Minor League Musings

[Neuby]

Makes the recent hot start by Turnbull even more important and more likely the Cubs try and grab another depth arm like Stroman.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

2 hours ago, Neuby said:

Makes the recent hot start by Turnbull even more important and more likely the Cubs try and grab another depth arm like Stroman.

Based on what happened in the second half of 2023, it's pretty safe to say Stroman will never pitch in this org again.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ranking-the-20-hottest-mlb-prospects-hot-sheet-8-11-25/

[Bertz]

I feel like prospect fatigue is really working against Cristian.  He's the same age as all the juniors in last month's draft (about two months older than Aloy for instance) and he's on track to open next season in AA.

I think we all want to see more of that raw power translate into dongs, hopefully this past weekend was the start of an extended heater, but the resume is actually pretty solid on its own.  He's likely going to end this season with 10+ dongs, 50+ steals, a K rate under 20%, and very few doubts about his ability to stick at SS.  If he'd we'd drafted him as a sophomore last summer with a fat overslot bonus and he was having this exact season the vibes would be very different.

[JBears79]

27 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I feel like prospect fatigue is really working against Cristian.  He's the same age as all the juniors in last month's draft (about two months older than Aloy for instance) and he's on track to open next season in AA.

I think we all want to see more of that raw power translate into dongs, hopefully this past weekend was the start of an extended heater, but the resume is actually pretty solid on its own.  He's likely going to end this season with 10+ dongs, 50+ steals, a K rate under 20%, and very few doubts about his ability to stick at SS.  If he'd we'd drafted him as a sophomore last summer with a fat overslot bonus and he was having this exact season the vibes would be very different.

The Arod comparisons he got when he was signed didnt help either. Hes developing into a goid prospect. He looks like a future major league player in some capacity. Maybe not a star but a quality SS.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[JBears79]

I really hope there are a couple pitching gems in there. We really need an injection of high end pitching talent in the system now that Horton is established. We really just have Wiggins and while I think Birdsell is an ML starter, I think he's more of a 3/4 starter than a top of the rotation.

[Tryptamine]

21 minutes ago, JBears79 said:

I really hope there are a couple pitching gems in there. We really need an injection of high end pitching talent in the system now that Horton is established. We really just have Wiggins and while I think Birdsell is an ML starter, I think he's more of a 3/4 starter than a top of the rotation.

I'm getting to the point where I think I'd actually be surprised if some of the AAA bats aren't consolidated into either an MLB arm with control or into a high end sp prospect in AA/AAA. I think the MLB arm is the more likely,

[CaliforniaRaisin]

That’s not good: https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2025/08/14/cubs-miguel-amaya-reacts-to-landing-on-il-again-its-frustrating

Quote

Birdsell elbow injury

Cubs No. 9 prospect Brandon Birdsell is set to be examined by Dr. Keith Meisterafter hurting his elbow in a start last week, Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner said.

Birdsell was invited to major-league spring training this year but was sidelined by a Grade 1 lat strain. He didn’t begin pitching in games until mid-June on rehab assignments in the Arizona Complex League and Single-A. The Iowa Cubs activated him in mid-July.

In four Triple-A starts, Birdsell had a 3.38 ERA.

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

21 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

I'm getting to the point where I think I'd actually be surprised if some of the AAA bats aren't consolidated into either an MLB arm with control or into a high end sp prospect in AA/AAA. I think the MLB arm is the more likely,

I think Jed is content buying FA for 1 or 2 years. Rival execs said they didnt feel like Jed and co. appropriately valued controlled years beyond 2025 in trade negotiations with the underlying implication being a belief that those years will be diminished by the expected lockout. 

 

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

35 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

That’s not good: https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2025/08/14/cubs-miguel-amaya-reacts-to-landing-on-il-again-its-frustrating

 

horsefeathers. 

[CubinNY]

3 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

I think Jed is content buying FA for 1 or 2 years. Rival execs said they didnt feel like Jed and co. appropriately valued controlled years beyond 2025 in trade negotiations with the underlying implication being a belief that those years will be diminished by the expected lockout. 

 

 

Were the Cubs planning a lockout, or were the other executives? I'm guessing its the Cubs and their "clean books" references. I don't know what the Ricketts/Steinbrenners/Fenway Sports Group have planned, but it is likely to be messy. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

5 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

I think Jed is content buying FA for 1 or 2 years. Rival execs said they didnt feel like Jed and co. appropriately valued controlled years beyond 2025 in trade negotiations with the underlying implication being a belief that those years will be diminished by the expected lockout. 

 

 

I think this matches up well with their prospect capital. Feels like Jed is willing to part with AAA prospects due to the big league team but was less willing to part with Rojas or Wiggins.

In hindsight, the Bubic injury felt like a big impact on the deadline. We know the Royals liked Caissie and Bubic was under control through 2026. (Though good thing for the Cubs he got hurt before any potential trade.)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Naz Mulé was promoted to South Bend. Guessing someone (Erian?) gets promoted to Knoxville to replace Antonio Santos moving to Iowa.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

More promotions:

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yency Almonte and Erian Rodríguez promoted to AA Knoxville.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

MiLB.com lists Jaxon Wiggins as Saturday's probable starter for Knoxville.

[JBears79]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Naz Mulé was promoted to South Bend. Guessing someone (Erian?) gets promoted to Knoxville to replace Antonio Santos moving to Iowa.

Hasnt he been pretty mediocre? Surprised he got a promotion

[Donzo]

19 minutes ago, JBears79 said:

Hasnt he been pretty mediocre? Surprised he got a promotion

He's gone 5 innings in his last two starts and had his best game the start before the last one. Not much, but it's something to build off of.

I'm guessing the coaches must have seen some progress outside of stats.

[Donzo]

27 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

MiLB.com lists Jaxon Wiggins as Saturday's probable starter for Knoxville.

 

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

59 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

MiLB.com lists Jaxon Wiggins as Saturday's probable starter for Knoxville.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Post Count Padder]

I love seeing Mule and Erian get promoted. See how they fare against better competition. I wasn't sure they'd get a bump up.

And yay Wiggins. I get the innings limit but they've really slow rolled it. I assume he's been throwing a bunch in the meantime.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

59 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

I love seeing Mule and Erian get promoted. See how they fare against better competition. I wasn't sure they'd get a bump up.

And yay Wiggins. I get the innings limit but they've really slow rolled it. I assume he's been throwing a bunch in the meantime.

Yeah, Wiggins has been throwing bullpens/side sessions.