The Cubs and catcher Jorge Alfaro are in agreement on a minor league deal, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. The backstop will receive an invitation to major league Spring Training.
Alfaro, 31 in June, was once considered a top 100 prospect in his time as a minor leaguer. He was originally signed as an amateur out of Colombia by the Rangers, but was twice moved as part of a notable trade. He was one of eight players in the deal in that was headlined by Cole Hamels going from the Phillies to the Rangers, then was flipped to the Marlins in the J.T. Realmuto trade.
But he hasn’t been able to live up to that prospect hype just yet. Even as a minor leaguer, his power came with poor plate discipline, but strikeouts have been a big problem in the majors. Defensively, he was considered strong in terms of controlling the running game but not great at blocking, which has also been borne out in the big leagues.
In 1,710 plate appearances to this point, he has walked in just 4.2% of them while getting punched out at a 34% clip. His overall batting line of .253/.302/.393 translated to a wRC+ of 86. On Statcast’s catcher throwing leaderboard, he’s been one of the better backstops since his 2016 debut. But when it comes to blocking, with Statcast’s data going back to 2018, Alfaro is dead last out of 215 catchers to see action in that time.
Despite those flaws, as the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as a bad minor league deal. The Cubs have veteran Yan Gomes and youngster Miguel Amaya set to split the catching duties but no other catcher on the 40-man roster. In the event of an injury, Alfaro can give them a bit of experienced non-roster depth.
Here we go! Its not just the Dodgers makin deals!
Catching depth but could be a DH option as Gomes and Amaya are far better defensively
I guess it at least shows Hoyer isn’t dead.
It’s always good to have some catching depth in the minors just in case.
Higgins left again. They just needed a vet to start at Iowa. Should have kept Barnhardt. They’re paying him anyway.
I never really liked it when the Cubs designated Barnhart. Ross never utilized the last roster spot even though Hoyer was giving him useful pieces. If I remember correctly, the Cubs let Barnhart go before Mancini.
Anyway, neither here nor there. We couldn’t option him
They should of sent Amaya down . He wasn’t really hitting at the time either and kept Barnhardt IMO.
Oh, the familiar comments by cubs fans. Guys, you don’t have to try to put a good spin on everything the cubs do. He’s played for five teams in 8 years.
It’s a minor league signing. Every year teams make these types of moves, signing a veteran catcher to play in AAA for insurance in case a catcher goes to the IL. This way they don’t have to carry three catchers on the roster and they don’t have to interfere with catchers development in the minors.
Sometimes these deals workout, most of the time these guys get called up for an IL stint and then released. Is that really that hard to understand?
And there’s a reason why.
Oh, the familiar comments by cubs fans. Guys, you don’t have to try to put a good spin on everything the cubs do. He’s played for five teams in 8 years. He’s no more than a large body in catcher’s gear when one of his many managers forgets he can’t catch. If he can’t hit in Colorado, he won’t hit in Wrig-Oh, wait…
Welp, there it is; the Cubs win the off-season, time to go pre-order my 2024 World Series tickets
So many of the folks commenting here need to tap their brakes a bit. If the Cubs spend any serious money this off season, it should be on one of two ways: 1) Certainly one top reliever would help. 2) if they bring in a hitter, it should not be on a long term contract – – and most certainly should NOT contain a NTC. And currently the top FAs still are thinking about signing long term deals. The Cubs need to wait out the market.
The Cubs minor league system is ready to deliver prospects at every one of their positions of need. The Cubs need to give these young guys an opportunity to show what they can do.
Please, no more Hosmers, Mancinis, or FAs with 5 year contracts and NTC. They aren’t needed.
I’m willing to be patient for awhile. But when all the chairs start filling up I hope Jed isn’t left standing. They don’t need a lot I grant you, But they do need some key positions filled. However they do it, FA or trade.
I expect the Cubs to sign Imanaga. I also expect either Bellinger or Hoskins. I don’t expect the Cubs to spend big on a high end reliever but snag Robertson back on a one year deal. I think Counsel will put more faith in Little
CubsAre…You laugh, but sadly there are thousands of cubs fans on hold right now just waiting to place their orders.
