Now that the 2014 non-waiver trade deadline has passed and the Chicago Cubs have made the trades to improve their farm system, Cub fans may begin to wonder when they will see all the top prospects they have heard so much about get their calls to the Majors and begin playing in Wrigley Field. Junior Lake got that call last year, and Arismendy Alcantara came up this season and pushed Darwin Barney to Los Angeles. Both Lake and Alcantara have had their moments as well as their downfalls as the two young prospects learn to hit Major League pitching.
The Cubs have many more still waiting their turns in the Minor Leagues. In fact, the Cubs have 8 of the top 100 prospects according to Baseball America and 6 of the top 41. Considering 30 organizations with six teams each, that is a very good number. In order, those prospects are
- #5 — Javier Baez, SS, AAA Iowa
- #8 — Kris Bryant, 3B, AAA Iowa
- #14 — Addison Russell, SS, AA Tennessee
- #28 — C.J. Edwards, RHP, AA Tennessee
- #36 — Albert Almora, OF, AA Tennessee
- #41 — Jorge Soler, OF, AAA Iowa
- #87 — Pierce Johnson, RHP, AA Tennesse
- #100 — Arismendy Alcantara, OF/2B, Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have more prospects, some of whom have already debuted in the Majors: RHP Blake Parker and RHP Dan Straily in AAA Iowa; 1B Lendy Castillo and RHP Corey Black in AA Tennessee; and OF Kyle Schwarber and OF Billy McKinney in Class A Daytona among others.
Cub fans will want to see the players fulfill the promise that team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have given to them by developing the young Cubs into a perennially contending team, one that has a legitimate chance of winning a World Series within the next few years.
However, the Cubs need to take caution not to rush too many of the prospects up too fast. The Cubs will certainly finish in last place again this year, so it seems there is no harm in bringing them all up to learn to play at the Major-League level. However, there is plenty of reason to wait until September, maybe even well into the expanded roster time. So, why not let fans see Baez, Soler, and Bryant start blasting missiles onto Waveland Avenue now?
Each of the three Minor League teams mentioned are right in the thick of playoff races in their respective leagues. The AAA Cubs lead the Pacific Coast League American North division by 1.5 games. The AA Smokies are in second place in the Southern League North (second half) by only 2.5 games, and the Advanced A Cubs are in first place in the Florida State League North (second half) by 4.5 games.
Bringing the players up to the Majors now will cause them to miss out on potential league playoffs and championships after fighting for them all season. True, players would prefer to make it to The Show as soon as possible, but they also like winning championships regardless of the level. Besides, they are young enough and talented enough to know that when they get to the Majors, they will stay there.
In addition, they would lose the valuable pennant race experience that they will need if and when they do find themselves in a Major League pennant race. Cubs management needs to let them gain that experience in the Minors just as much as actual game play and at bats. They will learn to play winning baseball — together — which can only enhance their value once they make it to the Major Leagues to stay.
Let the players win their Minor League playoffs. Then, give them their first looks at Major League pitching in September and get the butterflies out. When Spring Training 2015 arrives, the players will have legitimate chances of making the Major League roster. Those who do will work hard to stay. Those who do not will continue developing in the Minors, and we will likely see them at some point next season. Either way, the future looks very nice on Chicago’s north side.
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