allen6510w

So that explains Luis Mata's mid-season promotion from the ACL to low-A despite a 34/37 K/W in 30.1 ACL IP! Based on his velocity jump, I'm sure he'll be in the mix to start in low-A next year. I wonder if Jhon Cabral's velocity bump occurred before or after he was released and picked up by the Cubs? Valdez was signed as an OF in February of 2022, so he is already Rule 5 eligible. Good to see such a bump in his 2nd year pitching.

The Cubs released C Jairo Diaz a week or so ago. Unfortunately, he never fully recovered from a shoulder injury injury he suffered in 2024. I was intrigued by his CS% which wasn't bad and the numbers he put on in low-A last year (SSS alert), but he didn't get added to the AAA roster last fall, he didn't hit this year, and his shoulder gave out again this summer, On the positive side, as many of you know, the Cubs picked up Julian Aguiar last week. With 2 minor league options remaining as of 2027, he is one of the better options for Iowa's starting rotation next year. Of course, he might be waived an additional three times and in his 4th organization this year by then - we'll see!

Yes, it certainly is. Hopefully, Myles didn't re-aggravate his ankle injury by trying to return too soon. Harrison, a corner OF, just turned 24 and has yet to play an inning with the Cubs although he did get into some unofficial ACL bridge games. To have any chance at the majors, he needs to hit the ground running and this AFL stint could help with that. Hopefully, he will hit well and begin 2027 in high-A along with (likely) Ethan Conrad, Caden Sorrell, Alexey Lumpuy, and (perhaps) Michael Gupton

You are likely correct but I suspect they will add a pitcher if they advance to a 5-game series.

A bit more familiar than I'd like. I live near Baltimore and have a 20-game Oriole ticket plan. Red Sox fans sometimes outnumber Oriole fans at weekend games, but I'm sure you're right wrt traveling to see a meaningless game with the playoffs in sight.

I would prefer they play the Saturday game on Sunday at 1:30 PM in Baltimore; the Ravens are in Dallas that day. It would be close enough for Red Sox fans to drive to if they wish. While forecasts change, the current NWS forecast is for occasional rain Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening with rain likely 12 hours before and after that time-range. Rain is possible beginning late Friday afternoon too.

Comments: These are not predictions of what the Cubs will or should do - these are my hopes for minor league placement next spring. Clearly, the I-Cubs need to sign a lot of minor league free agents! Hopefully, the Cubs will add Kohl Franklin to the 40-man roster.

Dawson Netz is also a possibility; especially if Grant continues to struggle with walks. Baseball America has or at least had him in the Cubs' top 30 earlier this summer.

I assume it’s the former, but what do you think?

Any chance he sticks at catcher? The stats as a catcher look pretty weak, but SSS.

Also, as some of you are aware, the Cubs released RF/CF Joan Delgado earlier this week. When signed he was 5’11” 165 Lbs R/R (Birth date 200412) [2022-VZ] In 2022, he posted a 0.250/0.327/0.398 line in 94 DSL PA. In 2023, Joan returned to the DSL where he moved from 3B to OF and showed increased power finishing with a 0.274/0.337/0.465 line in 168 PA with 9 SB in 12 attempts and a 57/11 K/W; he made the DSL all-star team. Joan opened 2024 in the ACL where he posted a 0.281/0.364/0.538 line (0.902 OPS) in 187 PA with 16 SB in 18 attempts and an alarming 65/19 K/W. Joan began April 2025 in Mesa’s rehab group. After returning he posted a disappointing 0.194/0.284/0.320 line (0.604 OPS) in 116 PA with a 43/10 K/W. In 2026, Joan returned to the ACL yet again and posted a solid 0.311/0.394/0.647 line in 137 PA, a 50//14 K/W, & 11 SB in 12 attempts before getting released on July 16th possibly to make room for 2026 signees. As this was Joan’s 5th year in the Cubs organization he would have been eligible to be a MiFA at the end of 2027. So it made sense to release him, but I’m sure it was hard for him to take given how well he played this year (ignoring the K column). The clock can be brutal for International signees.

... from Baseball America (Josh Norris)'s write-up on the DSL all star-game. I must admit I'm stunned that the Cubs released him before giving him a shot on the mound. Breyner Figuereo signed with the Cubs in 2025 as an outfielder but was released after the season. The Rangers scooped him up and converted him to the mound, where he’s flourished. The lefty works with two pitches—a four-seamer that sits at 96 mph and has topped at 99 mph, and a slider in the mid 80s that has been poison on opposing hitters. Figuereo’s breaking ball has garnered a miss rate north of 61%, which helps mask the fact that he needs to throw his heater for strikes a bit more often. The lefthander got hit a little bit in the early going, but overall he’s punched out 22 hitters in 10.1 innings. If you’re counting, that means that all but nine of Figuereo’s outs this season have come on strikes. Five of the eight walks he’s allowed came in one outing. Otherwise, he’s struck out 19 and walked just three over his remaining nine innings.

Even after adjusting for age, you could make a pretty good case that Poteet is putting together the 4th or 5th best offensive season of any Cub minor leaguer this year. He has too much swing-and-miss in his profile to make prospect lists but ...

Brody's first game in 26 months but despite that has remained in Baseball America's pre-season top 30: 2024 BA-29, 2025 Cubs BA-16, 2026 CubsBA-28. Hopefully, only a minor set back for Eli -- but his healthy stretches seem few and far between. Hopefully, he can still tie his shoes when he's 30. Yes, Escobar doesn't seem to have the power to man LF - we'll see.

In addition, Oropezsa is 6'2", has started every game, is age-appropriate, has more walks than Ks, and is a RF with no games in LF yet- all encouraging.