Rule 5 Draft roster decisions

[teddy]

40 man roster decisions for Rule 5 draft protections are due Thursday. Who will we add outside of CJ Edwards?

 

Eligible guys: http://www.thecubreporter.com/rule-5-draft-eligibility

 

Before the AFL, I was thinking it would just be Edwards, with some of the upper level bullpen arms having an outside shot, especially lefties, but not making it in the end. I haven't changed my mind, but Pineyro did pitch pretty well in the AFL so there's that. We have 2 roster spots open and one is necessary for Edwards, so we'll have to make some moves to protect more than 1 other guy.

 

Next tier after Edwards IMO (bullpen arms with decent years in the upper levels):

Ivan Pineyro, RHP

Frank Batista, RHP

Hunter Cervenka, LHP

Andrew McKirahan, LHP

 

Not much out there for Pineyro or Cervenka, much less Batista or McKirahan. It'll be up to scouts to decide how much the AFL performance plays into Pineyro's worthiness. Otherwise it seems like the Cubs could actually use more depth at LHP relievers so I'm guessing the 2 lefties have the best shot of being added overall, and AZ Phil seems to think Cervenka is the most likely to be drafted, which makes sense. No idea about anything related to Batista but he's the furthest along in terms of experience.

 

Other upper level guys with decent years statistically:

Blake Cooper, RHP

P. J. Francescon, RHP

Taylor Davis, C

 

Cooper was from the Brett Jackson trade and he had some really good numbers at AA fwiw, and he must be at least worth something since we actually traded for him instead of just straight up outrighting Jackson. It seems like one of his big selling points in the trade was that he wasn't on the 40 man though so I can't see him being added. Other 2 are pretty obvious depth.

 

Guys who were preseason favorites to be added, but had bad years:

John Andreoli, OF

Jae-Hoon Ha, OF

 

Low level position player prospects:

Gioskar Amaya, INF

Willson Contreras, C

Marco Hernandez, INF

Jeffrey Baez, OF

 

Other pitchers:

Zach Cates, RHP

Tony Zych, RHP

Gerardo Concepcion, LHP

Starling Peralta, RHP

[wvcbxl]

40 man roster decisions for Rule 5 draft protections are due Thursday. Who will we add outside of CJ Edwards?

 

Eligible guys: http://www.thecubreporter.com/rule-5-draft-eligibility

 

Before the AFL, I was thinking it would just be Edwards, with some of the upper level bullpen arms having an outside shot, especially lefties, but not making it in the end. I haven't changed my mind, but Pineyro did pitch pretty well in the AFL so there's that. We have 2 roster spots open and one is necessary for Edwards, so we'll have to make some moves to protect more than 1 other guy.

 

If any roster moves are made, it'll probably be to make room for someone the Cubs want to select in the draft, not to protect any additional player on that list.

[Guest]

Ivan Pineyro left the AFL with an injury and we haven't heard anything more about it. There might be no need to add him.

[craig]

Ivan Pineyro left the AFL with an injury and we haven't heard anything more about it. There might be no need to add him.

 

He pitched after that game, though, and effectively. So I'm not sure we should be injury-worried about him.

[Guest]

Ivan Pineyro left the AFL with an injury and we haven't heard anything more about it. There might be no need to add him.

 

He pitched after that game, though, and effectively. So I'm not sure we should be injury-worried about him.

 

Oh, I didn't realize that.

[imb]

are we going to take anyone in the rule V

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't see the risk with any of those other guys.

[toonsterwu]

I'm going to be rather surprised if we add a lot more than CJ Edwards. Now, there tends to be more than 1 add, so sure, someone else will be put on, but realistically, the question has to be, who is going to stick a whole year on another squad? There are occasional gambles like Wei-Chung Wang, who the Brewers took partly because their expectations weren't high and they thought they could sneak him on the 25 long enough. They did, but they essentially wasted a spot for awhile there. I'm saying this because I have a tough time seeing many teams thinking that Pineyro can stick on a 25 for long enough, sans injury.

