Lukewarm Stove: DeJesus, Wells, Young, Betancourt, Figgins, Capps

Mar 26, 2013

stove As Spring Training winds down, we’re entering the stretch where a number of fringe roster types are released back into the wild …

Rany Jazayerli – don’t let the Blogspot blog fool you, he’s a noted Royals writer – writes that the Royals still need a platoon partner in right field to pair with Jeff Francoeur, and the prime candidate is none other than David DeJesus. The match-up is pretty strong, given the Royals’ need and the Cubs’ willingness to move players like DeJesus for value, but the timing might be tricky. The Royals would probably rather have DeJesus yesterday, but the Cubs don’t have an obvious replacement ready in center field quite yet. Indeed, Phil Rogers took on this suggestion the day after Rany made it, and said that the Cubs want to make sure Brett Jackson’s new swing takes hold at Iowa before counting on him in center field this year. That leaves the Cubs with the option of sticking someone like Dave Sappelt (or Scott Hairston, if he can hack it) in center field full-time in April/May/June if they dealt DeJesus now. And if Jackson’s swing doesn’t show improvement? Then center field becomes a serious void. I do think the Cubs will shop DeJesus – he’s on an affordable deal that includes an affordable option for 2014 – but likely not until mid-season.

On the Yankees/Angels Vernon Wells deal, instead of a condonable $2 to $3 million per year, the Yankees are picking up almost $14 million in salary from the Angels. The figure, which necessarily means the Yanks are giving up bupkis in terms of prospect value (indeed, at that price tag, I’d argue it’s the Yankees who are owed a prospect), is utterly insane, and suggests very strongly that either (1) Alfonso Soriano was definitely completely unwilling to accept a trade to the Yankees right now; or (2) the Cubs had some very high demands in trade for Soriano. Interestingly, there is some debate on how that $14 million in salary is going to go on the Yankees’ books for luxury tax purposes (usually, contracts are averaged out to their annual value for luxury tax accounting purposes). Given their desperate desire to get under $189 million in 2014, it’s impossible to see the Yankees adding $7 million to payroll for a guy like Wells. Indeed, Mark Feinsand hears that the Yankees are exploiting the transferring-money rule in trades in order to front-load their payments, and actually get a credit toward payroll in 2014. I don’t think MLB intended for traded salary to work this way.

Pretty much every article you see on the Wells trade, by the way – examples here and here – includes some variation of “desperation” in the headline.

Jon Garland ended up choosing the Rockies, but the Cubs may have moved on to another 33-year-old injury-recovering righty: Chris Young. He opted out of his deal with the Nationals, and the Cubs – together with many teams – were in attendance scouting his latest start. Young hasn’t pitched much over the last few years, but he did manage 20 meh starts with the Mets last year. I don’t really see a whole lot of upside in Young.

Fear not: Ronny Cedeno has signed with the Astros. (Which has led to them shopping Tyler Greene, who is out of options and whom they will waive or trade. He can play all over the infield, but is a right-handed bat who only last year – in Houston – showed a little pop. Before that, he wasn’t anything worth a hoot at the plate.)

Fear still: Yuniesky Betancourt is back on the market.

Fear worse: Dale Sveum called Chone Figgins “interesting” as the Cubs consider waiver wire/free agent options for the final bench spot (otherwise, it’ll be Steve Clevenger).

The Indians have released reliever Matt Capps, who is still just 29 and had a good, abbreviated year in 2012, even if his K rate has dropped quite a bit in the last two years (but his velocity has remained steady despite some shoulder troubles). There’s a belief that the Indians are going to try and re-sign him to a deal that doesn’t require them to pay him a $100K bonus (which his original minor league deal would have required if he were sent to the minors out of Spring Training), but if he can find a Major League roster spot elsewhere, he’ll presumably take it. The Cubs still have that one opening in the bullpen, and Capps has a nice track record. Who knows what his medicals look like, though.

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Sign Old Friend Dan Straily

I knew Dan Straily was pitching in Korea, and I knew there was a time in relatively recent memory that he was trying to come back to MLB. But sometime between then and now, he fell off my radar as...

Brett Taylor

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Astros at Cubs (1:20 CT) – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs won again last night, which means they've already won the season-series against the still-struggling Astros. Justin Verlander will be on the bump for today's finale, but he'll have to go up against the mighty Javier...

