As expected, the Cubs non-tendered Ian Stewart on Friday but management stated that they hoped to
re-sign the third baseman. Stewart who missed most of last two seasons is rehabbing from needing
wrist surgery.
The Cubs tendered contracts to right-handed pitchers Matt Garza and Jeff
Samardzija, left-handed pitcher James Russell, and infielder Luis
Valbuena. Garza, Samardzija, Russell, Valbuena and Stewart were
arbitration-eligible.
This means that Valbuena is penciled in as the Cubs 2013 starting third baseman. It is clear that given the choice, Valbuena was taken over Stewart.
In addition, 14 players from the Cubs' 40-man roster were tendered 2013
contracts on Friday. Besides Stewart, the Cubs also non-tendered
right-handed pitchers Zach Putnam and Jaye Chapman. Putnam and Chapman
were not eligible for arbitration.
Two 25 year old pitchers were non-tendered: Putnam and Chapman. Putnam was an off-season waiver pick up from the Rockies. Putnam was basically a AA pitcher last season with 12 saves in 33 game finishes, with a 3-4 record and 4.15 ERA. Putnam could have been a potential replacement if the Marmol trade to the Angels had gone through. Since Marmol appears to be a Cub in 2013 (his salary is now higher than the current closer market), Putnam was not a critical piece. Chapman was part of the Maholm trade with the Braves. In 14 relief appearances, he pitched 12 IP, 3.75 ERA and 1.500 WHIP. One would have thought Chapman could have been a piece in the rebuilding bullpen.
The Cubs also announced pitcher Casey Coleman, who was designated for
assignment earlier this week to make room on the 40-man roster for
pitcher Scott Feldman, has cleared waivers and was assigned outright to
Triple-A Iowa.
With the moves, the Cubs' 40-man roster now stands at 37.
In other team non-tenders, the most interesting for the Cubs could be former Pirate starter, Jeff Karstens. He pitched through a few nagging injuries last season. In 19 games, he went 5-4, 3.97 ERA and 1.147 WHIP. He made $3.1 million last season. He has been a consistent control pitcher at a reasonable value. He could be the Maholm free-agent type signing for some team, and a possible flip candidate at the trade deadline.
In addition, left handed pitcher John Lannan of the Nationals is now a free agent. He spent most of 2012 in the minors because he was blocked by a slew of quality starters acquired in trades. Lannan, 28, has been on our radar for a while. A left handed starter, he came back around the time Strasberg was shut down. In 6 starts, he went 4-1, 4.13 ERA and 1.439 WHIP. He made $5 million last season, and one could expect that he would make more than Scott Baker in the open market.
The Braves parted ways with former starter Jair Jurrjens. Jurrjens, 26, has had injuries that have accumulated over the last three seasons. In 10 starts in 2012, he went 3-4, 6.89 ERA in 48.1 IP, 1.862 WHIP. Before the season started, Jurrijens was a hot topic of trade speculation. A team willing to wait for an extended rehab (which fits the current Cub profile) could take a flyer on Jurrjens.
The Cubs are not a true destination landing spot for free agents. The Cubs are really an "extended paid career rehab" facility for players, especially pitchers, who need to prove they are back from some major injury, like Tommy John surgery. Free agents are aware that the Cubs are not going to win, but if they can show they have returned to form, the Cubs will trade them to a contender in July. It is the "rent a player" mode in reverse.
In other release news, the Rangers non-tendered former Cubs Geo Soto and Jacob Bingham. It was no surprise that Soto was not offered a new deal after two years of declining performance. Bingham was just traded back from the Cubs, which shows that the second deal was an injury make-up compensation since Bingham was hurt after the trade.
The Orioles released third baseman Mark Reynolds. Some believe he could be a stop-gap for the Cubs. Reynolds, 29, hit only .221 in 2012, with 23 HR, 69 RBI, .335 OBP and 159 strike outs. For the first time in five years, he did not lead the league in strike outs. Also, he is a woeful defender at third base. The Cubs will probably pass on his services since the team needs more contact hitters and better fielders.
