Cubs Offseason Recap (Minors edition)

Here is an overview of the new players in the Cubs organization that will most likely start the season in the minor leagues. They are listed in order of potential long-term impact. I have added a prospect grade if applicable (via John Sickels from Minor League Ball)


Anthony Rizzo (1B, 22, B+):
Acquired: Trade with Padres
I'm going to focus on his AAA numbers last year (26 HR, 101 RBI, 1.056 OPS in 356 ABs) and not his numbers with the Padres (.523 OPS, 46 Ks in 126 ABs). Most sites project Rizzo as a 30+ home run hitter with a decent average and a solid glove. I would be happy with that!

Ronald Torreyes (2B,19, C+):
Acquired: Trade with Reds
Scouting reports are all over the place on Torreyes. I've seen him in two different top 100 overall lists and I've seen him left off of the Cubs top 20 prospect lists! I think the discrepancy has to due with his diminutive size. They're aren't a lot of 5-7, 150 pound major leaguers out there, but I have a hunch Theo sees a little of Pedroia in Torreyes. Whether he ends up growing or not, Torreyes has hit .365 over 2 minor league systems and if he keeps that up he will make the bigs eventually.

Dave Sappelt (OF, 25, C+):
Acquired: Trade with Reds
Sappelt doesn't have any tool that really stands out. He's fast but not a great base-stealer (59% career success rate). Despite the lack of any "plus" tools, Sappelt has hit very well in his last two minor league stops. He was the Southern League MVP in 2010 (.902 OPS, 25 steals) and should of broke camp with the Reds in 2011 after hitting .564 in spring training, but we all know how Dusty feels about rookies. Sappelt has a legit shot to make the opening day roster for the Cubs if they clear some room in the outfield by finding a taker for Soriano (fingers-crossed) or Bryd (mixed-feelings).

Zach Cates (SP, 22, C+):
Acquired: Trade with Padres
Underrated part of the Rizzo/Cashner deal. Cates is a converted catcher who is still learning how to pitch, but has a mid 90s fastball and put up good peripheral stats in his first full season (8.5 K/9, 0.3 HR/9). He's a few years away from the majors, but is an arm to watch in the Cubs system.

Casey Weathers (RP, 26):
Acquired: Trade with Rockies
Weathers was the 8th pick in the 2006 draft but missed the 2009 season with TJ surgery and has struggled with his control since (9.5 BB/9 last year). Weathers can still bring the heat and strike people out though (9.5 K/9) and he could be a valuable bullpen arm for the Cubs if he can cut down on the free passes. 

Lendy Castillo (RP,22):
Acquired: Rule 5 draft, Phillies
Castillo would need to make the team out of spring training unless the Cubs can work out some compensation for the Phillies. He was bordeline dominant in A (2.54 era, 9 K/9, 7.2 H/9), but it's a long way from Lakewood (A) to Wrigley Field. Castillo is a sleeper but if he pitches well in spring training look for the Cubs to find a way to keep him.

Manny Corpas (RP, 29):
Acquired: FA
Corpas was an elite reliever in 2007 (19 SVs, 7.3 H/9) but never recreated that success in the following years and then missed the entire 2011 season recovering from TJ surgery. Corpas should spend the first half of the year at Iowa with a potential trip to the majors if he can come close to regaining his 2007 form.

Andy Sonnanstine (SP/RP, 29): 
Acquired: FA
Journeyman from the Rays organization who was once considered a top prospect for the Rays. Sonnanstine pitched well his first two major league seasons due to only allowing 1.7 BB/9 in 07 & 08 over 52 starts. Since then, he lost his pinpoint control (3 BB/9) and has struggled with the gopher ball (career 1.3 HR/9). Sonnanstine fits into the 8-9 major league ready SPs the Cubs want available in 2012, but I don't expect more then a servicable 5th starter.

Joe Mather (OF, 29):
Acquired: FA
One of my favorite under the radar signings. Mather was a top prospect with the Cardinals in 09 after putting up a 1.041 OPS for the Cards AAA affiliate. Mather didn't do much in two brief stints with the Cards over the last two seasons and is considered a Quad A player even though he's never gotten over 100 ABs in a season. If Mather rakes during spring training or starts out hot at Iowa, he could get a shot with the Cubs as a back-up outfielder.

Trever Miller (LRP, 36)
Acquired: FA
Miller put up a respectable 3.81 ERA last year, but had problems throwing strikes (5.1 BB/9) and gave up over a hit per (10.5 H/9) in 21 innings with three teams. His last good season was 2009 (0.96 WHIP & 4.15 K/BB) so unless the Cubs catch lighting in a bottle, Miller will provide LH depth at Iowa. If none of the Cubs young lefty arms (Gaub, Maine, Beliveau) pan out, Miller could see some action in the bigs.

Yasiel Balaguert (OF,19): 
Acquired: FA
Cuban with "modest tools" and a few holes in his swing. Possibly his best tool is that he played next to Jorge Soler in Cuba. I have no idea if they are friends or not, but it can't hurt to have a familiar face in the dugout if the Cubs are trying to woo Soler as rumored.

Carlos Martinez (RP,20): 
Acquired: FA
Cuban RP with a low 90s fastball and average breaking stuff. Hopefully BP comes out with a Cuban prospect handbook soon (jk).

Alfredo Amezaga (MI/CF, 29):
Acquired: FA
How many MIs to we need at Iowa? I like Amezaga more then Tolbert or Gonzalez due to his position flexibility and speed (41 SBs with Marlins between 06-08), but not expecting much more then a league-average utility guy.

Matt Tolbert (MI, 29):
Acquired: FA
With a .607 OPS over 4 years with the Twins, Tolbert didn't get signed for his bat. He is solid with the glove and can play anywhere in the infield. I would of rather the Cubs gone with a guy with a little more offensive upside like Russ Canzler, but Tolbert will provide solid positional depth at Iowa.

Edgar Gonzalez (MI,33):
Acquired: FA
Pretty similar player to Tolbert with maybe a little more pop. Seems redundant.

Jason Jaramillo (C, 29):
Acquired: FA
Another limited upside "baseball player" type that Epstein seems to like. After years of fundamentally flawed Cubs, I'm not complaining. Jaramillo could see some time in the majors if Soto gets dealt or neither of the top catcher prospects (Castillo,Clevenger) are ready.

Rodrigo Lopez (SP, 36):
Acquired: FA
Ugh. Not again!

Bobby Scales (UT, 34):
Acquired: FA
I'm glad Epstein brought back fan favorite Scales even if it's just for a crash course in coaching. Scales has a career .809 OPS over 13 minor league seasons and may be able to provide some pop off the bench if called up to Wrigley.

Jeff Bianchi (MI, 26):
Acquired: FA
Released and claimed by Brewers