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Cubs Option Alfonso Rivas, DFA Cory Abbott, Greg Deichmann

By TC Zencka | April 16, 2022 at 3:52pm CDT

The Cubs made a number of roster moves this afternoon, in part to make room for Mark Leiter Jr., whose addition to the roster was reported earlier. Leiter Jr. is starting today’s ballgame for the Cubbies. To make room on the active roster for Leiter Jr., first baseman Alfonso Rivas was optioned to Iowa. In other moves, Locke St. John was added to the 40-man roster and sent to Triple-A. Cory Abbott and Greg Deichmann were both designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man for St. John and Leiter Jr., respectively, per the Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma (via Twitter).

The Cubs are not long on starting pitching, hence Leiter Jr. getting the call so early in the year. They could have simply turned to Abbott, who made his big league debut last season in seven appearances (one start), but they instead chose to risk losing Abbott on waivers. The 2-year-old Abbott made 19 starts in Triple-A last year, putting up a 5.91 ERA over 96 innings.

Leiter Jr.’s opportunity in the Majors might not be long, however, as the Cubs could see some starters return from the injured list soon. Wade Miley three 15 pitches off the mound today, and Alec Mills, out with an injured back, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session later today, per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian (via Twitter). Both players will make their season debut when they return.

Deichmann was one of two players acquired last season from the A’s in the Andrew Chafin deal. Even at the time, Deichmann was an older prospect, but there was at least some hope that in an emptied outfield, the southpaw swinger might see some run. Deichmann made just 30 plate appearances with the Cubs last season, however, mostly as a pinch-hitter.

Fangraphs placed the outfielder/first baseman as the 22nd-ranked prospect in the Cubs’ system coming into the season, so it’s a tad surprising to see the Cubs expose him to waivers. Furthermore, Fangraphs had Abbott, a former second round pick, as the 26th-ranked prospect in the Cubs’ system, so they’re exposing two somewhat interesting players to waivers. A deal could still be worked out, and given the roster crunches all around baseball, it would not be surprising if one or both cleared waivers outright.

Besides, there’s lots of smoke and mirrors in prospect pedigree, and the Cubs’ system has not been all that highly regarded in recent years. For what it’s worth, neither Abbott nor Deichmann landed in the top-30 Cubs’ prospect by measure of MLB.com, and only Abbott made Baseball America’s list, coming in at number 23.

As for St. John, the Cubs signed the 29-year-old lefty as a free agent in November. His only time in the Majors came in 2019, when he made seven appearances for the Rangers. Last season, he tossed 58 1/3 innings for the Tigers’ Triple club in Toledo, posting a solid 2.58 ERA with a 29.2 percent strikeout rate.

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Chicago Cubs Transactions Alec Mills Alfonso Rivas Cory Abbott Greg Deichmann Locke St. John Mark Leiter Jr. Wade Miley

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View Comments (35)

Comments

  1. oaklandandpittsburgh

    11 months ago

    Deichman will be back in Oakland

    Reply
  2. nmendoza7

    11 months ago

    Added some young up and comers to the roster, oh it’s the Cubs, minor league deals.

    Reply
  3. DarkSide830

    11 months ago

    feeling like someone who’s pitching-needy will grab Abbott

    Reply
    • Sheep8

      11 months ago

      That’s the entire league

      Reply
    • HidekiMatsuimalemodel

      11 months ago

      What about costello what someone sign him?

      Reply
  4. tepmumbs

    11 months ago

    I think it’s a good move for the Cubs to give up on 2 year-old Abbot.

    Reply
    • Gwynning

      11 months ago

      Dude is going to develop something fierce when he stops waddling about in his diaper.

      Reply
    • louwhitakerisahofer

      11 months ago

      Kid made 19 appearances before potty training. Solid start to life.

      Reply
    • Kruk it

      11 months ago

      He was a preseason, preschool top prospect to watch!!

      Reply
  5. Wrigley_terror37

    11 months ago

    Wow the 2 year old Abbott! All jokes aside cory is sure to get claimed. Suck that we are going to lose him.

    Reply
    • I Like Big Bunts

      11 months ago

      Dude, what do know? Lol

      Reply
    • cf89

      11 months ago

      I’m not sure he gets claimed. Stashing a guy like that on your 40 man isn’t easy.

      Reply
  6. Clark Matthews

    11 months ago

    props to Abbott, not many 2-year-olds could make it in the MLB – he’s my vote for Rookie of the Year

    Reply
    • bigjonliljon

      11 months ago

      But not until about 2045

      Reply
    • taintsquatch

      11 months ago

      Somewhere Henry Rowengartner is pissed that his record was broken.

