Chicago Cubs: Fear not, there is still quality in the farm system

It took four prospects to obtain Jose Quintana to help bolster the starting rotations. Who are the top prospects in the Chicago Cubs system now?

Coming into the season, the Chicago Cubs possessed five prospects in MLB’s top 100. That number is down to one. Ian Happ and Albert Almora Jr. are on the Major League roster. While Happ’s was not expected to be up this soon, injuries to Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist required his presence in Chicago. And, coming into this season, Almora Jr. was expected to be on the 25-man roster all season.

But, the play of the Cubs demanded something else be done. The offense was sluggish, but the starting pitching was a shell of their 2016 selves. Going from being the top rotation to one of the worst performing in the NL forced Theo Epstein’s hand. He reached out and acquired starting pitcher Jose Quintana.

The price tag from the crosstown White Sox seemed a bit high to many. Losing two of the remaining three Top 100 prospects was required. Now, Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease are in the South Side’s system. How does that leave the Cubs?

The prospect we know

The new top prospect in the Cubs’ system is one that we know. The third baseman-in-waiting, Jeimer Candelario, played in 11 big league games this year already. It has not gone as well as expected, but the potential is there.

The season started off with a bang for Candelario. In the first seven games, he tallied five doubles, two triples, two homers and 15 runs batted in. Most of that damage came in three games, each being five RBI performances. After that run, he attained a .370/.414/.926 slash line.

The rest of the season is not going as well. Still, his 10 home runs, 42 RBI and 23 doubles are impressive. Certainly, getting called up a few times caused interruptions in rhythm. When he was first called up in May, Candelario was hitting for a .340 average.

The eyes of the Cubs’ future are on Candelario. The only concern is being limited to first or third base. Will that cause him to be traded?

On-base percentage machine

His batting average may only be .256 right now, but on-base percentage sits at .401. Outside of Kyle Schwarber‘s time in Triple-A Iowa, that ranks best on the Iowa Cubs. Mark Zagunis is exactly what the Cubs thought he would be: a player that would get on base and score runs. He is doing just that.

In 73 games this season, Zagunis scored 48 runs and earned a league-leading 53 free passes. Add 11 home runs and 40 runs batted in, and you have a player that can produce anywhere he goes. Being an outfielder does not hurt his chances of making the majors either.

That did not pan out this year, at least not year. Zagunis has 14 at-bats in Chicago this season already, but no hits to show for it. However, he does have four walks and stole two bases. He knows the strike zone well enough to be a big leaguer. Hitting major league pitching is the major question. Still, he projects well and will play a role. If that is in Chicago or elsewhere is to be determined.

Teen pitcher with an arsenal

Eighteen years old. That is all. He is just old enough to vote in America. The Mexican-born pitcher, Jose Albertos, is young and can pitch. But is still an unknown commodity. All signs point to a bright MLB future.

According to scouts, Albertos has a fastball that consistently hits 93-95 miles per hours, and can reach 97 MPH. And, he can locate it on either side of the plate. Yet, it is his devastating changeup that has the Cubs salivating. His age means there is time to teach him to develop his breaking ball.

This season, Albertos made two starts for the Single-A Eugene Emeralds. In those two games, he allowed three runs in 10 innings, striking out eight. The second game accounted for all three earned runs. It was also the games that witnessed Albertos struggled to find the strikezone. Of his 81 pitches, only 47 were strikes.

He is young and will grow. Could he be the first truly developed pitcher in the Cubs’ organization. We hope so.

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The next closer?

Did you know that the Chicago Cubs have the Pacific Coast League’s best closer? With 15 saves in 19 chances, Matt Carasiti is the best in Triple-A. And, with the Iowa Cubs, he is holding batters to a .190 average. And, in 36 1/3 innings pitched, he tallied 51 strikeouts.

Ah, but there is one small caveat to this situation. Carasiti was acquired by the Cubs on June 26, 2017. That is the day that the Colorado Rockies traded him for Zac Rosscup. And, with Wade Davis on a one-year deal, he could make an appearance sooner than later.

Since moving to the closer role in late 2014, Carasiti converted 70 of his 86 chances. While that is not spectacular, it is still rather solid. His walk rate has dropped this season, and he is started to get more ground-outs over fly-balls. That translates well into Wrigley Field.

Carasiti is making the Cubs’ system stronger. While he was not ranked in the top 20 prospects for the Rockies – mostly because his debut in Colorado last season did not go well – he is a surprise addition to the roster.

Next: John Lackey in the midst of one of his worst seasons ever

Should his progression continue, he could be part of the backend of a solid Cubs bullpen soon.