Yardbarker: Adam Harben

2009 Arizona Fall League

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:21:52 -0500

Rosters for the Arizona Fall League should be announced sometime this week.

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) will be celebrating its 18th anniversary this year. It began play in 1992 (Derek Jeter was the AFL’s first MVP).

The AFL was created mainly to allow young players (especially pitchers) to compete under a more controlled environment than is found in the Latin winter leagues, and also so that teams could be located in the same geographic area (Phoenix) to allow MLB scouts easier access to the games.

The AFL was designed primarily for AA players who were expected to move up to AAA the following season (hence its informal “AA+” classification), but it also is a place for “hot shot” prospects from Class-A to get some experience against more-advanced competition, and also for older AAA players looking to get noticed, and even for MLB rookies looking to improve some aspect of their game that needs work.

Not all players assigned to the AFL by an MLB club are necessarily that organization’s best prospects. Sometimes an AFL team needs a certain organization to furnish a shortstop or a catcher or a lefty pitcher, and that organization just doesn’t have a true “prospect” at that position. So the MLB club might have to contribute a journeyman “organizational player” to the AFL team instead.

The 33-game 2009 AFL season begins play on October 13, and runs through November 21. Games are played Monday through Saturday, with no games on Sunday. Ticket prices are $6 ($5 for seniors), and fans can sit wherever they choose. The last regular season game is November 19, followed by a single “AFL Championship Game” between the two division winners on Saturday November 21.

AFL games are heavily-attended by scouts (a typical AFL game has about 70 or 80 fans and about 15 or 20 scouts), and how a AA or AAA player performs in the AFL often is the difference between getting added to his club’s 40-man roster or not, or perhaps getting selected in the Rule 5 Draft.

And if a hot-shot youngster from “A”-ball handles himself well in the AFL, it could mean that he will be able to skip a minor league level or maybe even get an NRI to the big club’s Spring Training.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

The six AFL teams are located at various Spring Training sites in the Phoenix area (one team each in Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Surprise, and two teams in Peoria). The league is divided into two divisions (East and West), with three teams in each division.

Each one of the six AFL teams is a consortium of five MLB clubs. The Cubs are the “host” team for the AFL team known as the “Mesa Solar Sox,” and the Solar Sox play their home games at HoHoKam Park in Mesa (where the Cubs play their Spring Training games). The other four MLB clubs associated with the Solar Sox this year (and they change from year-to-year) are the Boston Red Sox, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Angels, and Minnesota Twins. In addition to providing players, each club in the consortium contribute either the manager, the pitching coach, the bench coach, or one of the two trainers, and these assignments rotate each season. (I believe the Cubs are due to furnish a trainer this year).

Each AFL club has a 35-man basic roster, with each of the five associated MLB organizations furnishing seven players, including four pitchers and three position players. A club may add additional position players to their AFL club, but the additional players are assigned as “reserves” to a so-called “taxi squad,” and they are eligible to play on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. A member of the “taxi squad” can be elevated to “full” roster status to replace an injured player.

The rosters are assembled by the Player Development Directors from each of the five teams in the consortium. The PDDs engage in a conference call in mid-August, where they “hash out” their AFL team’s rosters. (It used to be rosters were established by a more-formal “draft,” where farm directors from each of the parent MLB clubs would be able to place players on the roster one at a time in order of preference).

The primary 35-man AFL roster (not including the “taxi squad”) typically consists of three catchers, seven or eight infielders, four or five outfielders, and 20 pitchers (four pitchers from each organization). Six of the pitchers are usually “starting pitchers,” and each starting pitcher starts one game per week.

To be eligible to play in the AFL, a player must:

1) Have accumulated less than one year of active MLB service time (not including time spent on the DL) as of September 1.

2) Be on an active AA or AAA minor league roster or MLB 25-man roster as of August 1.

3) Be activated from the Disabled List prior to the last 45 days of the season.

4) Be on the parent MLB club’s 40-man roster or on a minor league “Reserve List” at the beginning of the AFL season and continuing through to the end of the season (“Free-Agents” are NOT permitted to play in the AFL).

There are a couple of exceptions and restrictions to the rules:

1) Each MLB club is permitted to place no more than two players who were not on a AA or AAA active roster or MLB 25-man roster as of August 1st on its AFL team. (It used to be only one such player was permitted from each MLB organization, but the number was increased to two this year after the Hawaiian Winter League folded and implementation of the “Junior” AFL for younger prospects was postponed until 2010).

2) Each MLB club is permitted to place no more than one “foreign” player on its AFL team. (NOTE: “Foreign” is defined as being from places where “Winter Ball” is played: the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela).

D) Each MLB club is permitted to place no more than one player selected in the previous Rule 5 Draft on its AFL team.

Depending on whether the player is interested and/or invited (and players can decline to pay in the AFL), the most-likely 2009 AFL candidates from the Cubs organization should come from this list (one or two slots might initially be left open as a “TBA”):

POSITION PLAYERS:
James Adduci, OF
Darwin Barney, SS (played in AFL last year)
Welington Castillo, C (or else will play in DWL)
Starlin Castro, SS (or else will play in DWL)
Steve Clevenger, C-1B (played in AFL in 2007 & 2008)
Tyler Colvin, OF (played in AFL last year)
Jake Fox, 3B (unless the Cubs qualify for the post-season)
Brett Jackson, OF (Class “A” exemption)
Chris Robinson, C
Marquez Smith, 3B
Tony Thomas, 2B
Josh Vitters, 3B (Class ”A” exemption)
Ty Wright, OF

PITCHERS:
Mitch Atkins
Justin Berg
Chris Carpenter
Andrew Cashner
John Gaub
Jay Jackson
Alessandro Maestri
J. R. Mathes
Jeremy Papelbon
Blake Parker
Jeff Stevens

Any player eligible to be a post-2009 Rule 55 minor league free-agent who re-signs with the Cubs prior to the start of the AFL season would also be eligible to play in the AFL.

Here are the Cubs who have played in the AFL over the first 17 seasons:

"t" = "taxi squad"

1992:
John Gardner, RHP
Mike Grace, 3B
Jeff Hartsock, RHP
Jesse Hollins, RHP
Jim Robinson, C
Dave Swartzbaugh, RHP

1993:
Matt Franco, 3B
Mike Hubbard, C
Brooks Kieschnick, OF
Geno Morones, RHP
Dave Stevens, RHP
Turk Wendell, RHP

1994:
Terry Adams, RHP
Mike Carter, OF
Doug Glanville, OF
Brooks Kieschnick, OF
Chris Petersen, SS
Ottis Smith, LHP

1995:
Mike Hubbard, C
Robin Jennings, OF
Jason Maxwell, SS
Jon Ratliff, RHP
Wade Walker, LHP

1996:
t-Pat Cline, C
Brandon Hammack, RHP
Jason Maxwell, SS
Scott Moten, RHP
Kevin Orie, 3B
Marc Pisciotta, RHP
Steve Rain, RHP

1997:
Richie Barker, RHP
Marty Gazarek, OF
Terry Joseph, OF
Jose Nieves, SS
Steve Rain, RHP
t-Brad Ramsey, SS
Justin Speier, RHP

1998:
t-Roosevelt Brown, OF
Chad Meyers, 2B
Chad Ricketts, RHP
Jay Ryan, RHP
Nate Teut, LHP
Danny Young, LHP
Julio Zuleta, 1B

1999:
t-Pat Cline, C
Eric Newman, RHP
Corey Patterson, OF
Chad Ricketts, RHP
Brian Stephenson, RHP
Jeff Yoder, RHP
Julio Zuleta, 1B

2000:
t-Hee-Seop Choi, 1B
Jeff Goldbach, C
Eric Hinske, 3B
Will Ohman, LHP
Jaisen Randolph, OF
Jason Smith, SS
Nate Teut, LHP

2001:
Scott Chiasson, RHP
Chris Gissell, RHP
t-Nate Frese, SS
Bobby Hill, 2B
Nic Jackson, OF
t-Ryan Jorgensen, C
David Kelton, 3B
Mike Meyers, RHP
2002:
Hee-Seop Choi, 1B
Ryan Gripp, 3B
Ferenc Jonjegan, LHP
Jon Leicester, RHP
Ray Sadler, OF
Todd Wellemeyer, RHP

2003:
David Cash, RHP
Jason Dubois, OF (AFL MVP)
Brendan Harris, 3B
Casey Kopitzke, C
Jason Szuminski, RHP
t-Ryan Theriot, INF
John Webb, RHP

2004:
Ronny Cedeno, SS
Brian Dopirak, 1B
t-Jake Fox, C
t-Adam Greenberg, OF
Sean Marshall, LHP
Russ Rohlicek, LHP
Jae-kuk Ryu, RHP
Geovany Soto, C

2005:
David Aardsma, RHP
t-Buck Coats, IF-OF
Angel Guzman, RHP
John Koronka, LHP
Matt Murton, OF
Eric Patterson, 2B
Brandon Sing, 1B

2006:
Jake Fox, C
Adam Harben, RHP
Lincoln Holdzkom, RHP
Scott Moore, 3B
Eric Patterson, 2B
Carmen Pignatiello, LHP
Clay Rapada, LHP

2007:
Matt Avery, RHP
Justin Berg, RHP
t-Steve Clevenger, C-1B
Sam Fuld, OF (AFL MVP)
Grant Johnson, RHP
Josh Lansford, 3B
Rocky Roquet, RHP
Joe Simokaitis, SS

2008:
Darwin Barney, SS
Esmailin Caridad, RHP
t-Steve Clevenger, C-1B
Tyler Colvin, OF
Jesse Estrada, RHP
Rocky Roquet, RHP
Nate Spears, 2B
Donald Veal, LHP

Projected Cubs Minor League Camp Rosters

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:03:02 -0500

Minor League Camp doesn't open for another couple of weeks, but here are the projected Cubs Minor League Camp rosters for the five squads (141 players) at Minor League Camp and also the DSL Cubs Reserve Lists (two teams - 70 players).

