Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs 40-man roster coin flips for the 2021-22 offseasonA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2021-11-06T09:00:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/225113142021-11-06T09:00:00-05:002021-11-06T09:00:00-05:00Cubs 40-man roster coin-flips: Greg Deichmann
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<p>He’s not a bad return as part of the Andrew Chafin deal, but he still likely needs work.</p> <p id="RcwGIb">This is the last in a series on Cubs 40-man roster coin flips. You can read all of the articles in <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/10/26/22747273/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-2021-22-offseason">this StoryStream</a>.</p>
<p id="xzbLAJ">While Greg Deichmann’s wasn’t intended to be the last of the series, he ends up being so, shortly after Andrew Chafin declared himself a free agent. In other words, the Cubs have the futures of two prospects for a partial season of a reliever that might, conceivably, return to Wrigley — how very Jason Hammel. While Deichmann didn’t club MLB pitching his first time through, he had a look, and has things to work on, however long his off-season is. Here is my 40-man coin-flip on Deichmann.</p>
<p id="2K4zFe">Have you ever had a decision to make, and both sides had notable benefits and severe drawbacks? There might even be a third or fourth option, but none are without blowback. Not all choices are easy. In those spots, perhaps you discuss things with someone, and go with whatever seems best, even though it isn’t perfect.</p>
<p id="GMk9Ul">Deichmann wasn’t the ideal Cubs trade return. He cost them a 40-man roster spot immediately, but it’s hard to fathom a better return for Chafin than an MLB-ready(ish) bat and an arm (Daniel Palencia) who can 98/99 into the fourth inning of Low-A starts. Deichmann was already on the Athletics’ 40-man roster because they didn’t want to lose him last December in the Rule 5 Draft. A second-round pick in 2017 out of LSU, Deichmann is still trying to figure out who he is offensively (sell out for power, or make better contact hitting line drives?), and getting dealt midseason after the nonexistent 2020 campaign probably didn’t help.</p>
<p id="CWcvZ8">Back to the decision. You contemplate everything, and go with option B. Why did you go with option B? There were reasons. If you keep true to the logic of why you went with option B, you have something to look back on as a touchstone. Why did the Cubs accept Deichmann in the trade along with Palencia? Probably because they somewhat like the bat, and love the cost-control. </p>
<p id="HuM5zW">Deichmann doesn’t scream “2022 right fielder,” but if he doesn’t improve over 2021 the next few years, he won’t matter long-term. If he does improve, 2021 doesn’t matter. The hope, the expectation, is that players get better. Between the player and the coaches, that’s why the organization is structured as it is. Far too many people are surprised when players get better. Or worse. That’s how baseball plays out. With Deichmann, do you think he’ll get better? After a non-productive 2020, he had a disrupted 2021. Once he figures out what he wants to do it 2022 and beyond, he should be fine, with the next step being in Triple-A after the lockout. “Better” still might not hit MLB breaking stuff.</p>
<p id="8jJYc9">If non-tendered, some team would be excesively glad to obtain him. Roster spots aren’t thaaaaaaaat tight. If you mind the waiver wire, second-rounders who reach MLB as quickly as Deichmann are rarely parted with after 30 at-bats without extenuating circumstances. I think he’ll get better, but he deserves a roster spot on December 15th on his draft pedigree and how well he did in Triple-A this season (.822 OPS combined). It isn’t a hard decision.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/11/6/22747269/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-greg-deichmannTim Huwe2021-11-05T13:00:00-05:002021-11-05T13:00:00-05:00Cubs 40-man roster coin-flips: Trent Giambrone
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<p>He took advantage of an unexpected opportunity this past September.</p> <p id="QLNePW">Al asked me to do a 40-man coin flip on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=giambr000tre">Trent Giambrone</a>. To be honest, it’s somewhat difficult to make a compelling case for keeping him on the 40-man roster all winter. Nonetheless, Giambrone has enough backstory to justify a column, so here’s my offseason look at Giambrone. And whether he belongs on the 40-man roster.</p>
<p id="izMXYB">Giambrone, a 2016 25th rouunder from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, played his first pro games in a level that no longer exists. In 51 games in the Northwest League for the champion Emeralds, Giambrone had an OPS of .837. The next season, he was promoted to Myrtle Beach, skipping over South Bend (then Low-A), entirely. His Advanced-A OPS was .644, enough to get him to Tennessee in 2018. </p>
