10:59 pm CST tonight is the deadline for teams to fill out their 40-man rosters with players they want to protect from the Rule 5 draft next month.
With the trade of Aaron Heilman yesterday, the Cubs' 40-man roster stands at 33 players -- so they've got plenty of room to add players they want to protect. This article from the Atlanta Braves website gives some details on how this process works and also about some other upcoming deadlines.
The number of players added by tonight may also give us a clue as to upcoming trades or free-agent signings -- if the Cubs don't fill out the roster to the full 40-man limit, it may presage some acquisitions.
Post your guesses as to who the Cubs might add to the 40-man roster (or who -- cough Neal Cotts cough -- might be removed). Once the Cubs post the full list, I'll update this post, either later today or tomorrow.
UPDATE: From the press release today:
The Chicago Cubs today added five players to the 40-man roster, including left-handed pitcher John Gaub, right-handed pitchers Rafael Dolis and Blake Parker, catcher Welington Castillo and outfielder James Adduci. Chicago's 40-man roster now stands at 38.
Gaub and Parker are no surprise, as they were in the Arizona Fall League and expected to be in the mix for the 2010 bullpen. There are two open spots; this could portend a trade, a free-agent signing or possibly a Rule 5 pick the Cubs have their eyes on. Stay tuned.
0 recs | 37 comments
keep cotts - and
give him another roster spot too – he’s going to be worth it!
doofus cubs guy - November 20, 2009
Must be Cotts' agent.
Al Yellon - November 20, 2009
I am too tired to figure out who NEEDS protecting
Vitters was draftd in 07 so he doesn’t and I am just not sure about a lot of guys.
Doggie Stalker - November 20, 2009
Why not leave it at 39, like last year?
He may never amount to anything in MLB, but I don’t understand the concept of letting your 2005 2nd rounder, who had proceeded to rip right through A-ball while displaying control problems, walk away…. while leaving a roster spot vacant.
Seriously, though -
Michael Brenly
Jeremy Papelbon
Mark Pawelek? (I suppose, if there are spots open. But losing him won’t create the same bewilderment Veal did last year.)
When did we sign Starlin Castro? Probably 06 or 07, so no need yet.
D98 - November 20, 2009
Michael Brenly doesn't have to be protected, either.
He was drafted in 2008.
Al Yellon - November 20, 2009
Do you or anyone else mind...
listing some of the players in this discussion?
Kansas25 - November 20, 2009
go to
thecubreporter and check out AzPhil’s list on the right sidebar. That’s the most comprehensive list out there.
toonsterwu - November 20, 2009
Michael Brenly?
No one’s going to keep him on an MLB roster for a whole year, so I’d forget about him.
TheGrinch13 - November 20, 2009
Hahahaha...
Watch em drop Patton.
section229beer - November 20, 2009
I think
guys that will be added to the 40: John Gaub, Blake Parker, Rafael Dolis, Welington Castillo
Maybe another guy, but I think we leave a space or two open for FA’s. Those 4 likely need to be protected, though.
toonsterwu - November 20, 2009
Who's eligible?
Is it based on the year when a player was drafted? What’s the cliffnotes version on how it works?
kanderber - November 20, 2009
Add and drop these
Candidates to be dropped:
1. Drop David Patton from the roster and give him back to whoever he came from. Send along a bill with him for all of the runs he gave up this year.
2. Neal Cotts. Enough said there.
3. Aaron Miles. If we put a pair of those black thick glasses with the big nose on them, maybe we can sneak him with someone else in a trade. Another great 2008 offseason move here.
4. Milton Bradley. Replace him on the roster for whatever useless player we get in return for him.
Candidates to be added:
1. Chris Robinson (C, AAA, If the Cubs trade Fox, as I’m guessing they will for no reason this offseason) they’ll need another catcher.
2. Matt Camp (OF, AAA).
3. Blake Parker (RHP, AAA).
4. James Adduci (OF, AA).
TheGrinch13 - November 20, 2009
One more
I forgot to add John Gaub, who should have been a cheap lefty for us before the ridiculous John Grabow signing (overpaying again). The 2009-2010 offseason is starting out as great as last year’s. I can’t wait to see what great moves are made next!!!