Players at Minor League Camp are sometimes initially placed one level above where they will likely play that season, and then they either get released or get demoted one level lower once the Cubs start to make cuts and send players to Minor League Camp at Fitch Park from the big league camp at HoHoKam, with an accompanying downward cascade of players from Iowa to Tennessee, Tennessee to Daytona, etc.

PROJECTED 2009 CUBS MINOR LEAGUE CAMP ROSTERS:

IOWA (29):

PITCHERS (15):
Marco Carrillo
Angel Castro
Michael Cooper
Jesse Estrada
Dumas Garcia
Jim Henderson
Grant Johnson
* Casey Lambert
Alessandro Maestri (WBC - Team Italy)
Billy Muldowney
Blake Parker
* Jeremy Papelbon
Gregory Reinhard
* Jayson Ruhlman
* James Russell

CATCHERS (3)
* Mark Reed
Tony Richie
Chris Robinson

INFIELDERS (6)
Erick Almonte
Robinson Chirinos
# Matt Matulia
* Kyle Reynolds
Justin Sellers
* Nate Spears

OUTFIELDERS (5)
* James Adduci
* Matt Camp
* Tyler Colvin
Ryan Harvey
Ty Wright

TENNESSEE (29):

PITCHERS (16)
Alberto Alburquerque
Chris Archer
Todd Blackford
* Ryan Buchter
Alberto Cabrera
Hung-Wen Chen (WBC - Team Chinese Taipei)
* John Gaub
Jay Jackson
Jordan Latham
Craig Muschko
John Muller
Jake Muyco
Jose Pina
* Dustin Sasser
* Chris Siegfried
Steve Vento

CATCHERS (2)
* Blake Lalli
Mario Mercedes

INFIELDERS (7)
Luis Bautista
Russ Canzler
Jose Made
Jonathan Mota
Jovan Rosa
Marquez Smith
Tony Thomas

OUTFIELDERS (4)
* Kyler Burke
Brandon Guyer
* Dylan Johnston
* Jonathan Wyatt

DAYTONA (32):

PITCHERS (18)
Ryan Acosta
* Jeffrey Beliveau
Alberto Cabrera
David Cales
Chris Carpenter
Casey Coleman
Rafael Dolis
Marcus Hatley
Robert Hernandez
Kevin Kreier
* James Leverton
Dan McDaniel
* Mark Pawelek
Audy Santana
Aaron Shafer
* Luke Sommer
Josh Whitlock
Hank Williamson

CATCHERS (3)
Luis Flores
Shawn McGill
Carlos Perez

INFIELDERS (7)
* Ryan Flaherty
Josh Harrison
* Ryan Keedy
* Jake Opitz
Rebel Ridling
Nate Samson
Josh Vitters

OUTFIELDERS (4)
* Cliff Andersen
* Tony Campana
Jericho Jones
* Drew Rundle

PEORIA (32):

PITCHERS (18):
* Jeffry Antigua
Justin Bristow
Manolin DeLeon
Yohan Gonzalez
Erik Hamren
Chris Huseby
Tommy Mejia
Dionis Nunez
Bubba O?Donnell
Julio Pena
Mike Perconte
Cedric Redmond
Dae-Eun Rhee
Carlos Rojas
Ryan Searle
Miguel Sierra
Larry Suarez
Harol Tolentino

CATCHERS (3)
Michael Brenly
Pat Mahoney
# Alvaro Sosa

INFIELDERS (6)
Starlin Castro
# Marwin Gonzalez
Gian Guzman
Sean Hoorelbeke
* Bryan Jost
Junior Lake

OUTFIELDERS (5)
* Kurt Calvert
# David Macias
* Nelson Perez
* Ryan Sontag
TeWayne Willis

BOISE/MESA (19 ? see NOTE):

PITCHERS (8)
* Cody Hams
Su-Min Jung
Josh Lansford (ex-3B)
Toby Matchulat
Oswaldo Martinez
Tarlandus Mitchell
Jon Nagel
Adam Spencer

CATCHERS (3)
* Matt Cerda
John Contreras (ex-3B)
Jose Guevara

INFIELDERS (4)
* Hak-Ju Lee
Dwayne Kemp
George Matheus
* Logan Watkins

OUTFIELDERS (4)
Jae-Hoon Ha
Kevin Soto
Chris Weimer
* Sean Williams

NOTE: Balance of Boise/Mesa ST roster (about 15 players ? probably ten pitchers, one catcher, two infielders, and two outfielders - TBD) will be players moved up to Fitch Park from DSL Cubs (see DSL CUBS roster below).

DSL CUBS - (70):

PITCHERS (42):
Frank Batista
* Alfredo Belizaire
Jane Bremon
Rogelio Carmona
Miguel Corletto
* Welington Cruz
Antonio Encarnacion
Diego Encarnacion
Eduardo Figueroa
Arturo Florentino
* Carlos Galvez
Ramon Garcia
Alvido Jimenez
Joel Lanfranco
Jesse Lebron
Luis Liria
Hector Mayorga
Maicol Medina
Roneidy Mejia
Jade Mendez
Enyelberth Pena
Genezeret Pena
Starlin Peralta
* Marcos Perez
Roderik Pichardo
Francoris Pineda
Gorge Pineda
Andres Quezada
Rafael Ramirez
Ramon Reyes
Roeldwin Reyes
Jhon Rodriguez
Santo Rodriguez
Braulio Rosario
Jose Rosario
* Abner Ruiz
Julio Sanchez
Tomas Sanchez
Yilver Sanchez
Deuris Severino
Jose Tineo
* Melvin Vasquez

CATCHERS (6):
Miguel Gonzalez
Yamel Liria
Juan Medina
Ricardo Parra
Carlos Romero
Jose Vigay

INFIELDERS (13):
# Arismendy Alcantara
Yohan Astacio
# Robert Bautista
# Ramon Bonilla
# Vismeldy Bieneme
# Rafael Disla
* Carlos Henry
# Alexander Mejia
# Jose Montecino
Carlos Morales
Juan Pena
* Melido Perez
Miguel Salazar

OUTFIELDERS (9):
Melvin Camarena
Alejandro Damian
* Francisco Guzman
Albert Hernandez
Pedro Medina
Jesus Morelli
Manuel Pestana
# Gregorio Robles
# Jose Valdez

