The Cubs recently signed Stephen Gonsalves to a minor league contract, according to the MLB.com transactions tracker. The southpaw was removed from the Red Sox’s 40-man roster in September and elected minor league free agency at the end of the season, making him eligible to sign a minors pact during the lockout.
Gonsalves made three relief appearances with Boston this past season, his first big league action in three years. A well-regarded prospect during his early days in the Twins’ system, the former fourth-round pick ran into some strike-throwing issues upon reaching Triple-A and has yet to establish himself in the majors. Between 2018 and 2021, Gonsalves has worked 29 innings across ten MLB outings, posting a 6.21 ERA/6.27 SIERA.
The Southern California native has had a lot more success preventing runs in the minors. Gonsalves owns an ERA below 3.00 at every stop through Double-A, and he sports a 3.91 mark over 198 innings at the minors’ top level.
That includes a 4.68 mark with the Red Sox’s Worcester affiliate in 2021, where Gonsalves punched out a stellar 31.2% of opponents but issued walks at an alarming 15.8% clip. He has a fair bit of experience starting in the minors and could be a depth option for the Cubs’ rotation, but the 27-year-old’s continued control problems might hint at a future as a full-time relief option.
Cubs being cheap and only signing minor league deals again,
I swear teams are acting like there is a lockout or something.
Terrible signing. What a shame Cubbies are doing to their fans.
Even I feel terrible for the treatment the Flubs are dishing out their fans. Hang in there Dogbone man. Cubbies can only go up from this rock bottom place they are in now.
Yeah, Theo said “no thanks” when Ricketts told him the plan. But Hoyer was so excited to run his own operations that he not only said “thanks” but he said “may I have another?”
Yep! that is how it went.
It had nothing to do with Theo was planning on leaving after his contract was up no matter what, he hinted to this multiple times. So he decided to do the right thing and move out of the way since he was not going to be around for the next run.
Theo’s contract ended after the 2021 season, he never had plans to renew.
Pete, I know I’ve said this before, but you are a huge tool. You live to post about the Cubs. Go away you old troll.
The Cubs live in Pete’s head rent free… his comments make me chuckle… they OWN him and he can’t stand it
Ronnie Woo-Woo is in Pete’s dreams.
He’s cheap. Has a big arm. Lefty. Lefties sometimes take longer to get it under control. Look at Andrew Miller!
This guy has the stuff. I guess they hope they can corral it. If not, adios. Might make for a decent mid inn guy??
MLB fans, let me introduce you Pete_Ward8, a living example of a frustrated, child traumatized ex-Cubs fan or maybe his dad was a Cubs fan who used to punish him so bad for being such an a$$#0le. But, as I told before, we understand your internal frustrations (maybe when you tried to look for girls who always reject you, you thought they were Cubs fan and didn’t have anything to do with you being a tool), therefore you decided to stay in your basement watching Cubs news to troll, along with your man ChiSox_Fan ? Go ahead, we will understand your anal-ysis regarding the Cubs. Poor little fellow..
Gotcha. Thought it was a decent flyer to take. Mets liked him, Sox liked him for a shot. Sox list him cause they couldn’t put him on the 40 man deal.
Cubs arent going anywhere. Good minors depth. Might work out, might not. No harm no fail.
A bud is a Cubs fan, is whining too. Have to start someplace. No? Depth never hurts? No?
Feeling a little triggered?? Every board has it’s trolls or posters that believe they are talent scouts. This signing is simply seeing a left handed pitcher that averages a K per inning and has had mild success and seeing if he can beat out what you have.
It is actually Pete_Ward8 living in this group of Cubs fans heads. True!!
I think all of you need to muzzle yourselves about bullying Pete for posting what he wants. Everyone has the right to post what they want without being bullied. I’m not a Cubs fan or a Pete fan just a fan who thinks everyone should post what they want n not be bullied.
The Cubs made several minor league acquisitions prior to the 2016 championship season as they and every team does every year. Some work out, most don’t.
The Giants and Tigers recently have a very good success rate but it’s still less than 10% but higher than the draft success rate.
Pete, You’re an idiot. I’s a minoe league contract. Still upset from losing in the Divisional Series? I know ypu will say “At least we were in the playoffs”. It must sting to know the Cubs are still more popular than the White Sux.
The Cubs have done a low key great job so far this year
Stroman Gomes and Miley netted at all reasonable prices and very flippable if needed for gains in the near future
What’s in demand in the MLB today the most? –
Pitching and Catching
I still cant understand how most Cubs fans can’t see the writing on the wall. Im not a Cubs fan but If I was Id be very happy with how this rebuild is taking place. It would have been a huge mistake extending Bryant Rizzo and Baez like everyone wanted to. I commend the front office for sitting tight, inking solid deals/trades like the 3 above all while knowing a large large % of the fan base will irrationally go nuts –
Thats a group I want heading my rebuild, and a rebuild was what was needed for these early 2020’s.