This is so frustrating. I get Ohtani was holding things up a bit, and this obviously wont be the biggest signing for the Cubs, but damn this is taking way too long. Really hoping for any of Turner, Hoskins, or Chapman. Yamamoto or Imanaga would be nice too. I’d even be happy with Clevinger.
Im with ya…one of the richest franchises and unwilling to improve a fringe playoff team last year yikes..they hit gold with belli he should of been locked up already..not to mention finding a starter and a couple bullpen pieces
I’d rather get Hoskins over Chapman. Chapman is a great defender, but he wants to be paid like he’s a great hitter.
Oh, believe you me Rickets better spend some money or else there’s going to be a lot of flack coming his way. Now is the time to spend, this team showed it has the goods in 2023.
It wont be enough flack to hurt his bottom line. I’m guessing Ricketts tunes out most if not all of the fan chatter out there and will most likely spend as little as he can while still competing in a mediocre division. Though I can see why they’re hesitant on Bellinger with their hopes on PCA, even with his disastrous first run at major league pitching. Cubs didn’t seem to prioritize 1st base defense last year so I wouldn’t be surprised if they focus more on 3B and Pitching depth this offseason. They’ll make a mid-season trade to man 1B if they’re in contention.
You’re just flat out wrong Johnny. Hold your horses, it’s December 13th and Ohtani just signed a few days ago.
Cubs making big moves. I wonder if they deferred $700k of Alfaro’s contract.
Lmao
Yeah i expected big moves from the cards ..last season was horrible didnt expect them to sit idle by so far
Cards sitting idle? They’ve signed 3 starting pitchers. Not HOF but solid, durable starters. I wish the Cubs would be comparably aggressive at addressing obvious needs.
Walkoff specialist
His invitation to the big club is being deferred to Spring Training.
I remember the gnashing of teeth when the Rangers traded Alfaro and others to get Cole Hamels. Now Alfaro is 31 and he scrambles for minor league deals.
“Prospect” = “Hasn’t done anything yet”
Spankin’ Jed gets his man.
Any time, Jed.
It’s a minor move. If he does well could be a DH option against leftys. So not bad
Time to listen to some Pantera and hit the weights
Don’t do that, you’ll bunt too hard.
Nothing wrong with this signing.
But what about Belli, Hader, Chapman, Montgomery? C’mon Jed! Make some dam moves and spend! This team is currently worse off now than last season. Maybe Jed thinks Counsel can pull off another 10-15 wins by himself.
You realize money is not an abstract thing right? The names you just suggested would cost the Cubs approx. 95 million dollars a year.
Fans need to be at least somewhat reasonable in their expectations. I, as much as anyone, would like to see them dip their toes into luxury tax territory given the amount of capital they make off Marquee but to expect them to launch 40+ million over the threshold is unreasonable.
I agree with that. Be a retired financial guy who was in charge of North American manufacturing operations. I get it. But to clarify. The organization has money to do whatever they want…believe me. I not asking to sign all those players. I’d be happy with a couple of those guys then fill in the rest of the roster with some vets on the cheap. My point is that roster needs help. 3rd and 1st, a starter, bullpen help. This team actually exceeded my expectations last season. Belli surprised many fans. Suzuki had a great 6 weeks. Strohman had an outstanding season until mid June then crashed. Maybe Jed and Counsel role out the young players like PCA and Mervis.
I don’t particularly want Hader or Chapman. I don’t think spending 20 million on a closer is smart money. It would be one thing if we had a home grown middle of the order that is pre-arbitration or just lacked a late inning shut down arm but there are too many holes to fill.
Chapman is kind of the same in my eyes, he’s a fine player but isn’t an impact bat and we have a roster full of fine players who do not impact the game offensively. We have too much money tied up in these types of players. I get he’s a 5 WAR player but you cannot fill a line up card by WAR.
Aquaman lives!!!
He’s a guy I’d love to have on a minor league deal.
Nice depth addition. But what about pitching, 1b, and 3b? Also, could use a 4th outfielder. Especially with Suzuki’s injury history.
