2023 Cubs AZ Instructional League Roster

Bill 11/27/2023 - 11:15 pm (view)

I hope that Perlaza goes on to have a successful career.  On most Cubs teams prior to the current administration, he would have been one of their more highly ranked prospects.  As far as the others are concerned, one or more may well go on to be much better than expected, but unfortunately there is no way to tell which one at the present time.  You can't keep everyone.

crunch 11/27/2023 - 11:36 am (view)

s.gray signs with the cards...3/75m

Arizona Phil 11/27/2023 - 11:21 am (view)

Another one of the nine Cubs post-2023 Rule 9 minor league 6YFA has signed, as RHP Carlos Guzman (acquired from the Tigers for Zack McKinstry at the end of Spring Training) signed a 2024 minor league contract with the Mets. 

So RHRP Yovanny Cruz (SD), C-INF P. J. Higgins (CIN), and now Carlos Guzman (NYM) have already signed 2024 minor league contracts with new MLB organizations, and OF Yonathan Perlaza is headed for Korea (Hanhwa Eagles).

crunch 11/26/2023 - 11:49 pm (view)

...and back to 3rd for another game.  at this point i'm gonna hang back and when/if he actually plays 1st then i'll find it notable.  i am glad he's playing a good amount of 3rd, though...give the club one more good look at him there.  shrug

crunch 11/25/2023 - 11:31 pm (view)

morel played SS last night (no errors)...hit a homer and a double.  he's got 2 of both in 19PA.

crunch 11/25/2023 - 11:28 pm (view)

e.escobar was throwing 95-97mph on his fastball in 2023.

Arizona Phil 11/25/2023 - 11:05 pm (view)

One more thing about Edwin Escobar. Even though he had accrued less than one year of MLB Service Time prior to signing with Nippon Ham in 2017 (he ended up eventually with Yokohama), he will have Article XIX-A rights by virtue of the seven seasons he spent in Japan. So he will be essentially locked on the 40-man roster (or at least he can't be outrighted without his consent), and he will be a FA whenever his contract expires. 

Arizona Phil 11/25/2023 - 11:57 pm (view)

Also, Pirates were supposedly in on Escobar, too, so if the Cubs sign him to a minor league contract there is a very good chance that the Pirates will select him in the Rule 5 Draft. So even though it means he would take up a slot on the 40, it better be a major league contract if the Cubs don't want to lose him right after signing him! 

Arizona Phil 11/25/2023 - 11:27 am (view)

Ronald Acuna's cousin. 

Cubster 11/25/2023 - 11:58 am (view)

Cubs bring in 33-year-old lefty reliever Edwin Escobar who has been in Japan since 2016 and has decent stats in Japan. Certainly, they lacked lefty bullpen options last year.