The Cubs waived waiver claim pitcher Brent Marshall and reliever Brooks Raley. Both ex-Cubs were quickly claimed by the Reds and Twins.
The Cubs had to open up two spots on the 40 man roster to sign new players to major league contracts.
Jason Hammel was signed to a $6 million contract. He is coming off two consecutive years of serious injuries (knee and elbow).
Also, the Cubs signed James McDonald to a non-guaranteed $1 million deal with incentives. McDonald is also coming off any injury season.
Are Hammel and McDonald better pitchers than Marshall and Raley? Perhaps.
But the Cubs have a habit of letting go healthy pitchers in exchange for pitchers coming off injuries, rolling the dice on a potential upside if the pitcher can completely rehab to prior form seen two or three years ago.
With Jake Arrieta reporting to camp with his own shoulder tenderness, this puts more pressure on Hammel and McDonald to heal quickly and make the major league roster.
