The Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with left-hander Brailyn Marquez, tweets Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. He’d been non-tendered last month, removing him from the 40-man roster.
After a couple weeks on the open market, Marquez returns to the only organization he’s known. Signed out the Dominican Republic during the 2015-16 international amateur period, Marquez blossomed into one of the game’s most talented pitching prospects. Owner of a fastball that worked into the upper 90s, he appeared among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects league-wide in both 2020 and ’21. Shaky control led to some speculation he could wind up in the bullpen as a potential high-leverage reliever.
Unfortunately, injuries have thrown off that once-promising career. Marquez made his big league debut with one appearance during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, but he hasn’t thrown a competitive pitch since then. He’s spent each of the past two years on the minor league injured list, and he underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder in June. Chicago decided at year’s end to cut him from the 40-man roster as a result.
Still just 24 in January, Marquez will try to get back onto the roster in 2023. He clearly has a fair bit of potential when healthy, but it remains to be seen what kind of form he’ll show after the rehab from the shoulder procedure.
Well worth the risk
What risk?
Touché
I’m gonna guess a $12.5 million incentive if he makes the big league roster out of Spring Training.
2 Cubs’ dumpster dives within the past hour!
I’d rather occasionally dive into a dumpster than perpetually live there.
Good one fear.
Says the fan of the team that signed Mike Clevinger and is shipping their closer.
Signing their own minor leaguer is a dumpster dive? Lol losing continually has really made you sox fans dumb.
@LloydE- here’s your main course after the Belli appetizer. Bon appétit monsieur!
Aaron Judge updates only, please!
I’m glad the Cubs were able to bring back Marquez. I don’t expect huge things from him but the upside in his arm is exciting.
He should come on by to my place. I have some some good stuff to help him relax.
Wrong thread
Go away! I’m talking about Brailyn.
Apparently I’ve been banned from commenting on the Cubs signing Bellinger. I just want to take this moment to thank all the really, really wee Cubbie fans, who’s whining and moaning about me, made it happen. Your recognition gives me the strength to carry on, and keep fighting the good fight against meatballery and koolaid consumption. *Fist in the air, mike drop.
Ok, then. Fight your fight. (Circling my finger near my ear.)
How can the Cubs sign him to a Minor League deal when he was just Non Tendered and supposedly eligible for the Rule 5 draft? Don’t they have to wait until AFTER it happens tomorrow? Hmmmm. Odd.
I think it’s legal. He was a free agent. The Cubs can offer something similar to what he was making before without giving him the 40 man roster spot.
The Cubs are better with him in their system than without him.