MINOR LEAGUERS GONE

RELEASED LAST 12 MONTHS??
Luis Andrades, OF (DSL CUBS)
Zach Ashwood, LHP (PEORIA)
Luis Astorga, LHP (ST)
Jose Avila, INF (DSL CUBS)
Cory Bailey, RHP (ST)
Bienvenido Beltre, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Jose Bracho, C (DSL CUBS)
Ben Broussard, 1B (TENN)
Jim Brower, RHP (IOWA)
Michael Bunton, LHP (BOISE)
Yelson Cabrera, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Israel Camacaro, RHP (BOISE)
Matt Canepa, C (ST)
Julio Castillo, RHP (PEORIA)
Andy Cavazos, RHP (IOWA)
J. D. Closser, C (ST)
Corey Coles, OF (DAY)
Rafael Cova, RHP (MEXICO)
Miguel Cuevas, RHP (ST)
Jeff Culpepper, OF (EXST)
Alejandro De La Cruz, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Brian Dopirak, 1B (ST)
Derrek Ellison, LHP (ST)
Danny Fatheree, C (AZL CUBS - MENTOR)
Jesse Garcia, INF (IOWA)
Gasner Guerrier, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Justino Guzman, 1B (DSL CUBS)
Clark Hardman, OF (EXST)
Erik Hempy, LHP (EXST)
Yuri Higgins, RHP (ST)
Matt Hudgins, C (ST)
Edilmar Infante, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Elvin Jimenez, OF (DSL CUBS)
Leon Johnson,LHP (AZL CUBS)
Geoff Jones, LHP (IOWA)
Randy Keisler, LHP (IOWA)
Scott Koerber, LHP (ST)
Kitt Kopach, RHP (AZL CUBS)
Junniol Lami, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Elvis Lara, IF-OF (PEORIA)
Tim Layden, LHP (ST)
Brian Leclerc, OF (ST)
Simon Lee, RHP (ST)
Herasmo Magallanes, IF-OF (DSL CUBS)
Ryne Malone, INF (DAY)
Matt Maradeo, RHP (ST)
Andrew McCormick, RHP (ST)
Scott Meyer, RHP (EXST)
Ryan Meyers, RHP (DAY)
Pacheco Mota, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Billy Mottram, 3B (ST)
Jon Mueller, RHP (PEORIA)
Reinaldo Navarro, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Taylor Parker, LHP (ST)
Lenny Pena, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Mike Phelps, RHP (DAY)
Nelson Pierre, 2B (DSL CUBS)
Ramon Rache, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Pedro Ramirez, OF (DSL CUBS)
Hernan Ramos, RHP (ST)
Jeffrey Rea, 2B (PEORIA)
Jesus Reyes, OF (ST)
Alan Rick, C (ST)
Chris Rivera, RHP (ST)
Carlos R. Rojas, INF (ST)
Gregorio Rodriguez, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Roberto Sabates, C (EXST)
Issmael Salas, INF (TENN)
Cesar Salazar, OF (EXST)
Joel Santo, RHP (ST)
Jose Severino, RHP (AZL CUBS)
Chris Shaver, LHP (IOWA)
Andy Soto, 2B (DSL CUBS)
Min-Kyu Sung, OF (PEORIA)
Shingo Takatsu, RHP (ST)
Scott Taylor, RHP (EXST)
Yubrany Veras, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Chris Walker, OF (ST)
Les Walrond, LHP (ST)
Tanner Watson, RHP (TENN)
Chih-Hsiang Wen, OF (ST)

TRADED LAST 12 MONTHS:
Matt Avery, RHP (to WAS)
Jose Ceda, RHP (to FLA)
Darin Downs, LHP (to TB)
Joe Simokaitis, SS (to SEA)

POST-2008 MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:
Mike Burns, RHP
Hector Carrasco, RHP
Matt Craig, 1B-2B (signed with FLA)
Luis Figueroa, INF (signed with LAA)
Adam Harben, RHP
Josh Kroeger, OF (signed with CHW)
Billy Petrick, RHP
Carmen Pignatiello, LHP
Jason Stanford, LHP
Andres Torres, OF (signed with SF)

SELECTED IN 2008 RULE 5 DRAFT:
Yusuf Carter, OF (by OAK)
Mark Holliman, RHP (by MIL)
Donald Veal, LHP (by PIT)

PRESENT STATUS UNKNOWN:?
Joel Altagracia, 1B-3B
Pedro DeJesus, C
Davy Gregg, OF?
Clark Hardman, OF
Justin Rayborn, RHP
Marc Sawyer, 1B
Matt Weber, RHP
NOTE: Both Altagracia (who received a reported $140K bonus last July) and DeJesus were on the?DSL Cubs Instructs roster last November, but neither are presently on a Cubs Minor League Reserve List. It's possible that their contracts were voided for some reason (possibly an age discrepancy,?or maybe some type of?pre-eixting injury or medical condition, or perhaps some other?"issue").

Gregg, Rayborn, and Weber were placed on the Restricted List two years ago when they unofficially retired from Minor League Camp (Weber quit pro baseball to play college basketball), but all three were reinstated and then made eligible for the Rule 5 Draft post-2008, but were not selected. None of the three are on a Minor League Reserve List at this time, so they may have been released after the Rule 5 Draft.

Hardman (2007 9th round draft pick out of Cal State - Fullerton) and Sawyer (2007 15th round selection out of Yale) could still be on the Restricted List, and if so, they will probably remain there unless they decide to "unretire," or else they will? probably be reinstated in time for the 2010 Rule 5 Draft (players can remain on the Restricted List for a maximum of two years before they have to?be reinstated).

Fifteen Cubs Become Minor League Free Agents

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:19:08 -0500

Baseball America has the full list of 561 players who are now minor league free agents. The 15 Cubs are on the list: RHP: Mike Burns (AAA), Hector Carrasco (AAA), Adam Harben (AAA), Billy Petrick (AAA) LHP: Carmen Pignatiello (AAA), Jason Stanford (AAA) 1B: Matt Craig (AAA) 2B: Robinson Chirinos (Hi ...

Post-2008 Roster & Projected 2009 Organizational Depth Chart

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:24:14 -0500

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2008:

CHICAGO CUBS RESERVE LIST (40-MAN ROSTER) AS OF 10/7/08:

* bats or throws left
# bats both

NOTE: There are presently 40 players on the Cubs RESERVE LIST (40-man roster), plus two additional players on the 60-day DISABLED LIST (players on 60-day DL do not count against the roster limit)A

PITCHERS (20):
Jose Ascanio a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
* Neal Cotts a?" SALARY-ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Ryan Dempster - can be FREE-AGENT
Chad Gaudin a?" SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Angel Guzman a?" AUTO-RENEWAL or could qualify for SALARY ARBITRATION as a "Super Two" (has ONE minor league option left)
Rich Harden a?" SIGNED FOR 2009 (CLUB OPTION) or SALARY ARBITRATION eligible if CLUB OPTION is declined, and has right to DEMAND TRADE if CLUB OPTION is exercised
Kevin Hart a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
* Rich Hill a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)
Bob Howry - can be FREE-AGENT
* Ted Lilly - SIGNED FOR 2009 (has "NO TRADE" rights)
Carlos Marmol a?" AUTO-RENEWAL or could qualify for SALARY ARBITRATION as a "Super Two" (has ONE minor league option left)
Jason Marquis - SIGNED FOR 2009
* Sean Marshall a?" AUTO-RENEWAL or could qualify for SALARY ARBITRATION as a "Super Two"A (has ONE minor league option left)
Billy Petrick a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
* Carmen Pignatiello a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
Jeff Samardzija a?" SIGNED FOR 2009 (has TWO minor league options left & has "NO TRADE" rights)
Randy Wells a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has THREE minor league options left & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Kerry Wood - can be FREE-AGENT
Michael Wuertz a?" SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Carlos Zambrano - SIGNED FOR 2009 (has "NO TRADE" rights)

CATCHERS (3):
Henry Blanco a?" SIGNED FOR 2009 (CLUB OPTION) or can be FREE-AGENT if CLUB OPTION is declined
# Koyie Hill a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Geovany Soto a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)

INFIELDERS (8):
Ronny Cedeno a?" SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Mark DeRosa a?" SIGNED FOR 2009
* Mike Fontenot a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
* Micah Hoffpauir a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
Derrek Lee - SIGNED FOR 2009 (has "NO TRADE" rights)
Casey McGehee a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has THREE minor league options left)
Aramis Ramirez a?" SIGNED FOR 2009 (has "NO TRADE" rights)
Ryan Theriot a?" AUTO-RENEWAL or could qualify for SALARY ARBITRATION as a "Super Two" (has TWO minor league options left)

OUTFIELDERS (9):A A
* Jim Edmonds - can be FREE-AGENT
Jake Fox a?" AUTO RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
* Kosuke Fukudome a?" SIGNED FOR 2009 (has FOUR minor league options left & has "NO TRADE" rights)
* Sam Fuld a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
Reed Johnson a?" SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (CAN REFUSE MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT & OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
* Felix Pie - AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)
* Brad Snyder a?" AUTO RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)
Alfonso Soriano a?" SIGNED FOR 2009 (has "NO TRADE" rights)
* Daryle Ward - can be FREE-AGENT

60-DAY DISABLED LIST (2):
Chad Fox, P a?" can be FREE-AGENT
Jon Lieber, P - can be FREE-AGENT

NOTE: A player on the 15-day or 60-day DL must be reactivated no later than 11/20, but a DL assignment is automatically terminated when a player eligible to be a Free-Agent under Article XX of the CBA files for free-agency during the post-World Series Free-Agency Filing Period. Also, a player is automatically removed from the 40-man roster when he files for free-agencyA underA Article XX.A

======================================

ELIGIBLE TO BE ARTICLE XX FREE-AGENT:
Henry Blanco (club option with buy-out)
Ryan Dempster
Jim Edmonds
Chad Fox
Bob Howry
Jon Lieber
Daryle Ward
Kerry Wood
NOTE: MLB players eligible to be free-agents under Article XX of the CBA must file for free-agency during the "Free-Agency Filing Period" (first 15 days after conclusion of the World Series). During the 15-day "Free-Agency Filing Period," MLB clubs retain exclusive negotiating rights with their own free-agents, although the other 29 MLB clubs can talk to the player about everything except money (they can discuss the benefits of playing in a particular city, how the player will be used, where the player will bat in the lineup or whether a pitcher will start or relieve, length of contract, no-trade rights, etc). Clubs then must decide by December 1st whether to offer salary arbitration to their own free-agents, and if they do offer salary arbitration, the player has until December 7th to accept or decline the offer. If the club does offer salary arbitration to the free-agent and if the player is rated as a Type "A" or Type "B" free-agent by the Elias Sports Bureau statistical service, the player's old club would receive one or two compensation draft picks in the next June's Rule 4 Draft if the player signs with another club (two picks if the player is rated Type "A" and one pick if the player is rated Type "B"). If the player's old club does not offer salary arbitration on 12/1, the player's old club can continue to negotiate with the player, but the club would not receive a compensation draft pick (or picks) if the player signs with another club.

