The Cubs announced that they have selected infielders James Triantos and Pedro Ramírez as well as left-hander Riley Martin. Those three are now protected from being selected in next month’s Rule 5 draft. The club’s 40-man roster count is now at 32.
Triantos, a second-rounder out of high school in 2021, has been one of the more promising pure hitters in the system for the past few seasons. His stock is down after a poor season with Triple-A Iowa. Triantos only managed a .259/.315/.370 slash over 480 trips to the plate. He continued to put the ball in play at a high rate but without much authoritative contact. He hit seven homers and posted well below-average exit velocities. Triantos stole 31 bases while bouncing between second base and the outfield, so perhaps he can factor in as a utility piece in 2026.
Ramírez, a 21-year-old infielder out of Venezuela, is now the superior prospect in the eyes of Baseball America. He’s the only member of this trio to crack Chicago’s top 10 prospects on their recent update of the system. He’s a switch-hitting second/third baseman who batted .280/.346/.386 while stealing 28 bags in 563 plate appearances at Double-A Tennessee this year. Ramírez is also light on power but has excellent contact skills. He’ll probably get the bump to Iowa to begin 2026.
Martin is an Illinois native who was a sixth-rounder in 2021 out of Division II Quincy University. The 6’1″ southpaw has spent the past two seasons pitching out of the bullpen in Triple-A. He fired 63 2/3 innings of 2.69 ERA ball with a near-31% strikeout rate over 47 appearances. Martin struggles with walks and dished out free passes at a 13.4% clip. He works with a 94 MPH fastball and uses a mid-80s curveball as his favored secondary pitch.
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Ambulance chasers
“This is Riley Martin…”
66 isnt Riley martin the brother that was part of Howard Sterns wak pak that said he was abducted by aliens? Man old school stern days nothing better….now he sounds like miserable old yenta himself
okwa tanzin wan
Choch roflmao just spit my coffee…my bird whom I hate!!!! Omg classic stuff thanks for the laff bro
Not related to “Rowan & Martin” either,, just so you know. “Say Goodnight, Dick.” “Goodnight Dick.”
“Riley who is your best friend?”
“My bird, whom I hate.”
You can pay a b $50 million to cook a pie but I can’t get a decent salary.
What a delivery Riley had ….great stuff Get ….
That’s encouraging. It seems like the Cubs may be planning to give Triantos a shot at being a utility guy next year. He can legitimately play 7 positions. Long and Triantos can replace Turner and Castro as far as I’m concerned. Not really sure what the future plan is for Ramirez but he was too good to just let walk. Martin? Ehhh decent LH arm. But Little has a better future. Guess they are giving up on Noland. I don’t think much of that.
Unclemike….why do you think they didnt elevate Birdsell? I know he may miss the season again but can’t someone snag him, end him on the 60 day IL and see how he progresses?
Couldn’t Cubs just throw him on 60 day and wouldn’t count against 40 while he rehabs?
They probably feel nobody will take him because who’s going to keep a guy on the 26 man all year when he won’t even pitch until late in the season? Nobody will take him and he’ll just go on the 60 day when they can do that when spring starts anyway. They’ll have to make a spot for him when( If) He can pitch again.
Bye bye Birdsell…
Nobody will take him, Trust me. He isn’t gong anywhere.
Maybe. Not difficult to stash him on the 40 man all winter and on the 60 day IL in the spring. He’d only need to be on the active roster for half the year in order to retain control of the contract.
Thanks Bucket! That really answers my question. If he has to be on the major league active roster for 90 days there is zero chance anyone will take him.
He is probably missing the entire season and you cleared it up….another team can’t stash him on the 60 day IL for the season.
Much appreciated.
Knowing the way the Cubs baby their pitchers in the Minors I’d be surprised if Birdsell pitches much( Or at all) in 2026.
I think Triantos will complete with an IF veteran such as Nicky Lopez and a RH fifth outfielder veteran for the last two bench spots behind Amaya and whichever of Caissie/Ballesteros isn’t playing.
Triantos’ advantage is that he can play CF and 1B, but they may not want him rotting on the bench the entire season and they may not want multiple rookies on the bench. Personally, that’s where I think rookies belong as opposed to washed up veterans or failed prospects such as a Christian Pache type.
Read that too fast thought they added Ricky Martin my bad
Pedro Ramirez that’s awesome now go get Curt Damon and Jonny Millar
What’s with all this conjecture about who the cubs go after? This is all nonsense! Of the top 25 free agents out there, the cubbies under Jed and Carter are predicted to land not even 1.