The list moves for the Cubs today.
In something else that seems like a lifetime ago, the Cubs took on great right-hander Trevor Megill in the San Diego Padres Rule 5 Draft. He had had some success in the upper levels of the minors, and the Cubs wanted to take him to their Pitch Lab to see what they could do. However, even going back to when he was drafted under Rule 5, we had always said that he may not have been the spring training major league club, and the Cubs would just “buy” him thereafter. they could hang on to him and have another optional reliever at AAA Iowa.
Fast forward to seven months later, and that’s what happened. And it comes in conjunction with second baseman Jason Kipnis, in a minor league deal, officially making his way onto the 40-player roster:
The Cubs have selected AAA’s Jason Kipnis contract and sent cash considerations to San Diego in exchange for Trevor Megill’s rights to choose Rule 5. Megill took off 40 men and sent him to South Bend.
– Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) July 17, 2020
So Kipnis trades points with Megill on the 40-man roster, and Megill heads to South Bend for bullpen depth. He’s off the 40-man list for now, but the Cubs could add him again at any time (and he has minor league options from there). I’m glad the Cubs were able to hold onto him for nothing but cash (the teams aren’t giving much for the players right now, so even a little cash was probably a welcome receipt by the Padres).
There was never much doubt that Kipnis was making the team at this point, and he will be in the mix to start at second base. We don’t know very well if its decline in output for the past three years is going to continue, but there were some mixed signs under the hood that things were perhaps improving from last year. Odds are good that you’ll get most of the exits out the door, at least against right-handers.
More about Megill:
For more information on Megill, this is my report after the Cubs recruited him.
There’s a lot to like and be intrigued by, but it’s not a big surprise that all the work involved in preparing him for MLB hasn’t been completed right now. Https://t.co/iLYPyvDrXd
– Cubs Outlook – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) July 17, 2020