=====================================

SIGNED FOR 2009:A

+ has "NO TRADE" rights
% can demand trade per Article XX of CBA if club option is exercised

Henry Blanco - $3M club optionA or $300K buy-out
Mark DeRosa - $5.5MA A
+ Kosuke Fukudome - $11.5M
% Rich Harden - $7M club option or salary arbitrationA
+ Derrek Lee - $13M
+ Ted Lilly - $12M
Jason Marquis - $9.875MA
+ Aramis Ramirez - $15.65M
+ Jeff Samardzija - $1.3M
+ Alfonso Soriano - $16M
+ Carlos Zambrano - $17.75M
TOTAL (SO FAR) - $112.575M (includes Blanco and Harden club options)
NOTE: TOTAL does NOT include so-called "pro-rated" signing bonuses that are used by MLB and the MLBPA for the purpose of calculating club payroll to determine possible "Competitive Balance Tax" obligations (tax is applied when a club's payroll reaches $155M), because signing bonuses are usually paid in full when a player signs a contract (which is why it's called a "signing bonus") except when otherwise noted.

==============================

ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY-ARBITRATION:
Ronny CedenoA
Neal Cotts
Chad GaudinA
Angel Guzman (could qualify as a "Super Two" - see NOTE)
Rich Harden (but only if 2009 club option is declined)
Reed JohnsonA
Carlos Marmol (could qualify as a "Super Two" - see NOTE)
Sean Marshall (could qualify as a "Super Two" - see NOTE)
Ryan TheriotA (could qualify as a "Super Two"- see NOTE)
Michael Wuertz
PROJECTED ADDITION TO PAYROLL IF ALL FIVE PLAYERS WHO ARE DEFINITELY ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY ARBITRATION (not including Rich Harden, Angel Guzman, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, and Ryan Theriot) ARE OFFERED ARBITRATION: $7.5MA
NOTE:A Players who accrued at least 86 days of MLB Service Time (MLB ST) in 2008 and who have accrued at leastA two years but less than three years of MLB ST through the 2008 seasonA could possibly qualify for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" post-2008 if the player rates among the top 17% in MLB ST of all players in that category. The four Cubs players who areA eligible to possibly qualify as a "Super Two" post-2008 are Ryan Theriot (2+118 MLB ST),A Angel Guzman (2+095), Sean Marshall (2+087), and Carlos Marmol (2+084).

Clubs must decide by December 12th whether to offer salary arbitration to players who are eligible. If the club elects to offer salary arbitration, the club and the player proceed onward through the arbitration process, but the player and the club can reach an agreement at any point prior to a hearing. If the club decides not to offer arbitration to an arbitration-eligible player on 12/12, the player immediately becomes an unrestricted free-agent at that time and is free to sign with any MLB club (including his former club), and the player's old club receives no compensation if the player signs with a new club.A

============================================

AUTO-RENEWAL (PRE-ARBITRATION)

NOTE: 2009 MLB minimum salary is $400K with a $65K minimum "minor league split salary" ($32.5K minimum "minor league split" for players with no MLB ST who are on 40-man roster for the first time). Also, a minor league split salary for an "auto-renewal" player must be at least 60% of what the player was actually paid in salary during 2008 season. Clubs must tender contracts to "auto-renewal" (pre-arbitration) players on December 12th. If no contract is offered, the player is considered "non-tendered" and immediately becomes an unrestricted free-agent and can sign with any MLB club (including his old club). If a contract is tendered on 12/12, the player has until the first week of March to negotiate with his club, but if no agreement is reached by that time, the club can automatically renew the player's contract for an amount no less than 80% of the previous year's salary.

Jose Ascanio
Mike Fontenot
Jake Fox
Sam Fuld
Angel Guzman
Kevin HartA
Koyie Hill
Rich Hill
Micah Hoffpauir
Carlos Marmol
Casey McGehee
Sean Marshall
Billy Petrick
Felix Pie
Carmen Pignatiello
Brad Snyder
Geovany Soto
Ryan Theriot
Randy Wells
PROJECTED ESTIMATED 2009 AUTO-RENEWAL SALARIES FOR NINE PLAYERS: $4M
NOTE: Total does NOT include minor league split salaries for players on 40-man roster who are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors.A

====================================

PROJECTED ESTIMATED 2009 TOTAL PAYROLL AS OF TODAY (includes the 11 players who are signed for 2009 and the five players who are eligible for salary arbitration, plus nine "auto renewal" players TBD who would be needed to fill-out the 25-man roster): $124MA A

==================================

ELIGIBLE TO BE MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT:
Andres Blanco, SS
Mike Burns, RHP
Hector Carrasco, RHP
Edward Campusano, LHP
Robinson Chirinos, C-IF
Matt Craig, 1B-3B
Jason Dubois, OF-1B
Doug Deeds, OF-1B
Danny Fatheree, CA
Luis Figueroa, INF
Dumas Garcia, RHP
Adam Harben, RHP
Josh Kroeger, OF
Jason Stanford, LHP
Bobby Scales, IF-OF
Andres Torres, OF
NOTE: Clubs retain exclusive negotiating rights with their own minor league free-agents until the end of the World Series. If a minor league FA is added to his club's 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the World Series, the player is not eligible to be a free-agent. Players eligible to be minor league free-agents who are not added to their club's 40-man roster by the conclusion of the World Series are free to sign a major league or minor league contract with any organization, including their old club.A A A A

============================================

ELIGIBLE FOR 2008 RULE 5 DRAFT:
James Adduci, OF
Alberto Alburquerque, RHP
Mitch Atkins, RHP
Matt Avery, RHP
Justin Berg, RHP
Todd Blackford, RHP
Russ Canzler, 1B
Yusuf Carter, OF
Julio Castillo, RHP
Rafael Dolis, RHP
Jesse Estrada, RHP
Ryan Harvey, OF
Jim Henderson, RHP
Mark Holliman, RHP
Grant Johnson, RHP
Marcos Mateo, RHP
J. R. Mathes, LHP
Mario Mercedes, C
Jonathan Mota, INF
Jake Muyco, RHP
Leonel Perez, C
Vince Perkins, RHP
Jose Pina, RHP
Mark Reed, C
Gregory Reinhard, RHP
Kyle Reynolds, 1B
Tony Richie, C
Chris Robinson, C
Jayson Ruhlman, LHP
Alvaro Sosa, C
Nate Spears, 2B
Donald Veal, LHP
NOTE: A player on this list is not eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft if added to the 40-man roster by November 20th. Also, any free-agent who signs a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft.

=====================================

2009:A

MINOR LEAGUE OPTION STATUS FOR PLAYERS WITH LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OF MLB SERVICE TIME (SPRING TRAINING 2009):

NOTE: Mike Fontenot, Angel Guzman, and Ryan Theriot would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers before being optioned to the minors during Spring Training 2009 or anytime during the 2009 season. Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol would NOT have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers before being optioned to the minors during Spring Training (prior to Opening Day), but Marshall would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers before being optioned to the minors anytime during the regular season (starting on Opening Day), while Marmol would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers beginning on June 4th.A Because an Optional Assignment waiver request can be withdrawn if the player is claimed by another club, Optional Assignment waiver claims are rare.A A

NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Ronny Cedeno (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)A
Neal Cotts (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
Chad Gaudin (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
Koyie Hill (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
Rich Hill
Felix Pie
Brad Snyder
Geovany Soto
Michael Wuertz (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
NOTE: Players who are out of minor league options must clear Outright Assignment Waivers (which are irrevocable) before they can be sent to the minors. Players with at least three years of MLB Service Time and players who have been previously outrighted in their career can refuse an Outright Assignment and can opt to become a free-agent instead. (Free-agency option can be exercised immediately, or player can defer option until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season).A

ONE MINOR LEAGUE OPTION LEFT:
Jose Ascanio (see NOTE)
Mike Fontenot
Jake Fox
Angel Guzman (see NOTE)
Carlos Marmol
Sean Marshall
NOTE: Jose Ascanio has used three minor league options through the 2008 season, but because he has spent only four "full seasons" on an active minor league or major league roster, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2009 as long as it is exercised prior to completing five full seasons.
Angel Guzman has used three minor league options through the 2008 season, but because he has spent only four "full seasons" on an active minor league or major league roster, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2009 as long as it is exercised prior to completing five full seasons.

