The Cubs have minor-league deals lined up with southpaws Danny Hultzen and Rex Brothers as well as outfielder Noel Cuevas, per the latest minor-league deal log from Baseball America’s Chris Hilburn-Trenkle. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic had previously reported the Cuevas signing, via Twitter.
Hultzen had been dropped from the Chicago 40-man roster in December after making his long-awaited big-league debut late in 2019. The former second overall draft pick saw his career with the Mariners derailed by a series of debilitating arm injuries, but he reemerged with the Cubs organization.
Though Hultzen didn’t throw many innings in 2019, he did turn in some interesting numbers. In 18 total frames (3 1/3 in the majors and the balance at Triple-A), he racked up 28 strikeouts against 11 walks and permitted just a pair of earned runs on eight hits. During his MLB action, Hultzen worked in the 93 to 94 mph range with his fastball and got swings and misses on 12.3% of the pitches he delivered.
As for the flamethrowing Brothers, he spent the ’19 campaign turning in typically high-K, high-walk outings for the Yankees’ top affiliate. In 45 2/3 innings at Triple-A, the former Rockies and Braves hurler struck out 81 opposing hitters but also doled out 36 free passes. He ended the year with a 4.93 ERA. Once a fixture in the Colorado bullpen, Brothers has seen his big-league opportunities dwindle in more recent seasons.
Cuevas has a more recent track record with the Rockies organization. He struggled in the majors during his 2018 debut and was injured in his first game up in 2019. He ended up spending most of the just-completed campaign at Triple-A, where he turned in uninspiring numbers. But Cuevas has at times produced at an above-average rate at the plate in the upper minors. The 28-year-old is capable of playing all three outfield positions.
Cubs been building up arms not for Opening Day but for those Dog Days of Summer……..Theo looking at Lester breaking down…….Quintana might be gone by July if not Opening Day………….Hendricks & Darvish are the only ones who are counted on to do over 200 innings……..and look out for Mills……he might be a “Sleeper” who might produce 12 plus wins for the Cubs..
Mills and Alzolay producing would be nice
Did you say darvish can be counted on for 200 innings? Since when? He’s done that 1 time since 2012.
That’s not the hill I’d be dying on…
Really hope Hultzen gets a real shot at some point. The guy has been dealt a rough hand but keeps fighting.
Go Danny.
I like the Hultzen signing. Furthermore I like the volume approach by the FO. Any chance Pedro Strop is back with us?
Boy, I hope not.
Watch and see…..Hultzen will become the ACE of the Cubs this season. I called it first.
You also called it last.
I think something went seriously, seriously wrong if this prediction comes true.
That would be amazing. Highly unlikely, but amazing.
lol lol lol lol.
I would love to see Hultzen do that but I think our ace is Mr. Darvish!
I’ve been a big fan of Hultzen since being drafted. His stuff was downright filthy. Unfortunately he just can’t seem to stay healthy but could be a shutdown late innings reliever if he can ever put it all together.
Low risk, good.upside. Gives Danny a chance. Not every signing has to be Mike Trout.
Does any signing have a chance to be Mike Trout? Other than a Mike Trout signing.
No, but by the comment section on this website, it seems like a lot of people expect Trouts to grow on trees.
Hey Cubs fans, any theories on why MLB has drug out this grievance case this long?
Your guess is good as ours
Bravos14, manfred is a closet Cardinals fan and Selig is Brewers and pulling strings . Conspiracy I tell you!!
Gerrit Cole?
Bravos—I am 100% convinced that the ruling is going against the Cubs in this scenario and the arbiter is crossing all Ts and dotting all Is as his ruling will be completely of what is written and agreed upon in the CBA.
This will be a pretty significant and controversial decision and will obviously lead to other transactions throughout baseball.
If this was going in accordance of the CBA agreement and the Cubs it would have been resolved weeks, months, years, heck–five years ago.
Just a guess, but it’s taking so longer due to the preparation of the fallout.
