That seems like a huge number of NRI's, doesn't it? That'd put 60+ players in camp. But, there are extra games this spring (about a week's worth) and a couple of split-squad games, and so a few extra bodies can't hurt.
Here's the complete list:Eleven pitchers – lefthanders Ed Campusano, J.R. Mathes, Matt Smith, Mike Stanton, Jason Waddell and Bill White and righthanders Esmailin Caridad, Andrew Cashner, Chad Fox, Ken Kadokura and Rocky Roquet – have been invited to major league camp, as well as catchers Welington Castillo, Steve Clevenger and Mark Johnson. Infielders Darwin Barney, Andres Blanco, Luis Rivas and Bobby Scales have also been invited, along with outfielders Doug Deeds, Jason Dubois and So Taguchi.
You may recognize the name Ken Kadokura on the list -- he's the Japanese pitcher the Cubs had some interest in a couple of weeks ago (at the time, I heard the interest was minimal, but apparently they decided it was enough for a NRI). At the time he was said to be 40 years old. He's not. He's 35, born in 1973. In any case, he's unlikely to make the major league roster. CLARIFICATION: the 40-year-old pitcher who the Cubs were rumored to have interest in was named Ken Takahashi. Ken Kadokura, who got the minor league contract with the invite to spring training, is an entirely different pitcher.
The most interesting name on that list is Luis Rivas, who was the Pirates' starting second baseman most of last year. Rivas isn't likely to make the major league team either -- he'll likely be the starting 2B at Iowa, if the Cubs keep him, ready in case of injury.
To me, there is one name I am very surprised to NOT see on the list -- Nate Spears. Did they forget they didn't lose him in the Rule 5 draft?
Finally, the Cubs' last arb-eligible player, Michael Wuertz, signed a one-year deal today. Dollar figures were not immediately available.
0 recs | 60 comments
Mike Stanton?
Is that the same Mike Stanton who used to be with the Braves, Yankees, and a lot of other teams? That guy’s got to be pretty old by now.
memphiscub - January 20, 2009
Turns 42 this year
Did not pitch in ’08 – was cut by the Reds in spring training.
JohnM - January 20, 2009
Probably getting a look as a potential LOOGY...
but yeah, he’s old (42 this year). Hasn’t been that good since 2004.
SouthernCub - January 20, 2009
What is a LOOGY? I’ve never understood what that one means
nmcubsfan - January 21, 2009
Lefty Only One GuY
ballhawk - January 21, 2009
Actually, its Lefty One Out GuY
Al Yellon - January 21, 2009
ah, that makes more sense - thanks for the clarification
ballhawk - January 21, 2009
Gordon W...
sent out a text regarding Wuertz (via Twitter) saying he signed for $1.1 million.
IowaCubs- - January 20, 2009
Thanks.
That’s pretty reasonable, and tradeable if necessary.
Al Yellon - January 20, 2009
Jason Dubois
here’s hoping he gets a good look this spring. I always thought he was slightly underrated.
ambrosiadreams - January 20, 2009
Dubois = slightly younger right handed Hoffpauir.
santoswoodenlegs - January 20, 2009
Agreed.
Plus, he turns 30 on March 26. He’s no kid.
Neither is Doug Deeds, who was the PTBNL in the Monroe deal. He’ll be 28 this year.
Al Yellon - January 20, 2009
Dubois has more power...but Micah is
a significantly better overall hitter in my view.
cubfever7 - January 20, 2009
Dubois!
I’ve been a big fan of this guy ever since Sosa left early and he got the spot start in right, and then proceeded to hit the cover off the ball. He’s probably just another AAAA player though.
WindisBlowingOut! - January 20, 2009
Sure.
But if our bench looks something like:
Aaron Miles
Reed Johnson
Koyie Hill
Joey Gathright
__________
Is it perhaps worth considering having a righty on the bench?
cwyers - January 20, 2009
I think if Lou had his way, we'd be all lefthanded.
