No real surprise here, as the deadline for Rule Five Draft purposes is November 19, but the Cubs are expected to add top pitching prospect Chris Archer to the 40-man roster soon.
Pitcher Chris Archer, the Cubs’ minor-league pitcher of the year, soon will be added to the 40-man roster. “He’ll come to camp as a 40-man roster guy, and I hope he gives Mike Quade and (pitching coach) Larry Rothschild something really positive to look at. We all think he’s a high-end guy. Whether he’s ready at the end of camp or somewhere during the season remains to be seen. I think we’re certainly seeing a whole lot of quality pitchers in the big leagues in their early 20s. It will be real simple. If Mike and his staff deem that he’s ready, then he’ll get a look sooner than later.” DailyHerald.com.
The Cubs may give Archer a look early in the year out of the bullpen, as they did with Andrew Cashner, before deciding on his long-term future. Unlike Cashner, however, there has never been a meaningful suggestion that Archer will wind up in the pen – if he pitches there this year, it will simply be about getting him a taste of facing big league hitting. Otherwise, he’ll continue to start in the minors until he’s ready to take a spot in the big rotation – or until fate forces a spot on him.