I’ve been thinking that for a while too.
Agreed. The longer this drags out the more nervous I get. This doesn’t make any sense.
Hulzen and Brothers both have the pedigree to tap into some of that unreached potential. With the budget they are playing with, these are the kind of moves the Cubs are going to have to settle for.
We’re going to see a lot of signings like this in the next couple of weeks as free agents come to the realization they arent getting a guarantee. Teams are filling out rosters and trying to improve around the margins.
There’s a couple of players out there that I think would be valuable as the 26th man and/or 13th pitcher:
Kevin Pillar- True CF, nice platoon bat vs lefties.
Billy Hamilton- True CF, amazing baserunning and defensive metrics.
Johnathan Lucroy- Hasnt hit well the past couple of years but would make a solid backup or addition to a team that lacks depth behind the plate.
Brad Miller- Left-handed pop off of the bench. Although he’s not a great defender, he’s played all 4 infield positions and corner OF.
Greg Holland- Former closer that can still get it up there. Perfect for a team with question marks at the back end up the pen.
Josh Tomlin- Former starter pitched well in relief and would be a good middle reliever, bridging the gap between the 5th and 7th innings.
Addison Reed- Closing experience, can still deal with mid 90’s fastball.
Pat Neshek- Getting older but only 2 years removed from a dominant season.
Tommy Hunter- Hasnt pitched much the last 2 years but apparently he’s healthy and looking to extend his career.
Hunter Pence- Perfect platoon bat for any team that has left handed outfielders in the corners. Really rebounded last year in Texas and is a great clubhouse presence.
Tomlin nice long man in pen Pence is good platoon OF Think Reed worn out Hamilton does not get on base enough for me to generate runs Lucroy good back up maybe does not want to play for minimum Id rather have him if I had a first rate backstop that could start 125 games not as split time player Pillar best of position players you named but also has poor on base After seeing Holland play for Cards ill pass Hunter excellent guy to pick up if healthy Bet Hunter Tomlin Pence Pillar make opening day rosters Lucroy and Miller will end up playing some too the others good luck
Bryant Case……Why so Long?
I think the Arbitrator is previewing other cases that can come around if he rules in favor of Bryant…..then again, there is a legal issue, if the Owners & Union agreement is vailed if Bryant can become a Free Agent ! The Owners will declare there is no contract and shut out the Players..
Well it’s obviously a huge case, decision, but there is a thing called due process. I only hope MLB is not using this case as a bargaining chip with the MLBPA. I am of the opinion it’s become unfair for both parties involved, with spring training right around the corner it’s time to make a decision and allow the Cubs organization the time to fully understand and negotiate, if they choose to, with other teams. Manfred’s big thing is pace of play, well this situation seems to have officially stalled.
I don’t understand what you’re getting at with due process, but I agree with the rest.
Maybe Theo shouldn’t have been taking advantage of another mans livelihood when that said player was the best player in spring training and got demoted to AAA. He essentially made Bryant wait another year so what’s a couple weeks/months here?
Why doesn’t someone tell us who the arbitrators are or at least who they anwer to?
This sounds a fishy as the Astros. Who up there has an axe to grind with the Cubs?
Low risk, High reward. That’s what you get if your Ricketts.
If Bryant is declared a Free Agent after 2020 season, why trade him ?…….let him get big numbers with the Cubs than with another team……….we get the Draft Pick…….we save over $25 million in 2021……….Bryant has to prove himself in 2020 if he will be that Big Free Agent after this year………….I suspect Quintana who will be a Free Agent, will come out pitching like Nolan Ryan this year………..Lester, this is his last year with the Cubs, will want go out on a high note……maybe the stars are aligning for another great Cubs season.
And then you woke up
Who is going to play third after Bryant is gone?
If they stay in house it will be Bote or Baez ( with Hoerner taking over ss)
Hoerner isn’t an everyday major league SS. Bote at 3rd, Baez at SS, Hoerner at 2B. It’s pretty simple.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ian Happ gets some significant innings at 3B if Bryant is traded. Happ will see time at 2B and all three OF positions anyway.