TWO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:A
Sam Fuld
Kevin Hart
Micah Hoffpauir
Billy Petrick (see NOTE)
Carmen Pignatiello
Jeff Samardzija (see NOTE)
Ryan Theriot
NOTE: Billy Petrick has used two minor league options through the 2008 season, but because he has spent only three "full seasons" on an active minor league or major league roster, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option as long as it is exercised prior to completing five full seasons.
Jeff Samardzija has used two minor league options through the 2008 season, but because he has spent only two "full seasons" on an active minor league or major league roster, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option as long as it is exercised prior to completing five full seasons.A

THREE MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Casey McGehee
Randy Wells (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)

FOUR MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Kosuke FukudomeA

======================================

PROJECTED 2009 CUBS ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART

* bats or throws left
# bats both

CATCHERS:
CUBS: Geovany Soto/Henry Blanco/# Koyie HillA
IOWA: Tony Richie/* Blake Lalli/Chris RobinsonA
TENN: Welington Castillo/* Mark Reed
DAYT: Luis Flores/Mario Mercedes
PEOR: Carlos Perez/Michael BrenlyA A
EXST: * Matt Cerda/# Alvaro Sosa/Jose Guevara/Pat Mahoney/Juan MedinaA
DSLC: Carlos Gonzalez/Ricardo Parra/Jose Vigay/Yamel LiriaA A

FIRST-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Derrek Lee/* Micah Hoffpauir
IOWA: * Kyle ReynoldsA A A A A A
TENN: Russ Canzler/* Steve ClevengerA
DAYT: Jovan Rosa/Luis BautistaA A A A
PEOR: Rebel Ridling/* Ryan KeedyA A A A A A
EXST: Sean Hoorelbeke/* Bryan JostA A A
DSLC: # Alexander Mejia/Melvin Camarena/Carlos Romero/Justino Guzman

SECOND-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Mark DeRosa/* Mike FontenotA
IOWA: * Nate SpearsA A A
TENN: Tony ThomasA A A A A
DAYT: * Ryan Flaherty/Josh HarrisonA A A A A A
PEOR: * Jake Opitz/Gian GuzmanA A
EXST: * Logan Watkins/Dwayne KempA A A
DSLC: # Ramon Bonilla/# Vismeldy Bieneme/# Jose Montecino

THIRD-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Aramis RamirezA
IOWA: Casey McGeheeA A A
TENN: Josh LansfordA
DAYT: Marquez Smith
PEOR: Josh Vitters
EXST: John Contreras/Carlos MoralesA A A A A
DSLC: # Nelson Pierre/Juan Pena/Pedro Ramirez

SHORTSTOPS:
CUBS: Ryan Theriot/Ronny CedenoA A
IOWA: * Matt Camp/# Matt MatuliaA
TENN: Darwin Barney/Jonathan MotaA A
DAYT: Nathan Samson/Jose Made
PEOR: Starlin Castro/# Marwin Gonzalez
EXST: Junior Lake/George Matheus/* Hak-Ju LeeA A A A A
DSLC: # Robert Bautista/* Melido Perez/Miguel SalazarA

LEFT-FIELDERS:
CUBS: Alfonso Soriano/* Brad SnyderA A A
IOWA: * Tyler ColvinA A
TENN: Ty Wright
DAYT: Brandon GuyerA A
PEOR: * Drew Rundle/Elvis LaraA A
EXST: * Ryan Sontag/TeWayne Willis/* Sean Williams
DSLC: Jesus Morelli/# Jose Valdez/Albert Hernandez/# Gregorio Robles

CENTER-FIELDERS
CUBS: * Felix Pie/Reed Johnson
IOWA: * Sam FuldA
TENN: * Jonathan Wyatt/Yusuf CarterA A
DAYT: * Tony CampanaA A A A
PEOR: * Cliff AndersenA
EXST: * Kurt Calvert/# David Macias/* Clark HardmanA A A
DSLC: * Francisco Guzman/Manuel Pestana/Pedro Medina

RIGHT-FIELDERS
CUBS: * Kosuke Fukudome
IOWA: Jake FoxA
TENN: * James Adduci/Ryan Harvey
DAYT: * Dylan JohnstonA A A
PEOR: * Kyler Burke/Jericho JonesA A A
EXST: * Nelson Perez/Kevin SotoA A
DSLC: Alejandro Damian/Luis Andrades

STARTING PITCHERS

CUBS:
Carlos Zambrano
* Ted Lilly
Rich Harden
* Sean Marshall
Jason Marquis
* Rich Hill

IOWA:
Mitch Atkins
Randy Wells
* J. R. Mathes
* Donald Veal
Justin Berg

TENNESSEE:
Esmailin Caridad
* James Russell
Billy Muldowney
* Jeremy Papelbon
Marco Carrillo
Alessandro Maestri

DAYTONA:
Hung-Wen Chen
Jay Jackson
Casey Coleman
Aaron Shafer
Robert Hernandez
Alberto Alburquerque

PEORIA:
Chris Carpenter
* Jeffrey Beliveau
Josh Whitlock
Ryan Searle
Kevin Kreier
Ryan Acosta
Justin Bristow
Dae-Eun Rhee

EXST:
Larry Suarez
Alberto Cabrera
Chris Huseby
Oswaldo Martinez
* Jeffry Antigua
Julio Pena
Yohan Gonzalez
Miguel Sierra
Dionis Nunez
Diego Encarnacion

DSLC:
Edilmar Infante
Hector Mayorga
* Marcos Perez
Roderick Pichardo
Ramon Reyes
Luis Liria
Eduardo Figueroa
Ramon Garcia
Jose Tineo
Starlin Peralta

BULLPEN:

CUBS:
Carlos Marmol (closer)
Jeff Samardzija
Chad Gaudin
* Neal Cotts
Michael Wuertz
Kevin Hart
Angel Guzman

IOWA:
Jose Ceda (closer)
Rocky Roquet
Jose Ascanio
* Casey Lambert
Gregory ReinhardA
Jesse Estrada
Mark Holliman
* Carmen Pignatiello
Billy Petrick
Jim Henderson

TENNESSEE:
Brian Schlitter (closer)
Matt Avery
Marcos Mateo
* Jayson Ruhlman
Jordan Latham
Blake Parker
Grant Johnson
Vince Perkins

DAYTONA:A
Andrew Cashner (closer)
Steve Vento
* Dustin Sasser
Michael Cooper
John Muller
* Zach Ashwood
Jake Muyco
Todd Blackford
* Chris Siegfried
Craig Muschko
Jose Pina
Jon Mueller

PEORIA:
Dan McDaniel (closer)
David Cales
* James Leverton
Audy Santana
* Luke Sommer
Cedric Redmond
* Mark PawelekA
Erik Hamren
Harol Tolentino
Bubba O'Donnell
Mike Perconte
Tommy Mejia
Marcus Hatley

EXST:
Manolin DeLeon (closer)
Rafael Dolis
Tarlandus Mitchell
Kitt Kopach
* Leon Johnson
Toby Matchulat
Eric Allen
Carlos Rojas
Andres Quezada
* Cody Hams
Adam Spencer
Miguel Corletto
Jon Nagel

====================================

POST-2009:A

ELIGIBLE TO BE ARTICLE XX FREE-AGENT AFTER 2009 SEASON:
Henry Blanco (if 2009 club option is exercised)
Mark DeRosa
Reed Johnson
Rich Harden
Jason Marquis

=======================================

PLAYERS SIGNED BEYOND 2009:A
Derrek Lee ($13M in 2010, then FA a?" has full "no trade")
Ted Lilly ($12M in 2010, then FA a?" has full "no trade")
Aramis Ramirez ($15.75M in 2010, $14.6M 2011 player option, and $16M 2012 mutual option with $2M buy-out a?" has full "no trade")
Kosuke Fukudome ($13M in 2010 and $13.5M in 2011 a?" has full "no trade")
Jeff Samardzija ($2.5M in 2010: $2.8M in 2011, $3M mutual option in 2012 - player can opt out only if he is eligible for salary arbitration, and $3.5M mutual option in 2013 - player can opt out only if he is eligible for salary-arbitration)
NOTE: Samardzija must accrue six years of MLB Service Time before he can be a Free-Agent
Carlos Zambrano ($17.875 in 2010 and 2011, and $18M in 2012, plus $19.25M vesting-player optionA in 2013 a?" has full "no trade")A
Alfonso Soriano ($18M 2010 through 2014, then FA a?" has full "no trade")

