Amador and Hart Traded/Barney, Clevenger and Thomas Promoted

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

I'm not sure if this was posted; I didn't see it anywhere.

 

http://milb.scout.com/a.z?s=381&p=2&c=659104

Monday, the Cubs traded Class-A Daytona OF Chris Amador to Baltimore along with Triple-A Iowa INF Bo Hart. This could hardly be considered a major trade, but it likely signals the beginning of this expected bevy of changes.

 

The 24-year-old Amador batted .260 in 87 games with Daytona, garnering mid-season Florida State League All-Star honors. He signed with the Cubs as a minor league free agent this past off-season after spending seven sub-par seasons in the Chicago White Sox farm system.

 

As for who replaces Hart on the Triple-A roster, Chris Robinson becomes the second catcher to be promoted to Iowa from Double-A this season.

 

Robinson batted just .230 in 63 games at Tennessee and joins a catching corps that currently consists of Tony Richie and 34-year-old part player/part coach Mike Mahoney.

 

Defensively, Robinson threw out 21 of 63 opposing runners (33 percent) and had a .987 fielding percentage with two passed balls and five errors.

 

Wasn't Robinson the player received in the Neifi trade?

 

Had to get rid of Hart. Jason Kendall provides enough grit for one organization.

[Guest]

Wasn't Robinson the player received in the Neifi trade?

 

Yup! Thanks for the link.

 

To recap:

 

OF Chris Amador (Peoria) and IF Bo Hart (Iowa) traded for PTBNL.

 

C Chris Robinson and OF Jorge Cortes from Tenn to Iowa.

 

IF/OF Jeffrey Rea and P Yusdel Tuero from Mesa to Daytona. C Steve Clevenger is off to Daytona from Boise. Daytona cut OF Jesus Valdez.

 

SS Darwin Barney to Peoria from Mesa. 2B Tony Thomas, RHP Brandon Taylor and C/1B/OF Luis Bautista are all headed to Boise from Mesa.

[Guest]

RonnieWooWooSanto, I split your post into a new thread because it deserved it (esp. when considering the other promotions).

[karenmac]

wow - didn't realize that Valdez was struggling that much in Daytona. He was amazing for Peoria last year...

[RynoRules]

Anyone care to guess what the broader implications of these deals might be?

[fromthestretch]

Anyone care to guess what the broader implications of these deals might be?

 

It means there's no longer the threat of seeing Bo Hart in a Cubs uniform this season.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What does everyone think the Robinson promotion implies about the MLB catching situation? Is Soto staying with the big club?

[E.J.]

What does everyone think the Robinson promotion implies about the MLB catching situation? Is Soto staying with the big club?

 

It's definitely interesting. I wonder if we see Hill DFA'd today.

[CubsInNC]

What does everyone think the Robinson promotion implies about the MLB catching situation? Is Soto staying with the big club?

 

It looks to me like he's there to stay. But in a month and a half, he would be anyway. Makes limited sense. Soto's done well in in AAA as a repeater, and maybe a longer taste (even if he's not playing much) will do him some good getting to learn the staff, and the pitchers he will face in the majors. For all we know he's here to stay, so he has a better chance to be the opening day starter next year, by getting extra time to learn the staff.

 

And, the Cubs must be convinced that when they DFA Hill to get him off the 25 (and 40 man), he'll either opt out, or someone will claim him.

[brinoch]

What does everyone think the Robinson promotion implies about the MLB catching situation? Is Soto staying with the big club?

 

I truly hope so. It also might signal that Blanco is done for the year.

[Guest]

Nate Spears, Chris Walker, Alan Rick and Robinson Chirinos from Daytona to AA Tennessee. Gary Cates broke a finger and is headed to the Tennessee DL.

[NCCubFan]

Walker's sure piling up the frequent flyer miles. Iowa to Daytona to Tennessee in less than a week.

[craig]

What does everyone think the Robinson promotion implies about the MLB catching situation? Is Soto staying with the big club?

 

Not sure. But I don't think this has many implications. Whether it's Soto or Hill or neither (if Hil is moved and doesn't end up in iowa...), I don't think Soto-Richie-Robinson would be too much. May also be that Robinson will go back down, too; if Hill needs to clear waivers, doesn't that sometimes take a couple of days and don't the cubs often let the guy have a couple days off to deal with the disappointment and get their head back ready for minor-league action?

 

I think the move comes primarily from the bottom end. Not enough AB's for donaldson, Mercedes, and Clevenger. Both Clev and donaldson are meaningful prospects and need catching practice. But, Castillo (?) at Peoria is also a meaningful prospect and needs all the practice he can get. So, Daytona is the place for Clevenger to go He can get plenty of action there. If he keeps hitting there, and shows anything defensively, you've got yourself a prospect.

 

But, Rick is a dutiful organization guy, so he needed to clear out, and up. that would clutter AA too much, so Robinson bumps up. Soto does a lot of DH and 1B anyway and doesn't need thta much catching practice.

 

Could work out pretty well.

 

Or, maybe it's as somebody suggested, Soto will stay up, and Hlll will wind up in Louisville or Nashville or something.

[the splendid splinter]

Wasn't Robinson the player received in the Neifi trade?

 

Yup! Thanks for the link.

 

To recap:

 

OF Chris Amador (Peoria) and IF Bo Hart (Iowa) traded for PTBNL.

 

C Chris Robinson and OF Jorge Cortes from Tenn to Iowa.

 

IF/OF Jeffrey Rea and P Yusdel Tuero from Mesa to Daytona. C Steve Clevenger is off to Daytona from Boise. Daytona cut OF Jesus Valdez.

 

SS Darwin Barney to Peoria from Mesa. 2B Tony Thomas, RHP Brandon Taylor and C/1B/OF Luis Bautista are all headed to Boise from Mesa.

Raisin, good luck on your upcoming trip! Also thought I heard or read somewhere that Leon Johnson and Hardman could be going to Peoria!

[Guest]

Raisin, good luck on your upcoming trip! Also thought I heard or read somewhere that Leon Johnson and Hardman could be going to Peoria!

 

Thanks. I was just just thinking that Peoria would need an OF or two with Amador gone - they're now at 3 OFs (Camp, Joseph and Leclerc - though Canzler plays a bit of RF too). Johnson certainly wasn't being challenged in the AZL and Hardman is ready for low-A too. It's good to hear the college guys are all moving past Mesa and a few of them and Barney, Hardman and Johnson will get a crack at full-season.

[Wabasha31]

What does everyone think the Robinson promotion implies about the MLB catching situation? Is Soto staying with the big club?

 

According to BA's minor league rosters, Chris Robinson is back at Tennessee, and Carlos Rojas has taken his place at Iowa.

 

Also, I just noticed that Matt Camp, Jonathan Mota and Alfred Joseph are on their Daytona roster.