<p id="V1987V">His 2018 OPS (.772) and hid 2019 OPS in Triple-A Iowa (.779) were good enough to keep him in the long-term plans, but not really enough to worry about the Rule 5 Draft. 2020 was a nightmare for almost all minor league players, and 2021 saw Giambrone miss much of the early part of the season as he dealt with the <a href="https://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/for-chicago-cubs-trent-giambrone-debut-came-at-end-of-tough-year/article_9cc50806-f5fe-5c33-8929-9544c7ce5728.html">loss of his father</a>.</p>
<p id="UwhBE5">Among my favorite memories of Giambrone was when he was lifted from a game midway through in July a few years ago, leading to rampant trade speculation. Giambrone can hit, and is defensively versatile, though he’s not particularly adept at any specific position. Also, when I say he can hit, that doesn’t guarantee he’ll hit top-shelf MLB pitching. It means he’s generally hit all the way up the ladder.</p>
<p id="Cxou49">Historically, teams haven’t been in situations like this, when the callup of Giambrone would have been as necessary. Teams used to be able to have an entire 40-man roster at their disposal late in the season. With the daily roster in September reduced to 28, that can be problematic. Especially with a late-season outbreak of COVID-19. The Cubs used the opportunity to have another late-season wave of callups, and Giambrone took immediate advantage. <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-09/29/420c2e8c-061a6087-f99ef52d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here’s his first MLB hit, against the Pirates September 29 [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="3vXqI6">Giambrone should be encouraged to sign a successor contract, giving him a non-roster spot with the Cubs pipeline in 2022. I strongly doubt any MLB team would claim Giambrone on waivers, or sign him to a minor league deal with an extension over the basic amount. By getting him to MLB, the Cubs made his name “pop to the top” of Baseball-Reference searches. (My favorite among those is Adbert Alzolay, who is the only remaining name showing after the first three letters of either name.) </p>
<p id="T7IfmE">It’s not about whether you like this player or that. It’s about: “Does rostering him through the off-season make logical sense?” If you aren’t willing to assess based on the logic of the future, and assess mistakes you might (or might not be) currently making about the future because of baseball card numbers (and the past), the entire process is an opportunity to learn being missed.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/11/5/22752824/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-trent-giambroneTim Huwe2021-11-04T11:00:00-05:002021-11-04T11:00:00-05:00Cubs 40-man roster coin-flips: Jason Adam
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<p>He looked good after coming back from a gruesome ankle injury.</p> <p id="vJeeVq">I was on Twitter when the news broke. A player had been so severely injured in batting practice in Des Moines that the players left the field. Jason Adam suffered a gruesome ankle injury, and missed an extended period of time. He made it back before the end of the season, not only to Triple-A, but to Wrigley. His comeback was very impressive. However, when assessing roster moves, the future is the key, not the past. Here’s my 40-man coin-flip for Jason Adam.</p>
<p id="43gsyr">A fifth-round draft selection by the Royals out of Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas in 2010, Adam has been traded, sold, released twice, and styled a 5.91 ERA in 2021. Iin three September innings after the comeback, though, he struck out six and allowed just one baserunner. He’s rather in-between on the extraneous consideration. He’s still inexpensive and has an option season remaining, but is a free agent, if he wants to be, if bounced from the 40-man roster again. If you think he’s going to figure everything out in the next five or six months? By all means, keep him around.</p>
<p id="hhbKmZ"> One thing I’m trying to run a bit away from is asking people to “prove” something. Proof is absurdly hard to provide for something that, quite by definition and circumstance, can’t have happened yet. I am very willing to request evidence, however. If the braintrust buy Adam as a better longer-term piece than (taking a deep breath) Adrian Sampson, Cory Abbott, Tommy Nance, Trevor Megill, or Michael Rucker, so be it. That’s about what it would take. All five of those arms have better “return to Iowa” protocols than Adam.</p>
