The Cubs have made four major free-agent signings so far this offseason, acquiring Dansby Swanson, Jameson Taillon, Cody Bellinger and most recently Tucker Barnhart. The team is expected to make a few more moves, adding to the offense and a couple more pitchers. They’ve also added some depth via minor-league signings and those transactions were made official on Thursday.
The Cubs have signed infielder Sergio Alcántara, outfielder Ben DeLuzio, left-handed pitchers Eric Stout and Roenis Elías to minor-league contracts that include invites to spring training. Right-handed pitcher, Nick Burdi, who was a Rule 5 pick up, will also be in camp down in Arizona.
You guys probably remember Alcántara from the 2021 season, when he played in 89 games for the Cubs. A switch-hitting infielder, with some MLB experience is always nice to have down in the minors, but again this is purely a depth move. Alcántara has a career slash line of .209/.281/.343, with 12 home runs in 446 at-bats with the Tigers, Cubs, Diamondbacks and Padres, playing for those teams since 2020.
Meanwhile, Ben DeLuzio could have a shot at making the Cubs roster as a fifth outfielder. He made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 2022. He has blazing speed and is known to be a good defender. You can read more about his career here.
Another intriguing signing is left-handed pitcher Roenis Elías. The 34-year-old is mostly known for his time spent with the Seattle Mariners, breaking into the majors in 2014. Elías began his career as a starting pitcher, but after a few years he was used as a reliever and was even closing games for the Mariners.
Elías was coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2022, and following some struggles he returned to the starting rotation in the minors and has been trending up since. He’s been dominating in the Dominican winter league and who knows, maybe he becomes a solid option for the Cubs at some point during the 2023 season.
Read more about Elías here.
Eric Stout was in the Cubs organization for a few months in 2022. He was picked up in March, but only made two relief appearances for the Cubs before he was DFA’d and claimed off waivers by the Pirates in June. Stout struggled in Pittsburgh, posting a 5.79 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 18.2 innings. The 29-year-old has only made 23 appearances in the majors, the other three coming with the Royals in 2018.
Right-hander Nick Burdi was a second-round pick by the Pirates and he has the potential to be another intriguing bullpen option for the Cubs next season. He is coming back from Tommy John surgery and hopefully he is healthy and has something left in the tank. Burdi definitely has some tools you like, including a pretty good fastball.
More on Burdi, here.
Finally, the Cubs are bringing back former hitting coach John Malle to the organization after letting him go following the 2017 season. Mallee was the team’s hitting coach from 2014-17. Since then, he’s been with the Phillies and from 2020-22, Mallee was the assistant hitting coach for the Dodgers.
Now, Mallee will be the hitting coach for the Iowa Cubs at Triple-A in 2023.
Also, Greg Brown, who was the Cubs hitting coach in 2022, is back with the team and will be working with minor leaguers.
Back in November, the Cubs named Dustin Kelly as the team’s new hitting coach, replacing Brown who was hired the year before.
