One shorthand we’ve been the usage of steadily round right here for the previous couple months are defining positive avid gamers as “bubble” guys because it pertains to the pending 40-man roster crunch. This time period is supposed to indicate {that a} participant exists in the grey space, requiring Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins to decide about their long term this offseason (I wrote about the time table for the ones choices ultimate month). Remember, this crunch exists as a result of the Cubs could have to offer protection to a bunch of minor leaguers from the Rule 5 Draft (extra on that section, particularly, in posts to come back).
I known 20 avid gamers under, from both the present 40-man roster or one of the inactive lists (and thus must return on the 40-man after the postseason), as avid gamers who’re on the bubble. I didn’t come with Jason Heyward, whose long term is already positive, and am working below the trust that Javier Assad, P.J. Higgins, Adrian Sampson, Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom, and Jeremiah Estrada are “locks.” Your mileage would possibly range on one or two of the ones guys, however it kind of feels proper as we take a seat right here lately.
These are the guys that I may just most likely be talked into a technique or the different, so let me lay out the circumstances for and towards maintaining each and every on the 40-man roster ahead of coming to any comfortable conclusions …
David Bote
Case for: He has a assured contract and choices ultimate, provides versatility and theoretical thump off the bench. Wound up hitting .259/.315/.431/110 wRC+ in his injury-shortened season.
Case towards: The upside that Bote’s unbelievable go out velocities steered by no means materialized, as he’ll be 30 subsequent April. Younger, interior choices (like Levi Jordan) supply a an identical skillset with out taking over a 40-man spot.
Steven Brault
Case for: Really efficient when wholesome in 2022, specifically as a LOOGY (despite the fact that that position doesn’t exist anymore), as left-handed hitters went 2-for-29 towards him. Improved slider because of this of operating with the Cubs pitching crew.
Case towards: He’s arbitration-eligible and I believe you’d most effective venture him in brief aid anymore. Is it value paying a assured seven figures for this restricted skillset? Could you non-tender him and get him to go back on a dear minor league deal?
Narciso Crook
Case for: A man the Cubs known as anyone they might assist uncover extra energy, and it got here true, with Crook posting the highest HR/FB% of his profession.
Case towards: Cubs are loaded with RHH outfielders, and out of doors of a in point of fact sizzling June-July, Crook was once somewhat below-average in Triple-A. He’s oft-injured, moves out so much, and a below-average arm limits his defensive functions.
Anderson Espinoza
Case for: Has normally risen to the problem in Major League alternatives. Pitching coaches for sure see so much of attainable for enhancements.
Case towards: Stuff went backwards this 12 months, had a 7.55 ERA in the minors this season. The stuff grades horribly, 25 on the fastball and 30 on the slider through Cameron Grove’s 20-80 type. Never rediscovered the changeup after his arm accidents.
Mark Leiter Jr.
Case for: I believe he made a beautiful just right case on the box this 12 months, value 0.8 wins through bWAR, with an xFIP even higher than his ERA. His split-changeup has been one of the maximum a success in baseball, and with six pitches, you work some collection optimization is greater than imaginable.
Case towards: Will be out of choices and 32 subsequent season, you work there’s most likely no longer every other soar in stuff available. Do you let him battle for a center aid spot in Spring Training, or is a 40-man spot too precious for that participant kind?
Brailyn Marquez
Case for: One of the extra gifted left-handed throwers of a baseball on Earth when wholesome.
Case towards: Has confronted seven batters in the ultimate 161 weeks.
Zach McKinstry
Case for: Versatile, bats from the left, lots of Triple-A luck. Signs of getting comfy; had a .186 ISO in his ultimate 39 video games of the season.
Case towards: Will be out of choices subsequent season, and can you wish to have to be caught with a bench containing each Nick Madrigal and McKinstry? Has no longer been ready to translate a just right touch fee from the minors to the Majors, and I assumed (even though the numbers don’t in point of fact replicate it) he appeared beautiful shaky defensively in the 2d half of.
Alec Mills
Case for: Threw a in point of fact a laugh no-hitter. Entered this season with a beautiful lengthy observe file of being someplace between common and alternative degree, and flexible at that.
Case towards: Arbitration-eligible and out of choices. Could be his highest days are in the back of him.
Rafael Ortega
Case for: Bats on the left facet. Sample is big sufficient that you just believe he’s no less than league common towards right-handed pitching.
Case towards: Can’t play towards lefties in any respect, dangerous baserunner, turns out a stretch in heart box anymore. Out of choices, and eligible for arbitration for the first time. Do you let him battle for a role in Spring Training as a result of you wish to have the lefty bat possibility?
Esteban Quiroz
Case for: Fun and (normally) good participant, doesn’t complicate issues along with his means or defensively at both 2d or 3rd base.
Case towards: Will flip 31 ahead of subsequent season, restricted upside, neglected maximum of 2021 with an harm.
Franmil Reyes
Case for: We noticed hints of the energy and go out velocities that he can produce when working just right. Lived as much as his billing as a favorable clubhouse presence. Track file of luck ahead of 2022.
Case towards: Due a elevate on his 2022 wage of $4.55 million, which he unquestionably didn’t play as much as, judging through his -0.9 bWAR. Hit a paltry .197/.284/.299 after that preliminary just right nine-game stretch when he was once obtained.
Alfonso Rivas
Case for: Good defensive first baseman, pre-arbitration with a couple of possibility seasons ultimate. Takes his walks, provides all-fields means. Different glance.
Case towards: Contact skills have regressed as he’s confronted higher pitching, particularly breaking pitches. He’s a primary baseman that doesn’t slug, and the crew has interior choices that appear identical or … preferable?
Ethan Roberts
Case for: Showed in point of fact thrilling and hyper-unique stuff all the way through his temporary time in the Majors. Will most effective devour a 40-man spot all the way through the offseason, can slide him onto 60-day IL when Spring Training starts.
Case towards: Will pass over a just right bite of 2023 with an harm, so are you able to non-tender him and provides him slightly of a elevate on a minor league deal to rehab off the 40-man roster?
Manuel Rodriguez
Case for: A theoretical plus in uncooked stuff, simple and easy. Staff hasn’t had the alternative to expand him, masses of low-hanging fruit for growth.
Case towards: Fastball dropped a tick-and-a-half in 2022, and it already yielded much less whiffs than you’d be expecting when it was once nearer to 98. Stuff turns out much less horny as group has different choices that throw in the higher nineties.
Michael Rucker
Case for: Executes. Offers multi-inning versatility with a couple of pitches that he instructions at a greater than league common fee. Secondary pitches have just right large league observe file.
Case towards: Fastball speed has dipped as season went alongside, and pitch was once simply common ahead of. Fungible avid gamers are the possibly to really feel the affects of roster crunches.
Erich Uelmen
Case for: It’s simply in point of fact just right stuff. Uelmen’s sinker and slider each grade in point of fact smartly, and I believe the changeup is huge league caliber, too. Unique unencumber level that are supposed to make the stuff even play up, if situated as it should be. 2.16 ERA in ultimate 8 appearances.
Case towards: Too steadily threw balls or pitches down the center 3rd. Some memorable blow-ups in large spots. Do you concern he can’t upward push to instance?
Alexander Vizcaino
Case for: A in point of fact a laugh prospect with an intriguing set of abilities. I argued that his stuff overdue in 2021 was once just right sufficient to be successful out of a Major League bullpen in 2022.
Case towards: Will flip 26 early subsequent season, hasn’t thrown a pitch above A-ball, and voluntarily sat out the 2022 season.
Rowan Wick
Case for: Has been 12% higher than the league common pitcher all the way through his time in the Majors, with not-insignificant stretches the place he’s been a in point of fact a success set-up guy. So much of the screw ups he’s had appear to be when used incorrectly (for 2d inning or back-to-back days), so must be correctable.
Case towards: Has had not-insignificant stretches the place he’s totally useless; runs into barrels manner too steadily. Arbitration-eligible, and must have the ability to command slightly respectable wage.
Brad Wieck
Case for: Would come off the 40-man roster on the first day of Spring Training, the place he’d move to 60-day IL. Is all the time such a success when wholesome and on the mound.
Case towards: Likely wouldn’t succeed in Majors in 2023 after Tommy John surgical treatment. Should undoubtedly be non-tendered and requested to go back and rehab on a minor league contract.
Jared Young
Case for: Beautiful left-handed swing with 4-5 positions of versatility that he can be offering a large league bench.
Case towards: Got an on a regular basis alternative at Iowa in 2022, and his 91 wRC+ suggests an offensive upside that isn’t sufficient for his defensive profile.
Okay, it’s post or close up time. Here’s what I were given, the usage of the timeline specified by my aforementioned offseason calendar submit.
Outrighted the day after postseason (will have to be 7): Heyward, Bote, Mills, Wieck, Quiroz, Brault, Vizcaino.
DFA’d or traded no less than through coverage day (6): Crook, Espinoza, Rivas, Rucker, Wick, Young.
Non-Tendered after which presented an above-market minor league deal (4): McKinstry, Roberts, Reyes, Ortega.
Kept, with standing revisited when wanted with different offseason additions: Marquez, Rodriguez, Uelmen, Leiter.
This would confide in 10 spots without cost brokers, trades, waiver claims, and prospect coverage choices. The Cubs gets an extra 3 spots as Willson Contreras, Drew Smyly, and Wade Miley hit unfastened company.