<p id="YQlJvC">With Adam, if he thinks the Cubs treated him fairly in his injury, sure, bring him back on a minor-league deal. If he thinks the Cubs did him dirty enough for that to not be possible, such is life. Adam would be a nice piece to have in Des Moines, but with Ben Leeper, Manuel Rodriguez, the next Pitch Lab successes, and whoever else gets sent to Triple-A, having a few useful relievers ready shouldn’t be a problem. (Particularly if the Cubs wrangle a few arms like Ryan Tepera and Andrew Chafin in free agency.) It’s not his age, or anything like it. The Cubs should (and probably will) have better options, all things considered, to call on.</p>
<p id="xc5XKF">Though his comeback was fantastic.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/11/4/22716758/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-jason-adamTim Huwe2021-11-02T13:00:00-05:002021-11-02T13:00:00-05:00Cubs 40-man roster coin-flips: Cory Abbott
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<p>He’s likely another guy on the Iowa Shuttle.</p> <p id="VTb6sA">Sometimes, a 40-man roster assessment ought to be principally on the raw numbers. Other times, ancillary considerations play in. When a player fighting for a 40-man roster spot has ugly numbers, something in the background might sometimes be enough to save him. For my money, Cory Abbott is greatly benefitted, for now, by something that hasn’t happened yet.</p>
<p id="hgBbj7">Abbott was a Cubs second-round choice from Loyola Marymount in 2017. Alex Lange and Keegan Thompson have already debuted in MLB from that Cubs draft class along with Abbott. Abbott’s numbers for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs were less than appealing. However, he was better late, for whatever that’s worth. He pitched relatively well against the Cardinals <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN202110010.shtml">on October 1</a>. Again, for what that’s worth. </p>
<p id="J2oGzS">Two special considerations apply. Abbott, as with Adrian Sampson before, can hold down a rotation spot in Iowa in 2022 with no serious concern. Having players who can pitch with the I-Cubs, get summoned to Wrigley for a spot start, then get returned without blowback are useful. Two or three of those types are almost essential with the rate that pitchers get injured these days.</p>
<p id="h9lSqy">Abbott has an “upside” that many, including Sampson and Sergio Alcántara, don’t. That’s a part of weaving together November decisions in November, and leaving January decisions for January. Abbott has yet to be bounced off the 40-man roster. If the Cubs hold off with that with Abbott until at least January (I doubt the 40-man roster is full before that), they can designate him for assignment if a move is absolutely essential. If he clears waivers, the Cubs get to keep him, off the 40-man roster. If they non-tender him in early December, he becomes a free agent.</p>
<p id="xRyuGT">Saying Abbott ought to make the 40-man roster isn’t floating him as anything more than a player on the 40-man roster. Perhaps he gets through until March. Perhaps he’s a roster casualty when a free-agent is signed, or when someone more impressive gets claimed. Non-tendering Abbott in early-December is an option, but it’s not necessarily a necessary one. Someone has to pitch in Iowa, and Abbott would fill the role capably enough.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/11/2/22743818/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-cory-abbottTim Huwe2021-10-31T13:00:00-05:002021-10-31T13:00:00-05:00Cubs 40-man roster coin-flips: Michael Rucker
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<p>He’s a lot like another coin-flip guy.</p> <p id="yqG38B">I’m convinced my mental filing system is conspiring against me. My mental information on Cubs pitchers Michael Rucker and Trevor Megill are stored in the same filing cabinet. The little men that run around in my mind at all times of day remind me of this. It’s very difficult to have different dossiers going upstairs when the information I have on two relatively similar pitchers are so similar. I was concerned my comments on Rucker would mirror thos on Megill. Let’s find out if a darker force than my mental filing system can allow a different sort of article.</p>
<p id="zsr05p">Both were Rule 5 selections. Both ended up with the Cubs, after one trade and one non-trade. Since both have been previously outrighted off the 40 man roster, if they are DFAd and clear waivers, they can leave, regardless, and become free agents. Both had some shaky outings, and some good ones.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I think place where I differ most from consensus, based on the answers to this thread, is Michael Rucker. I'm *def* keeping versatile guy with options, 4 pitches with whiff rate over 25%, potential to reverse ugliness in LOB% and HR/FB% and a cutter with unique mvmt/velo combo.</p>— Cubs Prospects - Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) <a href="https://twitter.com/cubprospects/status/1452793188545175555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a>
