Wrigley Rat

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed RHP Justin Berg on the 7-Day disabled list. sore right elbow. - Iowa Cubs placed LHP Scott Maine on the 7-Day disabled list. sprained left ankle. - RHP Kyle Smit assigned to Iowa Cubs from Daytona Cubs. - RHP Daniel Berlind assigned to Iowa Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. - Iowa Cubs activated 3B Marquez Smith from the 7-Day disabled list. Tennessee: - RHP Andrew Cashner assigned to Tennessee Smokies. Daytona: - LHP Frank Del Valle assigned to Daytona Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. Peoria: - RHP Dallas Beeler assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Tennessee Smokies. - Peoria Chiefs placed SS Arismendy Alcantara on the 7-Day disabled list. sprained ankle. - SS Kenny Socorro assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks. - RHP Yoannis Negrin assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks. - Peoria Chiefs placed OF Smaily Borges on the 7-Day disabled list. - John Andreoli assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. Boise: - Boise Hawks placed OF Blair Springfield on the 7-Day disabled list. - LHP Andrew McKirahan assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - RHP Yoanner Negrin assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - RHP Hector Mayora assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - Carlos Romero assigned to AZL Cubs from Iowa Cubs. - RHP Anthony Zych assigned to AZL Cubs. - 1B Daniel Vogelbach assigned to AZL Cubs. - 2B Pierre LePage assigned to AZL Cubs. - AZL Cubs activated RHP Amaury Paulino from the 7-Day disabled list. - 1B Roderick Shoulders assigned to AZL Cubs. - SS Daniel Lockhart assigned to AZL Cubs. - AZL Cubs signed John Andreoli.

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled Casey Coleman from Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Chicago Cubs optioned LHP Scott Maine to Iowa Cubs. - Carlos Romero assigned to Iowa Cubs from AZL Cubs. - RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Boise: - 1B Ryan Cuneo assigned to Boise Hawks from Peoria Chiefs. Mesa: - LHP Graham Hicks assigned to AZL Cubs.

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled LHP Scott Maine from Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Hung-Wen Chen returned to Iowa Cubs from Piratas de Campeche. - Iowa Cubs activated C Welington Castillo from the 7-Day disabled list. - Iowa Cubs activated 3B Marquez Smith from the 7-Day disabled list. - RHP Dave Bush elected free agency. Tennessee: - C Steve Clevenger assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. - SS Jonathon Mota assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. - Eric Jokisch assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Peoria Chiefs. - Tennessee Smokies activated RHP Marcus Hatley from the 7-Day disabled list. - Tennessee Smokies placed C Luis Flores on the restricted list. Daytona: - Brent Ebinger assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Peoria: - Peoria Chiefs activated RHP Robinson Lopez from the 7-Day disabled list. Boise: - 1B Ryan Cuneo assigned to Boise Hawks. - LHP Sheldon McDonald assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - Cameron Greathouse assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks. - LHP Luis Villalba assigned to AZL Cubs. - Garrett Schlecht assigned to AZL Cubs from Chicago Cubs. - RHP Yoanner Negrin assigned to AZL Cubs. - C Welington Castillo assigned to AZL Cubs. - 2B Marquez Smith assigned to AZL Cubs.

Iowa: - OF Matthew Spencer assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies placed RHP Marcus Hatley on the 7-Day disabled list. - Larry Suarez assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs.

Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies placed IF Carlos Figueroa on the 7-Day disabled list. Peoria: - Jesus Morelli assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks. Boise: - Jean Sandoval assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - Oliver Zapata assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - Jin-Young Kim assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks.

Well good. Then he's signed! With phrases like "right now" and "after the deadline." If you ended discussions, those aren't the words you'd use. If you've signed but can't talk about it until August 15th, you might say something like that.

Tennessee: - Nelson Perez assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. - David Macias assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. Daytona: - Elliot Soto assigned to Daytona Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. - Matt Loosen assigned to Daytona Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. - Daytona Cubs activated DH Jake Opitz from the 7-Day disabled list. Peoria: - Jesus Morelli assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks. - Peoria Chiefs placed RHP Robinson Lopez on the 7-Day disabled list. Shoulder soreness - Ramon Garcia assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. - Rafael Valdes assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Daytona Cubs. - Brett Wallach assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Daytona Cubs.

