The Chicago Cubs made a couple of big moves on Monday that are telling in how their Opening Day roster might look like. Two of the team's top prospects were reassigned on Monday.
Kris Bryant and Javier Baez, both of whom were competing for starting jobs on the 25-man roster, were sent down to the minors, further indicating that the two men will not be with the Cubs on Opening Night when they host the St. Louis Cardinals. Bryant was reassigned to minor league camp and Baez was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
The move for Bryant was expected because if Chicago keeps him in the minor leagues for the first 12 days of the season then they will prolong his free agency by a year. However, Baez was a bit of a surprise since he told reporters last week that the Cubs notified him he was making the team as a second baseman. Many found that to be bizarre because he has performed poorly in 16 games this spring.
Nonetheless, both moves make sense for the Cubs. Barring any injuries or last-minute changes it appears as if these two prospects will start the season in the minor leagues and wait for their 2015 debuts, finally ending the most discussed stories of spring training.
Bryant was the biggest story because of his service time situation with the team. His offense has been lights out this spring (.425/.477/1.175/1.652 with 14 runs scored, 9 home runs and 15 RBIs in 14 games) and he led the league in home runs and RBIs. However, team president Theo Epstein has reiterated the 23-year-old needs to polish his defensive skills and get some more time in the minors, where he has played in only 174 games.
Epstein spoke with Curt Schilling during ESPN's broadcast of last week's Cubs vs. Angels game and also detailed the team's philosophy in promoting their prospects.
As for Baez, the 22-year-old hit a game-winning home run in his MLB debut last season, but has struggled mightily at the plate since then. On top of batting .169/.227/.324 with 95 strikeouts in 52 games last season (229 plate appearances), he had a tough go around in the Puerto Rican Winter League and that carried into spring training. Before his reassignment today he was slashing .173/.218/.231 with six runs scored, one home run, one RBI and 20 strikeouts in 16 spring games (55 plate appearances).
The Cubs have depth at the second base position with Tommy La Stella and Arismendy Alcantara, so they won't have to worry too much about Baez regaining his composure and rhythm in the minors. Mike Olt will likely hold down the fort at third base until the team promotes Bryant at some point in the middle of April.
We now have a clear idea of the Cubs' motives heading into the 2015 season.
NOTE: They also sent shortstop prospect Addison Russell to minor league camp with Bryant.