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<p id="ZlFZBE">The difference between this article and the one about Megill is that the Megill article was written before the recent lockout expectation news. With the lockout likely, 40-man roster calls (especially for the December non-tender calls, the guys currently on the 40-man roster) change at least a smidgen. If a player is a coin flip, and there might not be MLB baseball until June or so (merely a guess — anyone with knowledge certainly wouldn’t tell me), which players retain value? Which ones lose it? My guess is, players who have pitched in MLB retain value over incidental bats. </p>
<p id="ULkoWf">You can dig a Michael Hermosillo or Trayce Thompson, but locating an outfielder who might or might not hit in spring training will be simple. When 300 players are begging for 300 NRI spots in the run-up to spring training, grab the ones who will sign. However, not many players are going to be floating around with a four-pitch resume like Rucker.</p>
<p id="0ZwEDo">Since it could be a bit nutty when MLB spring training returns, some pitchers probably will get injured. Whichever ones they are? A 60-day Injured List stay buys back an extra 40-man roster spot. Since I can’t accurately guess which ones will be injured, I’ll lean toward “keep the interesting ones.” Rucker, though largely unsuccessful in 2021 in Chicago, is interesting.</p>
<p id="CfUb7G">Rucker was the Cubs’ 2016 11th-round choice from Brigham Young, so “reaching MLB” was likely many people’s ceiling for Rucker. Or well above his ceiling. I’d prefer “age-adjusted expectation” to eliminate the “finality” and “know-it-all” representation of ceiling. We’re all guessing. As Rucker was a starter well into his Cubs minor league tenure, he does have a starter’s repertoire. Which is why using a prospect arm as a starter is preferred to jumping him to the bullpen too soon.</p>
<p id="QzjYRB">I’ll be honest. For all my bluster, Rucker and Megill are both coin-flips, for me. I want 34 or 35 on the 40-man roster, and no more. If something happens, and Rucker can be spot 34 or 35, I’ll be happy to have him zip-line riding in 2022. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll wish him well in his future home. Even against the Cubs. </p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/10/31/22747164/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-michael-ruckerTim Huwe2021-10-30T13:00:00-05:002021-10-30T13:00:00-05:00Cubs 40-man roster coin-flips: Adrian Sampson
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<p>The Cubs’ acquisition of Sampson turned out to be an astute move.</p> <p id="p4BL63">In my self-selected writing genre, being wrong is a regular occurrence. I don’t think any of my faux trade ideas have ever happened. However, I’m not mocking trades because I think they’ll happen. I’m trying to figure out what makes sense, for both sides. If only to me. I make comments on who I think the Cubs ought to draft, and when I do, I’m usually wrong. Nonetheless, I continue. I’m wrong regularly, and I’m good with it, but I try to be as close as possible. Nonetheless, I took the bait regarding my next 40-man roster coin-flip selection.</p>
<p id="h8oPdC">In case you’ve forgotten a main subtext of the 2021 season, here it was. Another pitcher got injured. Perhaps it was a big league starter, or a prospect. Quite a few teams seemed to be playing solitaire for part of the season with 49 cards in the deck. When it was announced the Cubs were bringing in Adrian Sampson to take a roster spot at Triple-A Iowa, I was none-too-impressed. His numbers were ghastly.</p>
<p id="9Ewg5B">A 2012 fifth-round draft choice by the Pirates out of Bellevue Community College in Washington, Sampson pitched in 2020 for Lotte in the KBO. Through six 2021 I-Cubs outings, including four starts, I still hadn’t changed my mind. But, hey, someone has to serve as a starter for the I-Cubs. I was ignoring a basic premise, though. Few minor league contract signings are bad contract signings.</p>
<p id="t5T2IR">After his June 12 start at Iowa, Sampson’s ERA was 6.92. It tumbled by more than two full runs over the next two months. By mid-August, pitchers being traded or shelved created the need for another call-up. By then, Sampson made sense, for two reasons. First of which, he’d trimmed his ERA by two points in two months, and had earned it. Secondly, if he managed to hit the “one-in-a-Frank-Schwindel” chance, and played well, the Cubs were going to be able to keep him into 2022 at a reasonable rate.</p>
