Brad Snyder Elects Free-Agency

On the heels of the eight Cubs minor leaguers opting for free-agency this week per MLB Rule 55, the Cubs have outrighted 28-year old OF Brad Snyder to Iowa. Because he was outrighted previously in his career, Snyder is eligible to be a free-agent immediately per CBA Article XX-D, and the Cubs were not required to outright him by the 4th day following the conclusion of the World Series (as would have been the case if he were just a Rule 55 minor league FA). And Snyder has in fact exercised his right to be a FA (he is not signed for 2011, so there was no point in deferring his free-agency until the end of the 2011 MLB regular season). Snyder was the Cleveland Indians 1st round draft pick (18th overall) in 2003 out of Ball State, but was not able to develop into an MLB player during his six seasons in the Indians organization. The Cubs claimed Snyder off waivers in September 2008, and although he was a Rule 55 minor league FA last off-season and could have gone elsewhere, he opted t...