With opening day solely six days away, the Chicago Cubs and White Sox have some essential roster choices to make earlier than the tip of Cactus League video games.
The closing rosters aren’t due till the morning of opening day Thursday, so groups can deliver further gamers with them as they break camp and wait to finalize their choices. Injuries clearly will issue into the strikes, and Cubs left-hander Brandon Hughes’ left knee soreness might decide how the bullpen seems.
In a roster transfer Thursday, the Sox optioned right-hander Davis Martin to Triple-A Charlotte. Forty-one gamers stay in camp: 20 pitchers, three catchers, 11 infielders and 7 outfielders.
Starter Michael Kopech allowed 5 runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and 4 walks in three-plus innings for the Sox in a 6-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch.
“My timing was just not there, and I was trying to find it almost the whole outing,” mentioned Kopech, who pitched whereas being underneath the climate.
Chicago Tribune baseball writers LaMond Pope, Meghan Montemurro and Paul Sullivan will likely be offering Cubs and White Sox updates all through spring coaching.
Tim Anderson displays on ‘cool’ WBC expertise
Anderson walked main off the pivotal eighth inning for Team USA in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal towards Venezuela on Saturday in Miami.
He was on third base when Trea Turner hit the go-ahead grand slam to carry the Americans to a 9-7 victory.
“That Venezuela game was definitely blow for blow,” Anderson mentioned Thursday. “That’s the way baseball needs to be played. The fans were into it, every pitch, every inning. It was definitely high energy, and you saw how the guys played — they played with excitement and kind of the way I’ve been playing.”
Reflecting on the WBC, the Sox shortstop mentioned: “The atmosphere was crazy, the energy was crazy, definitely a cool experience.”
Team USA completed because the runners-up, falling 3-2 to Japan within the title sport Tuesday.
Anderson slashed .333/.381/.500 with a double, triple, 5 RBIs and three runs in six video games. Los Angeles Angels heart fielder Mike Trout known as Anderson “a star” after an excellent pool-play sport towards Canada.
“Had some good at-bats and played some good defense, so I definitely enjoyed myself to be among the guys at the top of the list in baseball,” Anderson mentioned.
Anderson performed 5 video games at second base.
“It was cool, but don’t get no ideas,” Anderson mentioned with amusing. “Right now our main focus is getting back over at short, see where that leads me in the next few years.”
Would the Cubs open the season with no left-handers within the bullpen?
That’s a risk, with Hughes coping with some knee irritation since at the very least the beginning of camp. Hughes posted a 6.75 ERA over 4 outings.
Manager David Ross mentioned Thursday that they’re being cautious with Hughes to keep away from placing him on the injured listing. He’s the one left-hander who was just about assured a spot within the pen.
“He’s a really important piece to us, but we’re going to do what’s right by him for the season,” Ross mentioned, including they wouldn’t threat damage simply to place him on the opening-day roster.
“We have righties in camp that can get lefties out at a high rate,” Ross mentioned. “We have options, and have some good lefties that are in camp as well.”
The most spectacular has been Mark Leiter (1.80 ERA), who just isn’t on the 40-man roster. The Cubs handed on including some veteran left-handed relievers within the offseason, and whereas some may be accessible, it wouldn’t assist now if Hughes went on the IL.
The Cubs on Thursday traded minor-league infielder Esteban Quiroz to Philadelphia for money concerns.
Why Thursday was the ‘most important day’ of the spring for the Sox
Manager Pedro Grifol referred to Thursday as “the most important day of the spring,” describing the exercise earlier than the sport towards the Giants. The focus was on workforce fundamentals.
“We have our whole unit together again (after the World Baseball Classic) and we have only two days left of team defense and stuff we can cover together,” Grifol mentioned.
The Sox prolonged the time for fundamentals. Grifol mentioned the workforce normally will get off the observe fields at 11:40 a.m., however Thursday it was midday. They burdened working the bases, had coaches stationed at positions and labored on throws from the outfielders.
Anderson, Lance Lynn and Kendall Graveman had been again from taking part in for the U.S. and Yoán Moncada from Team Cuba within the WBC.
“I wanted those guys to go enjoy themselves and play really good baseball in a hostile environment (in the WBC), and they did,” Grifol mentioned. “I’m happy to have these guys back.”
Mash-free spring from Matt Mervis
Mervis first major-league camp proved to be a wrestle for the left-handed slugger, who was certainly one of 9 gamers reassigned to minor-league camp.
Mervis, the workforce’s No. 7 prospect in MLB Pipeline rankings, hit .179 in 28 at-bats with no residence runs and just one RBI. He additionally performed for Israel within the World Baseball Classic. Also reassigned had been pitchers Cam Sanders, Manuel Rodriguez, Brendon Little and Nick Burdi, outfielder Ben DeLuzio, catcher Don Nunez and infielders Sergio Alcantara and David Bote.
Outfielder Nelson Velasquez was additionally optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
It’s been powerful sledding for Bote, who earns $4 million in 2023 and $5 million in ‘24 after signing a five-year, $15 million deal in 2019. The workforce has a membership choice for 2025 ($7 million) and 2026 ($7.6 million).
Barring a turnaround, the Cubs doubtless can be compelled to eat a great portion of that deal.
Up subsequent
- White Sox at Athletics, 3:05 p.m.
- Rangers at Cubs, 3:05 p.m.; Cubs at Guardians, 8:05 p.m.
What we’re studying this morning
Quotable
”I all the time know what the last word aim is right here. I by no means forgot about right here. At the tip of the day, I’m going to exit and do my job and play exhausting and see the place it leads us.”
— Anderson on ramping up for the season
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Source: www.bostonherald.com