 

In terms of arms, typically pen arms of high ceiling guys get plucked. Aside from Edwards and maybe Pineyro, I don't see a ton to worry about. There's guys I like, but if they get picked, you wish them the best. For example, now that he's full time pen, wouldn't be surprised if someone gambled on Starling Peralta again, but at this point, okay. None of the other arms worry me, and unless Frank Batista picked up velocity I wasn't aware of, he really shouldn't be a concern. Could I see the Cubs make a "surprise" pen protect? Sure ... someone like Cervenka perhaps wouldn't stun me, but no one screams, gotta protect. Maybe Blake Cooper's small sample size as a Cubs farmhand caught enough of an eye. No one really screams must protect to me, but it doesn't mean guys won't get plucked, as all it takes is one scout with some fascination. Wouldn't stun me if someone like Zych might still have some scouts intrigued.

 

Positionally, I still have mild fascination with Marco Hernandez (and multiple folks still suggest h has some trade value, I think Kiley this winter, BA or BP last), so maybe a team takes him as a util if they don't have expectations on offense. If so ... okay. If he develops, then you tip your cap to that org for developing him. Same goes for Contreras, who seems to have made strides but is still too raw and too far away. I mean, there really isn't anyone with a standout individual tool (such as speed) that one could forsee them as a possible bench option).

 

Doesn't mean these guys won't become major leaguers (heck, never really thought Josh Harrison would have that good of a year), but you tip your cap and move on if they do. And no, I have no idea why I keep saying tip your cap.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I could see any of Zych, Amaya, Hernandez, and Ha picked and stashed at the end of someone's roster.

 

Not sure what's become of McNutt, but someone could grab him if his arm still works.

 

Maples or Wells by someone overly ambitious?

[Guest]

Looks like the Cubs can get Torreyes back if they want.

 

Houston didn't protect Michael Feliz and some of the guys at BA are suggesting he might go #1 in the draft and stick in the big leagues despite never pitching above A ball.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Looks like the Cubs can get Torreyes back if they want.

 

We already traded for his lefty-batting college-product equivalent.

[gscool89]

Looks like the Cubs can get Torreyes back if they want.

 

Houston didn't protect Michael Feliz and some of the guys at BA are suggesting he might go #1 in the draft and stick in the big leagues despite never pitching above A ball.

Didn't the Astros protect Torreyes?

[gscool89]

RT @MDGonzales: C.J. Edwards added to 40-man roster. Cubs' 40-man roster at 39

[sweetpeteman]

Looks like the Cubs can get Torreyes back if they want.

 

Houston didn't protect Michael Feliz and some of the guys at BA are suggesting he might go #1 in the draft and stick in the big leagues despite never pitching above A ball.

Didn't the Astros protect Torreyes?

 

 

They did.

[gscool89]

RT @jessespector: The Astros added Michael Feliz to the 40-man. Stand down, Rule 5 fiends.

[Guest]

Apparently the Astros made some late decisions after I posted.

[Guest]

@jjcoop36: I'll just lay this out simply. 1) Astros announced 40-man roster moves this afternoon. Feliz not on list.

 

@jjcoop36: 2) Beat writer @EvanDrelich asks Luhnow about Feliz's absence from roster.

 

@jjcoop36: 3) Luhnow responds: "It's a risk that we're wiling to take at this point."

 

@jjcoop36: 4) Everyone in baseball starts dreaming of possibility of drafting Feliz in Rule 5 draft.

 

@jjcoop36: 5) Astros protect Feliz 1 hour before deadline. Rest of baseball is quite bummed he's not available, but also puzzled by the whole process.

 

@jjcoop36: Again in grand scheme this is minor stuff. And in the end Astros protected a guy they should have protected, but it was odd how it went down

 

@jjcoop36: Here's the thing. If the Astros had a trade brewing, just don't announce any 40-man moves early. Sit on 'em all til now.

