From the Cubs website:
CHICAGO -- The Cubs tweaked the 40-man roster on Friday when they
outrighted four players to Triple-A Iowa, including outfielder Joe
Mather. Pitcher Chris Volstad also was claimed off waivers by the
Royals.
The Cubs had acquired Volstad from the Marlins for Carlos Zambrano in
January, and the right-hander opened the season in the rotation but went
0-7 with a 7.94 ERA in nine starts before he was optioned to Iowa.
Volstad rejoined the Cubs Aug. 1, finished 3-5 with a 5.18 ERA in his
final 12 starts, and was 3-12 with a 6.31 ERA for the season.
He ended a 24-start winless streak on Aug. 26 with a win over the Rockies, his first win since July 10, 2011.
The Cubs front office had made it clear they were in the market for two
starting pitchers and that Volstad was not projected as part of the 2013
rotation.
Besides Mather, right-handers Manuel Corpas, Justin Germano and Blake
Parker were outrighted to Triple-A Iowa. Mather, who started in all
three outfield spots and third base, batted .209 in 103 games with the
Cubs.
Corpas, who was coming back from Tommy John surgery, which he had in
September 2010, was 0-2 with a 5.01 ERA in 48 games. Corpas has elected
free agency.
Germano, acquired from the Red Sox July 19 for cash considerations, went
2-10 with a 6.75 ERA in 13 games (12 starts). Parker spent most of the
season on the disabled list with an elbow injury, appearing in just
seven games.
On Thursday, the Cubs outrighted infielder Adrian Cardenas and
right-handed pitchers Miguel Socolovich, Jason Berken and Marcos Mateo
were assigned outright to Iowa. Catcher Anthony Recker also was claimed
off waivers by the Mets.
The Cubs' 40-man roster is now at 33.
The Rule 5 draft at the Winter meetings will be held in December. Those players signed under age 18 with 5 years of minor league experience and players signed over 18 with 4 years of minor league experience are subject to being selected by other clubs for their major league rosters. A team can protect those prospects by putting them on their 40 man roster.
Last season, the Cubs selected pitcher Lendy Castillo from the Phils. Castillo was on the Cubs roster for the entire season, abet most of it on the disabled list. As a result, Castillo is formally an unconditional Cub, and can be sent to the minors without clearing waivers. Castillo was a bust at the major league level, which may hurt the 23 year old's development.
These early moves indicate that management had no 2013 plans for Mather, Volstad, Corpas, Germano, Parker, Cardenas, Socolovich, Berken, Mateo or Recker. Look at their roles: fifth outfield reserve, bad #5 starter, bad middle reliever, bad spot starter, injured middle reliever, bench player, middle reliever, spot starter, injured middle reliever and journeyman catcher. None of these guys are building blocks for the future.
The Cubs have 7 open spaces on their 40 man roster. The Cubs could promote 4 prospects to the protective list, or keep the openings for Rule 5 selections or future trades. Three spaces will be filled by players currently on the disabled list: Matt Garza, Ian Stewart, and Arodys Vizcaino.
The Cub Reporters lists the names of current Cub prospects who would be eligible to be drafted by other clubs:
Jeffry Antigua, LHP
Frank Batista, RHP
Justin Bour, 1B
Michael Brenly, C
Michael Burgess, OF
David Cales, RHP
Esmailin Caridad, RHP
Marcelo Carreno, RHP
Matt Cerda, INF
Hunter Cervenka, LHP
Evan Crawford, OF
Willengton Cruz, LHP
Antonio Encarnacion, RHP
Eduardo Figueroa, RHP
Marcus Hatley, RHP
Ty’Relle Harris, RHP
Jay Jackson, RHP
Alvido Jimenez, RHP
Austin Kirk, LHP
Luis Liria, RHP
Jeff Lorick, LHP
Nate Maldonado, C (player-coach)
Trey McNutt, RHP
Pedro Medina, RHP (ex-OF)
Jose Montesino, INF
A. J. Morris, RHP
Enyelberth Pena, RHP
Felix Pena, RHP
Starling Peralta, RHP
Nelson Perez, OF
Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP
Rebel Ridling, 1B-OF
Greg Rohan, IF-OF
Jose Rosario, RHP
Zac Rosscup, LHP
Julio Sanchez, RHP
Brian Schlitter, RHP
Ryan Searle, RHP
Matt Spencer, LHP (ex-OF)
Nick Struck, RHP
Larry Suarez, RHP
Francisco Turbi, RHP
Christian Villanueva, 3B
Brett Wallach, RHP
Logan Watkins, INF
Casey Weathers, RHP
Rob Whitenack, RHP
Ty Wright, OF
Of this list, two players have direct ties to the current Epstein-Hoyer regime: Villanueva and Weathers (both acquired by trades). One could expect the Cubs could protect both of them on principle. Rosscup is the last chip from the Garza trade, but has not done much in the minors. The list of pitching prospects does not light any fear that they will be chosen; none really appear to be major league (full season) contributors for any club. With Bob Brenly gone from the booth, there is no sentimental attachment to protect his son.