      Reply
  7. downsr30

    11 months ago

    The Cubs having the youngest player ever to play in MLB will be most exciting thing they have happen this year. Congrats, Cory!

    Wait, he played last year as a 1 year-old??

    Reply
  8. tim4

    11 months ago

    Abbott sure is big for his age.

    Reply
  9. Monkey’s Uncle

    11 months ago

    Locke St. John. That is a name right there.

    Reply
  10. drasco036

    11 months ago

    Mlbtraderumors really needs to hire an editor because they are making some really ridiculous mistakes. Two year old Cory Abbott, having Alex Gordon on the twins instead of Nick Gordon…

    With that said, sad to see Rivas shipped down. I would have given up on Hermosillo before sending Rivas down.

    Reply
    • Phillies2017

      11 months ago

      Lol, who cares?
      It makes for a funny comment section.

      Reply
    • cf89

      11 months ago

      Hermosillo is needed as the right hand side of the center field platoon. Rivas is not.

      Reply
      • drasco036

        11 months ago

        No he really isn’t as happ can play centerfield and Frazier can play left… or Rivas can play left…. Or wisdom allowing Villar more at bats.

        Reply
      • Rynoshield

        11 months ago

        I think it’s more that Hermosillo is out of options and rivas is not

        Reply
        • drasco036

          11 months ago

          Hence why I said “given up on Hermosillo” verses “send Hermosillo down”. Hermosillo cannot hit and we have three other options for guys to play center field.

          Rivas can hit, can play first, both corner outfield spots and is a viable option for DH.

        • rondon

          11 months ago

          Hermosillo is a much better centerfielder than Happ and they need his late innings glove out there.

        • drasco036

          11 months ago

          I’m sorry but the Cubs offense is not so deep that they can afford wasting a roster spot on a guy who cannot hit like Hermosillo, I don’t care how good his glove may be. Especially when you factor in that Simmons will be taking over a roster spot eventually

        • cf89

          11 months ago

          Actually, with the rosters currently at 28, they can afford to keep Hermosillo, which is why they did. If he keeps not hitting at all and Simmons comes off the IL when rosters go back to 26, then they probably can’t. Until then, you send down the guy with options. Pretty simple.

  11. I Like Big Bunts

    11 months ago

    “Wade Miley three 15 pitches off the mound today”

    Editor took Easter weekend off?

    Reply
  12. Ƭ̵̬̊ Player Formly Known As MousecopƬ̵̬̊

    11 months ago

    Unfortunately Mark Leiter is one and done. Time to give Caleb Kilan a chance.

    Reply
  13. anthonyd4412

    11 months ago

    DFA’d or not it’s still pretty damn impressive for a 2 year old to have made it to the bigs!!

    Reply
  14. Phillies2017

    11 months ago

    It’s odd that they wouldn’t just allow Abbott to go ahead and start tonight. He’s not a future ace, but he’s probably a back-ender/long reliever in the long run. The control is excellent and while he doesn’t have the best stuff, he’s durable and can give you somewhat reliable innings (4.40-4.60 ERA).
    I’m not particularly surprised that he struggled last season. Imagine not pitching a full season and going from Double-A to the Pacific Coast League. If I was running a team, I would add him and send him to Double-A to tune up a little bit. If you let him try get it right in Double-A, I think he can become a very solid back-ender. Unfortunately, I don’t think they’ll do that for him, and he’ll go back to the PCL and continue to struggle, eventually move to the bullpen and become a Mark Leiter type.
    As for Deichman, I love the plate discipline, but he basically have 45-50 tools all the way around. His raw power is high, but let’s be honest. He’s 27 and has surpassed 10 home runs once. Also, the fact that he can’t play center that well, it hurts his chances of becoming a reliable fourth outfielder. The hit tool isn’t that great either.
    I think both wind up clearing.

    Reply
    • cf89

      11 months ago

      Iowa is no longer in the pcl.

      Reply
      • Phillies2017

        11 months ago

        Didn’t realize that! Thanks!

        Reply
    • JDscorecard

      11 months ago

      Ross seems to love these reclamation projects like Leiter (see Rex Brothers having a job all last year). But I agree, why lose Abbott for 1 bad Leiter start?

      Reply
  15. rememberthecoop

    11 months ago

    The terrible twos.

    Reply

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