Signed: RHP Yoanner Negrin Released: C Jose Guevara Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dallas Beeler, RHP Arturo Maltos-Garcia, 2B Matt Cerda Reinstated from DL: SS Junior Lake, OF Jim Adduci, OF Jesus Morelli Mesa: - 1B Jake Opitz assigned to AZL Cubs.

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled LF Tyler Colvin from Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed C Welington Castillo on the 7-Day disabled list. - Steve Clevenger assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - RHP Carlton Smith assigned to Iowa Cubs. Tennessee: - Carlos Figueroa assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Chicago Cubs. - Tennessee Smokies placed RHP Dallas Beeler on the 7-Day disabled list. Daytona: - RF Abner Abreu assigned to Daytona Cubs. Peoria: - Peoria Chiefs placed 1B Ryan Cuneo on the 7-Day disabled list. Back injury. - Peoria Chiefs activated OF Smaily Borges from the 7-Day disabled list. - Roderik Pichardo assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - CF Darien Martin assigned to AZL Cubs.

Tennessee: - Brent Ebinger assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Peoria Chiefs. - Tennessee Smokies activated SS Junior Lake from the 7-Day disabled list. Daytona: - David Macias assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Boise: - Dustin Harrington assigned to Boise Hawks from Daytona Cubs. - C Jose Guevara retired. Mesa: - Taylor Davis assigned to AZL Cubs from Chicago Cubs.

Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies activated CF James Adduci from the 7-Day disabled list. Daytona: - RF Nelson Perez assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Boise: - Jesus Morelli assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - Kyung-Min Na assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks. Signed: RHP Dave Bush Draft pick signed: OF Darien Martin (13) Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chris Carpenter Option transferred: RHP Kyle Smit (Double-A to High-A) Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Pierre LePage, SS Jake Opitz Reinstated from DL: RHP Rafael Dolis

Gretzky signed. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-report-cubs-sign-draft-pick-gretzky-20110721,0,837919.story

Iowa: - Dave Bush assigned to Iowa Cubs from Chicago Cubs. - Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Chris Carpenter to Iowa Cubs. - Iowa Cubs placed 3B Marquez Smith on the 7-Day disabled list. Tennessee: - RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. - RHP Marco Carrillo assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. Daytona: - Kyle Smit assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Daytona Cubs placed DH Jake Opitz on the 7-Day disabled list retroactive to July 14, 2011. - Greg Rohan assigned to Daytona Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. Peoria: - Matt Loosen assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Tennessee Smokies. - Dustin Geiger assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. - Peoria Chiefs placed 2B Pierre LePage on the 7-Day disabled list retroactive to July 13, 2011. - Taiwan Easterling assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. Boise: - OF Zeke DeVoss assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - C Yaniel Cabezas assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - Hector Mayora assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks. - CF James Adduci assigned to AZL Cubs.

BA

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed 3B Marquez Smith on the 7-Day disabled list. Mesa: - OF Zeke (Ezekiel) DeVoss assigned to AZL Cubs.

Iowa: - Brett Jackson assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Ryan Flaherty assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Tennessee: - Ty Wright assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. - Jae-Hoon Ha assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs.

I'm not sure how experts view him, but I have rated him highly in the past. He has power that you can't teach, and is now more versatile than most other prospects. I picture him as a left-handed Mark DeRosa type who will have a chance in the majors at the corner spots and 2B. I think he may have some solid years where he hits for average and power, but won't be an everyday regular in the majors for his entire career. I expect solid numbers out of him in Iowa this year, and if he's back there next year, he will have a huge first half. I think (in the extremely unlikely event) if the Cubs go with a youth movement next year, he will be on the team and play all over the field.

Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies activated SS Matt Camp. - Oswaldo Martinez assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. - Tennessee Smokies activated RHP Rafael Dolis from the 7-Day disabled list. - Tennessee Smokies placed SS Junior Lake on the 7-Day disabled list. - RHP Ramon Garcia assigned to Tennessee Smokies from AZL Cubs. - LHP Brent Ebinger assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Peoria Chiefs. Daytona: - Oswaldo Martinez assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Peoria: - Brent Ebinger assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Tennessee Smokies. - Luis Liria assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks. - Peoria Chiefs activated RHP Robinson Lopez from the 7-Day disabled list. - Peoria Chiefs placed LHP Graham Hicks on the 7-Day disabled list. Mesa: - Ramon Garcia assigned to AZL Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Travis Garcia assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks. - Yaniel Cabezas assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks.

