Lineup Notes 3/10 vs. Mariners

Joe Maddon is trotting out a team this afternoon against the M’s that actually doesn’t have too many prospects. With nearly all of the starters having some type of Major League experience, here is what the lineup card looks like today:

Fowler is Back Home

In the last couple hours all hell broke loose. My previous post regarding all the confusion as to the Chris Coghlan trade now makes sense as the Cubs have brought back Dexter Fowler on a one year deal with a mutual option for a second season. 

The signing comes after a Fowler to Baltimore deal was supposedly sign, sealed, and delivered yesterday. NOT SO FAST. Chicago front office reportedly stayed in contact with Fowler's agent throughout the whole process and now the man is reunited with his teammates in Mesa. Enjoy yourself for the next couple lines of text because more chaos ensues and of course there is confusion regarding playing time. So here goes...

Epstein stated that he is very content with the team as is and that no further trades with come about between now and Opening Day, meaning the Cubs are stuck with four starting outfielders: Dexter Fowler, Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward, and Jorge Soler. Your initial thought would be a trade of Soler is coming next but after Epsteins comments, obviously you can rule that one out. 

So what about using Fowler as a very good 4th outfielder? The argument here is that you start the game with Schwarber, Heyward, and Soler across the outfield and use Fowler as a pinch hitter, runner, or defensive replacement mid to late in games, sliding Heyward to right and removing either Soler or Schearber and their defensive woes. That's all good and well until you realize the Cubs just spent $8 million for a fourth outfielder. 

Option number two would seem to use Soler and Schwarber as a natural platoon with Soler playing against lefties and Schwarbs against righties. That's a whole lot of power either way and both players hit tremendously well against their counterpart and struggle a little against pitchers of their own handedness. Now comes the problem. Both of these guys are very, very young. Relegating either of them to platoon roles at such a young age can have a very significant impact on their progression as a young player. 

The third and most likely scenario post Fowler signing would be the most likely of the three options and that is that Joe Maddon uses his wizardry of managing skills and finds a way for each player to get all their at-bats in over the course of the season and the Cubs execute the 4 outfielder problem perfectly. 

Go Cubs!

Power Rankings: Most Hated People as a Cubs Fan

In the first edition of Power Rankings, it is only fitting to get the worst ones out of the way first so we will cover the most hated people as a Cubs fan. From opponents to some of our own, there are plenty of people throughout Major League Baseball that are hate-worthy, and here are just a few.

Prospect Profile: Jeimer Candelario

Previously covered...

1. Billy McKinney

2. Willson Contreras 

Jeimer Candelario is the name that gets added to the list of Top Hitting Prospects going into the 2016 season. Candelario, much like Willson Contreras, has been a part of the Cubs minor league system for a long time now. After a steady ascension up the tiers of the minors, Candelario really showed out as Contreras's running mate in AA Tennessee last year.

Prospect Profile: Willson Contreras

A couple days ago I profiled the number one overall hitting prospect in the Cubs system and made the lucky guy LF Billy McKinney. When it comes to the second overall prospect, the name is much more accustomed to being up toward the top of prospect boards. Willson Contreras.

Prospect Profile: Billy McKinney

As 2015 comes to an end, it is time for the end of the year hitting prospects list. There have been quite a few changes from the midseason list, and this time to go along with the new OOTV, I will cover each prospect individually over the next couple weeks. Starting with the first overall prospect on the Out of the Vines Top Hitting Prospects list, Billy McKinney.