NEWSLETTER
Today, the Chicago Cubs officially (officially) signed outfielder Nate Schierholtz to a one-year, $2.25 million contract. We’ll soon find out what the Cubs’ stated plans for his role are, and I’ll be listening greedily. Starter in right field? Part of a platoon in right field? Fourth outfielder? We’ll see.
The Cubs also announced that one of last year’s Cuban prospect signings, Gerardo Concepcion, had been waived, cleared waivers, and assigned to Kane County. The 20-year-old lefty had a rough debut season in the Cubs’ system after signing a $6 million big-league deal with the Cubs last January – and that deal, together with the required 40-man spot for a team to claim him, is the reason he made it through waivers unscathed. His adjustment to pro ball in the States didn’t go so well, and then he came down with a case of mono. He is now off the 40-man roster, but still in the Cubs’ system, and hopefully rebounds in 2013.
Further, lefty reliever Jeff Beliveau, who was DFA’d last week, was claimed off waivers by the Rangers. Righty reliever Sandy Rosario, whom the Cubs grabbed off of waivers from the Red Sox (after a Winter of travels), was waived and claimed by the Giants. So his many stops continue.
All told, the Cubs’ 40-man roster stands at 39, with Edwin Jackson and Carlos Villanueva waiting to officially sign. The Cubs will have to remove one more player from the 40-man before that happens, and probably a couple move, given their desire for another outfielder and another infielder. That could be accomplished a number of ways, so we’ll see what comes down the pipe.
