The Cubs have added to the previously announced 16 non-roster invitees to the major league spring training camp. The current list includes Javier Baez, the Class A shortstop who is now rated the Cubs number one prospect.
Baez, the Cubs' No. 1 pick in 2011, was ranked No. 16 overall on MLB.com's Top 100 list
released earlier last week. The 20-year-old shortstop hit .333 with 12
home runs, 10 doubles and 33 RBIs in 57 games at Class A Peoria last
year, then posted a .188 average after being promoted to Class A
Daytona.
Baez is one of five non-roster infielders invited to
Spring Training, joining Alberto Gonzalez, Brent Lillibridge, Edwin
Maysonet and Brad Nelson. The list of invitees also includes three
outfielders -- Brian Bogusevic, Johermyn Chavez and Darnell McDonald --
and three catchers -- J.C. Boscan, Michael Brenly and Rafael Lopez.
As
for the pitching staff, 11 non-roster players with varying degrees of
Major League experience will arrive in Mesa, Ariz. on Feb. 12, when
pitchers and catchers report. That list includes right-handers Drew
Carpenter, Jaye Chapman, Casey Coleman, Dayan Diaz, Jensen Lewis, Barret
Loux, Blake Parker, Zach Putnam, Nick Struck and Cory Wade, along with
left-handed reliever Hisanori Takahashi.
For any of these players to make the big club, a player currently on the 40 man roster would need to be waived or DFA.
Of the selections, the best chance to make the major league roster would be lefty reliever Takahashi, since the bullpen only has James Russell. In the utility infielder role, Lillibridge's versatility makes him a probable selection.
The rest of the invitees are players who are either given a pat on the back for last season's minors success, such as Baez. The reward is an incentive to make the prospects work harder to progress up the development ladder. The journeymen players and minor league pitchers and catchers are mostly in camp to fill innings so as not to burn out players who will be on the 15 man roster. The Cubs as a team are so bad that there is no real competition on the depth chart this year.
