Position: Right-Handed Reliever 2016 Stats: 68 IP, 20.1 K%, 9.0 BB%, 2.25 ERA, 2.99 DRA, 1.5 WARP Why He Fits: Ziegler has been one of the more underrated relievers in baseball for quite some time. The side-winding right-hander made his debut in 2008 with the Oakland A’s, and ever since he’s posted more than 1 WARP in […]
Author: Tommy Meyers
Rule 5 Draft Preview: Who will the Cubs protect?
With the off-season in full swing, one of the first deadlines is coming up next Friday, November the 18th. That deadline is the last day that MLB teams can protect rule 5 draft eligible players by adding them to the 40-man roster. The Cubs 40-man currently stands at 34, so they have quite a bit […]
Controllable SP Trade Targets: The Affordable Edition
For the past couple of years, many of us have pointed out the lack of controllable starting pitchers in the Cubs organization. With the minor league system still lacking impact arms at the upper levels, the Cubs might have to look outside the organization to acquire controlled arms. Given the extremely steep price of proven […]
Game 159 Recap: Cubs 1 Pirates 1…A Tie?!?
A day after Jake Arrieta and Miguel Montero expressed some displeasure for the Spring Training type vibe in Pittsburgh, Joe Maddon decided to trot out the Spring Training split squad B team lineup anyway. Not only did the Cubs go with a bullpen day on the mound, starting with Rob Zastryzny, they also emptied the bench […]
Playoff Particulars: Matt Szczur vs. Albert Almora
The season is winding down and the Cubs have clinched not only the Division, but also the top seed in the National League. All that’s left to do now is to prepare for the playoffs, and that includes trying to decide who is the best fit on the playoff roster. Most of the spots have […]
Game 144 Recap: Cardinals 4 Cubs 2
Dexter Fowler got the scoring started in the first with his 21st career lead-off home run, and the night did not get kinder to Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia from there. He lasted just one and two-thirds innings for what was the shortest start of his career. Alex Reyes came on, and after striking out Kris […]
Travis Wood: LOOGY?
Travis Wood has been a mainstay in Chicago since he was traded for in December of 2011, from the Reds in exchange for reliever Sean Marshall. Now the longest-tenured Cub, Wood filled in admirably as a starter in the rebuilding years, then transitioned to the bullpen midway through the 2015 season. Wood was excellent out […]
The Many Sides of Willson Contreras
The quiet confidence of Kris Bryant, the stoic Addison Russell, the flashy Javy Baez, the always smiling Dexter Fowler. The Cubs have a ton of personality on the roster that comes in many different forms. While Anthony Rizzo is surely the leader of this club and has shown immense passion from time to time (just ask […]
The Leftorium: Shopping for a Lefty Bat
Looking through the Cubs roster, there really aren’t a ton of holes. The trades for Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman addressed the needs in the pen, but perhaps the largest hole left on the Cubs roster is a left-handed outfield bat. Ever since Kyle Schwarber went down in April the Cubs have been searching for a replacement […]
Started From the Bottom, Not Yet Here: The Cubs’ Low-Level Pitching
The Cubs’ system isn’t exactly loaded with top-end pitching talent, especially at the upper levels, but don’t ever let anyone tell you that the Cubs don’t have any potential starting pitchers in the minors. Since Theo Epstein and company took over before the 2012 draft, the Cubs have made it clear that their plan is […]