Yesterday was the final day to protect guys from the Rule V draft that is held on the final day of the Winter Meetings. The Cubs protected infielder Arismendy Alcantara and pitcher Dallas Beeler. Both players were added to the 40-man roster and now the 40-man roster stands at 39.
Everyone new the Cubs were going to protect Alcantara. He made a lot of improvements last year and opened eyes all over the Cubs organization. Alcantara played the whole season for Double-A last year. He will likely start the season for Triple-A Iowa. From the looks of it, we will see Alcantara sometime in the majors next year and June the earliest. Darwin Barney will finally get bump from second base if he’s still on the team. I can’t wait to see what Alcantara can do.
We were not sure if the Cubs were going to protect Beller. But his play in the Arizona Fall League opened eyes and earned him a spot on the 40-man roster. The Cubs will still keep him as a starting pitcher, but may have a career as a relief pitcher in the long-run.
On a side note, Juan Carlos Paniagua was not eligible for the Rule V draft and why the Cubs didn’t protect him.
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