The Cubs Have a Top Five Prospect in All of Baseball and Other Bullets

javier baez aflSo, Aaron Rodgers is going to be back for tomorrow’s win-and-you’re-in Bears/Packers game. That kind of sucks for the Bears, though – as a football fan, generally, you’d hope not to see Rodgers re-injure his collar bone, either. But, you know, hopefully he’s rusty or something. I’d like to see a team that I kinda-sorta am starting to care about make the playoffs.

  • For your excitement file: Jason Parks, the lead prospect dude at Baseball Prospect says we’re going to see three Cubs prospects in the top 25 when BP releases its next top 101 list (early next year), and it’ll be Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, and Albert Almora.* Moreover, Parks noted that Baez will be in the top five. Given the guys in the top five range – Byron Buxton, Francisco Lindor, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa – it’s pretty impressive to hear of Baez’s inclusion. That’s elite-elite, with a side of elite. Remember: these rankings not only after a season’s worth of performance and stats, they come after BP speaks at length with talent evaluators, organizational members, and other scouts about the prospects. In other words, it isn’t just Baez’s video game numbers season in 2013 that catapulted him up the rankings – it’s also what folks who’ve been watching him believe.
  • *(Because I have allowed myself to become irrationally excited about Cubs prospects, “three in the top 25” initially disappointed me. Four in the top 30 is more impressive, but I’m guessing Jorge Soler will wind up somewhere closer to 40 or 50 because of the leg injury and limited season. BP has never been as high on C.J. Edwards as some other publications, so he might be down in the 60s or so. The choice for plaudit may have been “three in the top 25” or “five in the top 65.” The former is more impressive, I think.)
  • Agent Joshua Kusnick writes about his experience at the Winter Meetings, and I’m instantly struck how the big victory moment for him was having one of his players – Adrian Nieto – selected in the Rule 5 Draft. It’s a reminder that the game isn’t just about the stars, and there’s a lot of hustling going on (in a good way). I suspect that the life of your average, non-superstar agent is a tough one, far more rewarding for its successes (like having a player taken in the Rule 5) than its payout.
  • Beyond the Boxscore on whether payroll disparity is disappearing. Kinda? At least in terms of teams’ ability to spend big money.
  • Some favorite baseball idiosyncrasies from BP, including Luis Valbuena’s epic bat flip.
  • written by

    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

    Justin Steele, Hamstrings and Hindsight, Montgomery and Bieber, Roster Options, More

    You can't know what's going to happen on the injury front. Trying to predict the unpredictability of player health has been the longest-running vexatious part of a modern front office's job, and I recognize that kind of thing before getting...

    The Morel Foul Ball, Madrigal’s D, Busch Heads Up, Langford Respect, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ah, now the obligatory off-day after Opening Day. And an Opening Day loss no less, which always makes today that much better, right ... You could hang on so many things from the opening loss - one-run losses in heavily-scrutinized...

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    Latest News

    Bulls vs. Nets: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Brooklyn Nets (28-45) face the Chicago Bulls (35-38) on Friday, March 29, 2024 at Barclays Center. It tips at 7:30 PM ET on NBCS.Last time out, the Bulls won on Wednesday 125-99 over the Pacers. The Nets are coming...

    How to Watch Knicks vs. Spurs: Live Stream or on TV

    The New York Knicks (44-28) will try to build on a three-game winning run when visiting the San Antonio Spurs (17-56) on Friday, March 29, 2024 at AT&T Center. It airs at 8:00 PM ET on BSSW.In their most recent...

    Cavaliers vs. 76ers: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Philadelphia 76ers (39-34) go up against the Cleveland Cavaliers (44-29) on Friday, March 29, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It starts at 7:30 PM ET on NBCS.The Cavaliers dropped their last outing 118-111 against the Hornets on Wednesday. The...

    Astros vs. Yankees Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

    The Houston Astros will take the field against the New York Yankees (1-0) on Friday. The game begins at 8:10 PM ET on Apple TV+, with the Astros listed as -121 favorites on the moneyline.Houston's Cristian Javier and New York's...

    Kawhi Leonard Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – Friday, March 29, 2024

    The Los Angeles Clippers play the Orlando Magic on Friday at 7:00 PM ET, and if the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard drains two 3-pointers, he'll beat his prop.Kawhi Leonard's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the MagicKawhi Leonard's over/under for three-pointers in this...

    Miles Bridges Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Warriors – Friday, March 29, 2024

    The Charlotte Hornets face the Golden State Warriors at 7:00 PM ET on Friday, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this matchup requires two treys from Miles Bridges.Miles Bridges' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the WarriorsMiles Bridges' over/under for...

    Deni Avdija Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pistons – Friday, March 29, 2024

    At 7:00 PM ET on Friday, it'll be the Washington Wizards versus the Detroit Pistons, with Deni Avdija needing two trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Deni Avdija's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PistonsDeni Avdija's over/under for three-pointers in this game:...

    James Harden Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – Friday, March 29, 2024

    Will James Harden make three 3-pointers when the Los Angeles Clippers play the Orlando Magic on Friday at 7:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.James Harden's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the MagicJames Harden's over/under for...

    Jordan Poole Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pistons – Friday, March 29, 2024

    The Washington Wizards meet the Detroit Pistons at 7:00 PM ET on Friday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires three trifectas from Jordan Poole.Jordan Poole's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PistonsJordan Poole's over/under for three-pointers...

    Kelly Oubre Jr. Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Cavaliers – Friday, March 29, 2024

    On Friday at 7:30 PM ET, the Philadelphia 76ers play the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Kelly Oubre Jr.'s 3-pointer prop for this clash requires two trifectas.Kelly Oubre Jr.'s Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the CavaliersKelly Oubre Jr.'s over/under for three-pointers in this...

    more cubs news