52!

The Cubs didn’t do so hot tonight, losing to the Washington Nationals in a laugher.  In the ensuing lineup shuffle, Chicago has now used 52 players, surpassing the previous team record of 51 in one season.  Let’s take a look at the Fine Fifty-Two, which now includes Jaye Chapman, Miguel Socolovich and Anthony Recker.

In this blog, we basically look at whether the guy gets a second chance on next year’s team or if they’re just taking up a roster spot until the season is done.  And for some of them we’ll just snark away.

1. Jairo Asencio – DFA’d, outrighted to Iowa.  Maybe he gets another chance, the bullpen being the last thing a rebuilding team tackles.
2. Jeff Baker – traded to Detroit, then DFA’d and traded to Atlanta.  We don’t need him back.
3. Darwin Barney – Gold Glove contender, still league minimum, good enough for now.
4. Jeff Beliveau – needs some work and should try not to give up so many homers.
5. Michael Bowden – improving, could be a solid reliever for next year’s patchwork bullpen.
6. Marlon Byrd – traded to Boston, DFA’d, suspended for juicing.  Probably not coming back anyway.
7. Alberto Cabrera – like his fellow rookie brethren, lacks control.  Likely in the mix for failpen.
8. Shawn Camp – solid enough but old as dirt.  If he can accept a cheap contract I think he comes back.
9. Tony Campana – even a crappy team needs a pinch-runner.  When the Cubs actually get good, he’s gone.
10. Adrian Cardenas – this guy is weird.  He’s shown some good on-base skills in the minors but in limited playing time he hasn’t been able to translate it to the majors.  I think they’ll keep him around though.
11. Lendy Castillo – Rule 5 guy.  Probably should’ve given him back, but I assume the scouts know something we don’t know.
12. Welington Castillo – better than Clevenger.  He’s the starter next season unless something better comes along.
13. Starlin Castro – they kinda gave him an extension.
14. Jaye Chapman – made his MLB debut, struck out a guy, didn’t give up any runs.  For a throw-in for Paul Maholm he seems to be okay, but let’s see what else he can do in this last month and beyond.
15. Steve Clevenger – backup catcher.  Better than Koyie.
16. Casey Coleman – injured at the moment, but sucked majorly before injury.  Probably destined for the bullpen if anything.
17. Manuel Corpas – inconsistent.  I doubt he stays.
18. David DeJesus – solid defender and on-base guy, got another guaranteed year and an option.  Good to keep, but very tradeable.
19. Blake DeWitt – no.
20. Ryan Dempster – technically they could bring him back without surrendering a draft pick and possibly at a discount, but that seems unlikely.
21. Rafael Dolis – another wild rookie, and not in a good way.
22. Matt Garza – as soon as he’s unbroken they’ll either work to trade him for whatever they can get, or give him an extension.  I’m leaning towards a trade.
23. Justin Germano – serviceable spot starter material, but I think he also ends up in the failpen.
24. Koyie Hill – despite his legendary status…no.
25. Alex Hinshaw – DFA’d, outrighted to the minors.  Probably Plan Z if every other lefty reliever breaks.
26. Brett Jackson – despite the strikeouts, plays good defense and has a good eye at the plate.  He’ll either start the year with Iowa to get seasoned, or he’ll be the Opening Day starting center fielder.
27. Reed Johnson – we’ll just put him in the Mark DeRosa Hall of Fame and leave it at that.
28. Bryan LaHair – former All-Star, probably Japan-bound.
29. Blake Lalli – traded for Recker.  Wasn’t that good anyway.
30. Rodrigo Lopez – noooooooooooooo…
31. Paul Maholm – solid guy, got us Arodys Vizcaino in return (albeit coming off Tommy John) so we’ll say “thanks, and good luck” to Paul.
32. Scott Maine – claimed by the Indians.  Probably should’ve tried to keep him, but the dude had control issues.  He was like a lefty sucky version of Marmol if that makes sense.
33. Carlos Marmol – one more year left on the contract, and his improved stretch might make him tradeable.
34. Joe Mather – let’s go with no.
35. Blake Parker – just called back up for September after he came back from injury, probably has a spot in the bullpen.
36. Brooks Raley – shut down after hitting his innings limit.  Will battle for the open spots in the rotation next season.
37. Anthony Recker – came back in the Lalli trade, not sure what he’s got.  Has shown good on-base skills in the minors so he might battle Clevenger for the backup job next season.
38. Anthony Rizzo – he should be the Cubs’ starting first baseman for a long time.
39. Chris Rusin – minors numbers weren’t all that good, but believe it or not he’s one of the better pitchers on the I-Cubs.  That isn’t saying much.
40. James Russell – will be arbitration eligible next season.  They’ll offer it and he’ll probably make about $1MM or so.
41. Jeff Samardzija – also arbitration eligible next season after a breakout season as a full-time starter.  May be an extension candidate although they should just give him one cheap-ish year at an arbitration salary before splurging.
42. Dave Sappelt – one of the guys from the Sean Marshall trade.  Probably a fifth outfielder at best, but they’ll keep him around.
43. Miguel Socolovich – I know next to nothing about this guy but he didn’t completely suck tonight.
44. Alfonso Soriano – has a good shot at 30 HR/100 RBI by the end of the season.  Two more expensive years left, they’ll try like hell to trade him in the offseason.  No-trade rights will complicate matters a bit.
45. Geovany Soto – traded to Texas, and probably a non-tender candidate.  Cubs won’t be bringing him back.
46. Ian Stewart – likely non-tender.  But Valbuena and Vitters aren’t exactly elite, so he might have a chance to come back.  I know how that makes you feel.
47. Luis Valbuena – gets more playing time than Vitters, and unfortunately he’s earned it because Vitters seems a bit overmatched on both sides of the plate.
48. Josh Vitters – will probably get a chance to earn a job in spring training but that’s about all I can say for now.
49. Chris Volstad – non-tender is likely, but he’s a ground-ball machine and if they can work on his pitch location that could be very valuable especially with an improved defense behind him.
50. Randy Wells – no longer good at baseball.  Broken.  Do not want.
51. Kerry Wood – retired, so no.
52. Travis Wood – he’s got potential.  Let’s leave it at that, but he’ll probably have a rotation job next season.