Cubs Minor League Daily: #HugWatch Isn’t Over Yet

When the season began, the Cubs had the means within the farm system for one really big trade. Jose Quintana was that trade. I don’t think they have the prospects to pull off anything else big, even for a rental, without raiding the Major League roster to some degree.

But they have plenty of resources to work with for a smaller deal. Using something the size of last year’s Mike Montgomery deal as a template (the Cubs sent out Dan Vogelbach and Paul Blackburn), the Cubs could complete a deal of that size a couple of times over. And when you consider that a medium sized prospect return could still land a big major league name if there are financial considerations to think about (the Cubs could eat an entire contract, for example), then the Cubs are still very much in play for a lot of deals.

HugWatch 2017 is alive and well.

To that end, you can expect to see plenty of reports like this in the coming days:

#Rangers, #Padres, and #BlueJays have had a scout at Principal Park this homestand watching the Iowa #Cubs. #MiLB

— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) July 21, 2017

There are some quality trade candidates in Iowa. Jeimer Candelario would be a very nice pickup for any team looking for a good, nearly ready bat. Mark Zagunis is an on-base machine. Pierce Johnson has better stuff than results, and a team could decide to gamble on that stuff. Jacob Hannemann has enough potential that the Cubs put him on the 40-man roster, and I doubt the Cubs are alone in that opinion on Hannemann. Matt Carasiti is one of the best relievers in Triple A right now, although that might be reason for the Cubs to just call him up themselves. And there are probably a few players being scouted that would surprise us. That’s usually how it goes.

Of course, scouts at a game doesn’t mean a trade is happening, but those scouts do line up with other reports in a way that allows some dots to be connected. At the very least, it is more smoke indicating that the Cubs are still active.

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Oklahoma City 4, Iowa 3
The Cubs tied it in the eighth, but they never lead in this one.

• Williams Perez: 6 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K
• Dylan Floro: 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 K
• John Andreoli: 1 for 3, 2B
• Chris Dominguez: 2 for 4, 2B
• Jeimer Candelario: 1 for 4, 2B
• Taylor Davis: 3 for 4
• Chesny Young: 1 for 3, 2B

Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Jacksonville 3, Tennessee 2
Like Iowa, Tennessee tied it up late but never took the lead.

• Trevor Clifton: 3.2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 5 BB, 3 K
• Jose Rosario: 2 IP, 1 K
• Trey Martin: 2 for 4, SB
• Daniel Spingola: 2 for 4, 3B, HR

High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Down East 5, Myrtle Beach 1
A second inning solo homer was the extent of the Myrtle Beach offense.

• Justin Steele: 5 R (4 ER), 8 H, 1 BB, 2 K
• Kyle Miller: 3 IP, 2 H, 3 K
• Vimael Machin: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
• P.J. Higgins: 1 for 3, HR, BB

Low A: South Bend Cubs
Wisconsin 5, South Bend 3
The Cubs jumped out to a two run first inning lead.

• Jose Paulino: 5.1 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 K
• Jhon Romero: 2 IP, 2 K
• Andruw Monasterio: 1 for 5, 2B
• Yeiler Peguero: 1 for 4, 2B
• Kevonte Mitchell: 1 for 4, HR
• Luis Ayala: 1 for 4, 2B

Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 4, Tri-City 2
Eugene had to withstand a ninth inning rally, but they kept their playoff hopes alive.

• Yapson Gomez: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K
• Andry Rondon: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K
• Aramis Ademan: 3 for 4, 3 2B, SB
• Miguel Amaya: 2 for 5, SB
• Gustavo Polanco: 2 for 5
• Rafael Narea: 2 for 4, 2B

Rookie: AZL Cubs
Cubs 7, White Sox 5
Temperature have gone done somewhat the desert; game time temp in this night game was only 101.

• Stephen Ridings: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
• Rollie Lacy: 2.2 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K
• Chris Singleton: 2 for 4, 2 SB
• Nelson Velazquez: 1 for 4, HR
• Ramsey Romano: 4 for 4, 2B
• Kwang-Min Kwon: 1 for 3, 2B
• Cam Balego: 2 for 4, 2B

Other Notes

• Earlier this week Jacob Hannemann was hit in the head with a pitch, but he is already back in action.
• Kevonte Mitchell is a raw, athletic, high ceiling, toolsy outfielder who has been hanging out in the low minors since he was drafted in 2014. He might be on the verge of a breakout. He is past the 100 PA threshhold for the second half of the season,and in that range he is hitting .288/.385/.463 with seven steals and three home runs. those numbers, and the OBP in particular, are a marked increase over his first half numbers of .232/.288/.414. At the very least, I think we can say he is moving in the right direction.
• Eugene is 21-15, good for the second best record in the league. But Hillsboro is in their division and one game better, and there are just two games to play in the first half. Eugene is facing Tri-City, and that team is one game out of first in the other division. Hillsboro, who have won seven straight, are facing the worst team in the league. Eugene holds the tie breaker, so if they win out they can still win the division with a single Hillsboro loss.