Al Yellon - January 21, 2009
Well, the 4 of the last 5 presidents have all been lefties...
so maybe Lou’s on to something.
Bill Potter - January 21, 2009
honestly
They can’t find anyone else besides Chad Fox. At least give someone younger an actual shot.
TJ3117 - January 20, 2009
I suspect it's related to getting him his pension time...
bring him to camp, put him on the 60-day DL.
SouthernCub - January 20, 2009
its not taking time from anyone
If Chad Fox were not invited into camp there would not be someone else given the locker space. Fox was invited to camp out of respect to all of the energy that he’s put into rehabbing time and time again. This is a no lose situation for the Cubs. But more importantly this serves to send a message to other players out there. I am often critical of Jim Hendry but he has done this very well… that is providing players an opportunity. He is a players GM and you better believe that when other players are coming off of injuries and looking to determine where they are going to sign and attempt to come back, things like this stand out. This reputation may be exactly why Ryan Dempster signed with the Cubs.
dmlichte - January 20, 2009
Absolutely!
Chad Fox has gone through so much, and has shown quite a bit of determination. Kudos to the Cubs for giving him a shot!
ambrosiadreams - January 20, 2009
Jim Hendry has always been good to players like this.
I, for one, applaud him.
Al Yellon - January 20, 2009
Hendry
From everything I heard Jim Hendry is well liked and respected by the players and agents. They feel he can be trusted.
That can’t help but come in handy if we’re competing for a free agent and everything else is pretty equal.
puckishcubsfan - January 20, 2009
Andres Blanco
isn’t he the kid who was hit in the face with a foul-ball last year in ST?
drewishdrewid - January 20, 2009
That was Alex Cintron
SouthernCub - January 20, 2009
ah, ok
drewishdrewid - January 20, 2009
Mark Johnson
anybody else think he might be our backup catcher this year?
ambrosiadreams - January 20, 2009
It's been discussed...
He’s going to get a look, along with Hill, and possibly Bako (if he’s signed).
SouthernCub - January 20, 2009
What's the max we would pay
for a backup catcher? Is it possible we could shell out $2M for a guy like Varitek? (I know ’Tek’s been discussed. I’m asking about the max amount we might pay.)
Reddevil - January 20, 2009
I'm guessing $500,000 to $1 million is the max..
And I don’t think Varitek wants to come to Chicago to be Soto’s caddie. Nor do I think the Cubs would pay enough to get him.
SouthernCub - January 20, 2009
Varitek would also require the team
signing him to give up their first round draft pick. (He’s a type A free agent that was offered and declined arbitration by the Red Sox.)
cowsarecool220 - January 20, 2009
Weurtz at $1.1M
So says Muskat
Reddevil - January 20, 2009
Yawn...
BLou - January 20, 2009
I agree...
this list needs more power pitching.
santoswoodenlegs - January 20, 2009
where are the SPARKPLUGS?
drewishdrewid - January 20, 2009
the DIRTY UNIFORMS!?
IowaCubs- - January 20, 2009
the SCRAPPY?
or is that implicit in a name like Rocky Roquet or Doug Deeds?
drewishdrewid - January 20, 2009
By far the most interesting name is
Rocky Roquet. If he makes the team I will be singing:
Rocky Roquet
Went into to his room
Only to find Gideons Bible.
JEROMEWALTON'SBATTINGSTANCE - January 20, 2009
how do u pronounce his last name?
Is it like Ro-kay? Or is it like rocket?
LPLancer23 - January 20, 2009
And what if...
he showed up to Spring Training stinking of gin?
IowaCubs- - January 20, 2009
he said Rocky you met your match...
and Rocky said—Lou it’s only a scratch….
cubfever7 - January 20, 2009
Man
those jokes are so 2007.
Josh Timmers - January 20, 2009
Andres Blanco
Is he the same one that’s been in Spring Training with us before and put together a pretty nice season down at Iowa last year? For some reason, I had in my head that that was someone by the last name of Torres. I dunno if I’m confusing him with someone else.