The lack of action and rumors really makes me think they won’t try to take advantage of this window, which feels like this could be the first year of it.
Everybody cool your jets. Hoyer will make moves that will make everyone feel better about this upcoming season………maybe.
Thank you cubsfanforever. Like Santa is going to have a new F250 in my driveway Christmas morning……maybe.
Junk yard Jed strikes again
I’m gonna be honest, anything less than Bellinger, Hader, and Hoskins or Martinez I’m gonna be upset. You were slightly better than a .500 team last year in a terrible division, and you lost your best lineup player to free agency in Bellinger.
I don’t want Hader, tying up that much money in a reliever is bad business, I don’t care how good he’s been. Alzolay is solid but they need to bring back a guy like Robertson for a little protection.
Cubs definitely need a Bellinger type bat but I’m not ruling out that it comes in way of a trade. I’d love to have the 2023 Bellinger in the middle of the line up for the next 10 years and I think the Cubs are in a good position to do so, it makes too much sense not to happen.
Cubs need star talent whatever form that comes in is fine. Most of the better teams have an ace reliever. Dodgers had Jenson for all that time, astros always have a lock down late innings guy, Yankees had multiple guys with Chapman leading the way. Hell the one time the cubs had a legitimate lights out closer they won the World Series I like Alzolay but I would like him even more as the setup man
Cubs has Wade Davis, who was better than Chapman, and didn’t win a World Series.
I’m not saying i don’t want a lock down closer, but the Cubs are roughly 50 million under the luxury tax and having the lead in the 9th right now is a bigger concern then securing it. Especially given that the Cubs have Alzolay who proved to be a reliable late inning arm.
Bullpens do not have to be great, they have to be managed great. That’s building a bullpen with guys who bring different looks than the starters and other relievers. Ideally you want to have 8 and 9 sorted and we have at least one of those in Alzolay, then we also have Little, Merryweather, Leiter Jr and Wesneski who is an ideal long reliever. Counsel, hopefully, will get Keegan Thompson back on track because that guy was nails two years ago.
Assuming all things remain the same, I expect a guy like Wicks or Assad in the pen, Brown I believe will likely spend time there as well. Cuas I like as a reliever with the different look he brings and we still are currently stuck with Smyly.
I’d be all about Hader if the Cubs had the money to spend but we have more pressing needs. I’d roll with a lower cost signing and what we have in the pen and make adjustments as needed mid season.
Side note, I still believe the Cubs may make a monster trade at some point and that could include a closer.
Counsell has always had a good closer. He’s still looking over the Cubs personnel so I don’t know what he’s seeing. Stephenson or Clase might be more realistic depending on what Bellinger costs. I actually believe the Cubs already have Stephenson on the roster in Wesneski. If Wesneski loses the Marmol slider and turns it into a cutter and can control it better he could do the same thing as Stephenson. You can’t count on Alzolay and I agree Robertson would be a nice addition to a young bullpen as a one inning guy anywhere. Not sure Robertson is a closer anymore , but he could fit in anywhere. I really believe Bellinger was comfortable here and he and Dustin Kelly seem to have a good relationship. The Cubs have probably told Boras to come to them with the final offer and then see if they want to pay it. That can be dangerous though. Guess it’s all part of negotiating. Heck offer him more opt outs. They probably only need him for a couple of years anyway. Offer him an opt out after 2 years and he’d still be 30 and could get another deal if he performs as good as he did last year.
Hoskins, Martinez and hopefully Montgomery. No Hader but probably a few middle relief / set up men.
No different than the deal they had last year with Luis Torrens. A guy for Spring Training, can probably choose to either hang out in Iowa or take an Opening Day or early May opt-out. He probably doesn’t make the opening day roster unless there is an injury.
I miss Alfaro on our club. Never understood why we didn’t resign him upon free agency when we had the chance.
Why did we give up Alfaro?!
Hope the Cubs get Montgomery and Hodgkin’s
This is the most Cubs thing ever, lol. Get us hyped that we’re in on Ohtani just to make signings like this. God, I love this team.