Who should the Cubs protect for the Rule 5 Draft?

[toonsterwu]

Gotta say, I was mildly surprised Adduci was protected. With Fuld and Colvin on the 40 man roster, and with Adduci's future limited to likely being a bench guy at best, I just didn't see the point of protecting him. That said, it's not a big deal. I guess if the Cubs didn't feel a big need to protect anyone else, then it's sort of a why not move, and I can't faul that. As for other guys, Maestri was too inconsistent, Diamond is too much of an unknown still, Chirinos/Clevenger/Robinson are backup catchers at best, Camp's a last man on the bench versatile option type, Papelbon can't really work in the pen due to his warmups, Reinhard's a middle reliever type. About the only guy I partially wish was protected, and I didn't even realize he was available, was Robert Hernandez, but there seems like a decent chance that he'll make it through, and it may be holding out on a past image of Robert that may or may not be true. Losing him would suck, but I'd turn the page and move on pretty quick.

 

What will be interesting to me is if we end up cutting some guys off. Cotts and Marcos Mateo come to mind. The former, I don't see a point for and we could use the savings. As for the latter, if there's room, you keep him around. He did show progress late in the yea, so the raw ability is too intriguing to cut, unless a spot is desperately needed.

[Cubswin11]

Gotta say, I was mildly surprised Adduci was protected. With Fuld and Colvin on the 40 man roster, and with Adduci's future limited to likely being a bench guy at best, I just didn't see the point of protecting him. That said, it's not a big deal. I guess if the Cubs didn't feel a big need to protect anyone else, then it's sort of a why not move, and I can't faul that. As for other guys, Maestri was too inconsistent, Diamond is too much of an unknown still, Chirinos/Clevenger/Robinson are backup catchers at best, Camp's a last man on the bench versatile option type, Papelbon can't really work in the pen due to his warmups, Reinhard's a middle reliever type. About the only guy I partially wish was protected, and I didn't even realize he was available, was Robert Hernandez, but there seems like a decent chance that he'll make it through, and it may be holding out on a past image of Robert that may or may not be true. Losing him would suck, but I'd turn the page and move on pretty quick.

 

What will be interesting to me is if we end up cutting some guys off. Cotts and Marcos Mateo come to mind. The former, I don't see a point for and we could use the savings. As for the latter, if there's room, you keep him around. He did show progress late in the yea, so the raw ability is too intriguing to cut, unless a spot is desperately needed.

Did we have to add Diamond to the 40-man in order to protect him from the Rule 5? I thought we put him on waivers like 3 days after we initially signed him and he cleared, thus since he cleared waivers he doesn't need a 40-man spot right?

[SouthSideRyan]

Gotta say, I was mildly surprised Adduci was protected. With Fuld and Colvin on the 40 man roster, and with Adduci's future limited to likely being a bench guy at best, I just didn't see the point of protecting him. That said, it's not a big deal. I guess if the Cubs didn't feel a big need to protect anyone else, then it's sort of a why not move, and I can't faul that. As for other guys, Maestri was too inconsistent, Diamond is too much of an unknown still, Chirinos/Clevenger/Robinson are backup catchers at best, Camp's a last man on the bench versatile option type, Papelbon can't really work in the pen due to his warmups, Reinhard's a middle reliever type. About the only guy I partially wish was protected, and I didn't even realize he was available, was Robert Hernandez, but there seems like a decent chance that he'll make it through, and it may be holding out on a past image of Robert that may or may not be true. Losing him would suck, but I'd turn the page and move on pretty quick.

 

What will be interesting to me is if we end up cutting some guys off. Cotts and Marcos Mateo come to mind. The former, I don't see a point for and we could use the savings. As for the latter, if there's room, you keep him around. He did show progress late in the yea, so the raw ability is too intriguing to cut, unless a spot is desperately needed.

Did we have to add Diamond to the 40-man in order to protect him from the Rule 5? I thought we put him on waivers like 3 days after we initially signed him and he cleared, thus since he cleared waivers he doesn't need a 40-man spot right?

 

He doesn't need to be on the 40 man to stay on the Cubs all year, but anybody not on the 40 man can be drafted in Rule 5. It's unlikely seeing as he was available for nothing to teams with no roster limitations(being on 25 man all year) just 3 months ago, but it's happened before. Andy Fox was signed to a minor league deal a few years back then drafted in rule 5 about a week later.

[Guest]

Adduci is just perplexing. Would have preferred them protecting, say, Maestri (or no one).

[craig]

I believe I read somewhere that given the timing of when the Cubs derostered Diamond, they weren't allowed to re-roster him. So even if he'd pulled things together enough so that they'd have wanted him, they just couldn't.

 

May have misread, or source may have been wrong.

 

So it's possible that he's impressed enough that they don't expect him to clear Rule 5, rather than that as of the other day they still didn't think he was worth a spot.

[biittner77]

Adduci is just perplexing. Would have preferred them protecting, say, Maestri (or no one).

