The Cubs announced that they have selected the contracts of left-hander Rex Brothers and infielders Eric Sogard and Matt Duffy. Infielder Ildemaro Vargas has been designated for assignment to open up roster space.
Brothers is back with the Cubs after signing a new minor league deal with the team in February, while Sogard and Duffy joined the organization on minors contracts of their own this past winter. It was expected that Sogard would make the team after yesterday’s news that Nico Hoerner had been optioned to Triple-A, clearing the way for a Sogard/David Bote second base platoon. Duffy is back in the majors for the first time since the 2019 season, as he didn’t reach the Show with either the Rangers or Yankees after signing minor league deals with the two squads last year.
The roster shuffling leaves Vargas as the odd man out. Vargas came to Chicago on a waiver claim from the Twins last September, capping off a nomadic season that saw the 29-year-old appear in games with the Cubs, Twins, and Diamondbacks. The big majority of Vargas’ MLB playing time came in Arizona, where he hit .257/.287/.387 over 265 plate appearances with the D’Backs from 2017-20, with 211 of those PA coming in 2019 when Vargas saw a lot of work at second base.
Vargas has played a handful of games as a first baseman, shortstop, and corner outfielder to go along with his much more extensive time as a second baseman and third baseman. This multi-positional usage makes him an asset for the Cubs at Triple-A should he clear waivers, or possibly make him attractive to another team who wants to make a claim.
oh goodness Brothers is back. that guy persists, that’s for sure.
What is Chicago baseball if not Rex Brothers persevering?
I didn’t realize the Grossman family produced so many ballplayers. More Chicago royalty. What are the names of Rex’s brothers?
The team was so desperate to get Sogard out there…sad causality is Nico Hoerner
I thought Sogard had no chance of making the team when he signed, but he’s been very solid this spring. You have no idea what you’re talking about
Sogard has been constantly good for years
It has more to do with David Bote..they want to see if he is any good with an extended look, which would put Nico on the bench…so give him playing time down on the farm/south bend and let Bote play and Sogard spell him.
Plus, it’s Opening Day roster, more ceremonious than anything. This is not 1920 and player movement is limited!
I can answer that – he isn’t. I’ve seen enough of Bote to know he is a decent utility infielder, and even good starting in stretches, but he is nothing special when he gets an extended look. He is too prone to swinging at offspeed pitches low & away and he isn’t very good defensively (3rd base is actually his best position). He has no speed. Cubs need more team speed and Nico & Vargas could have provided some.
Cubs fans love mediocre veterans players. The more mediocre, the better.
Says the Sox fan who’s team have been mediocre for years.
You are being kind saying “mediocre” Davro
The Cubs have been living rent free in that guys head for years… Ha!
Lol!!!! ChiSoxCity with his comments again! Yolmer Sanchez was just cut again. Sox sign him and you’ll be on cloud 9. Southside “ANYTHING” is mediocre in Chicago! And that’s coming from a southsider
Agreed. And I am a Southside too.
That’s just stupid. Maybe it’s because we have been so competitive since 2014 and teams who are competing need vets to provide experience & leadership.
Nice to see Duffman on another team
dude is a cockroach, he just keeps keeping on. Over/under on extra base hits for him this year? I will go with five?
How can one have an infinite ERA? Just had a peak at Rex Brothers b-ref page and in 2018 he had 0 innings pitched, gave up 1 run and had 2 walks and somehow this equals an infinite ERA.
he didn’t get anyone out so nothing to divide his run allowed by
Ah, I see. It was just weird to see an infinite era.
Divide by zero. Even one run becomes….infinitely large. An interesting concept, infinity. Is infinity plus one larger than intifinty, etc.
technically its undefined. calling infinite is just a matter of seeking to quantify said value.
Youd have a horrid ERA iff you pitched at Coors.. Just saying..
Math is hard.
The duff man lives! Good bat and solid versatility but always injured.
He seems to be a good contact hitter, but he’s looked extremely shaky on defense.
Vargas had a good spring and has decent minor league stats – .293/.347/.399, with the OPS getting much better of late. Isn’t there an MLB batting coach/analytics crew that can help him out? He really *should* have better offensive numbers…
So Matt Duffey makes this team over Hoerner
right? ugh
Duffy over Vargas. I’m a little surprised by this, but might be because Ross considers him a better pinch hitter off the bench. I felt like Vargas was more useful as far as better defense in several positions, switch hitter. When cubs named Bote starter at 2nd, they didn’t want Hoerner playing part time. Don’t worry, he will be back soon. Injuries, bote hitting .200 in May. He will be there.
I think that is an odd way to look at it. Nico has had zero AAA games. He will be back up with the Cubs and stay for years soon. Let him develop a bit in the minors.
Bote’s history would suggest he won’t hit over .240. I hope he does well, but I believe Hoerner will be starter by June. I agree, some ABS in minors won’t hurt, but I think Hoerner has more upside long term.
They’re trying to get an extra year of control over Nico.
I think the decision makes sense but I would like to keep Vargas as depth but I assume he will get picked up on waivers. Too many tanking teams out there who have room on their 40 man.
Rex Brothers was promising early in his career with the Rockies. Then he forgot how to throw the most important pitch in baseball: strike one. Going to 3-1 on seemingly every hitter is a recipe for disaster, especially at Coors.
Looking at the list of FAs the Cubs have trafficked in and out of the lineup since ‘16 makes me want to vomit.
Sox fans trolling makes me want to vomit.
Go ahead….serve yourself old lady
Go ahead….serve yourself old lady
Is Vargas out of options?
Yes
How is the Cubs 40 man sitting at 41? Is someone on the Covid List unannounced? Asking for a friend..
Not sure, they just added 3 Sogard, Brothers, Duffy, and subtracted 1, Vargas. I think they still need to make room for Higgins. I believe Wick and Holder will start year on IL.
When I saw Sogard getting the spring invite I immediately thought of Bryant trade. Now the team has three that can play third besides Bryant. Kipnis was not invited back as is strictly a second baseman – equal to Daniel Murphy in the field. I still see Bryant being moved way before the deadline.
I don’t think Sogard has anything to do with Bryant. Sogard lacks the power to play 3rd base on even a semi-regular basis. He is a utility guy only.
Bryant
Sogard
Duffy
Baez
Hoerner (when he gets called back up)
Bote. 6 by my count. Maybe even more.
Ian Happ can play 3rd, 2nd and all 3 outfield spots too.
Rex is Latin for King.