Today, the Chicago Cubs dropped their second round of roster cuts from big league camp, with some roster battling getting at least a tiny bit more clarity.
Cubs roster reductions:
Optioned to AAA: Alzolay, Rea, Z. Short
Optioned to AA: Amaya
Reassigned to Minors camp: Asuaje, Cuevas, Joseph, Giambrone
Michael Rucker, Ruler 5er returned by Orioles, in MLB camp as an NRI.
MLB camp count now: 44
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 10, 2020
Don’t get too caught up in the verbiage there: guys on the 40-man roster are described as “optioned,” where as guys in on non-roster invitations (minor league deals) are described as “reassigned.” But it’s the same thing – cut from big league camp, won’t be making the Opening Day roster.
So that means, for example, Colin Rea and Adbert Alzolay won’t win the 5th starter job. They were in the mix at the start of camp, but it became clear the Cubs would be choosing from among Tyler Chatwood and Alec Mills, only, with both of those two making the team in any case. So Rea and Alzolay will head to minor league camp to begin prepping to start in the Iowa Cubs rotation (though it remains possible Alzolay could move into the bullpen at some point, depending on his progress).
Zack Short, Carlos Asuaje, Noel Cuevas, Corban Joseph, and Trent Giambrone have long been expected to head to Iowa to serve as depth there. Miguel Amaya is on the 40-man by virtue of Rule 5 eligibility, but AA Tennessee was always going to be his destination to open the season.
As for Michael Rucker, good to have him back in the organization, and he’ll get a little big league camp time before – I would surmise – head back to minor league camp and then Iowa.
Big league camp is now down to 44 players, with 18 cuts to go …