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Cubs Select Three Contracts, Designate Ildemaro Vargas

By Mark Polishuk | March 28, 2021 at 12:10pm CDT

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.

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Chicago Cubs Transactions Eric Sogard Ildemaro Vargas Matt Duffy Rex Brothers

Cubs Re-Sign Cameron Maybin
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AL Notes: Santander, Astros, Indians, Taillon, Yankees
View Comments (47)
Post a Comment

47 Comments

  1. DarkSide830

    4 years ago

    oh goodness Brothers is back. that guy persists, that’s for sure.

    Reply
    • 24TheKid

      4 years ago

      What is Chicago baseball if not Rex Brothers persevering?

      Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      4 years ago

      I didn’t realize the Grossman family produced so many ballplayers. More Chicago royalty. What are the names of Rex’s brothers?

      Reply
  2. jawinks

    4 years ago

    The team was so desperate to get Sogard out there…sad causality is Nico Hoerner

    1
    Reply
    • walterfranciswhite

      4 years ago

      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

      1
      Reply
    • herecomdatboi

      4 years ago

      Sogard has been constantly good for years

      1
      Reply
      • Sheep8

        4 years ago

        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!

        3
        Reply
        • rememberthecoop

          4 years ago

          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.

          1
          Reply
    • ChiSoxCity

      4 years ago

      Cubs fans love mediocre veterans players. The more mediocre, the better.

      Reply
      • Franco27

        4 years ago

        Says the Sox fan who’s team have been mediocre for years.

        Reply
        • Sheep8

          4 years ago

          You are being kind saying “mediocre” Davro

          Reply
        • willyb

          4 years ago

          The Cubs have been living rent free in that guys head for years… Ha!

          Reply
      • johnnynoitall

        4 years ago

        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

        Reply
        • rememberthecoop

          4 years ago

          Agreed. And I am a Southside too.

          Reply
      • rememberthecoop

        4 years ago

        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.

        Reply
  3. champion1701

    4 years ago

    Nice to see Duffman on another team

    Reply
    • Sideline Redwine

      4 years ago

      dude is a cockroach, he just keeps keeping on. Over/under on extra base hits for him this year? I will go with five?

      Reply
  4. vincent k. mcmahon

    4 years ago

    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.

    Reply
    • sjwil1

      4 years ago

      he didn’t get anyone out so nothing to divide his run allowed by

      4
      Reply
      • vincent k. mcmahon

        4 years ago

        Ah, I see. It was just weird to see an infinite era.

        Reply
    • Gomez Toth

      4 years ago

      Divide by zero. Even one run becomes….infinitely large. An interesting concept, infinity. Is infinity plus one larger than intifinty, etc.

      Reply
      • DarkSide830

        4 years ago

        technically its undefined. calling infinite is just a matter of seeking to quantify said value.

        Reply
    • Sportsfantatic

      4 years ago

      Youd have a horrid ERA iff you pitched at Coors.. Just saying..

      Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      4 years ago

      Math is hard.

      Reply
  5. Baseball 1600

    4 years ago

    The duff man lives! Good bat and solid versatility but always injured.

    Reply
    • Dogbone

      4 years ago

      He seems to be a good contact hitter, but he’s looked extremely shaky on defense.

      Reply
  6. Gomez Toth

    4 years ago

    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…

    Reply
  7. crumpy24

    4 years ago

    So Matt Duffey makes this team over Hoerner

    Reply
    • Sideline Redwine

      4 years ago

      right? ugh

      Reply
      • Franco27

        4 years ago

        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.

        2
        Reply
    • fsrasmd

      4 years ago

      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.

      Reply
      • Franco27

        4 years ago

        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.

        Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      4 years ago

      They’re trying to get an extra year of control over Nico.

      Reply
  8. fsrasmd

    4 years ago

    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.

    Reply
  9. AHH-Rox

    4 years ago

    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.

    Reply
  10. ChiSoxCity

    4 years ago

    Looking at the list of FAs the Cubs have trafficked in and out of the lineup since ‘16 makes me want to vomit.

    1
    Reply
    • Franco27

      4 years ago

      Sox fans trolling makes me want to vomit.

      Reply
  11. agrorolm

    4 years ago

    Go ahead….serve yourself old lady

    Reply
  12. agrorolm

    4 years ago

    Go ahead….serve yourself old lady

    Reply
  13. Logjammer D"Baggagecling

    4 years ago

    Is Vargas out of options?

    Reply
    • Franco27

      4 years ago

      Yes

      1
      Reply
  14. chertz24

    4 years ago

    How is the Cubs 40 man sitting at 41? Is someone on the Covid List unannounced? Asking for a friend..

    Reply
    • Franco27

      4 years ago

      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.

      1
      Reply
  15. PutPeteinthehall

    4 years ago

    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.

    1
    Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      4 years ago

      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.

      Reply
    • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

      4 years ago

      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.

      Reply
  16. johnk

    4 years ago

    Rex is Latin for King.

    Reply

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