Baseball Prospectus can be a bit bold when ranking Cubs prospects. In 2015, they ranked Addison Russell at number one ahead of Kris Bryant. In 2015, BP placed Gleyber Torres first and followed that up with Eloy Jimenez last year. Heading into this year’s list, I figured that one of three prospects would grace the top of the list: Adbert […]
Author: Todd Johnson
Cubs Sign Brandon Morrow to Anchor Bullpen
The Cubs went and got themselves another pitcher Sunday afternoon in reliever Brandon Morrow. Morrow signed a two-year deal (which I like) with an option, and he fits the mold of a strike thrower (which Theo Epstein likes). Morrow pitched for the Dodgers last year as a setup man and could be the closer with the […]
Cubs Bolster Rotation, Ink Tyler Chatwood
The signing of Tyler Chatwood was not the news anyone was hoping or expecting to hear today. Chatwood, who will turn 28 next Saturday, inked a three-year $38 million deal with the Cubs today. Although that’s a pretty favorable contract for both Chatwood and the Cubs, signing a pitcher from Colorado is always a gamble, as their stats can be […]
Cubs Add Only 3 Prospects to the 40-Man Roster
The 40 man roster’s ultimate goal is major league talent. As a result, any player placed on that roster is valued as someone who the Cubs think will ultimately help the major league club. On Monday night, the Cubs announced that they added three prospects to that list: infielder David Bote, and pitchers Adbert Alzolay […]
Why Have the Cubs Not Developed Some Pitching by Now?
Yes, Rob Zastryzny and Jen-Ho Tseng have each filled in, but the Cubs in the Theo Era have not yet developed one permanent starting pitcher for the rotation. Through six drafts and six International Free Agent signing periods, nothing. Simply put, why have the Cubs failed, so far, to produce big league pitching on their own? Let’s […]
Expansion and Realignment Are Not As Easy As They Look
In the past two weeks, several sports outlets ran articles about comments made by commissioner Rob Manfred regarding the possible expansion of major-league baseball. While Manfred did not say that expansion was imminent, he did add that the stadium situations in Oakland and Tampa would have to be rectified before any expansion could take place. […]
What Could Be the Top MiLB Storylines to Follow in 2018?
The top two storylines in 2017 for the Cubs’ minor league system were the trades of top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to the White Sox and Jeimer Candelario and Isaac Paredes to Detroit. As a result, there was a dramatic shift in the tenor of the Cubs’ farm system. Now, the top prospects […]
The Cubs Have a New Type of Farmhand Coming in 2018
With this summer’s trades, the Cubs’ farm system is no longer what it once was. Evaluators now rank it in the bottom five of MLB farm systems. The main reason for inclusion in the low end of the MLB rankings is that the Cubs lack a player in any top 100 prospect list. While I […]
Jose Albertos Building on the Promise of His Four Inning Debut
In 2016, pitcher Jose Albertos, then 17, seemed to appear out of nowhere to shoot up several prospect lists. Like an apparition, just as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared. After making his only start of the year in Mesa, Albertos was shelved after just 4.1 innings and 7 Ks. But in that limited time […]
Prospect Profile: Duncan Robinson Is Proving to Be a Unique Arm
When it comes to publicity, I think Duncan Robinson has been badly overlooked this year. I find the lack of press especially odd because he was the Cubs minor-league pitcher of the month for May while at South Bend. Robinson might not be the sexy type of pitcher who throws in the upper 90s, but he does […]