=====================================

PROJECTED ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY ARBITRATION POST-2009:
Ronny Cedeno
Neal Cotts
Mike Fontenot (would be eligible to possibly qualify asA "Super Two")
Chad Gaudin
Angel Guzman
Koyie Hill
Rich Hill
Carlos Marmol
Sean MarshallA
Felix Pie (would be eligible to possibly qualify as a "Super Two")
Geovany Soto (would be eligible to possibly qualify asA "Super Two")
Ryan Theriot
Michael Wuertz
NOTE: Cedeno, Cotts, Gaudin, and Wuertz will definitely be eligible for salary arbitration post-2009, but in order for Fontenot, Guzman, K. Hill, R. Hill, Marmol, Marshall, Pie, Soto, and Theriot to be eligible, player would have to spend part, most, or all of 2009 season (depending on player) on MLB 25-man roster (or 15-day or 60-day DL), and Fontenot, Pie, and Soto would still have to qualify as a "Super Two" (TBD). A A

====================================

MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT POST-2009:
Ryan Harvey, OF
Jim Henderson, RHP
Leonel Perez, C
Jose Pina, RHP
Tony Richie, C
Nate Spears, 2B

=============================

POST-2009 FIRST TIME ELIGIBLE FOR RULE 5 DRAFT:
Francisco Acosta, RHP
Alberto Cabrera, RHP
Matt Camp, IF-OF
Marco Carrillo, RHP
Welington Castillo, CA
Jose Ceda, RHP
Tyler Colvin, OF
Arturo Florentino, RHP
Robert Hernandez, RHP
Edilmar Infante, RHP
Dylan Johnston, OF
Kitt Kopach, RHP
Blake Lalli, C
Josh Lansford, 3B
Elvis Lara, IF-OF
Alessandro Maestri, RHP
Matt Matulia, INF
Jon Mueller, RHP
Billy Muldowney, RHP
Dionis Nunez, RHP
Jeremy Papelbon, LHP
Blake Parker, RHP
Mark Pawelek, LHP
Carlos Perez, C
Andres Quezada, RHP
Rocky Roquet, RHP
Tomas Sanchez, RHP
Audy Santana, RHP
Miguel Sierra, RHP
Harol Tolentino, RHP

Post-2008 Roster & Projected 2009 Organizational Chart

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:17:17 -0500

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2008:

CHICAGO CUBS RESERVE LIST (40-MAN ROSTER) AS OF 10/7/08:

* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS (20):
Jose Ascanio a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
* Neal Cotts a?" SALARY-ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Ryan Dempster - can be FREE-AGENT
Chad Gaudin a?" SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Angel Guzman a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
Rich Harden a?" SIGNED FOR 2009 (CLUB OPTION) or SALARY ARBITRATION eligible if CLUB OPTION is declined, and has right to DEMAND TRADE if CLUB OPTION is exercised
Kevin Hart a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
* Rich Hill a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)
Bob Howry - can be FREE-AGENT
* Ted Lilly - SIGNED FOR 2009 (has "NO TRADE" rights)
Carlos Marmol a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
Jason Marquis - SIGNED FOR 2009
* Sean Marshall a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
Billy Petrick a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
* Carmen Pignatiello a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
Jeff Samardzija a?" SIGNED FOR 2009 (has TWO minor league options left & has "NO TRADE" rights)
Randy Wells a?" AUTO-RENEWAL (has THREE minor league options left & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Kerry Wood - can be FREE-AGENT
Michael Wuertz a?" SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Carlos Zambrano - SIGNED FOR 2009 (has "NO TRADE" rights)

60-DAY DISABLED LIST (2):
Chad Fox, P a?" can be FREE-AGENT
Jon Lieber, P - can be FREE-AGENT

======================================

SIGNED FOR 2009:A

+ has "NO TRADE" rights
% can demand trade per Article XX of CBA if club option is exercised

==============================

ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY-ARBITRATION:
Ronny CedenoA
Neal Cotts
Chad Gaudin
Rich Harden (but only if 2009 club option is declined)
Reed Johnson
Michael Wuertz
PROJECTED ADDITION TO PAYROLL IF ALL FIVE PLAYERS ELIGIBLE FOR ARBITRATION (not including Rich Harden) ARE OFFERED ARBITRATION: $7.5MA
NOTE: Clubs must decide by December 12th whether to offer salary arbitration to players who are eligible. If the club elects to offer salary arbitration, the club and the player proceed onward through the arbitration process, but the player and the club can reach an agreement at any point prior to a hearing. If the club decides not to offer arbitration to an arbitration-eligible player on 12/12, the player immediately becomes an unrestricted free-agent at that time and is free to sign with any MLB club (including his former club), and the player's old club receives no compensation if the player signs with a new club.A A A

============================================

AUTO-RENEWAL (PRE-ARBITRATION)

====================================

==================================

============================================

=====================================

2009:A

MINOR LEAGUE OPTION STATUS FOR PLAYERS WITH LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OF MLB SERVICE TIME (SPRING TRAINING 2009):

THREE MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Casey McGehee
Randy Wells (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)

FOUR MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Kosuke FukudomeA

======================================

PROJECTED 2009 CUBS ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART

* bats or throws left
# bats both

STARTING PITCHERS

CUBS:
Carlos Zambrano
* Ted Lilly
Rich Harden
* Sean Marshall
Jason Marquis
* Rich Hill

IOWA:
Mitch Atkins
Randy Wells
* J. R. Mathes
* Donald Veal
Justin Berg

TENNESSEE:
Esmailin Caridad
* James Russell
Billy Muldowney
* Jeremy Papelbon
Marco Carrillo
Alessandro Maestri

DAYTONA:
Hung-Wen Chen
Jay Jackson
Casey Coleman
Aaron Shafer
Robert Hernandez
Alberto Alburquerque

PEORIA:
Chris Carpenter
* Jeffrey Beliveau
Josh Whitlock
Ryan Searle
Kevin Kreier
Ryan Acosta
Justin Bristow
Dae-Eun Rhee

EXST:
Larry Suarez
Alberto Cabrera
Chris Huseby
Oswaldo Martinez
* Jeffry Antigua
Julio Pena
Yohan Gonzalez
Miguel Sierra
Dionis Nunez
Diego Encarnacion

DSLC:
Edilmar Infante
Hector Mayorga
* Marcos Perez
Roderick Pichardo
Ramon Reyes
Luis Liria
Eduardo Figueroa
Ramon Garcia
Jose Tineo
Starlin Peralta

BULLPEN:

CUBS:
Carlos Marmol (closer)
Jeff Samardzija
Chad Gaudin
* Neal Cotts
Michael Wuertz
Kevin Hart
Angel Guzman

IOWA:
Jose Ceda (closer)
Rocky Roquet
Jose Ascanio
* Casey Lambert
Gregory ReinhardA
Jesse Estrada
Mark Holliman
* Carmen Pignatiello
Billy Petrick
Jim Henderson

TENNESSEE:
Brian Schlitter (closer)
Matt Avery
Marcos Mateo
* Jayson Ruhlman
Jordan Latham
Blake Parker
Grant Johnson
Vince Perkins

DAYTONA:A
Andrew Cashner (closer)
Steve Vento
* Dustin Sasser
Michael Cooper
John Muller
* Zach Ashwood
Jake Muyco
Todd Blackford
* Chris Siegfried
Craig Muschko
Jose Pina
Jon Mueller

PEORIA:
Dan McDaniel (closer)
David Cales
* James Leverton
Audy Santana
* Luke Sommer
Cedric Redmond
* Mark PawelekA
Erik Hamren
Harol Tolentino
Bubba O'Donnell
Mike Perconte
Tommy Mejia

EXST:
Manolin DeLeon (closer)
Rafael Dolis
Tarlandus Mitchell
Kitt Kopach
* Leon Johnson
Toby Matchulat
Eric Allen
Carlos Rojas
Andres Quezada
* Cody Hams
Adam Spencer
Miguel Corletto
Jon Nagel

====================================

POST-2009:A

ELIGIBLE TO BE ARTICLE XX FREE-AGENT AFTER 2009 SEASON:
Henry Blanco (if 2009 club option is exercised)
Mark DeRosa
Reed Johnson
Rich Harden
Jason Marquis

=======================================

=====================================

PROJECTED ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY ARBITRATION POST-2009:
Ronny Cedeno
Neal Cotts
Mike Fontenot (likely "Super Two")
Chad Gaudin
Angel Guzman
Koyie Hill
Rich Hill
Carlos Marmol
Sean Marshall
Ryan Theriot
Michael Wuertz
NOTE: Cedeno, Cotts, Gaudin, and Wuertz will definitely be eligible for salary arbitration post-2009, but in order for Fontenot, Guzman, K. Hill, R. Hill, Marmol, Marshall, and Theriot to be eligible, player would have to spend part, most, or all of 2009 season (depending on player) on MLB 25-man roster (or 15-day or 60-day DL).