DamonBerryhillsMitt - January 20, 2009
Last spring...
… the Cubs had BOTH Andres Blanco and Andres Torres in camp. They are down to just the one Andres this year.
Al Yellon - January 20, 2009
Ok, thanks
That’s prolly why I was confused.
DamonBerryhillsMitt - January 20, 2009
one...one... one...
Andres….
drewishdrewid - January 20, 2009
If by "nice season in Iowa"
you mean a .663 OPS in the PCL, then yes.
He played 78 games for the Royals over three seasons. He hit .252/.290/.314 on the major league level.
I’m all for giving minor leaguers a shot. But Blanco has no business being on a major league roster come April.
Josh Timmers - January 20, 2009
3 guys to watch
I’ve been posting about some of these signings in fanshots, but three guys to watch would be the three lefties we’ve added this offseason – Bill White, Jason Waddell, and Matt Smith. All three have, at one point or another, shown the ability to get lefties out. It might end up being much ado about nothing, but considering our lefty situation, those guys do bear watching.
toonsterwu - January 20, 2009
I am intrigued by Mike Stanton
fischisgod - January 20, 2009
Bobby Scales!
Scales is a major league ballplayer who has never gotten the call up to the show for one reason or another. I’d love to see him get a shot at the major league level.
Let me be clear though. Just because I think Scales is good enough to play at the major league level doesn’t mean that I think he’ll be a good major league player. He’s strictly replacement-level fodder. But he’s 31 years old and he hasn’t given up the dream yet. But if he does well in ST and if either Fontenot or Miles gets hurt this season, he might finally get on a major league roster.
I think he also won some sort of I-Cubs community service award last season too. He seems like a good guy. I really hope he gets a major league AB this season.
Josh Timmers - January 20, 2009
Forgot who
Back in the early to mid 90s the Cubs called up a player in a in case of emergency situation I think when a SS disease hit both sides of town and he hadn’t gotten in a game as of the day before he was sent down and in a blowout Lefebvre put him in so he could say he got into a major league game.
puckishcubsfan - January 20, 2009
Barney
I’m excited to see a fellow Oregon State alum getting an invite. I didn’t see that coming.
TXCub - January 20, 2009
The Cubs
are pretty high on him, although his stats so far don’t warrant that optimism. But hey, two years ago Geovany Soto was a marginal prospect too.
Josh Timmers - January 20, 2009
His glove is what's carrying him
He’d be fine defensively. The hope is that some of the athletic ability starts to translate into offensive performance, at least, enough to warrant moving up. He did show some late season luck in improving his offense. His glove is his calling card, though, and if the Cubs feel the rest of their offense is fine, they may ponder kicking Barney around.
toonsterwu - January 21, 2009
Could he be a replacement for Theriot in a year or two?
They are very similar. Theriot never hit well in the minors until he got to AA and AAA. Barney may have been the central on field leader for the OSU teams that won championships. And it seems he’s got a better glove than Theriot. I’d like to see him start the year in AA and see how he responds.
TXCub - January 21, 2009
Problem is
Theriot didn’t hit in the minors because they were trying to make a switch-hitter out of him. He started to hit when they abandoned that experiment.
But I’m sure the perfect world plan has Barney replacing Theriot one day.
Josh Timmers - January 21, 2009
I can't believe Spears isn't invited
I thought Spears would have a chance to be our lefty bench guy/backup middle IF and he didn’t even get an invite
CHCOWNTHECENTRAL - January 20, 2009
What about...
Buck Coats??
Whatever happened to him?
northernsails - January 21, 2009
He was traded to the Reds...
… and wound up with the Blue Jays last year. I’m not sure if he’s still with Toronto or not.
Al Yellon - January 21, 2009
Coats is still on Toronto's 40-man
and he might get his chance to play in Wrigley when Las Vegas plays Iowa there this summer.
Bill Potter - January 21, 2009
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