The Brewers have traded Rule 5 Draft pick and left-handed pitcher Caleb Smith to the Cubs, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes (Twitter links). The Brewers will receive a player to be named or cash.
The Brewers had selected the 25-year-old Smith out of the Yankees system. He pitched 63 2/3 innings for Double-A Trenton in 2016, making seven starts and 20 relief appearances, and posted a 3.96 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. The Yankees selected him in the 14th round of the 2013 draft. He seems unlikely to stick on a stacked Cubs roster, but the Cubs had been looking for left-handed relief help.
randalgrichuk15
Alrighty then.
TacoCat
The bullpen isn’t “stacked” we have openings since Cahill left and Wood is not certain
icedog7229
Kerry wood is still around? I thought he retired 2 or 3 years ago
sidewinder11
Travis Wood…..
HOUShadows
It’s Travis Wood…
Douggy44
TRAVIS
Deke
I like the way you think. Many would consider it “stacked” but you want more and better. My team is happy to check the boxes and last year didn’t think anywhere past the starting players. When an OF went down, we had two decent outfielder. All because they did have the depth like Chicago or LA. Both teams who understand that.
KB R.
CL: Davis
SU: Rondon
RP: Edwards
RP: Strop
RP: Grimm
RP:
LHRP: Zastryzny
LHRP: Duensing
Assuming they carry 8 guys they have 1 complete opening. They’ll likely sign another left hander in the form of Blevins, Logan, or Dunn…… or Wood (if he takes a pay cut) yet which would leave Zastryzny and Duensing likely competing for the other LHRP spot. As for that other opening they can either audition in-house talent like Jose Rosario for it, or go out and sign a guy like Storen or Holland, two guys looking to sign short deals to rebuild their value due to coming off an injury or having a down season. Either way, I wouldn’t say they have very many openings. I’d say they have room to add guys to compete for spots, But that’s about it. The back 5 spots are filled. They have Duensing and Zastryzny who impressed in limited time in 2016 to either man two of the three other spots or compete for 1 spot. WHEN they sign another left hander which has been hinted at that will lock up 2 spots because that new signee will have a spot and Zastryzny and Duensing will compete for the other. That leaves 1 opening. And I think they’ll sign Holland. Or use in-house guys to fill it. Maybe Pierce Johnson????
coconutbanger
The plan for Zastryzny currently is to stretch him out in the minors. I believe they are going to open with an 8-man bullpen. Maybe the strategy changes with how the market evolves, but assuming your list and an 8-man bullpen, there are two slots open.
Rounding3rd
Fill a spot with Uehara. Looks pretty good.
Djones246890
To be honest, the bullpen was never stacked. Edwards, Chapman, and Montgomery were the only ones that were reliable in the NLCS and World Series.
donniebaseball
Since this was a trade (of a rule 5 guy), they can option him down, right? I’m assuming that’s the benefit instead of claiming them yourself?
TheMichigan
No, unless he is returned and trade for (I.e Jabari Blash) you cannot option a rule 5 pick at anytime.
Whyamihere
no, same rules apply, they just get to pick earlier, so they don’t have to hope be falls to their pick.
donniebaseball
That makes sense. Thanks guys.
KJ0911
Who?
tim815
Unless you’re a Yankees hardcore guy, or a pro scout, you likely haven’t heard of him.
Part of the joy of the Rule 5 Draft.
What did you say when the Cubs added Hector Rondon?
chitown311
Here come the Cub fans “LOVE THIS TRADE”
dewssox79
yup. its coming. just wait for it
Mikel Grady
I love this trade. Caleb Smith will be a stud and help Cubs win multiple championships. Go Cubs!
AngelsAdvocate
Love you, Mike Grady.
Mikel Grady
Ha. Had too
GoPackGo23
I know this trades incredibly minor but as a Brewers fan if we are getting cash back (of course not a lot) please at least throw it towards signing bullpen arms because we need at least 3 or 4 of them.
tim815
The cash would likely be in the low four-figures.
Maybe enough to add a scout for a couple college baseball series.
KB R.
Pretty sure it’s like $50,000 or $100,000. I know it changed in the new CBA. Might be up to about $150,000 now. Can’t remember, but I know it is one of those, nothing more. In the world of MLB money….. it’s pocket change. The dollar amount exchanged is the cost to make the pick I believe. They might throw in extra on top, but it is less than $100,000 extra. It is pretty much however much the Rule 5 fee is to draft a player. You have to pay the team to take a guy from. So the Cubs will reimburse the Brewers the amount they paid to pick him.
EndinStealth
The thing is they gave up a bullpen arm. Not a great one but very serviceable.
collegeofcoaches
Perfect left handed set up man. Besides 13% of all WS champs have had at least one Smith or Jones on the roster.
AngelsAdvocate
CofC is a SabreMatrix guy, too!
KB R.
Next Andrew Miller. Book it.
KB R.
I’m just bummed Armando Rivero is gone. 4 minor league seasons with the Cubs. All as a reliever. 160 relief appearances, 2.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 12.4 K/9, 4.4 BB/9. Would’ve been nice to see him at least compete for a spot. He was lights out for Iowa in 2016. 2.13 ERA, 67.2 IP, 1.12 WHIP, 14 K/9, 4.7 BB/9. As you can see his control is the only issue. But he walks about as many guys as Chapman does and Chapman gets away with it. 4.5 BB/9 for a reliever isn’t exactly uncommon. It’s not Carlos Marmol 7 BB/9 status.
stubby66
People also have to realize a rule 5 player really only has to make it till July then they could stub a toe and stashed on the dl until September 1 expansion of rosters. Be brought back and qualified as a year.
HarveyD82
cubs should ,maybe, consider Tony Watson. .he’s been a reliable bucco…if they want more pen help
gbrando17
2-3 more moves the Cubs need to make and we could call it a successful offseason.
1- Sign Tyson Ross
He will have all the time he needs in case he struggles in the beginning of the season. Maybe even start the season with a 6 man rotation to ease him in.
2- Sign Greg Holland
Sure we got Davis but why not set yourself up for 2018 in case Davis gets too expensive to re-sign? Also solidifies the back end of the pen in case Strop & Rondon struggle. Low risk and potentially high reward.
3- 1 more lefty in the pen would be nice
In case we don’t sign Ross or any other potential starter, Montgomery may be the 5th in the rotation. If so, we need another lefty arm besides Zastryzny that can be put into high leverage/late game situations. I’m not sold on Duensing.
fisher40
I’m a Brewers fan and I have no clue who this dude is. Stearns and company probably needed to get rid of some dead weight
1e828d29
We need Davis’s arm to not blow up. Then Edwards and strop to be horses. Gonna miss the heck out of Travis wood. On Rondon I don’t even know what to say…..