 

@jjcoop36: Multiple teams just released their moves. By doing so early, at the least they had to rely on subterfuge...

[Cubswin11]

Who is Michael Feliz

[treebird]

zzzzzzzzzz

[Guest]

BA came up with a list of notable names for the Rule 5 draft: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/notable-players-available-rule-5-draft/

 

Andrew McKirahan made the list of top 10 names.

Andrew McKirahan, lhp, Cubs: He’s a lefty who has come on lately. A reliever at Texas, McKirahan had Tommy John surgery in 2012 which cost him much of two seasons and has set him back in his development. He started to return to form this season as his fastball jumped up to 92-96 mph this year that he mixes with a fringe-average breaking ball. Just don’t expect him to be a lefty specialist. McKirahan has been tougher on righthanders than lefthanded hitters every where he’s gone since he returned to the mound after his surgery.

 

The list actually boasts about 80 names, split into various categories.

 

To stick on a Major League roster as a Rule 5 pick, most players have to be able to provide some sort of usefulness to the big league club. That’s why utility infielders are one of the most appealing phyla of players—pick well and you fill a needed role for very little money.

 

Gioskar Amaya, 2b, Cubs: With a future major league utility infielder profile thanks to his on-base skills and steady glove, Amaya hasn’t played shortstop lately for Cubs. He has range and just enough arm to play there in a backup role, though a jump from high Class A to big leagues rules against him getting picked.

 

Marco Hernandez, ss, Cubs: Also left unprotected last year, Amaya’s running mate has defensive skills at shortstop that are worth a look, but hasn’t hit enough to make it likely a team will try to stash him.

 

Former Cub Marcus Hatley was also mentioned in the "Flamethrower" section and is eligible if the Cubs want to get him back from St Louis:

 

Marcus Hatley, rhp, Cardinals: Just signed by St. Louis as a minor league free agent, Hatley’s stuff has been excellent for several years (plus fastball, with flashes of a plus slider), but his ERA hasn’t matched his stuff or ratios. With plenty of Triple-A time, a team who likes the stuff could take a chance.

[toonsterwu]

That was as comprehensive as I recall BA doing for a Rule 5 draft. That said, I'd still be fairly shocked if we picked anyone. I really can't see any positional players getting picked for a utility role (I mean .... I guess I could understand picking a guy like DeShields as a utility guy/pinch runner, but I just don't see it)... and I really doubt they'd take a backup catcher. I guess Baron wouldn't be that bad ... but still, seems unlikely. Can't really see any arms getting picked, although there are guys I like (Mychal Givens could be a late bloomer due to making the pitching transition, still like Salcedo somewhat but we have "those" guys (those being average or better fastballs, solid slider, but not dominating enough to really think they would be a closer - hey, Marcus Hatley was one of those guys).

 

I actually didn't realize McKirahan was up to/touching upper 90's. Looking at this list, it seems quite possible that we'll lose a guy or two, but again, so be it if they pan out.

[Little Slide Rooter]

De Paula and Bradley would both be great investments at the cost of a roster spot.

[Guest]

The Cubs are maybe the last team in baseball that should be taking a pitcher in Rule 5.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The way I see it, the Rule 5's like the dollar bin at a used CD shop. You're not likely to strike gold, but who knows, maybe you'll find a forgotten Malkmus side project or that album that you kind of sort of thought about buying 3-4 years ago if it ever went on sale and then forgot about it. But now it's $1, so you buy it, if for no other reason than you found a crumbled up buck in your jacket pocket. If you don't like it, you toss it.

 

You know how they love reclamations and failed prospects under 24-25, and there seems to be a decent amount of these on that list, and I'd be surprised if they passed.

 

I remember De Paula's name coming up in trade chatter a few years back, maybe for Garza. He's an insane flamethrower with control problems. My money's on him.

[SouthSideRyan]

They didn't draft anyone last year when they were clearly still [expletive] around at the major league level, why would they draft somebody now when they'll accidentally win 75 games?