The Cubs and the White Sox have to tender players contracts by tomorrow.
The Cubs have one big question on their 40 man roster: do you offer Ian Stewart a contract for 2013?
Stewart was supposed to be the answer when Aramis Ramirez left for free agency. Stewart was supposed to be a power hitting third baseman. He came to the Cubs in a trade. He came to the Cubs with an injury history that put him on the disabled list for most of 2012.
But with the dismal debut of Josh Vitters at third, the Cubs have nothing ready in the minors to fill the hole at third base. Stewart made $2.237 last season, and is arbitration eligible. Even with a pay cut due to lack of performance, he may be a $2 million question mark this year.
He has not played a full season since 2010 with the Rockies. In the last two years, he has played only 103 games, hitting 5 HRs and 23 RBI. He is really damaged goods and should not be tendered a contract by the Cubs.
The White Sox have a harder to make. Do the White Sox, who have a sudden wealth of young pitchers, offer Philip Humber a contract for 2013? Humber has the distinction of having "no hitter" stuff, but that spark is encapsulated by below average consistency.
Humber, 29, has been a late bloomer, pitching in only 26 games in 2006-2010. His first full time work came with the White Sox. In his last two years with Chicago, he is 14-14, 4.79 ERA in 42 starts, with a 1.317 WHIP. He is an average pitcher with major league experience. He is first year arbitration eligible. And he would be entitled to a large raise.
The White Sox have almost $90 million committed to 10 players. Dayan Viciedo, Gordon Beckham and Alejandro De Aza will cost the team combined another $9 to $10 million. The White Sox may not be able to afford another $6 - 7 million fifth stater like Humber.
It is ironic that if the White Sox do not tender Humber a contract, the Cubs are the type of team that would make him an offer, as a second tier starter on the free agent market.
UPDATE: I did not know this was possible, but the White Sox tried to send Humber through waivers. The Houston Astros claimed him. The initial story does not say what type of waivers are at issue.
There are three kinds of waivers. Teams will place a player on unconditional release waivers before they cut him. Irrevocable outright waivers come into play when a team wants to remove a player from the 40-man roster but keep him within the minor-league system. If, however, another team claims him, then he's gone. Finally, optional waivers cover players with options (more to come on the subject of options) who are being dispatched back to the minors three years or more after debuting in the majors. Like trade assignment waivers, optional waivers are revocable.
