The Cubs announced they’ve claimed first baseman Frank Schwindel off waivers from the Athletics and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa. Oakland designated Schwindel for assignment earlier this week. The Cubs had a vacancy on the 40-man roster, so no additional move was necessary.
Oakland signed Schwindel to a minor league deal over the winter and selected him to the big league roster late last month. He only tallied twenty plate appearances with the A’s before they removed him from the 40-man when Mitch Moreland returned from the injured list.
Schwindel hasn’t yet had much of a look at the MLB level, but the 29-year-old has had a fantastic Triple-A season. Through 207 plate appearances with the A’s top affiliate in Las Vegas, Schwindel has hit .317/.362/.630 with sixteen home runs. Those numbers are no doubt aided by Vegas’ extremely hitter-friendly environment, but it’s eye-opening production nonetheless.
At the moment, the Cubs have first base spoken for in franchise icon Anthony Rizzo. An impending free agent, Rizzo has obviously come up in trade speculation with the Cubs looking likely to sell off from the big league roster over the coming weeks. Claiming Schwindel doesn’t make a Rizzo trade any more likely; Schwindel still has all three minor league option years remaining and is probably being brought on as a right-handed hitting bench bat. If the Cubs do wind up dealing Rizzo, though, that could afford Schwindel a greater path to playing time than he had in Oakland, where Matt Olson had first base locked down.
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN reported the news shortly before the official announcement.
That is the 2nd 1st baseman the Cubs have picked up in a week, I guess Rizzo’s extension is not happening.
It wasn’t going to happen ever since they lowballed the face of the franchise who’s been on an incredibly cheap contract for 9 years now. Rizzo should tell the Cubs to kick rocks.
Calling $16m incredibly cheap? Okay Mr. Boras.
For rizzo
Boras dont represent Rizzo…
They doled out 184 M to Heyward, 155 M to Lester, 126 M to Darvish, 56 M to Zobrist… all in the past 6-7 years. How is that cheap “for 9 years now”?
That’s not what the comment said. It noted RIZZO was on a cheap contract
I stand corrected upon re-reading your comment, that you were specifically talking about Rizzo’s contract. It was a team friendly contract, no question. But when he signed it, he’d only been in ML for just about a year, and not even played a full season yet.
Face of the franchise. That’s funny. It’s been noted that he’s a ‘bag in the clubhouse (via Matt Spiegel of 670 the score.) He took that contract. He knew what he was getting into. That’d be like blaming Pippen after he signed his Bulls deal. He’s got a bad back and hasn’t produced anything like he use to. He wasn’t lowballed. I actually think their offer was way to generous. He wants a Goldy extension. Not gonna happen. Here or anywhere else.
He was t lowballed. He will be 32 with bad back that gets worse every year and declining production. Time to move on
Agree. Rizzo will not age well. Time to move on. Extend Wilson Contreras. Remember, during the Joe Maddon tenure Wilson played left field, right field, 3rd base and 1st base. My point here is extend Wilson. If/when Miguel Amaya is ready or another option is available to catch, Wilson is the Cubs 1st baseman. This option at 1st base will likely extend his health and his batting performance.
He doesn’t really have the bat you want for a 1b, so unless it improved a pretty good amount, not a great idea to extend him with that hope.
What kind of bat do you need or you suggest is needed for a 1st basemen? Wilson is pretty solid considering he plays one of the most demanding positions. Can you provide some numbers? Stats? Names of some current players that fit your profile of Wilson not really having the bat?
Putting Wilson at first would be a waste of one of the best arms in baseball.
No, Contreras will not be the 1st baseman. He is way too valuable defensively as a catcher, and puts up decent offensive numbers, which is not easy to find at the catcher position.
Read my comment. You are missing my point. I stated if/when Amaya is ready or another option. No doubt Wilson is a very catcher. This scenario is likely 2 years away for Amaya. Looking at 2023.
“If” Amaya turns into a good catcher, they will trade Contreras, not put him at first.
Really think giving Rizzo north of 20mil for an aging 1B with back issues.. Sorry idc how good or nice your are to the community but, This is a Buisness. Id offer Rizzo 18mil for 3 yrs club option 4 and he wont do that.. Its proven science that your body and hitting slows down after 30.. If he was 28 like Javvy it be one thing.. Just not happening.. Even 18mil is a debate. Unless they offer 20/4yrs front load the crap out of it. Bc age 35 36 he will be lucky to hit .260 hit more than 30HRS.. just saying..
Rizzo is batting .249 with a .785 OPS on an obvious decline trend… How was he lowballed exactly?
If anything, the Cubs were about overpay.
That’s on Rizzo for signing a bad contract years ago. His numbers are declining and he’s not going to get what he wants.
Dumpster divin’ !!!
You need to get a life. Or follow your own team. Or both.
It wasn’t gonna happen after the season started.
Rizzo is on another team by August for absolute certainty.
Teams don’t usually draft 1B so it’s not unusual to stock depth at this position in the minors. This is prep by Hoyer just in case…but I still believe Rizz will be back in the fold very soon!
Agreed. Bryant is the backup 1st baseman. He’s more likely gone with Wisdom handling third regularly.
Ever hear of Andrew Vaughn?!
Of course he skipped the Minors for the most part.
Who’s that?
90+% of the people reading this article never heard of Frank Schwindel (29 years old) before reading it and now he’s the reason the Cubs are certainly trading Anthony Rizzo…..please.
Much better chance of Schwindel of being DFAd in the next three weeks than taking over 1b at Wrigley.
Do you not know how deadline trades and rebuilding works?
If you remove a guy who played at 1B everyday for years, you have to stack depth to replace him over the last couple months until the season ends.
You appear to think Schwindel is replacing Rizzo full time? No. Just, no. He is needed for August and September only, he won’t be on the Cubs in 2022.
I don’t 100% disagree with you but with both Bote and Duffy back soon I wouldn’t see the Cubs grabbing Schwindel and not giving regular at bats to Wisdom if they are getting two month filler space.
Agreed… Chances are Alfonso Rivas replaces Rizzo and this guy takes over 1B at AAA.
Mike is correct. With Duffy being activated off the 60 day IL soon, I wouldn’t be surprised that Schwindel is a last in, first out DFA.
There will be more trades before Duffy comes off the DL so roster space probably won’t play into it.
Exactly, doesn’t make sense to sign this guy just to let him go, when they could have just left that roster spot empty. Hoyer knows trades are coming and they will need depth to finish this season.
This move is a sure sign the Cubs are going all in for that last chance for a playoff push with this core. LOL/JK
This waiver claim came a year too late. It would have been fun to see Frank Schwindel and Kyle Schwarber in the same lineup together. If Harry was still around broadcasting it could have been hilarious!
You can still have fun with Wicks, Wieck and Wick.
The Cubs just keep adding! Looks like the sell off isn’t happening. Full speed ahead to the World Series!
Ukininam, you forgot the dance video to go with your comment.
Just what the Cubs need! A DH?
It worked great with Jose Martinez. He hit 0 with the cubs last year in the final momth
Goes to show you that the DEVILS CUBS won’t have this same paedomorphic group next year. CARDINALS! 1@ IN 22!!!1!!!!!
This guy always rakes in AAA. Can’t believe KC didn’t give him more of a chance.