Minor League Musings

[CubinNY]

Not sure if Canario is out of options yet, but according to Brett at BN he’s tearing the cover off the ball this winter. 

[JunkyardWalrus]

4 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Not sure if Canario is out of options yet, but according to Brett at BN he’s tearing the cover off the ball this winter. 

He's a perfectly adequate 5th OF. He can play CF and has some pop in his bat at league minimum.

What more could you (not you, CubinNY) want? 

[Post Count Padder]

I've been ok with Canario being the 4th OF. He has no options and I think he can hit enough to hold down the role. At least give him a shot at it before throwing in the towel on him.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Great news for Cade Horton: https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cade-horton-looks-to-join-cubs-in-2025

Quote

He has already resumed light throwing off a mound and is on target for a normal Spring Training.

“That’s the blessing about missing the rest of the year,” said Horton, who focused on recovery and rehab after just nine outings between Double-A and Triple-A across April and May last season. “I’m feeling good and ready to go.”

 

[Bertz]

 

Jonny Long practicing at 3B

[craig]

This is kinda more a big-league roster question, but you guys know all the prospects so would be better able to answer.  

Q1:  If Busch were to get injured, do any of our prospects have 1B experience? 

1. I know Moises does, but as a short guy with no range and no catch radius, I assume he'd be terrible. 
2. Have Caissie or Alcantara or Canario ever played any 1B? 
3. For big-league guys, do you think Happ or Suzuki ever have? 
4. Just kinda wondering what we'd do depth-wise *IF* Busch got hurt, or if he's terrible.  Moises? 
5. Johnny Long? 
6. Or is this maybe a depth problem, and one of Hoyer's last signs will be a 1B/3B/OF/DH type guy for 40-man?  
7. Or is this an obvious opportunity and you maybe sign some AAAA 1B-type guy and sell him on the opportunity that you're one injury away from a big-league callup?  

Q2:  What's your guess if PCA was to get injured?

1. Tucker?  
2. Canario, if he makes the roster or clears waivers and is still with the organization?  
3. Alcantara, and hope he can hit enough to be OK?  
4. Maybe Triantos will get some CF work as the season progresses, so down the line he might be a CF option if Alcantara's bat doesn't progress?  

[Bertz]

32 minutes ago, craig said:

This is kinda more a big-league roster question, but you guys know all the prospects so would be better able to answer.  

Q1:  If Busch were to get injured, do any of our prospects have 1B experience? 

1. I know Moises does, but as a short guy with no range and no catch radius, I assume he'd be terrible. 
2. Have Caissie or Alcantara or Canario ever played any 1B? 
3. For big-league guys, do you think Happ or Suzuki ever have? 
4. Just kinda wondering what we'd do depth-wise *IF* Busch got hurt, or if he's terrible.  Moises? 
5. Johnny Long? 
6. Or is this maybe a depth problem, and one of Hoyer's last signs will be a 1B/3B/OF/DH type guy for 40-man?  
7. Or is this an obvious opportunity and you maybe sign some AAAA 1B-type guy and sell him on the opportunity that you're one injury away from a big-league callup?  

Q2:  What's your guess if PCA was to get injured?

1. Tucker?  
2. Canario, if he makes the roster or clears waivers and is still with the organization?  
3. Alcantara, and hope he can hit enough to be OK?  
4. Maybe Triantos will get some CF work as the season progresses, so down the line he might be a CF option if Alcantara's bat doesn't progress?  

For Busch, I'm really hoping they have Caissie moonlight at 1st.  He should be the injury backup for any of Happ, Suzuki, Busch, or Tucker IMO.  On top of that, I'd be floored if they don't add a RHH 1B to the bench.  On a short term basis. like finishing out the game Busch is injured in, each of Happ, Tucker, and Amaya have some 1B experience.

For PCA I suspect the backup will be one of Brujan/Berti/Canario to open the year.  But I suspect the reason they're not sniffing around for a real backup CF is that they want Alcantara to spend a good amount of time on the MLB roster this year and handle that role.

[craig]

Brujan and Canario are both out of options, right?  So, only way they can sub for PCA come a June interview is if they are still in the organization.  Gotta either make the roster, or get derostered and have nobody claim them.  Maybe Brujan will make it.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

18 hours ago, craig said:

This is kinda more a big-league roster question, but you guys know all the prospects so would be better able to answer.  

Q1:  If Busch were to get injured, do any of our prospects have 1B experience? 

1. I know Moises does, but as a short guy with no range and no catch radius, I assume he'd be terrible. 
2. Have Caissie or Alcantara or Canario ever played any 1B? 
3. For big-league guys, do you think Happ or Suzuki ever have? 
4. Just kinda wondering what we'd do depth-wise *IF* Busch got hurt, or if he's terrible.  Moises? 
5. Johnny Long? 
6. Or is this maybe a depth problem, and one of Hoyer's last signs will be a 1B/3B/OF/DH type guy for 40-man?  
7. Or is this an obvious opportunity and you maybe sign some AAAA 1B-type guy and sell him on the opportunity that you're one injury away from a big-league callup?  

Q2:  What's your guess if PCA was to get injured?

1. Tucker?  
2. Canario, if he makes the roster or clears waivers and is still with the organization?  
3. Alcantara, and hope he can hit enough to be OK?  
4. Maybe Triantos will get some CF work as the season progresses, so down the line he might be a CF option if Alcantara's bat doesn't progress?  

Berti played multiple playoff games at 1B last year for the Yankees. He'd probably be the first up. Happ has some 1B experience in the bigs too. Ballesteros has a bit of experience in the minors.

Alcántara would probably be the first choice at CF if PCA is hurt, ahead of Canario I'd guess.

[craig]

I checked, Game 2 against Kansas City in the playoffs was Berti's first start of his career at 1B!

[Jason Ross]

On 1/27/2025 at 3:00 PM, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Berti played multiple playoff games at 1B last year for the Yankees. He'd probably be the first up. Happ has some 1B experience in the bigs too. Ballesteros has a bit of experience in the minors.

Alcántara would probably be the first choice at CF if PCA is hurt, ahead of Canario I'd guess.

Tucker spent some nominal time there in 2019 as well. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Bertz]

16 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

It's not the best angle to be able to tell this but he looks significantly slimmer, no?

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, Bertz said:

It's not the best angle to be able to tell this but he looks significantly slimmer, no?

So much so I had to double take thinking it was...literally anyone else.

[We Got The Whole 9]

If you really buckle down you can shred that baby fat in just a few months. 

 

So I am told...

[JunkyardWalrus]

If he turns out to be spry with that pretty swing? That'd be interesting. 

[Post Count Padder]

Doesn't even look like him from that angle. Slim Schwarber vibes. It does seem like he's always been a hard worker and he put in that effort this offseason. There's part of me that assumed he'd be used as trade bait but heck maybe they move Suzuki at some point and put Mo in at DH. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Don’t like the sound of that Birdsell injury.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

We won’t see Bateman and Caissie at spring training and possibly the early part of the minor league season:

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

2024 7th rounder Ivan Brethowr:

 

[Bertz]

19 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

2024 7th rounder Ivan Brethowr:

 

It would be cool if one of the bat-only types from last year's draft like Brethowr or Alvararez popped off this year

Also, just now as I just went to FG to look at what Brethowr did last year I discovered that they now have college stats!

[Jason Ross]

From a 100%, purely aesthetic standpoint point...Brethowr looks like Aaron Judge.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The HR was at 108.4 EV. Nice comment on Brethowr from Joe Doyle:

 

[squally1313]

it's like you almost figured it out and then just couldn't help yourself

[CaliforniaRaisin]