The Cubs had been unsure whether right-hander Adbert Alzolay had a fourth minor league option, but they know now: An arbiter decided that he does, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago.
This is good news for the Cubs, who will be able to demote Alzolay this season without worrying about losing him to another team. The 26-year-old hasn’t made a good case for a roster spot this spring, having yielded eight runs (seven earned) over four innings. He was much better in 2020, when he logged a 2.95 ERA/4.15 SIERA and posted 29 strikeouts – albeit with 13 walks – in 21 1/3 frames.
Alzolay made four starts last year, and it seems likely he’ll factor into the Cubs’ rotation again this season. However, knowing the Cubs can demote him, Alzolay is far from a lock to begin 2021 in the majors. Instead, Chicago could open the campaign with Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta, Zach Davies, Trevor Williams and either Alec Mills or Shelby Miller comprising its starting staff.
Put Albert in the Pen, I am a huge believer in him
I know it was a looong time ago, but this is what the O’s used to do with many of their starting pitchers anyway. Put em in the pen before the rotation. Steve Stone still talks about how great that was for the eventual starters.
The cardinals used to do this a ton with LaRussa and Matheny. Let the guy get some exposure to handling major league hitters. In relief, the team can choose how to deploy (high stress, med stress, no stress) for close games or blow outs.
I am a big believer in him too! While I think he will eventually be a big part of the rotation sometime this year having him start in AAA to refine his stuff a little more while keeping his innings low (has not pitched more than a 100 innings since 2016) is best for both sides.
He just needs to stay healthy and has a good chance to be a good mid rotation guy in the future.
this should help him in the long run anyway. realistically though, you should be able to willingly let yourself be optioned with some compensation. players running out of options early can destroy their development. you have to chose between servicing your service time or your development as a player. its no-win, especially for international players that tend to be less far along by the time they are rule 5 eligible.
Let me get this straight……
The Cubs weren’t sure they had an option on a player until they went to an arbitrator?
O K
Yesterday I saw an interview with a ML coach that works with pitchers. When asked about a computerized strike zone he said it may well happen by the 2022 season, 2023 at the latest (that seemed to take the interviewer by surprise).
First indications are that it should solve a lot of disagreements (of course we’ll still have the “did the batter check his swing or not”….until they computerize that). On the other hand, computer video experts will be pointing it out when the tracking software fails – and computers are hardly infallible.
So now in addition to fans needing to have some background in law, they’ll also need to take some courses in computer science to enjoy watching a game.
Unfortunately there are a few teams/player in that same boat due to last years abbreviated season. The Cubs got good news on Alzolay, the Nationals got bad news on Erick Fedde. The Cardinals still await an answer on Justin Williams and the Angels on Jaime Barria, and there are others
How would they have known? MLB didn’t rule on it until today..lol
@Samuel. Robo ump at its worse, will likely miss 85% fewer pitches than the average MLB ‘human umpires’. And the best thing about it, is that it will be 100% more consistent.
The so called’human element’, was about the players, not some guy like Joe West – trying to insert himself into relevance.
The West always did that vs Chicago teams was he like that with other teams ?He Hated the Cub Fans.
Or they can just sit back and enjoy the game.
The Australian Open was robocalled by Hawkeye. No chair overrules of line judges. No strategic challenges to get a breather or bad calls allowed because a player had used up the challenges. It all went smoothly. No one watching needed a computer science background. Automated strike zones will be the same. The main issue will be all those high strikes if the software follows the rulebook strike zone.
Well MLB can now make the strike zone any size they want with the robot ump and the calls would be accurate. I remember reading in Hardball Times a few years ago how bad the umps calls really were. In some areas of the strike zone umps were calling a strike correctly 40% of the time. Terrible. MLB almost has to switch over to robot balls and strikes after knowing what they know. The smart hitters will learn their strike zone and I think it will be good for the game.
It must be exhausting getting this outraged at things that are ultimately inconsequential in your life
cars With the Cubs starting staff and their bullpen their guaranteed a solid 3rd place finish in the NL Central.
Guarantees rarely exist in sports.
Cars are you satisfied with a Third place finish most of us Aren’t. Decent pitching stars that once could hit ! I say it’s VM 2nd or First in the central or say good riddance to The Ricketts.
Alzolay in, Fedde out, so I think the 90-day criteria to determine “full season” service is applicated only to major league active days in 2020.
Full list of fourth option eligible players is here: https://baseballtransactionology.blogspot.com/2021/03/fourth-option-eligible-players-in-2021.html
It was good for Bryant & the Cubs but not Pitching prospects.
Adzolay will still end up getting at least a dozen starts by the end of the year. He hasn’t really been built up yet, so he will be on track to pitch at Iowa and work on his slider, and get built up to be a starter after the ASG.
The Cubs have taken the approach of going all veterans in the rotation and hoping that they can try to get through the 5th most days with their starter. Miller is there in case Arrieta has to miss a start here or there, or to pitch long relief if a starter gets bombed in the 2nd inning.