Farm System

[Kid]

 

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I'm just surprised they're putting him at 2B this season.  I don't think a call-up is imminent, but it could be some indication that it is not off the table for this season.

 

Bonifacio will have absolutely zero impact on what is done with Baez.  Alcantara can play the OF.

 

Again, I'm not predicting a call-up (to the contrary, I've predicted otherwise since Baez started the season slumping).  I'm just a little surprised by this.

 

Why the surprise? If Baez shows that he's solved AAA pitching over the next few months, he's a candidate to make the club out of Spring training. While I'm sure the club will likely hold him and Bryant back for the additional year of eligibility, Bryant's performance--coupled with a stated plan to be more aggressive in free agency--might escalate the timetables of B & B.

 

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See, I don't think Baez is a candidate to make the team out of spring training for his first MLB experience.  I can't imagine either he or Bryant making the team when waiting 1 month delays their FA eligibility by a year.

 

Getting a call up and MLB time this season is a different question.  I thought at the start of the season Baez was a candidate to get called up in the 2nd half.  I had just come to believe his performance probably was going to keep that from happening (and I could still well be right on that).  This just suggests that he could still get called up this year.  It's possible might be willing to sacrifice a year towards free agency to get him 2-3 months of MLB playing time (Aug. - Sep. 2014 + April 2015), but I don't think they would just for April.

 

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Probably not, but I can imagine a scenario--far-fetched while it may be--where Baez and Bryant tear it up the rest of the year, the Cubs are very active over the winter, and the FO decides they can contend from day one if both kids are up. Unlikely? Absolutely. But getting Baez the time at 2B right now isn't harming anything, so why not?

 

Of course, there is also the unlikely contingency that they are freeing SS at Iowa for Russell.

 

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Your points are entirely valid.  The only thing that raises my eyebrows is that if the idea was to get Baez some playing time at another position, without an eye towards bringing him up this season (or bringing Russell up to Iowa, though I agree that's probably not going to happen), is why start now?  They could have been getting him a start or 2 per week at 2B all season.