Yeah, agree. I think Happ could be in line for some very significant playing time, if he can build reasonably on last year’s performance.
Depends on how Ross wants to handle Happ. He may be better off in one position and let others fill in the different positions.
Hoerner is in the Top 10 SS prospects list… he is more a SS than a 2B
Someone who WON’T lead the Cubs in errors.
Rex Brothers really should be the name of a tag-team ‘raaslin duo
Jeez, Rex Brothers is terrible. How do some of these guys keep getting some kind of deal?.
When he first came up he was pretty darn good. He was a lefty at one time could throw in the high 90s. No clue what happened to him but I am sure teams are taking a flyer on fixing him.
How old is hultzen these days? Late 20’s early 30’s?
Gee, if only there was a link in the story that could give you that kind of information fairly easily.
Theo is grabbing all these players to trade when Bryant grievance is settled, already knows he’s winning the grievance and I will guarantee that Castellanos is secretly signed too, he would of been already with another team by now , trust in Theo!!!
secretly? why be secret about it?
How do you secretly sign someone? I can see being secret in negotiations but if you have a deal then you have a deal. How do you keep a done deal secret and why be secret?
Well if everyone knows youve signed him and it puts Cubs 14 Mil over the payroll then teams will have the upper hand in trade negotiations trying to shed payroll
Or Ricketts is just holding Theo’s feet to the fire until all options are exhausted. Then, oh wow! Castellanos is still out there! Then give him a back-loaded deal that will pay only a few mil in ‘20.
Problem is, even though they could pull it off, there’s no fit for Castellanos in the current OF mix. Shwarbs isn’t going anywhere and should be playing everyday.
Heyward isn’t moving and he needs to be in RF, not center. Unless Castellanos can play center, it ain’t gonna happen.
The did it a few years ago with their lead off hitter and center fielder Dexter Fowler. No none knew he was a Cub untill he showed up.
Happy about Hultzen. Brothers is a decent enough depth piece. Never heard of the other dude.
Man that 2011 draft was loaded. Mariners could’ve had Lindor, Baez, Rendon, Springer, or Jose Fernandez.
Castellanos not signed by now must mean he will returning to the Cubs !
Maybe if they clear some payroll and he’s still available on the eve of spring training like Dexter Fowler was, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
I do like the signing of Rea. He had a nice comeback year in AAA for the Cubs.I think he will get them 15 wins this year as s starter
More likely that he’s the spot starter called up from AAA if need be since he still has an option left.
5th starter is probably Chatwood or Mills unless someone else dominates during spring training.
Cuevas nice guy from P.Rico. Randomly met him and his GF while on vacation last offseason. Hope his bat comes around enough to get a backup OF spot at some point.
Secretly, meaning I believe Theo and Castellanos are keeping deal hush hush until they can trade Bryant, Castellanos was 1 of best free agents out there, no way he’d be out here this long if he already didn’t have a deal in place.
Funny how that troll dogbone doesn’t talk trash about Theo dumpster diving. If the Sox would have signed these bums, he would be making stupid comments! Go sox!
Funny how that troll dogbone doesn’t talk trash about Theo dumpster diving. If the Sox would have signed these bums, he would be making stupid comments! Go sox!
Rex Brothers? Really? I thought he was done years ago.
Cubs are in salary hell zone, so nothing wrong with trying to catch lightning in a bottle. If one or two of these casual secondary signing contribute this season it a win until their farm system matures.
Given their bp losses, they’re going to need more than 1 or 2 to come through.
Dumpster divin Theo at it again…
Kyle Ryan and Rowan Wick ate the Hot Pockets your mom made for you.
Another new account for the south side tool…
The Cubs will need 5 fields in Spring Training to accommodate all these minor league signings.
Hultzen, Brothers and Cuevas for Whit Merrifield.
Ooops! Sorry! Christmas came and went.