Cristhian Adames, Dillon Maples Among Cuts as Cubs Trim Spring Roster
The biggest news was Ian Happ being optioned to Triple-A Iowa, but that wasn’t the only decision the Cubs made Saturday. Dillon Maples and Taylor Davis were optioned as well, which is at least somewhat interesting given the bullpen situation and the team’s reported desire to add catching depth.
Dillon Maples and Taylor Davis were optioned, Johnny Field and Cristhian Adames assigned to minor league camp. 12 position players left in camp, not including Addison Russell. Mark Zagunis still in camp, but Cubs still looking at external options.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) March 24, 2019
Johnny Field and Cristhian Adames, a pair of players hitting way above their respective weight classes this spring, were assigned to minor league camp. There had been a lot of talk about Adames breaking camp with the big club, but that appears to be in pretty serious jeopardy now.
In other bullpen moves, Alec Mills was assigned to Triple-A Friday and Junichi Tazawa was granted his release.
Mark Zagunis remains in camp and is the clubhouse leader for the spot vacated by Happ’s demotion, but the Cubs are still combing the waiver wire for additional help. A corner outfielder, Zagunis doesn’t provide the depth at center the Cubs are said to covet. With Albert Almora Jr. entrenched as the starter and Jason Heyward very capable in center, though, perhaps a corner man isn’t so bad.
However they opt to construct the Opening Day roster, you can be sure it’s going to see some pretty significant changes over the next few weeks or months. So maybe don’t put too much stock in those last couple spots just yet.