Spring Training

I have to say that thus far the news from spring training has been somewhat boring.  I suppose the amusement factor that was present in previous years when the Cubs were expected to stink and certainly did not disappoint is partly responsible.  Since the Cubs are expected to be pretty good, most of the news seems to confirm this conclusion.  Also, from the look of it, Maddon and his staff seem to know what they are doing, which is a substantial contrast to the last three managerial regimes.

There seem to be at least three stories that have caught people's eye.  One concerns the speculation about whether Bryant will be the Cubs starting third baseman on opening day.  My take on this is that the whole thing boils down to how many early season games the Cubs are prepared to trade for additional control of Bryant, who looks like a superstar in the making.

Another controversy centers on the future of Welington Castillo who either has no business being in camp, is on the verge of being traded, or figures to be part of a troika at the catcher position.  Personally, I have no problem with the team carrying three catchers.  Castillo can hit left-handed pitching and is not that bad a defensive catcher as all that.  Ross is a good handler of pitchers and a good strike-framer, but he cannot control the running game and cannot hit at all anymore.  Montero is a good defensive catcher, but, offensively, he has become pretty much of a platoon player.  So, all things considered, carrying two catchers means giving up three outs when Ross plays and three outs when Montero is matched against a left-hander, at least on the offensive side of the game.

The other big story is Javier Baez and whether he can figure out a way not to strike out every other turn at bat.  There was an interesting take on his problems - and to a certain extent the problems of other Cubs prospects making contact on a regular basis - at the SI site.  The article is by Tim Verducci and is worth a read.  Apparently, the Cubs are using some innovative approaches to training their hitters in general.

The premise in the case of Baez is to try to teach him to change his approach when he is behind in the count, which is pretty much all the time.  The idea is that Baez should shorten his swing and dispense with the big leg kick.  So far the reports are that Baez has had some success with the new approach, although, unaccountably, it is only being used when he has two strikes.  One wonders why, if it is successful, he does not use it all the time.  The long swing and the big leg kick, as well as all the ticks and movement and flaws in this kid's swing, pretty much add up to failure when he sees big league pitching on an everyday basis, which is what happened at the end of last season.

Cubs Miss on Shields Signing

Not sure I would lose a lot of sleep over James Shields signing with San Diego.  Apparently the Cubs offer might have been for more money per year, but topped out at three years.  I cannot fault the front office for this.  Shields is 33 and probably a risk even at three years, certainly at four.

The Cubs are going into the season with four solid starters in Lester, Arrieta, Hendricks, and Hammel, with some healthy competition between Wada, Wood, and several others for the fifth spot.

James Shields Rumors

Word is that Shields, the only top tier free agent pitcher still on the market, will make a decision on where he will sign later this week.  Some people are floating the idea the Cubs are on his shortlist.  If so, it has been a stealthy business for the Cubs front office as today is the first time I have seen the rumor.

Shields is in kind of an odd box.  By this time, early February and just about two weeks from the spring training report date for pitchers and catchers, most of the big names are already signed and teams in general are pretty well set.  Shields was no doubt expecting something like Lester money or at least something close.  However, he is 33 years old, so any team signing him for four or five years is taking a big risk.

I'm of two minds on the Cubs pursuit of Shields if in fact there is any substance to the rumors.  Shields is good.  There is no doubt he was a good part of the Royals resurgence last season.  Were the Cubs to sign him to a one or two year deal, I would have no hesitation.  Maybe that is what is in the cards.  Undoubtedly signing a guy like Shields would signal the Cubs are all in for 2015.

Realistically, it is possible they are only kicking the tires here.  With the acquisition of Dexter Fowler, I was not expecting any more blockbuster moves.  On paper, the Cubs look to be set for a pretty good year.  Right now their only major need is for a solid and reliable pair of left-handed relievers.

Javier Baez

Not taking sides on this issue, but from this article by J.P. Morosi of Fox Sports, things are not looking up for Baez based on his performance in the Puerto Rican Winter League.  21 Ks in 43 ABs during the regular season, 6 Ks in 9 ABs during the playoffs so far does not augur well.

Cubs Pick Up Dexter Fowler in Trade

The Cubs went a long way toward solidifying their newly-minted status as a genuine contender by picking up Astros and former Rockies center fielder Dexter Fowler.  Fowler is a switch-hitter who plays solid defense and, most of all, hits for a decent average and gets on base, in short, a prototypical leadoff hitter.

Fowler, along with his Colorado replacement, Blackmon, has been thought of as a strictly Coors Field type player, good at home, worthless on the road, but Fowler proved his critics mistaken by having a good year with Houston.  Both these guys were on the block this off-season, but I think the Cubs picked the right one to acquire in Fowler.

In exchange, the Cubs gave up a marginal fifth starter candidate in Dan Straily and the consistently over-rated Luis Valbuena.  I've been ranting on for several years about Valbuena's shortcomings, so I am glad to see him out of the mix once and for all.

This move more or less solidifies the outfield with Soler starting in right and Coghlan and Denorfia sharing left field, and possibly throwing Olt into the mix.  I'm assuming that short of Alcantara moving into a kind of super-sub role, it also means the end of the experiment of his being groomed as an outfielder.

What the trade does do - assuming Bryant is the player everyone thinks he is and that he takes over third base pretty early in the year - is leave the Cubs with quite a logjam in the middle infield.  Castro, Baez, Alcantara, and La Stella, plus super-prospect Addison Russell, could all conceivably be everyday players at second base and/or shortstop.

So, down the road, one or more of these guys is going to be traded.  Potentially, the Cubs could throw in Castillo and make a big play for another front-line pitcher like Hamels if they were of a mind to do so.

Chris Denorfia

Ho-hum.  The Cubs picked up reserve outfielder Chris Denorfia.  Not exactly exciting, but at least it is not Jonny Gomes, a totally overrated nonentity and one of the Boston gang like Ross, the likes of which Epstein and company should try to avoid for the future.

Denorfia is a career fourth or fifth outfielder who had some decent years in that role with the Padres.  He is 34.  Last year he split time between the Padres and Mariners and had a really bad year.  He can hit left-handers reasonably well.  At least he has done so in the past.  Last year he could not hit anyone.  He is a decent outfielder and can play all three outfield positions.  In that respect he is an upgrade over Ruggiano, who was not exactly a gold-glover.

I'm a little surprised the Cubs have not been linked to Ben Zobrist, a Tampa Bay jack-of-all-trades who is a genuinely good player.  Maybe the price is too high.

Cubs Sign David Ross

Apparently the Cubs are about to sign backup catcher David Ross to a two year deal.  This one is a little hard to figure.  Ross was a pretty decent backup for several seasons with Atlanta, but his last two years with the Red Sox were pretty bad and he has the reputation of being a mediocre defender, though he is thought to be a good pitch framer.  Aside from being Jon Lester's favorite receiver and a perceived veteran influence, he does not add a whole lot.

The acquisition of Ross probably spells the end of Welington Castillo's career with the Cubs.  Kind of a shame unless they get something good in return.  The move is also somewhat puzzling in that the Cubs also claimed Ryan Lavarnway off waivers from Boston.  Lavarnway's career in Boston never quite took off, but he can hit, at least in the minor leagues.