 

Last year, didn't they have a segment of the GM meeting where the GMs each in turn said what they were looking for this offseason? Maybe they did that this year and that led Hendry to believe that someone like Adduci would be in demand. Am I imagining this?

 

Otherwise, Hendry has made some weird decisions in protecting players. Cedeno for instance was a head scratcher at the time.

[CUBZ99]

Adduci is just perplexing. Would have preferred them protecting, say, Maestri (or no one).

 

Last year, didn't they have a segment of the GM meeting where the GMs each in turn said what they were looking for this offseason? Maybe they did that this year and that led Hendry to believe that someone like Adduci would be in demand. Am I imagining this?

 

Otherwise, Hendry has made some weird decisions in protecting players. Cedeno for instance was a head scratcher at the time.

 

I'm guessing that you are right, and that Hendry was certain that some team would draft Adduci next month. Maybe he is simply trying to get something out of his wealth of backup OF prospects. I suppose if the Cubs have the room on the 40 man, why not?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Bumped because todays the day. Im expecting Papelbon to be snagged, and possibly Clevenger and Lalli, however, I wouldnt be surprised if theyre all back by the end of ST.

 

MLB.coms Rule 5 article lists Clevenger as one of the most likely guys to be taken.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091209&content_id=7783398&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[seanhopper]

Bumped because todays the day. Im expecting Papelbon to be snagged, and possibly Clevenger and Lalli, however, I wouldnt be surprised if theyre all back by the end of ST.

 

MLB.coms Rule 5 article lists Clevenger as one of the most likely guys to be taken.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091209&content_id=7783398&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

I believe Papelbon was added to the 40 man roster. It appears Clevenger will be taken.

[Hall7810]

Cubs selected Mike Parisi http://www.thebaseballcube.com/Players/P/Michael-Parisi.shtml

[Little Slide Rooter]

The Mariners took pitcher Kanekoa Texeira from the Yankees, says Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger.

 

Im proud of myself for not titling a thread Mariners aquire Texeira from Yankees.

[biittner77]

Cubs selected Mike Parisi http://www.thebaseballcube.com/Players/P/Michael-Parisi.shtml

 

Seems like the very definition of mediocre pitcher. Maybe they'll be trading him to someone else.

[Guest]

I see the first round is complete without any Cubs being selected in the major league phase. Is there going to be a round 2 or is everyone passing?

 

We lost Miguel Sierra to the Rays in the AAA phase.

[toonsterwu]

Jeremy Papelbon isn't on the 40 man. One problem I heard with him is that some Cubs folks thinks he takes too long to get warmed up to be effective out of the pen, meaning he might not be a LOOGY and more of a long man.

 

As for Parisi, best way to look at it is that it's a cheap gamble. I don't have high expectations, and the Rule 5 pick that succeeds is the exception, and not the rule. The options this year were thin. On the plus side, he looked good in AFL and has a 4 pitch arsenal. I mean, when the competition is Marshall/Samardzija/Gorzelanny for the last two spots, sure, I could see Parisi perhaps beating someone for a rotation job at the start of the year. He actually reminds me a bit of Casey Coleman. He could also stick around as the long man, last man in the pen type, with the Cubs potentially stashing him away like they did with Patton last year. Or, he could simply be a ST arm. At the end of the day, cheap enough gamble. Btw, Harry Pavlidis did an interview with him after being selected.

 

As for Miguel Sierra, well, put it this way, I honestly had to look up where Miguel Sierra played last year, and I follow it fairly closely. Completely lost track of him in my mind. Here's to wishing him the best, although I'm fine. Just another minor league arm.

[Guest]

I think we came out of it well. I was worried that someone would pick up Chirinos or Clevenger as it's relatively easy to stash a backup catcher if they have decent defense. Not much offense is expected of those guys anyway.

 

Hendry's actually done a pretty good job as GM of figuring out who needs to be protected and who doesn't. The only guy we've lost during the whole time that we might miss is Veal and it's very understandable why we didn't protect him.

[SouthSideRyan]

Has Sisco been hurt the last 2 seasons? There's nothing on br about him in '08 or '09(after disasters in '06 and '07)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Has Sisco been hurt the last 2 seasons? There's nothing on br about him in '08 or '09(after disasters in '06 and '07)

 

Wiki says he signed a minor league deal with Oakland in 2009 after having TJS in 2008, but that's all I can find.

[Ben32]

I think we came out of it well. I was worried that someone would pick up Chirinos or Clevenger as it's relatively easy to stash a backup catcher if they have decent defense. Not much offense is expected of those guys anyway.

 

Hendry's actually done a pretty good job as GM of figuring out who needs to be protected and who doesn't. The only guy we've lost during the whole time that we might miss is Veal and it's very understandable why we didn't protect him.

