First baseman Garrett Cooper has made the Opening Day roster with the Cubs, reports Craig Mish of SportsGrid (X link). He’s not on the 40-man roster, so Chicago will need to select his contract in the next few days.
Cooper somewhat surprisingly settled for a minor league deal after camp had begun. He was among 31 players who had the automatic ability to opt out of that contract today. Article XX(B) free agents — typically those with over six years of major league service who finish the previous season on an MLB roster — who sign a minor league deal over the offseason have the ability to opt out five days before Opening Day.
Whether Cooper did so or the Cubs expected he would is immaterial. In either case, he’ll get back to the majors as a righty-hitting complement to Michael Busch at first base and designated hitter. Cooper had a limited ramp-up period in Spring Training. He only appeared in 10 games but hit a pair of homers and a double over 30 trips to the plate. The 33-year-old has a .231/.333/.500 batting line in exhibition play.
Cooper spent the majority of his career with the Marlins. He was a quietly effective hitter when healthy, running a .269/.338/.436 slash for the Fish. That production dipped last season, as he was sitting on a .256/.296/.426 line in 82 games before Miami traded him to the Padres. Cooper’s finish in San Diego (.239/.323/.402) wasn’t much better and he hit the open market coming off his worst offensive season since he established himself as a major leaguer in 2019.
Calling Cooper up makes it seem unlikely that Chicago will have room for Dominic Smith. The lefty-swinging Smith opted out of his own minor league pact this afternoon. The Cubs have until Sunday to decide whether to add him to the MLB roster, but it’d be a surprise if they carried both players.
Solid choice. I like having Coop not only because he can be the right side of a 1st base platoon, but he’s also insurance in case Busch doesn’t succeed. For a team expecting to win, it’s pretty unusual to see experiments on both infield corners. But that’s the Cubs. Hey, 200MM+ just doesn’t buy as much as it used to, I guess.
I wouldn’t call Busch an experiment. He was a first baseman in college. Morel on the other hand…
Experiment? Busch was and is a first baseman. LAD tried to move him off that position so that they can find a spot for him on the major league roster. He can only play 1B. He’s back to where he belongs. It’s not an experiment.
Starting to think the Cubs might have themselves a pretty decent season.
Good for Garrett.
Agree. Tough call, but the right move. Tough at bat, reasonable power and a solid defender
Great, now DFA Wisdom
Wisdom will probably be on the IL to start the season.
The only true Wisdom is in knowing one knows nothing. LOL.
Hmmmm, I may have to change screen name to Know_Nothing_SOB, has a nice ring to it.
Mervis should be nervous
Mervis has already been sent back to minors.
Yeah, and I think it will take an injury to come back this year
Is Nervous Mervis anything like Marvelous Marv Throneberry?
I think he is closer to Never Nervous Pervis Ellison. (Basketball player from Louisville and the NBA.)
I hope he demolishes the NL Central.
I had really wanted to see the Padres pick him up as a platoon DH/1B. Hope he does well unless he is playing the Padres.
Platoon with Crone? That would be bold
has Busch officially made the team?
Chrcritter…yes, Busch made the team. That was announced pretty much the same day they acquired him from the Dodgers. You don’t give up what the Cubs gave up for another bench piece.
Made the team?? He’s there every day first baseman. Early on he may see some games off against good LHP, but he’s very likely one of their best hitters
Let’s hope it remains this way when Wisdom comes back, Or hopefully doesn’t come back. They made the right moves so far.
We don’t often agree, but I’m with you on Wisdom. But he’s with the team and we’re stuck with him, his ailing back, his penchant for strikeouts, and his occasional hot streaks. One can only hope our new manager is able to deploy him more effectively then Mr. Dancing with the Stars did.
But Rossy DID get up close and personal with Lyndsey Arnold!!! Not a bad months work.
He won’t be in Chicago long, everywhere he’s been he’s flown the coop. Ahahaha!
Any word yet on Peralta?
Not playing in the field yet, but went 4-for-4 today. I expect that he will stay in Arizona and play in extended spring training, and they will make a decision in late April before the second opt-out date.
Nice veteran, but I can’t see him making the team. Hopefully he catches on somewhere else though.
Wandy, David. Sammy, Freddy, can you give us something to work with here Compo I mean we’re good…but not that good. Ahahaha!
Very solid. I like this team. Should at least compete in the NL Central.
I’d like to think that part of the thought process was having an experienced 1B to back up and mentor Busch. Solid move in a lot of ways.
How is Belli looking this spring? Is he ramping up fast after the late sign??
He’s looked good in the games I’ve seen. Shook the rust off quickly and he’s making good contact more often than not.
He’s looking solid, but more importantly, go peep Seiya’s spring stats. Guy is going to put up huge numbers this year.
Super duper!
He had a good spring , I also noticed that Wisdom is always hurt to start the season, is he doing that so they don’t cut him or is he doing that because if he doesn’t they’ll cut him