The Cubs signed utility player Scott Kingery to a minor league contract, the team informed reporters (including Maddie Lee of The Chicago Sun-Times). He’ll be in MLB camp as a non-roster invitee.
Kingery returned to the majors this past season, getting into 19 games with the Angels. It marked his first MLB action in three years. His 29 MLB plate appearances were the most he logged in a season dating back to 2020. The former top Phillies prospect recored four hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts. He has a lifetime .227/.278/.382 batting line in nearly 1200 career plate appearances, almost all of which came in Philadelphia from 2018-19.
Now 31, Kingery spent most of this year at Triple-A Salt Lake. He batted .228/.284/.402 while striking out in a quarter of his trips to the plate. It was a step back from his more impressive ’24 season with the Phillies’ top affiliate, when Kingery had a 25-25 season in the minors.
The Cubs won’t expect much offensively from the right-handed hitter. Kingery provides defensive versatility and plays anywhere on the diamond aside from first base and catcher. He’s an above-average runner who’ll compete for a spot on Craig Counsell’s bench during Spring Training.
Tucker replacement. Go Cubbies.
Ooooof
Wasn’t this guy supposed to hit 80 HR a year? Or was that Joey Gallo?
Joey Gallo but Kingery was another let down, just with less power.
Ernest and Julio Gallo. Gallon jug
Still having your white sux stroke in installments I see..
Another bench guy who can’t hit. Counsell says SMH.
Mastrobuoni 2.0 should be discarded.
Mastrobouni was much better.
That’s not saying a lot though.
Counsell loves veteran bench guys who can’t hit. He’ll play them every chance he gets, even to let a young guy rot on the bench.
If that’s the case, why didn’t Justin Turner start more at 3rd base last year? Why did Counsell go with Shaw?
Good luck
What are we doing
General Dollar Bargain Bin Jed
Someone has to play at Triple A…
Nice addition he was fine with the Mariners in the 80s. Played in the Kingdome. Saw him open for the Tubes and Huey Lewis
Call your doctor now, son. Before your next diaper change.
LMAO
He really hit good at Salt Lake City. He can field. Counsell would know how to get the most out of Kingery. He can hit the ball
You should get a career in sales if you can say that with a straight face.
From 2020 to 2025 in MLB, Kingery is 23 for 159. That is less than 0.150. During those 159 at bats, 58 strikeouts and 11 walks.
Glengarry leads? Put. That coffee. Down. Coffee’s for closers only.
No he really can’t…
Will this EVER stop?? Sorry…nope. Same actions every year. Why don’t we ever go to LL Beans? Psst, shhh, because kmart has the blue light specials in Feb.
Jed was extended btw
And how!
He is replacing Chase Strumpf and Dixon Machado at Iowa. Somebody needs to play the last three innings of Spring Training road games in the West valley.
It’s a minor league deal, everyone chill out
To Steve and all MLBTR staff—quit making minor league, non roster invitee signings headline stories. It may be the slow time of the year, but this is far from newsworthy.
Please take every third day or every other day and list these types of signings like the good old agate type in the newspapers.
Simple—headline “Minor League Signings” and list the teams and the names.
You are only feeding the trolls with this type of story.
The Cubs are a click bait team. Actually they signed Sam Mettert the day before with no mention here. Other teams…AZ, Hou, SD, Bal, Atl have all made minor league free agents in the past few days…and maybe even more that haven’t hit mlb.com yet.
I agree with your suggestion of a Scott Kingery signing is not bulletin arising stuff.
Castro’s replacement. Hoyer has contacted Lee Smith to see if he’s interested in pitching again and Tony Campana to see if he wants to play outfield again for the Cubs. Hey Jed, how about doing something, anything, to improve the team
There was so much potential in Kingery until Kapler destroyed him. Another one of Kapler’s wrecking ball catastrophes. Best wishes Kingery!
Agree. In fact Kapler and Klentak screwed him up. He had a great spring training, and start to the season. Then they extended him and bounced him around and he was derailed.
“The former top Phillies prospect recored four hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts.”
Seriously. Doesn’t anyone proofread their articles anymore before posting?
“recored” I mean even spell check wanted to correct it for me in this post.
I see the Cubs not spending the money saved on Bellinger moving forward.
I hope this Kingery guy doesn’t read these comments.
If he’s just to be a stable pony at Iowa, it’s OK. If they have any ideas of him ever making the major-league roster, not OK.
I have nothing against the team making small moves–and nothing but contempt for the “dumpster-diving” know-nothing commentors, who think they’re being clever when all they’re being is stupid–but this guy had better not play for the (Chicago) Cubs.
Mike127 and Alan53, both, thanks for your perspective. Hopefully a few might look into theirs.
Emergency depth piece.
What was so wrong with that super sub they got from the twinkies last year? So what he had a lousy 2nd half- he was still 3 years younger than this kingery and should have been given every chance to rebound..
This isn’t that role. This is AAA depth. Would you prefer that they kept Chase Strumpf instead of letting him become a 6-year minor league free agent?
And Willi Castro is a free agent. He may come back, or he may have hated his time and will decide go back to the stress free baseball experience of rebuilding in Minnesota.
One of my all time least fave Phillies- him, Bader and Merrifield would be a living hell outfield. Throw Santana at 1B (total hardass) and you got a fearsome foursome!Throw Topper in as manager and that is living baseball hell
What did parades and Castro both had in common- unhappy with the cubs and finding greener pastures elsewhere after performing like their heads were elsewhere. Paredes this year 20 homers so there’s that quality depth we’re seeking.
Im sorry Johnny or Isaac Paredss? Hes good in all seriousness but Mark my words – Kngery will never be good thats all