 

 

Tim how can you say that no offense is expected from Clevenger/Chirinos. Clevenger holds a BA. over .300 and the big hype this offseason is Chirinos' power and how he's hitting in winter ball. So how can you say that no offense is expected from those guys? Everything I hear is that Clevenger is a offensive catcher who has no power but can hit for average. People say that his defense is progressing. From his numbers it looks to me that he can play defense and hit. As far as I'm concerned the cubs put the wrong guy on the roster in Castillo. The guy had a losy year and gets rewared for it. Thats a good Flieta and Henry move right there. Also thank them for trading Fox for absolutely nothing and drafting this pitcher in the rule 5 draft that had over a 8 era also coming off surgery in 2008.

[toonsterwu]

I think we came out of it well. I was worried that someone would pick up Chirinos or Clevenger as it's relatively easy to stash a backup catcher if they have decent defense. Not much offense is expected of those guys anyway.

 

Hendry's actually done a pretty good job as GM of figuring out who needs to be protected and who doesn't. The only guy we've lost during the whole time that we might miss is Veal and it's very understandable why we didn't protect him.

 

 

Tim how can you say that no offense is expected from Clevenger/Chirinos. Clevenger holds a BA. over .300 and the big hype this offseason is Chirinos' power and how he's hitting in winter ball. So how can you say that no offense is expected from those guys? Everything I hear is that Clevenger is a offensive catcher who has no power but can hit for average. People say that his defense is progressing. From his numbers it looks to me that he can play defense and hit. As far as I'm concerned the cubs put the wrong guy on the roster in Castillo. The guy had a losy year and gets rewared for it. Thats a good Flieta and Henry move right there. Also thank them for trading Fox for absolutely nothing and drafting this pitcher in the rule 5 draft that had over a 8 era also coming off surgery in 2008.

 

The catchers - The argument for Castillo is that, talent wise, he's the most talented catcher in our system. The other two guys profile purely as backup backstops - Castillo has a bit more potential that, if he develops, could be more than just a backup backstop. His bat also was a bit unlucky in the first half, before having a solid 2nd half, and his defense, by all accounts, improved this year. He's probably not as steady as Chirinos, probably not as good a leader as Chirinos, and probably won't make as much contact as Clevenger, but there was good justification, IMO, to putting Castillo on after he had a solid 2009 campaign.

 

Jake Fox - I've said it here and elsewhere, but had the trade simply been Jake Fox for those three guys, I would've been okay with it. Add in that we saved 1.7 million on Miles, and it's fine by me. Look, Fox is a nice player, a guy who can fill a role. That said, he doesn't really have a position that he can play regularly as of now. He's not a young pup. He's still, despite improvement with his discipline, a bit of a hacker, and will always be. Going to the AL is the best move for him, as he can DH there. The only role he really would've fit on the club next year was big bat off the bench (and Pat Burrell may end up filling that role). If the Cubs liked Gray enough, I'm more concerned about the pen than I am about a big bat off the bench. Sure, I don't really think Gray is anything more than a middle reliever, but keep in mind, this isn't really the Cubs pen of a few years back. Outside of Guzman/Marmol, there's very few power arms, and Gray brings some power stuff to the table. Add in a decent positional asset, and an intriguing young arm in Morla, and I would've been fine with that 3 for 1 swap. The fact that we cleared 1.7 million is a nice bonus.

 

As for Mike Parisi, it's a 25 grand gamble. He'll chew up some ST innings, and if he's not good enough, let's face it, 25 grand isn't much in baseball. He should have a good shot at the 5th starter's job. He's coming off a solid AFL where his 4 pitch arsenal looked solid enough. The competition is Jeff Samardzija, Tom Gorzelanny (and perhaps Marshall, although I get the feeling that Marshall is ticketed for the pen already). Parisi is much further along than Samardzija as a starter (leaving aside the question of whether or not Samardzija is a starter). There's a decent chance he could win that 5th job to start the year, with Lilly on the mend. If not, the team could use him as the long man. Sure, Esmailin Caridad and Justin Berg are both former starters, but in Berg's case, he's more of a, bring him in for a DP ball type pen arm/middle reliever, and in Caridad's case, his velocity is much better in short stints. At the end of the day, it's a cheap gamble and not worth getting too worked up over.

[jersey cubs fan]

As for Mike Parisi, it's a 25 grand gamble. He'll chew up some ST innings, and if he's not good enough, let's face it, 25 grand isn't much in baseball. He should have a good shot at the 5th starter's job. He's coming off a solid AFL where his 4 pitch arsenal looked solid enough. The competition is Jeff Samardzija, Tom Gorzelanny (and perhaps Marshall, although I get the feeling that Marshall is ticketed for the pen already). Parisi is much further along than Samardzija as a starter (leaving aside the question of whether or not Samardzija is a starter). There's a decent chance he could win that 5th job to start the year, with Lilly on the mend.

 

One year ago the Cubs had plenty of guys but they wasted a roster spot on a horrible pitcher because he was a rule 5 guy. Why should we assume the Cubs will do the right thing and not waste space on another non-deserving players because the scouts like him? And if this guy has a shot at the 5th spot, that is a very bad thing.