Turns out, the Cubs got to keep infielder Ildemaro Vargas after all. Today, Vargas cleared waivers and was outrighted (Montemurro), which means he’ll head to the alternate sit at South Bend for April. And if a need pops up, he’ll come up.
Vargas as one of the last cuts at Cubs camp, with the team deciding instead to go with MLB vets Eric Sogard and Matt Duffy for the final bench spots. Vargas offers a switch-hitting bat with good contact and can play shortstop, but the Cubs decided Sogard could also play shortstop well enough to be the back-up there for now, and that Duffy offers a little more contact/hit-ability against better pitchers. These are all close call decisions.
In any case, it’s great news for the Cubs that Vargas cleared waivers, even if not necessarily great for Vargas, who has yet to really break through in the big leagues. Vargas will be middle-infield depth at the alt site, together with newly-signed utility man Andrew Romine. Nico Hoerner, of course, will also be there, but you don’t really think of him as “depth.”