====================================

MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT POST-2009:
Ryan Harvey, OF
Jim Henderson, RHP
Leonel Perez, C
Jose Pina, RHP
Tony Richie, C
Nate Spears, 2B

=============================

POST-2009 FIRST TIME ELIGIBLE FOR RULE 5 DRAFT:
Francisco Acosta, RHP
Alberto Cabrera, RHP
Matt Camp, IF-OF
Marco Carrillo, RHP
Welington Castillo, CA
Jose Ceda, RHP
Tyler Colvin, OF
Arturo Florentino, RHP
Robert Hernandez, RHP
Edilmar Infante, RHP
Dylan Johnston, OF
Kitt Kopach, RHP
Blake Lalli, C
Josh Lansford, 3B
Elvis Lara, IF-OF
Alessandro Maestri, RHP
Matt Matulia, INF
Jon Mueller, RHP
Billy Muldowney, RHP
Dionis Nunez, RHP
Jeremy Papelbon, LHP
Blake Parker, RHP
Mark Pawelek, LHP
Carlos Perez, C
Andres Quezada, RHP
Rocky Roquet, RHP
Tomas Sanchez, RHP
Audy Santana, RHP
Miguel Sierra, RHP
Harol Tolentino, RHP

Cubs make Roster Move

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:28:01 -0500

While most of the focus is on the playoff roster, the Cubs quietly made a move that effects their 40 man roster, claiming Brad Snyder off waivers from the Indians and DFA'ing Adam Harben. Snyder is a 26 year old left-hand hitting OF who spent the season at Buffalo, the AAA affiliate of the Indians. While playing left and center, he hit .246 with 13 HR's and 7 stolen bases, but he also struck out 123 times in 411 AB's. He was the 18th overall pick in the 2003 draft and at the time...

Quick Cubs Hits

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:59:13 -0500

- Sean Marshall will start Tuesday and Rich Harden will start Thursday. Letting Marshall start Tuesday means he'll likely get the start for the likely season finale on Sunday as well. Lou also said he won't be lightening any workloads for Harden or Zambrano this series. Pushing Harden to Thursday also means Lilly will get moved to a Saturday start.

Phil Rogers suggests this all means an NLDS rotation of Dempster, Harden, Zambrano and Lilly - a plan that I fully endorse.? Rogers also provides some useful information that all four possible playoff opponents are less productive (judged by OPS) against right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers. Bruce Miles has some other thoughts on the rotation and Lou himself said he's not making any announcements until this weekend.

- Rogers also reports that Jason Marquis will likely head to the pen and a long relief role for the playoffs although there are no specific quotations attributed to anyone. For some reason, I thought he was left off of last year's playoff roster, but he was just bumped from the rotation.

- Congrats to Micah Hoffpauir and Mitch Atkins, the Cubs Minor League Hitter and Pitcher of the Year.

- The Cubs claimed outfielder Brad Snyder off waivers and designated Adam Harben for assignment. Snyder was the 18th overall pick in the 2003 draft.

- The Cubs made some changes to their AFL roster. Pitcher Justin Berg will go to the Venezuelan Winter Leagues instead and be replaced by righty Jessie Estrada. Also, catcher/infielder Steve Clevenger and infielder Esmailin Caridad have been added to the Mesa Solar Sox bringing the total Cubs players up to 8 (Tyler Colvin, Darwin Barney, Nate Spears, Donald Veal and Rocky Roquet being the other 5).

Will Cubs Add Reinforcements?

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:33:43 -0500

With the AAA Iowa Cubs having been eliminated from the PCL playoffs yesterday and with veteran RHP Jon Lieber having suffered a possible career-ending arm injury, I would think that there will be some additional players added to the Cubs active roster today or tomorrow.

Miracle still waiting

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:30:40 -0500

Palm Beach 5 at Daytona 4W: S. Garceau (1-0, 2.70); L: M. Mateo (0-1, 2.45); SV: P. Parise (1)HR: None. The come-back Cubs fell one short at Jackie Robinson Stadium, as the Palm Beach Cardinals forced game three of the Eastern Division finals.Antonio DeJesus singled to lead off the top of the first inning and Peter Kozma followed suite. Steve Hill would ground into a double play that allowed DeJesus to score, putting the Cards on the board.Hill would reach on a fielding error in the top...

Angel's in the Bullpen

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:06:24 -0500

Angel Guzman (September '07 TJS) had what was likely his final rehab outing last night at Iowa, pitching the 8th & 9th in a GF non-save situation in an I-Cubs victory, throwing two shutout inings (31 pitches - 23 strikes). With his minor league rehab going well, I fully expect the Cubs to reactivate Guzman from the 60-day DL on Monday when the MLB active rosters expand to 40.

So far in four games at AAA, Gooz has thrown nine innings, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks, while striking out 12. He has not allowed a HR in any of his seven rehab outings (17 IP) over the past month at Daytona, Tennessee, and Iowa.

Guzman still has yet to throw two days in a row (he threw on two days rest last night), so until he can get to the point where he can throw at least every-other day (if not two or three days days in a row), I doubt that he will be a candidate as a late-inning reliever for the post-season roster. And he isn;t throwing enough pitches per outing to be considered as a starter, either. But at least the Cubs will have a month to see if they can get Guzman into the "frequent flyer" program.

However, even if he can throw only two or three times a week and even if he might need a bit more time to get loose than what you might prefer in your average MLB reliever, Gooz could still help the Cubs the last month of the regular season when he does pitch, as long as he gets sufficient time to get loose.

I saw Guzman throw quite a bit (both "live" BP and "sim" games) at Fitch Park April-July, and he consistently hit 94 with his fastball. I talked to him after several of his outings, and he said his arm felt great. ?

Because he didn't throw many curve balls or change-ups while he was at Fitch, getting to the point where he has the confidence to throw all of his pitches (and throw them for strikes) was something he needed to do while on his minor league rehab. He had problems with his command the first couple of months rehabbing at Fitch, but he got that problem resolved before he left town.

Jon Lieber (on the 15-day DL with a sore foot) threw a two-inning shutout relief rehab stint for Peoria on Thursday, so he will also likely be reactivated on Monday. While Lieber isn't ever going to be confused with Ryan Dempster or Rich Harden, Carlos Marmol or Kerry Wood, he will provide the Cubs with another experienced arm in the bullpen to help pick up the slack and throw a couple or three innings every now & then in a blow-out or extra-inning game.

And if the Cubs are able to clinch early enough to adjust their rotation for the post-season, Lieber could get a spot start?the last week of September?against one of the contenders the Cubs will be facing at the end of the regular season. There might be some grumbling among N. L. clubs competing for a playoff spot with the team facing Lieber, but the Cubs can always claim that Lieber is in their plans for the post-season (even if he really isn't).

The Cubs are also expected to recall 1B-LHPH Micah Hoffpauir, OF Felix Pie, and RHPs Kevin Hart and Michael Wuertz from Iowa sometime in September, and also add a third catcher (Koyie Hill) to their active roster.

While we know?Piniella doesn't want an "overly-crowded"?clubhouse in September, I still?wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs also might consider bringing up a veteran guy?with?MLB experience like?1B-OF-RHPH Jason Dubois,?OF-PR Andres Torres, SS Andres Blanco, and/or RHRP Hector Carrasco, or perhaps rubber-armed swingman RHP Randy Wells (who can be a? minor league FA post-2008 if he isn't added to the Cubs 40-man roster) after Iowa's season is over. This would give the Cubs additional potential replacements for the post-season in case of injury. (Once a player goes home at the end of the minor league season,?it's hard to get him?back active again if an injury?replacement?is needed during the NLDS, NLCS, or WS in October). ?

If the Cubs need additional slots on their 40-man roster in September,?RHP?Chad Fox (sore elbow) could?easily be transferred to the 60-day DL, or Adam Harben (11/2006 TJS rehab) and/or Rich Hill (on the Iowa DL with a back problem) could be recalled from?their minor league optional assignments?and be?placed on the 60-day DL (and if the Cubs do that no later than 8/31, it?would also give the Cubs an additional?roster exemption or two beyond the one provided by having Chad Fox on the DL that?they could use in the post-season to add both a Hoffpauir and?a Wuertz or a Hart?to their NLDS roster).?Also,?LHP Carmen Pignatiello (having a terrible year at Iowa) and/ or Daytona RHP Billy Petrick (who was placed on the Suspended List while on the DL at Daytona with?"shoulder weakness")?could get?outrighted?(both could be minor league free-agents post-2008 if they are dropped from the 40)??. .

While the Iowa Cubs will be playing in the PCL playoffs starting next Wednesday, the Cubs don't have to wait until Iowa's season is over before they can bring up reinforcements. If they want?to add Pie, Hoffpauir, K. Hill, Hart, and/or Wuertz immediately on 9/1, the Cubs could promote the likes of CF Sam Fuld, 1B-OF Jake Fox, and catcher Chris Robinson, and RHPs?Gregory Reinhard, Dumas Garcia, and or Mark Holliman from AA Tennessee (eliminated a while ago from Southern League playoff contention) to Iowa to fill the open roster slots. (Tennessee's regular season ends on Monday, so the replacements could easily report to Iowa by the start of the PCL playoffs on Wednesday).

