Each year the Cubs will invite 20 or so players that are not included on the 40 man roster who will participate in Spring Training with the Major leaguers, the Cubs also conduct a minor league as well at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. I will break these down these NRIs into prospect and suspect categories as well as the possibility of them making the 25 man roster out of camp.
Here is the complete list of the Chicago Cubs non-roster invitees to Spring Training 2009:
LHP Ed Campusano
RHP Andrew Cashner
RHP Esmailin Caridad
RHP Angel Castro
RHP Chad Fox
RHP Ken Kadokura
LHP J.R. Mathes
RHP Rocky Roquet
LHP Matt Smith
LHP Jason Waddell
LHP Bill White
C Mark Johnson
C Welington Castillo
C Steve Clevenger
SS Darwin Barney
SS Andres Blanco
SS/3B Erick Almonte
2B/SS Luis Rivas
2B/3B Bobby Scales
OF Doug Deeds
OF Jason Dubois
OF So Taguchi
Today, I will break down the pitchers:
LHP Ed Campusano- Definitely a prospect. Projects as a lefty specialist at the ML level, throws a low 90s FB with tail as well as a sharp 81-84 MPH slider and a show me change-up. Was taken as a Rule 5 pick by Milwaukee in 2006 and was immediately traded to Detroit and was returned to the Cubs. Campusano missed all of 2007 with Tommy John Surgery and spent 2008 rehabbing from that and like most coming off of TJS suffered with his control. I expect him to do well as Lou Piniella has already taken a liking to him as a future lefty specialist and I suspect that he has a chance to pitch this September when the rosters expand (assuming he starts at AA and recovers fully from the Tommy John Surgery).
RHP Andrew Cashner-Obvious prospect. Throughout the Winter I will have a feature called Prospect Corner and I will highlight prospects within the Cubs’ farm system and I will highlight as far as stuff, ceiling, starter or reliever, etc. Obviously with Cashner being a 1st round pick in the 2008 draft, he has a ML above average ceiling. Showcasing him with the major leaguers will likely be more for the Cubs coaching staff to see what they have in him. I do expect him to start at Peoria.
RHP-Esmailin Caridad-A 24-year old Latin American prospect who has an interesting story as far as his path to the Cubs minor league system. He was originally signed to play in a Japanese academy as well as various industrial leagues as a teenager and spent his final year (2007) playing in the Japanese Central League on the same roster as Kosuku Fukudome with Hiroshima Carp. The Cubs or Caridad’s agent/advisor found a loophole in the contract allowing to him to sign with a major league team and the Cubs with Hendry/Flieta have seen him pitch in the Domincan Republic and signed him for $175K, or 5th round money. He features a low 90s FB with probably the best curveball/change-up combo in the organization. I will highlight him in my prospect corner as well at a future date because he is in my top 20 prospects overall.
RHP-Angel Castro This is one of my favorite under the radar moves the Cubs did this past off-season. Angel Castro was drafted by the Tigers in ’06 in the 13th round. Physically, he is short and stocky for a pitcher at 5’11†210 LBs. The Major League Scouting Bureau gave him a 53 on their OFP scale, which in draft terms meant he could’ve gone rounds 4-6, but he was drafted as a 23-year old, which hurt his stock as well as his size. He is said to have a FB that touches 95 with sub-par breaking stuff. I consider him a prospect more than a suspect because if he doesn’t make the 25 man roster, I expect to be at AA in the bullpen for the Smokies.
RHP-Chad Fox- The first of the suspects so far. I have a great deal respect for someone who has put the time and effort to go through the rehab as well as everyday weight strengthening, etc., but he’ll be 39 in September, and has throw all of 23IP since the 2003 season. When he was healthy he had an outstanding FB/slider combo, but with his stressful delivery and the toll it has taken on his arm, his stuff isn’t the same and I can’t imagine taking an assignment to Iowa at 38, if they offer him one.
LHP-Ken Kadokura-Signed him out the Japan who was released by Yomiuri Giants. He is a 35-year old lefty with a mid to upper 80s FB, slider, splitter and an occasional curve ball. Has suffered through some back problems in recent years and unlikely to break camp with the Cubs. Definite suspect.
LHP-JR Mathes-Drafted by the Cubs out of Western Michigan in the 16th round in 2004. The good sized lefty features a cutter as well as a sinker in the mid to upper 80s, serviceable change-up, and a below average breaking ball. As a 28-year old, he has probably run out of chances to make an impression and without a plus pitch, this might be his last chance. Another suspect.
RHP-Rocky Roquet-Signed as an undrafted FA (5th year senior) out of Cal Poly, he has progressed nicely through the Cubs organization. He should start out at AAA unless he is able to catch the eye of Piniella with a remote shot of making the 25 man roster. I say remote because he is very similar to Wuertz with an above FB and slider combo with inconsistent control. He’s still a prospect, but being 26, time is running out on that label.
LHP-Matt Smith-I’m unclear what his stuff is now after having Tommy John Surgery, but before that he was a lefty specialist with ML average FB (88-92) and a plus curve. Given that he has gone through the major injury as well as turning in July, he is most likely a suspect that might be given a shot in Iowa’s bullpen this year.
LHP-Jason Waddell-I like this acquisition among the lefties they have brought in to fill the lefty specialist role. I would say that he is the most likely to impress. He has the best sliders of the NRIs and throughout his minor league career has been extremely tough on the lefties. He’s a suspect given that he is 27 years old, but he is my sleeper of the pitcher NRIs.
LHP-Bill White-The other sleeper of the pitchers NRIs, it should be a good battle between him and Waddell as far as who is most likely to impress since it is an either/or type of scenario. Like Waddell he has a very good slider, but has the better FB of the two. Still a suspect given that is he 30 years old and in his two stints at the Ml level has failed to show good control.