Michael Cerami

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Farm Report | April 25, 2024: Brennen Davis Homers in His Return to Triple-A

Brennen Davis made his return to Triple-A last night, and of course, he managed to smack a three-run home run in an 8-2 win for the Iowa Cubs. That and more in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report |...

Patrick K. Flowers

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Cubs

The Leadoff Role, Cubs Front Office is Not Particularly Well-Liked? And Other Cubs Bullets

It's a pretty big day for the Chicago Bears, eh? For the second year in a row, they own the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Only this time, they actually plan to use it (and on a quarterback,...

Michael Cerami

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Sign Brazilian-Japanese Pitcher Daniel Missaki Out of Mexican League

That's a geographic mouthful right there, and it underscores what an interesting signing this is. Stray signings throughout the year are not uncommon, particularly as injuries accumulate down on the farm and the Chicago Cubs have the ability to take...

Brett Taylor

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Do the Cubs Have a Scoring-Late Problem?

Once a month since August of 2016, my friends and I get together for "Supper Club." It's like book club, but instead of reading books, we go to a different restaurant in the city. Last night, we hit our 77th...

Michael Cerami

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 4, Astros 3 – April 24, 2024

The Cubs did all their scoring in the first, and made it stand up for the win with generally good pitching and generally good defense. Jameson Taillon looked solid again in his second start, locating well, giving up no barrels,...

Brett Taylor

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Dansby Swanson with a First Inning Three-Run Homer

For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...

Brett Taylor

Apr 24, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Welcome Back to Iowa, Brennen Davis: Rocket Homer in His First Game Post-Rehab

What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....

Brett Taylor

Apr 24, 2024

Chicago Cubs

CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

Michael Cerami

Apr 24, 2024

Picks

LeBron James Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers meet the Denver Nuggets at 10:00 PM ET on Thursday, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires two trifectas from LeBron...

Data Skrive

Apr 25, 2024

Picks

D’Angelo Russell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

D'Angelo Russell must make four 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Los Angeles Lakers play the Denver Nuggets on Thursday at 10:00 PM ET, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.D'Angelo Russell's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

Data Skrive

Apr 25, 2024

Picks

Michael Porter Jr. Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, Michael Porter Jr. must make three from downtown on Thursday, when his Denver Nuggets face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, tipping off at 10:00 PM...

Data Skrive

Apr 25, 2024

Picks

Jamal Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

On Thursday at 10:00 PM ET, the Denver Nuggets face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Jamal Murray's 3-pointer prop for this clash requires three treys.Jamal Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

Data Skrive

Apr 25, 2024

Picks

Nikola Jokic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets meet the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday at 10:00 PM ET in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and to beat his 3-point over/under, he needs to make two from downtown.Nikola Jokic's...

Data Skrive

Apr 25, 2024

Picks

Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers play the Denver Nuggets at 10:00 PM ET on Thursday, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this clash requires just one trey from...

Data Skrive

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Sign Old Friend Dan Straily

I knew Dan Straily was pitching in Korea, and I knew there was a time in relatively recent memory that he was trying to come back to MLB. But sometime between then and now, he fell off my radar as...

Brett Taylor

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Bears

Oh? The Rams Reportedly Want to Trade into the Top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft

If you're looking for chaos on NFL Draft day, you just might get it. And leave it to the script-writers to get a team out in Hollywood involved. Here is a scoop from The Athletic's Dianna Russini, who hears the...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 25, 2024

Picks

Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Series April 26-28: Odds, Starting Pitchers & Predictions

A three-game series featuring the Detroit Tigers and the visiting Kansas City Royals will start on Friday, April 26 at 1:10 PM ET.Tigers vs. Royals Series Info Royals @ Tigers Time: Friday, April 26 at 1:10 PM ET Tigers Starting...

Data Skrive

Apr 25, 2024

Chicago Bears

We Could See 6 Quarterbacks Go in Round 1 of the NFL Draft

NFL Draft followers seem to have settled on four quarterbacks going somewhere in the top 10 picks. Many appear to think that we could get a draft with quarterbacks going 1, 2, 3, 4 in succession at the top. Others...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 25, 2024

Lukewarm Stove: DeJesus, Wells, Young, Betancourt, Figgins, Capps

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular