Cubs News and Notes: Cubs sign reliever, "Overrated" Cubs, Happ vs. Emily, Hot Stove, more |
Cubs re-sign pitcher: The Cubs re-signed 30-year-old reliever, Danny Hultzen, to a minor league deal according to multiple reports. Hultzen battled injury after injury before making his MLB debut with the Cubs last season, pitching 3.1 innings of scoreless ball while fanning five and walking a pair. I initially wondered whether the Cubs would keep Hultzen on board, but as the latest financial crunch started taking shape, losing him was almost a no-brainer. Hultzen throws mid-90s, so this isn’t exactly another experiment in futility. Hernan Perez: Late yesterday afternoon, the Cubs signed a minor league deal with former Brewer utilityman, Hernan Perez, according to multiple reports. Included is a non-roster invite to MLB Spring Training, with Perez earning $1M in the majors, with another $1M available in incentives. Perez has some issues from an offensive standpoint, but there’s plenty of potential here, especially if they can correct his bat. Cubs To Sign Hernan Perez https://t.co/L2ELRs8EMk pic.twitter.com/DuMG9ZWXMX Overrated? 12-UP has released an article outlining their 9 most overrated MLB Players of the decade and members of your 2020 Cubs’ outfield own spots number seven and six. Citing terrible defense, Kyle Schwarber was named as the number-seven most overrated player of the decade, while Jason Heyward’s subpar offense and albatross contract have earned him the number six spot. Taking top honors is Cardinals’ catcher, Yadier Molina. Ian Happ vs. Emily Rizzo: The Cubs have announced their next edition of Bae vs. Ballplayer, which will be taped live at CubsCon. This episode will feature Ian Happ against Anthony Rizzo’s wife, Emily. I’ve got this locked up.. I mean good luck Em! https://t.co/MdLaTGI7Sc pic.twitter.com/yIzXUj3yMt Cubs’ Birthdays: Celebrating yesterday (all posthumously), were ex-Cubs Coaker Triplett (108), Lance Richbourg (122), and Skelton "Buddy" Napier (130). Baseball Quotes: “I could have played another year, but I would have been playing for the money, and baseball deserves better than that.” -George Brett One time, Joe Carter pulled an amazing prank on Derek Bell by pretending to raffle off his car mid-game. He rode onto the field in it and the announcer read off a fake "winning ticket". The look on his face is too funny (1992). pic.twitter.com/KWYRo8fURk NL Central News: Brewers: Milwaukee has signed a one-year deal with corner infielder, Ryon Healy, who was let go by the Mariners at the beginning of the offseason. Healy sat sidelined for much of last year with injuries, ending with hip surgery in August. Milwaukee has also signed deals with utilityman Jace Peterson to a minor league deal, which includes an invite to Spring Training, and an MLB deal with free-agent infielder, Eric Sogard (one-year/club option for 2021). Eric Sogard to the Brewers, as reported by @Ken_Rosenthal. Cubs looked at him last season and now, again, wanted him this off-season, but goes to Mil. Cubs just can't add $$ until they subtract Cardinals: St. Louis has designated outfielder, Adolis Garcia, for assignment. Pirates: Pittsburgh has announced a handful of minor league deals: Outfielder Socrates Brito, LHP Miguel Del Pozo, and infielder (former Cub) Phillip Evans have all received non-roster invitations, as has RHP Hector Noesi. The national narrative is that the #Pirates are about to enter a full-scale rebuild. Internally, that’s not how they are thinking. From the Rest of MLB: Padres: SD has reached an agreement on a minor league deal with Kyle Barraclough. (Invite to Spring Training.) Royals: KC has signed RHP Braden Shipley to a minor league deal. Marlins: Miami has signed OF Matt Kemp to a minor league deal; invite to Spring Training. The team also announced an additional eight minor league deals this afternoon: C Ryan Lavarnway, RHP Josh A. Smith, who both get MLB invites. Receiving non-roster invites are catchers Brian Navarrete, Santiago Chavez, and BJ Lopez; infielders Gosuke Katoh and Christian Lopes; and RHP Aaron Northcraft. White Sox: The Sox have signed RHP Ross Detwiler to a minor league deal. D-Backs: Arizona has agreed to a minor league deal with LHP Kyle Crockett. Nationals: Washington has signed lefty reliever Fernando Abad to a minor league deal. Previously unreported detail in Gerrit Cole’s contract: If he opts out after fifth year, NYY may void opt-out and extend contract one more year for $36M. That would increase value of deal to 10 years, $360M. CUBS NEWS AND NOTES
MLB and the Hot Stove
Why a bridge might make more sense than a rebuild, and why nobody will say it.https://t.co/wsoFnR0INm pic.twitter.com/fof04HyXPP
