Chatwood and Montgomery Coming Out of the Pen Today, Paying Minor Leaguers, and Other Bullets

Social Navigation

Chatwood and Montgomery Coming Out of the Pen Today, Paying Minor Leaguers, and Other Bullets

Chicago Cubs

I can’t wait to see The Wife and kiddos again later this weekend. Miss them and all their shenanigans.

  • The Cubs transactions page shows pitchers James Norwood, Duane Underwood, and Rowan Wick as optioned to AAA Iowa, which likely means they’ve been cut from big league camp (together with other guys who aren’t on the 40-man roster and thus don’t show in that particular section). I expect the full details will come soon. Ah, mid-typing this bullet, the full cuts come out. So, I’m gonna go write that, and then I’ll link it right here, and then I’ll return to these Bullets, and you’ll have no idea any of this happened because I can just edit this paragraph before I publish. Oops.
  • Oh, also, I have been cut from Cubs camp. I head home later today.
  • Interesting, but not unexpected, to see both Mike Montgomery and Tyler Chatwood scheduled to pitch today just four days after their last outing, which means each is now transitioning from stretching out to an expected bullpen role.
  • To be sure, neither Montgomery nor Chatwood were expected to be in the rotation when the season opened, but (health permitting) it was nevertheless reasonable to stretch them out in the first half of the spring just in case the front five of the rotation suffered an injury. With that looking unlikely at this point (KNOCKS SO HARD ON WOOD IT SHATTERS LIKE PARTICLE BOARD), it’s time to get Montgomery and Chatwood ready to pitch out of the bullpen when the season opens. That means pitching later in the game, and also pitching on shorter rest.
(Photo by Russell Lansford/Getty Images)
  • Why have you decided to hurt me like this:

  • Given how potentially valuable minor league players are to the big league organizations under which they serve, and given that the superstar prospects cannot develop without a league of players to play with, you’d sure think teams would be more open to paying these guys a daggone minimum wage AT LEAST. Just do the right thing here.
  • Speaking of those negotiations, this is exactly the kind of reaction the league was hoping to get to the planned payout from the Home Run Derby (a prize pool, including $1 million to the winner):

  • Bonus appearance in there from Anthony Rizzo telling Bryant he wants to do the Derby every year.
  • And one more on the rules changes, with the three-batter-minimum rule going into effect this year in the minor leagues before implementation next year in the big leagues:

  • In other words, the only way you can come out of a game is if you’ve faced at least three batters or it’s an inning break.
  • Fanatics changed up their clearance today, and added free shipping.
  • Bryce Harper, who just signed a historic 13-year contract, was plunked hard on the ankle in a Spring Training game, and every Phillies fan probably exploded in terror:

  • That sure looked bad, but so far, the Phillies are indicating they aren’t worried about Opening Day. It would have been very Harper to get injured that way – he just seems to have really bad luck with stuff like that.
  • This is real, and an actual name:

  • If the Cubs do not acquire first baseman Gio Dingcong within six months, I’m going to wonder what this life was all about.
  • Farewell to a very good slot corner, but perhaps it will at least net the Bears a draft pick:

Filed to: Chicago Cubs
Latest from Bleacher Nation:

Is Shohei Ohtani Now Slightly More Likely to Reach Free Agency After This Season?
Great Read on How Dansby Swanson Addressed His Mental Health and How It Impacts Player Performance
Okay, Let’s Play the Lineup Game with the 2023 Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs Signing Former Twins Reliever Tyler Duffey to a Minor League Deal
A Ho-Hum A’s-O’s Trade, Swanson Rankings and Expectation, Baseball Rarities, and Other Cubs Bullets
Chicago Cubs Place Three on MLB Pipeline’s Pre-2023 Top-100 Prospects List
Seiya Suzuki Could Be One of the Hardest Hitters to Project This Season
The Houston Astros Have Finally Found Their New GM: Dana Brown
Maple Leafs vs Senators Same Game Parlay: Friday Night Hockey +1200 Pick
Ryan O’Reilly Staying in St. Louis Would Be Good News for the Blackhawks
DeMeco Ryans Named a Top Candidate for Texans Head Coach Job
FanDuel Ohio FanDuel Ohio: $200 Bonus Bets for NFL Conference Championship Games
A Call For Change, Lack of Leadership, Time to Turn to the Young Guys? And Other Bulls Bullets
Yes, We Heard the Warren Sapp Soundbite Predicting the Bears Will Trade Justin Fields
DraftKings Ohio promo DraftKings Ohio Promo Gives $200 Bonus Bets for NFL Conference Championship Games
49ers vs Eagles: How To Watch The NFC Championship Game 49ers vs Eagles: How To Watch The NFC Championship Game
Teams Are Calling About Alex Caruso, And the Bulls Have Reportedly Set a *HIGH* Asking Price
Rams Hiring Mike LaFleur as Offensive Coordinator

Author: Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Editor and Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and @Brett_A_Taylor.