<p id="adNVXh">Despite following my Twitter feed rather close, I had zero cases of people asking “Why for the love of Ray Burris is this guy pitching in the major leagues?” in late September. There were a few scares. Some lineouts. A few bombs to the track. In all, Sampson showed the difference between BB-Ref WAR (0.6) and Fangraphs WAR (-0.2). However, for the question of a 40-man roster spot, two things should be minded before pointing to my default Fangraphs as proof of anything.</p>
<p id="KQctrk">Sampson, amazingly, still has three minor league option seasons remaining. When he was called up previously, in 2019, the Texas Rangers had the same thought as the Cubs. We’re riding this guy until the end of the season. (Which means, if non-tendered, he can select free agency.) Barring a change in the CBA, Sampson can get toggled on the Iowa Zip-Line until the middle of the decade, if it suits the Cubs.</p>
<p id="2I0CDo">Also, there’s no real reason to expect (starting) pitcher injuries are going to stop in 2022. When whichever Cubs pitcher has an injury malady, it would be nice to have two or three ready starting pitching options in Iowa who are “Been there, done that” about starting in an MLB game. Sampson fills that rather important role on a 40-man roster, even if he isn’t a high-leverage prospect.</p>
<p id="4zbr0a">Sampson as a starting pitcher in Iowa in 2022 would be a bit of a pacifier. It’s entirely fair to wish someone with higher prestige was holding down that spot, but assessing the 40-man roster is about putting the team’s ducks in a row. As unimpressed as I was by the signing, it turned out to be very astute. Sampson has earned a 40 man roster spot, in my opinion. </p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/10/30/22743743/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-adrian-sampsonTim Huwe2021-10-29T13:00:00-05:002021-10-29T13:00:00-05:00Cubs 40-man roster coin-flips: Dakota Mekkes
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<p>His best chance to make the majors with the Cubs might have passed him by.</p> <p id="kTFLjb">Sometimes, people have a hard time with holding two contrary thoughts in their mind at the same time. For instance, “I like the Cubs” and “I think the Cubs might finish in fourth place in 2022.” You might argue for third place or higher, but regardless of the topic at hand, it is possible, and very adult, to hold two dichotomous thoughts in mind. For instance, Dakota Mekkes is one of the few prospects I’ve interviewed. He was very forthright, and a likeable guy. <a href="https://www.podchaser.com/creators/dakota-mekkes-107aDv4Mpt">His podcast is kinda fun.</a> He’s had success in the Cubs pipeline. He should not be added to the 40-man roster in November.</p>
<p id="epKOnv">Mekkes was a Cubs 10th-rounder in 2016 from Michigan State. From signing his pro contract through 2018, he was virtually bulletproof. Called up to Triple-A Iowa late that season, his string continued. But for a specific decision Mekkes made, the possibility existed a call-up to Chicago might have happened, then and there. However, he wanted to finish his education in East Lansing, and attended classes on a campus he truly loved. A bit as with the case of <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/robin-yount-s-brother-larry-holds-an-unusual-mlb-record">Astros pitcher Larry Yount</a>, the future still looked very bright.</p>
<p id="gGemBO">In 2019, Triple-A teams used MLB baseballs, and Mekkes struggled. 2020 came next, and that was largely toxic for most prospects. Mekkes had sporadic success in 2021, but someone was always the more logical call-up. To be opposed to Mekkes being added to the 40 isn’t about being opposed to Mekkes, merely the strategy. </p>
<p id="PP7ixQ">If added to the 40-man roster in November, he couldn’t be bounced off the 40 until mid-March. That is, somewhat, to prevent cases specifically like this. If another team thinks he’s worth a 40-man roster spot, then so be it. I get to wish him well and hope the Cubs end up regretting it.</p>
<p id="H8wK9x">Likely, though, he’ll start 2022 in Triple-A with Iowa, jockeying with Manuel Rodriguez, Ben Leeper, and a handful of other arms to be the next guy called up. If he’s the best guy, as a move needs to be made, he should be the choice. However, since late 2018, he hasn’t been.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/10/29/22743872/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-dakota-mekkesTim Huwe2021-10-28T14:00:00-05:002021-10-28T14:00:00-05:00Cubs 40-man roster coin-flips: Sergio Alcántara
