett Prinz

Ryan Ludwick

Dustan Mohr

Brad Clontz

Eric Munson

Tike Redman

Mike Gallo

Carlos Hernandez

Ken Harvey

Dee Brown

Seung Song

Kurt Ainsworth

Joel Hannrahan

Kelly Wunsch

Edgardo Alfonzo

Frank Menechino

Bubba Crosby

Scott Strickland

CJ Nitkowski

Bo Hart

Matt Perisho

Dewon Brazelton

Brandon Villafuerte

Clint Nageotte

Luis Rivas

Al Reyes

Ryan Jensen

Brian Anderson

Matt Riley

Matt LeCroy

Brandon Larson

Tim Raines Jr.

[NCCubFan]

Isn't Josh Arteaga (Atlanta) also a former Cub farmhand?

 

And I'd add Fernando Valenzuela Jr. (White Sox) to the list of interesting names because of his father (much like Jared Sandberg and Tim Raines Jr.).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I'm guessing Isaac Pavlik and Ryan Bicondoa will be back in the system since they aren't on that list.

[karenmac]

Isn't Josh Arteaga (Atlanta) also a former Cub farmhand?

 

Yep, Arteaga spent the first half or so of 2005 with the Chiefs after coming down from Daytona (?) He was a good team guy...but the Cubs had put the writing on the wall...they were hoping he would move into the organization in a coaching role, but he thought he had a few more years of playing in him. I was glad to see the Braves pick him up.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

From the Cub Reporter:

 

ELIGIBLE TO BE FA BUT DID NOT FILE:

 

Federico Baez, RHP

Ryan Bicondoa, RHP

Gary Cates, IF-OF

Jesse Hoorelbeke, 1B

Casey Kopitzke, C (is now an instructor in Cubs minor league system)

Albenis Machado, INF

Isaac Pavlik, LHP

Carmen Pignatiello, LHP

Carlos Vasquez, LHP

Les Walrond, LHP

[SouthSideRyan]

From the Cub Reporter:

 

ELIGIBLE TO BE FA BUT DID NOT FILE:

 

Federico Baez, RHP

Ryan Bicondoa, RHP

Gary Cates, IF-OF

Jesse Hoorelbeke, 1B

Casey Kopitzke, C (is now an instructor in Cubs minor league system)

Albenis Machado, INF

Isaac Pavlik, LHP

Carmen Pignatiello, LHP

Carlos Vasquez, LHP

Les Walrond, LHP

 

So does this mean Walrond is off the 40 man? Cause that's very necessary.

[TruffleShuffle]

From the Cub Reporter:

 

ELIGIBLE TO BE FA BUT DID NOT FILE:

 

Federico Baez, RHP

Ryan Bicondoa, RHP

Gary Cates, IF-OF

Jesse Hoorelbeke, 1B

Casey Kopitzke, C (is now an instructor in Cubs minor league system)

Albenis Machado, INF

Isaac Pavlik, LHP

Carmen Pignatiello, LHP

Carlos Vasquez, LHP

Les Walrond, LHP

 

So does this mean Walrond is off the 40 man? Cause that's very necessary.

 

He probably realized he isn't very good, but also is smart enough to know that nobody else in the big leagues will let him pitch in the major leagues.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

From the Cub Reporter:

 

ELIGIBLE TO BE FA BUT DID NOT FILE:

 

Federico Baez, RHP

Ryan Bicondoa, RHP

Gary Cates, IF-OF

Jesse Hoorelbeke, 1B

Casey Kopitzke, C (is now an instructor in Cubs minor league system)

Albenis Machado, INF

Isaac Pavlik, LHP

Carmen Pignatiello, LHP

Carlos Vasquez, LHP

Les Walrond, LHP

 

So does this mean Walrond is off the 40 man? Cause that's very necessary.

 

Yes.