Roster Moves

The Cubs made a couple of roster moves that may indicate they are finally getting around to thinking about fielding a competitive team even though that accomplishment is still a distant prospect.  They waived Donnie Murphy and George Kottaras.

I have to say that - and I think it is probably irrational on my part - there are just some players I cannot stand, and that Donnie Murphy is one of them.  I suppose he represents the kind of weird line of thinking that has led the Cubs to field a team of placeholders the past two years.  Also I cannot abide all this talk from sportswriters and commentators about having had such a productive platoon at third base with Luis Valbuena and Donnie Murphy and who knows what other right-handed "bats."

Lets face it, these right-handed platoon guys were just awful players and Valbuena is a good utility infielder.  The fact they have dumped Murphy indicates they have gone at least half-way to realizing these facts and that they are going to bring Olt north, likely as their starting third baseman.  The Rangers must be pretty desperate to pick Murphy up, but that is good news as well as they are probably not willing to pay the price for Barney.

The other roster move was to dump Kottaras.  I've got nothing against him, but I never could see the sense of bringing him over from the Royals in the first place.  He can hit a little if he plays a lot, but as a backup he is pretty much worthless since you want a solid defender in that role and Kottaras doesn't fill that bill.  John Baker, on the other hand, has had a good spring, hits left-handed and can handle pitchers pretty well.