TheGrinch13 - November 20, 2009
Why do we need a new catcher?
Koyie is signed through this year, is more than adequate for the backup role
Musicdude10 - November 23, 2009
Catchers get worn down and hurt. It's the most demanding position on a daily basis.
Two catchers is not enough for a pro ball club. Jake Fox is not a catcher. Wellington Castillo is not replacing Koyie Hill. Although Paul Bako is available, I don’t think he’ll be back (again).
We’re looking here at the backup’s backup. Therefore, it makes sense to protect one of our top catching prospects.
section229beer - November 23, 2009
What teams get a pick in the draft?
Do the Cubs get a pick this year?
cubbiefan07 - November 20, 2009
for the rule 5 draft? every team gets a chance i think it goes 3 or 4 rounds, but nobody ever
picks more than 2, and that is rare.
Zakh - November 20, 2009
The
Reds took two back in 2006, Dec with Josh Hamilton and Tim Burton, kept both all year and both were productive. Its only been done a few times where clubs could keep both players they selected.
Slamdog - November 21, 2009
Tim Burton?
The film director?
You’re talking about Jared Burton.
And the Reds could do that because they were a crappy 90-loss team.
JFTR, the draft those two were chosen in was in 2006, but they made their Reds debuts in 2007.
Al Yellon - November 21, 2009
well
we protected gaub, parker, castillo, adduci, and dolis.
ADduci was a mild surprise, as he’s basically Sam Fuld-lite (Fuld’s got a bit better starting ability than Adduci, imo).,
toonsterwu - November 20, 2009
link
link
toonsterwu - November 20, 2009
And does this mean Castillo we're pretty sure to see castillo at Wrigley before Sept.?
Are these the four catchers we’re most likely to see in 2010:
Soto, Hill, Castillo, and *Robinson?
section229beer - November 20, 2009
[edit]
section229beer - November 20, 2009
It'll be interesting who the "4th" catcher is
could be Robinson, could be Chirinos, could be Clevenger. Chirinos has gotten some buzz this offseason as a potentially balanced and steady backup backstop that could be closer, and shows good leadership skills.
toonsterwu - November 20, 2009
I assume Coleman & Carpenter do not need "protection" ?
or Russell
Doggie Stalker - November 20, 2009
Correct.
Al Yellon - November 21, 2009
Well I'd leave a spot open just in case they get nutty and call up Castro.
Cub Style - November 21, 2009
There's no reason to do that now.
Al Yellon - November 21, 2009
yeah that'd be silly
cubswynn - November 21, 2009
Just got back from a week in Mexico.
Came back to Heilman kicked to the curb and Grabow signed. Although I agree it’s too much for Grabow, I think this makes an excellent bullpen to back up a great starting rotation.
Now if we can somehow land Granderson and deal Milton, JH’s offseason should be pretty much done.
cubswynn - November 21, 2009
survey says
Cubbie-Tim - November 21, 2009
Hmmm
Looks exactly like the info I posted on the main post under “UPDATE”.
Al Yellon - November 21, 2009
Don't get snippy Al!
cubswynn - November 21, 2009
Not being snippy.
Just pointing out that I posted exactly the same information already in this thread.
Al Yellon - November 22, 2009
Dolis?
I am not a 100 percent minor league junkie, but, I’d never heard of him.
Nibbles - November 21, 2009
hard throwing righty
he’s had some weight and injury issues, iirc, but when on, he can be filthy. Likely doesn’t have the control to succeed as a starter, but could be a late inning pen arm if he can improve his control somewhat. FB can run into the triple digits. He sort of fell off the radar after being out in 2008. He was on the radar as a sleeper guy to watch in 2007. He might be somewhat similar to Jose Ceda. AzPhil and others posted very positive reports from instructionals, which got the mill churning, although others, such as Raisin, have long suggested that Dolis needed to be protected due to his upside.
toonsterwu - November 21, 2009
keeping cotts
now i know 2010 is the year!
doofus cubs guy - November 23, 2009
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