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<p>He’s just on the edge of someone who’s useful or not.</p> <p id="qxgf7R">I decided to enlist Twitter to help with this series. People with ideas for or against certain players regarding a specific players roster spot are being encouraged to send me a tweet. If there is anyone tossing their ideas in, I’ll include them. Today’s choice, Sergio Alcántara, had an early tweet suggestion. Before I delve too far into this, retention or a lack thereof is more about logic than emotion. It’s perfectly possible to love having a player on a roster, but contend he might not have earned a spot. Or, technically the opposite. My decision on Alcántara takes a bit of a detour to start.</p>
<p id="BctGoM">I’m not normally a fan of reverse-engineering a roster. Too often, as a season ends, fans assess their current roster in regard to the roster of the last few teams remaining in the postseason, teams that are elite or nearly elite. These teams likely have a few aspects of player development that are far advanced over lesser teams, The Cubs, for instance, traded nine players in July, when they realized the postseason was unlikely. Had no teams approached July in that fashion, Max Scherzer wouldn’t have been with the Dodgers. November decisions are about November, not next season’s stretch run. </p>
<p id="8VFE2v">Nonetheless, looking at Alcántara’s spot on the roster is benefited by some moderate reverse engineering. Whether you like the Cubs current infield or not, Frank Schwindel is the first baseman until he isn’t, with Patrick Wisdom at third. Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal figure to get regular time. David Bote and Alcántara are likely bench pieces in April, at least the way it looks now. As the offseason continues, the Cubs figure to add a few starting pitchers and relievers. Which doesn’t change anything regarding Alcántara. </p>
<p id="Zt10Pu">However, at some point, it’s reasonable to expect Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins to pull the trigger on an infield signing. My (rather pessimistic) guess is that it will be a second- or even third-tier free agent shortstop. At some point, someone will get jittery, wanting to get signed. Whether my scenario is accurate or not, the Cubs signing a shortstop wouldn’t be surprising. Whoever the player is. Which knocks all the dominoes over.</p>
<p id="4Zc23b">If that’s the case, the Cubs are looking at a shortstop, Hoerner, Madrigal, Wisdom, Schwindel, and Bote (who has guaranteed money) on the roster. It gets hard to find roster room for Alcántara, and even harder to locate realistic playing time for him. As he’s out of option seasons, sending him to Iowa mid-way through training camp is quite problematic.</p>
<p id="WO9FCx">When the Cubs added Alcantara (on waivers, in February), they designated him for assignment two weeks later. Since he hadn’t cleared waivers before, he had no recourse but to accept the assignment to Iowa. Now, if DFAd, he could declare himself a free agent, and likely would. (Unlike Frank Schwindel, who when claimed on waivers, was in the lineup as the starting first baseman in two weeks. Alcántara was claimed to get DFAd.) If Alcántara is unlikely to make it though (or even to) spring training, burning a 40-man roster spot seems a bit wasteful. </p>
<p id="hUMYMG">He’s a solid enough middle infielder, with a good enough glove. The bat doesn’t scare me enough to make the decision, but I don’t see him sticking around until April if the Cubs sign an upgrade at shortstop. Which I consider likely.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sergio Alcantara: 25 year old who is cheap and bats from both sides. Good glove good arm. He can play up the middle and can be a late game replacement. He can move Nico to 2nd and sit Madrigal if needed. Bat needs work but showed some promise when he first came up</p>— Carlos Archila (@carchila1) <a href="https://twitter.com/carchila1/status/1449110995524272136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2021</a>
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<p id="oigdYo">Would it be a terrible thing if Alcántara kept a spot until something better came along? I guess not. My vision of the roster manipulation puts the Cubs at 34 (preferably) or 35 roster spots leading up to the Rule 5 Draft. As such, the first five or six moves (free agent signings or waiver wire claims) are effectively free. After that, decisions will have to be made.</p>
<p id="WyfkZd">I’m much forgiving with pitchers that hitters as far as lightbulb moments. Could Alcántara upgrade his hitting by two or three notches? Sure. Would it be sweet for the Cubs to go “slightly over” in offering him a minor league free agent deal if he doesn’t sign elsewhere? Yes, definitely. However, expecting him to stay on the roster all offseason is thorny if you expect a pure shortstop to get signed. Thank Alcántara for his service, offer him a nice minor league offer with an opt-out, and bid him adieu if he declines.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/10/28/22729099/cubs-40-man-roster-coin-flips-sergio-alcantaraTim Huwe