Tonight's minor moves..
- Former Tigers left-hander Adam Wilk spent the past season in Korea but plans to return to MLB in 2014, agent Steve Canter tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link).
- Former Nationals and Rays right-hander J.D. Martin has signed with Korea's Samsung Lions, Canter tells Morosi (via Twitter). The Rays designated Martin for assignment in September. Martin was outstanding in 160 1/3 innings for Triple-A Durham this year, posting a 2.75 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 and winning International League Most Valuable Pitcher honors. The 30-year-old has not pitched in the Majors since 2010, when he started nine games for the Nationals.
- The Cubs signed former Royals reliever Tommy Hottovy to a minor league contract, a source tells Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish (via Twitter). The 32-year-old left-hander has 17 big league games to his credit. He spent last season with the Blue Jays Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, posting a combined 4.19 ERA with 8.8 K/'9 and 3.6 BB/9.
Shane Flannagan 2
YES!!!!!! Finally my Cubs make the huge signing
letsgogiants
You just knew Hoyer had something up his sleeve.
Shane Flannagan 2
He sure did, was shocked by this signing
Jacob Holton
I like the deal. Hopefully he makes the roster by June
Shane Flannagan 2
He wont, Cubs have Russell and Wright that they just signed. Both are LHP
Shane Flannagan 2
That he will be an insurance arm in AAA Iowa
Jacob Holton
So you aren’t allowed to have three lefties at the major league level?
Shane Flannagan 2
Well you can, but hes just not going to be on the team
Jacob Holton
Just saying that he might end up like Darnell McDonald, Zach Putnam, Donnie Murphy, Eduardo Sanchez, and Chang-Yong Lim and be able to crack the roster.
Jacob Holton
Maybe even Hisanori Takahashi and be able to make it out of spring training.
cubs7691
World Series 2014 watch out everyone! This is the year!
TheoHoyer
Every time the Cubs make a small, relatively minor signing like this…this comment always shows up.
Jacob Holton
Because they haven’t made any big moves. The two biggest moves are signing Wesley Wright and Darnell McDonald with acquiring George Kottaras. Not my idea of an off-season
cubs27
Don’t forget the Ryan Sweeney extension!
Jacob Holton
And all those other minor league signings
cubs7691
How could you forget that Jake it made the back cover of the Chicago Tribune lol
Guest 3979
I know, we spent a whole $3.5 million on him!
cubs7691
Sweeney gave us the Andre Dawson discount! haha
letsgogiants
They aren’t in contention yet. Are they really expected to make big moves? In my mind, this will probably be the last year before the Cubs really start adding onto their roster and look to contend. By then, guys like Soler, Baez, Almora, Bryant, and C.J. Edwards should either be ready or close to ready. Add to that they already have the likes of Castro, Rizzo, Lake, Castillo, Barney (who is elite defensively), Wood, and Samardzija (if he isn’t traded, as Hoyer loves his arm), and it’s not too far fetch to think this club could contend by 2015.
Shane Flannagan 2
I agree with you. But I’m still hoping the Cubs sign Tanaka. Hes 25 years old which is huge for the Cubs
letsgogiants
At this point, who knows whether or not he’s even gonna get posted. Unless Tanaka desires badly to be in the majors (which I’m guessing he does), I’m sure his team would like to keep him.
Shane Flannagan 2
I bet his team lets him go if he wants to be in the majors
cubs7691
That is if they all turn out to be stars they may be good in the minors, but so was felix pie, corey paterson, etc
Shane Flannagan 2
Only thing about Pie and Paterson was they weren’t really looked as top prospects in the game, unlike Baez, Bryant, Soler, Almora,Edwards
letsgogiants
True, and I had a good feeling someone would say this. But they don’t even all need to be stars, just solid players who can produce in the majors year in and year out.
Jacob Holton
Considering they are going after Masahiro Tanaka, yeah I kind of expect them to make a big deal
cubs7691
I’m just doing my civic duties for all the pescimistic Cubs fans out there lol
sackseph
CHAMPIONSHIP!
Flash105
Totally pointless signing. May not make a minor league team. While Cubs fans are begging Theo to improve the team this is his concern? Pitiful.
CubsFan5
Huge move. This definitely puts us over the top! Wooohoooo!!!
PuigNowitzkiRomo
Let me guess… Low risk, High reward LOL thats what all the Cubs fans always say when so called genius Theo makes a move and for what to trade them in half season because he knows they arent really good. See Feldman if he was so good why did he trade him for two average relievers and signs Edwin Jackson the guy with an era of 5 to a 50 million contract LOL
Jacob Holton
Actually it was $52 Million and his ERA was 4.98
Swarley
I’ll have you know, good sir, one of those average relievers made his way into our not so average rotation. So there!
PuigNowitzkiRomo
And what is his record in the majors as a starter? An era of 6!!
calabio
Wins losses and era does not determine how good a pitcher is…your offense and defense effects all three. (With era not counting errors. Poor decision making. Bad routes to ball in gaps. Etc)
Shane Flannagan 2
Feldman was a great signing actually so get your facts straight. Arrieta has some great upside as a starter and he showed that in the last month. Strop turned it around once he got to the Cubs and looks to be himself from 2 years ago and the Cubs got international cash that allowed them to sign the best international player last year
PuigNowitzkiRomo
Yes thats what am saying why did he trade Feldman if he was performing quite good? and for two players who havent performed that well in the majors even if they have upside. He just likes to flip and flip players. Schierlholtz will be next watch and see.
Shane Flannagan 2
Yea, that’s the position the Cubs were in the last 2 seasons and will be again 1 more year. Arrieta and Strop look really good and going to be keys players in the future. I know as a Dodgers fan you don’t understand this
letsgogiants
Are you Harold Reynolds?