May 21: The Cubs have now officially promoted Vazquez, with Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times among those to relay the full slate of moves on X. Swanson was also activated off the injured list while Mastrobuoni and Pete Crow-Armstrong were optioned in corresponding moves.
May 19: The Cubs are promoting infield prospect Luis Vazquez to the majors, according to ESPN’s Jorge Castillo (who also happens to be Vazquez’s cousin). The 24-year-old Vazquez will be making his MLB debut whenever he appears in his first game.
Since the Cubs’ next game isn’t until Tuesday, Vazquez’s call-up seems tied to Nico Hoerner’s health status. Hoerner hasn’t played since last Monday due to a balky hamstring, and while the Cubs were hopeful Hoerner would be able to play Tuesday, it could be that the team decided that an official injured list stint was necessary to get Hoerner fully recovered. Dansby Swanson is also already on the IL recovering from a knee sprain and was expected to be activated on Tuesday, so it is possible Vazquez could be joining the Cubs if there has been some unknown setback in Swanson’s recovery.
Whatever the case, the door has been opened for Vazquez to get his first shot at the big leagues. A 14th-round pick for the Cubs in the 2017 draft, Vazquez didn’t do much at the plate until last season, when he batted a combined .271/.361/.456 with 20 home runs over 528 plate appearances almost evenly split between Double-A and Triple-A. The hot hitting has continued into this season, as Vazquez has slashed .270/.369/.409 with three homers across his 164 PA with Triple-A Iowa.
This breakout year led the Cubs to put Vazquez on their 40-man roster last November in advance of the Rule 5 Draft, and for some extra attention from the pundits — MLB Pipeline has Vazquez ranked as the 13th-best prospect in Chicago’s farm system, while Baseball America has him 14th. As per Pipeline’s scouting report, Vazquez was able to straighten out his swing and make better contact after learning to lower his hands at the plate, thus unlocking some extra power potential. Between these improvements and Vazquez’s highly-touted defense, both Pipeline and BA think Vazquez now has a path to a Major League role as a versatile bench player.
Vazquez’s glovework and throwing arm each merit 60s on the 20-80 scouting scale, and as Pipeline puts it, “he’s so good at short that Chicago rarely has deployed him at other positions.” Vazquez does have some experience at second and third base and shouldn’t have much trouble at either position given his shortstop capability, making him an interesting utility option for the Cubs on at least a temporary basis. Miles Mastrobuoni and Nick Madrigal have been filling the middle infield roles with Swanson and Hoerner out, and if both players are indeed back on Tuesday, Mastrobuoni could find himself relegated back to Triple-A to create room for Vazquez’s promotion.
Trade bait for Mason Miller
No. Hell no. He provides much needed depth for the cubs. It’s gonna cost more than that to get a closer like Mason Miller. Who has a long history of injuries.
lol
It’s going to take two of your Top 10 prospects and a flyer to pick up Miller. He will be in demand, there is a chance the Cubs could outbid other teams for him (likely not Baltimore though.)
Yeah that ain’t happening. Cubs say ………Pass.
Cubs should start w an offer of Triantos, Canario and Mervis for Mason Miller. It won’t get it done but it’s a start and will probably need to include Alcantara to get it done.
That’s a separate universe too much to offer.
Stupidest trade idea ever, What world do you live in? Cause it ain’t Earth. See this is why Street drugs are bad.
It’s going to take 3-4 top prospects
He is probably going to take Madrigal’s role of being a late inning defensive replacement for Morel at 3B. Mastrobuoni was playing SS while both Swanson and Hoerner were out, but if Swanson is back then having the better defender for the bench makes some sense.
He shouldn’t be a late inning defensive replacement. He should be starting. And if either nico or Swanson are still out 1 or both. He absolutely needs to start. He should’ve got the call the 2nd or 2rd day nico was out of the lineup.
Bote remains frozen out because he’s not on the 40 man? Maybe Jed never liked him?
At some point before that contract ends, Bote has to get an other 7-10 days in the show w/ a few starts.
I assume his 2B range prolly gone, but he’s still four corners capable. Vet bat. Seemingly team oriented.
I’ve always liked Bote. He’ll always be known for his walk odd grand slam against the Nats. He also had a walk off single where he almost immediately went to the hospital to be with his wife who just gone into labor that same day. That’s a pretty cool story to tell his kid. I won the game for my team the same day you were born.
It’s seems like this guy hasn’t been on a MLB field in 5 years or more.
Very strange regarding what happened/currently happening with Bote. I recall a time, during the Joe Maddon time frame when Bote was considered to be the next Ben Zobrist or at least a decent bench/ roll player. At one time I believed Bote may have had some issues with former Manager David Ross. Therefore, Ross may have held him off the ML team. Now with Craig Counsell as manager that’s not likely. Who knows?
Bote is never mentioned as a possible call up or ever mentioned in a trade.
Why do you think he’s team oriented?
Ummmmm Jed was the guy, Or at least one of the guys who GAVE him that contract. The fact is right after he signed that deal he tore up his shoulder on a slide and it basically took him 2 years to get back. By then he was passed by. His deal ends after this year. I know why he isn’t playing for the Cubs, What I can’t figure out is why nobody else has given him a shot in the last 3 years he’s been healthy. The Cubs would give him away just to lose the 5 million and he’s pretty versatile.
“The 24-year-old Vazquez will be making his MLB debut whenever he appears in his first game.”
So will I.
That’s up there in Obvious Redundancy with MLB’s “Postgame Show: After The Game.”
Dan Plesac last night…”He struck out three consecutive batters in a row”.
*eddie Murphy laughing gif here*
Bote is probably the highest paid AAA player by a long shot and good for him. Don’t think he is back in CHGO unless it’s with the White Sox. He will always be remembered for the walk off grand slam against the Nats on Sunday night baseball.
I’d rather see Happ go on the IL for some sort of injury and PCA stay with the team. At least he can provide some help Happ is absolutely awful. Madrigal is another I wouldn’t mind seeing moved on from.
I agree! If not PCA, then the red hot Brennen Davis.
I good week out of 3 years and you’re all in huh?
PCA is all hype.
Cope.
Still mad you lost your 3rd best prospect and then Javier Baez 2 and a half months later?
Maybe you’re still angry about the Alonso play at the plate. A few weeks ago.
I’m giving you sh!* sorry.
Can he pitch in relief?
I saw nothing in Pete Crow-Armstrong that said he’s major league ready. Even his lauded defense was bad at times. Good idea to have him work on things away from Chicago..
Then I wonder what you were watching. Couldn’t have been the Cubs.
Mike, he was watching Cardinals games.
PCA had/has the 6th highest team WAR on the Cubs and was their second highest position player (behind Bellinger) in pretty limited playing time.
Obviously, the Cubs need more out of him at the plate but his defense is phenomenal! Defensively, he is the total package, great reads/routes/jumps and his plus speed just makes everything look so effortless for him.
Yep, only on pace for 56 DRS, pathetic
I want to see Owen Caissie get a chance. I’d rather see him than PCA.
Caissie will get his chance. He’s definitely on the short list of untouchables for the Cubs. ONKC and Alcantara should both be on that list.
I’m curious to see if at some point the Cubs move Bellinger to LF and recall PCA if Happ doesn’t get it going. Happy just doesn’t look right after injuring his hamstring several weeks ago.
On the Happ topic, the guy needs to give up trying to be a switch hitter (IMO). Typically, guys who switch hit are pull happy, they switch sides so they can cheat. Happ however, isn’t a pull hitter from the left side and isn’t very impressive while batting from the right, to me it would make more sense to just bat lefty and go the other way against same hand pitching.