Lol
Smugness doesn’t become you- especially since your team hasn’t won a legit WS since the 80s.
The smugness of Dodger fans, makes me happy the 17 Astros stole that WS from you.
Hey look it’s the 2020 Covid champs!
Hey look it’s the “it’s not a real championship” crowd! Grow up a season is a season.
@rondon- are you talking about the Dodgers? Only team that consider themselves “World Champions” for winning somewhat like a weekends’ carnival tournament? “Champions” with an asterisk? As hard as they tried to buy a championship, that’s the best and only thing they have achieved since 1988.
Cap & Crunch… Couldn’t agree more. And I think the return they got from the big 3 and from the Darvish trade are gonna pay off huge down the line. And for Pete’s sake, it’s still way early. There will be more moves.
@Rondon – Yup, they are doing everything a rebuilding team should be doing right now and MORE importantly doing it well Imo.
As a fan that’s all you can really ask
They also get a boost from having some extra money to spend most rebuilding clubs don’t have to expedite the process if they see fit; can’t complain about that.
Furthermore d like to see them buy some prospects with that money on short bad contract guys like JUpton Will Meyers or Robbie Cano types if the opportunity presents itself and they deem the prospects worthy.
And your right the Darvish cash in was a nice string in the line of good moves I’ve felt the Cubs have made the last 2 years and I was very critical of how they were operating the preceding 3-4 yrs before that. It FEELS likes there’s a concrete plan behind the curtains today, something I think they lacked not so long ago
Im a LAD fan btw, we aren’t all bad !
HaHa! No offense meant, C & C! I respect your team so much. I mean, how could you not? And I’ve been a Cub fan for way too long to ever be smug so I don’t have much patience with that. Heck, I’ve got too many friends who are Cardinal fans to gloat. Not even in 2016.. Besides, we’re all baseball fans and ya gotta give it up for your rivals sometimes. Solid thoughts on the Cubs, btw!
It was sad to see the big 3 go but they couldn’t win consistently after the guardians of a 3-1 lead.
I agree, a rebuild was the best path forward and the FO has done an awesome job executing it. Most of our fans and media are apparently idiots. Don’t people remember how much the team was hamstrung by The luxury tax in the latter half of the last competitive window once the core was in arbitration? These people want us to sign every big name free agent to a long term contact while our next core is still in the minors. Great way to close our next window before it even opens.
There is a lockout. Theres no major league contracts allowed to be signed. You’re complaining about them doing the only thing they can.
“ran into some strike-throwing issues”
“issued walks at an alarming 15.8% clip”
I had flashbacks to my 14 year old self.
“
@whyhayzee, also the same issues a lefty hurler had years past and won an AL Cy Young this year as a Blue Jays.
It’s minor league depth. They’re not asking him to be Craig Kimbrel.
Which is a good thing since he’s a lefty…
If there is one thing I can’t stand it’s a pitcher who can’t throw strikes. It just makes me nuts.
a manufacturer of a tacky substance to put on baseballs should sign him.
This wont be a 3 to 4 year rebuild for the cubs…dont be surprised if they make another splashy move this offseason when baseball resumes..they are looking to compete next year…a lot of young prospects are close…this year is a feeling out year/ building toward next year
Surprised that Gonslaves ended up with yet another “cold weather” team.
For a Southern California native his travels to: the Minnesota Twins, the New York Mets, the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs hardly remind him of”home”.
The OBVIOUS issue is that Stephen is a warm weather pitcher who is best when pitching with:
GONE SLEEVES !!
I do not believe they have enough to compete for another few years. Last season was used as a restocking for a depleted farm system. Not a lot of players ready to debut in 2022. It’s going to take some time and luck. You’re looking at 24-25 for a re-emergence.
Depends on their remaining moves this off season. If they sign Correa and make a trade to get one of Cincinnati’s top of the rotation SP’s or Snell from SD which might require taking on Hosmer’s remaining contract, they could compete for the NL Central or a wildcard spot. Management could make those moves and still be $20M below the luxury tax. All depends on what management wants to do and if they can attract a trade partner. They have the prospects to make that sort of trade without giving up Davis or any of their top 3 – 4..
That may be true for a typical rebuild but most rebuilding teams don’t have the large payroll space the Cubs have right now. That is a game changer.
Cubs are aiming for a second Wild Card position this season. Way to start a rebuild. How about after getting rid of Hayward, lots of free money and a couple of those minor leaguers being really good?
Might be able to trade heyward for another bad contract or a pitcher coming off arm injury
MISSED IT BY THAT [ = ] MUCH !!
According to informed sources, The Marlins were in on Stephen Gonsalves right up until he signed the deal to join the Cubs.. The Marlins made a “strong” offer, but not one that matched the Cubs’ financial commitment. The Marlins weren’t the only team to be outbid.
The Minnesota Twins had also been linked to Gonsalves.