Fuld, Fox,?Reinhard, Garcia, and Holliman all spent time at AAA in 2008 and Robinson played for Team Canada in the Beijing Olympics, so it's not like the Cubs would be throwing a bunch of young inexperienced guys into the AAA playoff fire.?It also wouldn't be too unsual for guys like OF Tyler Colvin,?Closer Jose Ceda, LHRP Casey Lambert, or RHRP Rocky Roquet to get a late-season promotion to the next level so that they can get a?chance to partake in a playoff atmosphere. AA 2B Nate Spears has already been promoted to Iowa, replacing IF-OF Bobby Scales (on the DL with a sprained ankle). ?

The 8/31 Exemption (and How to Use It)

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:30:36 -0500

August 31st is an important date for contending MLB teams, because that's the date that determines eligibility for post-season rosters.

To be eligible to play in the MLB post-season, a player must be on the club's 25-man roster or 15-day or 60-day DL as of 8/31. However, any player (regardless of position) who is a member of the organization on 8/31 is eligible to replace an injured player on the post-season roster as long as the injured player is placed on the DL prior to the start of the post-season series. (If the "replacement player" is not already on his club's 40-man roster, he must be added to the 40 before he can be added to the post-season roster). NOTE: If a player suffers a disabling injury DURING a post-season series, the club can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) replace the player with any player who was a member of the organization on August 31st, although in this case (replacing an injured player DURING a post-season series), the replacement player must play the same position as the injured player, and the injured player is ineligible to return to the active list at any later point in the post-season.

Essentially, the more players a club can stash on its 15-day or 60-day DL on August 31st, the more post-season roster exemptions for the club. And more post-season roster exemptions gives a club greater flexibility to tweak its post-season roster from series-to-series.

Using post-season roster exemptions, a club can alter its LDS, LCS, and World Series rosters at the start of each series, adding players who were not on the 25-man roster or DL on 8/31. And since projected match-ups are one of the prime influences in determining how a post-season roster is to be constructed, the ability to add an extra lefty reliever in a series where the opposition has a left-handed heavy batting order, or an extra lefty bat off the bench when the opposition has a right-handed heavy bullpen, could give a club an edge. And in a short series involving two quality MLB teams, any little bit of an edge could make the difference between moving on to the next level and going home.

But to add a player or players to a post-season roster, a club needs post-season roster exemptions, and the only way to ensure having the exemptions when they are needed is to have a couple or three players riding the 15-day or 60-day DL on August 31st.

So how did the Cubs go about creating their post-season roster last season?

2007 CUBS 25-MAN ROSTER AS OF 8-31-07:

PITCHERS (11): Ryan Dempster, Scott Eyre, Rich Hill, Bob Howry, Ted Lilly, Carlos Marmol, Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood, Michael Wuertz, and Carlos Zambrano

CATCHERS (2): Henry Blanco and Jason Kendall

INFIELDERS (6): Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot, and Daryle Ward

OUTFIELDERS (6): Cliff Floyd, Jacque Jones, Craig Monroe, Matt Murton, Felix Pie, and Alfonso Soriano

DISABLED LIST (4): Pitchers Angel Guzman (sprained elbow ligament), Roberto Novoa (fractured shoulder) and Mark Prior (shoulder surgery) on the 60-day DL, and outfielder Angel Pagan (colitis) on the 15-day DL

Because Guzman, Novoa, Prior, and Pagan were on the DL on 8/31, all four were eligible to be included on the Cubs 2007 post-season roster.

Note that the Cubs went with 11 pitchers for four days (8/28 through 8/31), as LHP Carmen Pignatiello was optioned to Iowa on August 28th, when OF Alfonso Soriano (strained quad) was activated from the DL. But then RHP Sean Gallagher and LHP Will Ohman were recalled from Iowa on September 1st, and RHP Steve Trachsel (acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on 8/31) was also added to the Cubs active roster on 9/1, giving the Cubs 14 pitchers right at the beginning of September (increased to 16 pitchers when Pignatiello and Kevin Hart were brought up on 9/4).

Trachsel was acquired from the Orioles on 8/31 but was not added to the Cubs active roster until the next day, so he was not automatically eligible for the post-season roster. However, he was eligible to be a post-season "replacement player" because he was a member of the Cubs organization on 8/31.

During September 2007, the Cubs recalled pitchers Sean Gallagher, Will Ohman, and Carmen Pignatiello, catcher Geovany Soto, infielder Ronny Cedeno, and IF-OF Eric Patterson from AAA Iowa (Patterson was subsequently optioned to AA Tennessee for disciplinary reasons), and selected RHP Kevin Hart and OF Sam Fuld from AA Tennessee, as Hendry & Piniella opted to go with a 34-man roster over the last month of the season. (Neal Cotts, Jake Fox, Juan Mateo, Billy Petrick, and Jeff Samardzija were not recalled from their minor league optional assignments).

Because Guzman, Novoa, Prior, and Pagan remained on the DL through the balance of the 2007 season, their roster slots became available as post-season roster exemptions, allowing the Cubs to add Kevin Hart, Geovany Soto, and Ronny Cedeno to their NLDS roster. (Hart, Soto, and Cedeno were brought up from the minors in September, so they would not have been eligible to be included on a post-season roster if not for the roster exemptions).

But adding Hart, Soto, and Cedeno to their NLDS roster meant the Cubs had to deactivate three players who had been on their 25-man roster on 8/31, and so they?dropped pitcher Sean Marshall, catcher Henry Blanco, and outfielder Craig Monroe.?(Marshall stayed "stretched-out" as a starter during the NLDS, throwing 70+ pitches for the Cubs AZ Instructional League team in a "Camp Day" intrasquad game at Fitch Park while the Cubs were in Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, and Monroe kept active by taking?early-morning BP every day that week at Fitch).

Marshall, Blanco, and Monroe, plus Will Ohman (who also threw an inning in the Camp Day intrasquad game at Fitch while the Cubs were in Phoenix) and Sam Fuld, remained with the Cubs throughout the NLDS (Trachsel, Pignatiello, and Gallagher did not),?serving as potential "replacement players" in case of a season-ending injury to somebody during the NLDS, and as potential Plan "B" options in the NLCS and World Series (if the Cubs had gotten that far). For instance, Marshall could have been an alternative to Marquis as the #4 starter in an NLCS, or Hart could have been exchanged for Ohman, or Fuld could have replaced Pie or Murrton, or Murton or Pie could have been switched with Monroe.?

So knowing what the Cubs did with their September call-ups and post-season roster last year, what are Hendry & Piniella likely to do this year?

If Hendry & Piniella once again go with a 34-man September roster, I would think pitchers Angel Guzman and Jon Lieber will be reactivated from the DL, catcher Koyie Hill will be brought up from Iowa to be the 3rd catcher (the Cubs always add a 3rd catcher in September) and post-season fall-back in case Soto or Blanco were to suffer a disabling injury, and pitchers Michael Wuertz and Kevin Hart, 1B-OF Micah Hoffpauir, and outfielder Felix Pie will be recalled from Iowa. That leaves two spots for a right-handed power bat off the bench (probably either 1B-OF Jason Dubois or OF Jake Fox) and another bullpen arm?(probably either Jose Ascanio or Randy?Wells).

At present, the Cubs have three players on the DL, with pitchers Chad Fox (sore elbow) and Jon Lieber (sore foot) on the 15-day DL, and pitcher Angel Guzman (TJS surgery rehab) on the 60.?Guzman and Lieber will likely?be activated from the DL in September, so probably only Chad Fox will provide the Cubs with a ready-made roster exemption for the post-season. (Fox could be transferred to the 60-day DL if an additional spot on the 40-man roster is needed in September).

Of course Lieber has the type of chronic foot problem that probably would allow the Cubs to place him on the DL any old time, so if the Cubs wish to replace a struggling and ineffective Bob Howry with Michael Wuertz and 5th starter Jason Marquis with?Micah Hoffpauir, they should be able to do it just by leaving Chad Fox on the DL for the rest of the season and by placing Jon Lieber back on the DL before the start of the NLDS (since Lieber is unlikely to be on the Cubs post-season roster).

Also, LHP Rich Hill (on the Iowa DL with a back problem) and RHP Adam Harben (on the Daytona DL while on extended rehab from 2006 TJS) are both on the Cubs 40-man roster, so either (or both) could be recalled from his optional assignment on August 31st and?then be immediately placed on the 60-day DL, giving the Cubs another post-season roster exemption (or two), as well as opening up one (or two) more slots on the 40 in September. (While Harben could get outrighted to the minors at any time, he would have greater value spending the rest of the season on the 60-day DL as a post-season roster exemption than he would by getting outrighted right away).

LHP Carmen Pignatiello and RHP Billy Petrick could also get outrighted if additional slots are needed on the 40-man roster in September, but it's more likely that they will be removed from the 40 after the season.