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs released 2B Augie Ojeda. - Iowa Cubs released CF Fernando Perez. Tennessee: - LHP Brent Ebinger assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Peoria Chiefs. - Ramon Garcia assigned to Tennessee Smokies from AZL Cubs. Daytona: - Oswaldo Martinez assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Matthew Szczur assigned to Daytona Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. Peoria: - Peoria Chiefs placed LHP Graham Hicks on the 7-Day disabled list. - Peoria Chiefs activated RHP Robinson Lopez from the 7-Day disabled list. - Ben Klafczynski assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Boise Hawks. - RHP Carlos Zambrano assigned to Peoria Chiefs. Boise: - Su-Min Jung assigned to Boise Hawks from Peoria Chiefs. - Blair Springfield assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs.

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled Chris Carpenter from Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Iowa Cubs activated LF Lou Montanez. - LHP Christopher Rusin assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Casey Coleman to Iowa Cubs. Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies placed RHP Rafael Dolis on the 7-Day disabled list. - Tennessee Smokies placed RHP Esmailin Caridad on the 7-Day disabled list. - Matt Loosen assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Peoria Chiefs. - Oswaldo Martinez assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. Peoria: - RHP Carlos Zambrano assigned to Peoria Chiefs. - Frank Del Valle assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. Boise: - Colin Richardson assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - Taiwan Easterling assigned to AZL Cubs from Chicago Cubs.

BA: Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled Casey Coleman from Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Iowa Cubs activated 3B Marquez Smith from the 7-Day disabled list. - Nicholas Struck assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Chris Carpenter to Iowa Cubs. - Chicago Cubs optioned Lou Montanez to Iowa Cubs. Tennessee: - RHP Marcus Hatley assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. Daytona: - Larry Suarez assigned to Daytona Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. Peoria: - RHP Starling Peralta assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. - RHP Pete Levitt assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - Hayden Simpson assigned to AZL Cubs from Peoria Chiefs.

Re: RHP Daniel Berlind to Peoria

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Marcos Mateo from Iowa Cubs. - 2B Darwin Barney recalled from the Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Chicago Cubs optioned 2B DJ LeMahieu to Iowa Cubs. - CF Marlon Byrd assigned to Iowa Cubs. - Iowa Cubs released 2B Bobby Scales. - SS Marwin Gonzalez assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Iowa Cubs activated RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx from the 7-Day disabled list. - 2B Darwin Barney assigned to Iowa Cubs. Tennessee: - RHP Jeff Stevens assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. - C Luis Flores assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. - 2B David Macias assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. - SS Matt Camp suspended. Daytona: - Dustin Harrington assigned to Daytona Cubs from Boise Hawks. - Chad Noble assigned to Daytona Cubs from Boise Hawks. - Casey Harman assigned to Daytona Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. Peoria: - Daniel Berlind assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Chicago Cubs. - Patrick Francescon assigned to Peoria Chiefs from AZL Cubs. Boise: - Joseph Zeller assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - C Rafael Lopez assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. - 3B Travis Garcia assigned to Boise Hawks from AZL Cubs. Mesa: - Santo Rodriguez assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks. - Yilver Sanchez assigned to AZL Cubs from Boise Hawks.

Sorry - there might be some overlap on transactions. I'm in Beijing and don't have any time to check over it! Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx on the 7-Day disabled list. - Iowa Cubs activated RHP Justin Berg from the 7-Day disabled list. - RHP Robert Coello assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Tennessee: - Esmailin Caridad assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. - Tennessee Smokies activated RHP Trey McNutt from the 7-Day disabled list. - Tennessee Smokies placed RHP Ty'Relle Harris on the 7-Day disabled list. - Juan Serrano assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. Daytona: - Juan Serrano assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Luis Flores assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Angel Guzman assigned to Daytona Cubs from Peoria Chiefs. Peoria: - Rubi Silva assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Daytona Cubs. - Peoria Chiefs placed RHP Robinson Lopez on the 7-Day disabled list. Adductor Strain. - RHP Matthew Loosen assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Daytona Cubs. Boise: - C Chad Noble assigned to Boise Hawks from Daytona Cubs. - Kyung-Min Na assigned to Boise Hawks from Peoria Chiefs. - Cameron Greathouse assigned to Boise Hawks from Peoria Chiefs.

Daytona: - Daytona Cubs activated RHP Brett Wallach from the 7-Day disabled list.