Cubs Announce Four More Draft Signings

The Cubs announced that they have agreed to terms with four draft picks taken in the top ten rounds: 2nd round pic RHP Jake Stinnett from Maryland, 4th rounder LHP Carson Sands from North Florida Christian HS, 5th rounder LHP Justin Steele from George County HS in Mississippi and 7th rounder RHP James Norwood from St. Louis University.

The Cubs did not officially announce terms for any of these players, but Stinnett and Steele both received a reported $1 million bonus whereas Sands received $1.1 million. Terms for Norwood were not available at this time.

Stinnett was considered by far the number one college senior in the draft, a recent convert to pitching who throws mid-90s with a good slider. He profiles as a mid-rotation starter.

Sands pitched for the Team USA under-18 team and is considered to be a guy with a lot of room for growth with a skinny 6'3" frame that could add more muscle. He already throws around 90 mph but with can touch 95. With better coaching and conditioning, the feeling is that he could hold that higher velocity

Steele has shown flashes of brilliance in his high school career in Mississippi, but has been inconsistent and injured as well. Similar to Sands, he can hit the low-90s and can touch higher, but he also has the makings of a strong change up already.

Norwood is a more polished college prospect who some had going as high as the second round before the draft. He's throws hard from almost a 3/4 arm position. He was pegged as a future reliever before this season, but his secondary pitches have improved to the point where he has a chance to start.

With these signings, the one big name left out there to sign is sixth-round pick Dylan Cease.

Thirtieth-round pick Michael Cantu announced on Twitter that he would be playing for the Texas Longhorns next season. He was expected to be a very tough sign. Twenty-second round pick (and Boise State Football linebacker) Joe Martarano announced on Twitter that he would be playing baseball this summer in Mesa, so I think we can interpret that as he has signed. He will leave the team to play football later this summer.

In addition to the signings, the Cubs announced several moves in the minor league today. We've already mentioned Kyle Schwarber to Kane County and Kris Bryant, Arodys Vizcaino and Armando Rivero to Iowa, but other moves had to be made as well. To make room for the newest I-Cubs, third baseman Christian Villanueva and relievers Frank Batista and Jeffrey Antigua were send down to Tennessee.

Third baseman Jordan Hankins was promoted to Daytona and third baseman Jeimer Candelario was demoted to Kane County.

Schwarber and Bryant are in the starting lineups for Kane County and Iowa tonight.