Baez testing outfield skills in winter ball for Cubs
The Cubs have been busy off the field in preparation for the upcoming winter meetings in Nashville. They're busy on the field, too.
Team president Theo Epstein said Friday that infielder Javier Baez will see some playing time in center field during winter ball in Puerto Rico. The Cubs will have Doug Dascenzo, their minor-league outfield and baserunning coordinator, working with Baez.
"We'll get him a look out there, just add to his versatility," Epstein said. "It's a good chance to do it at a moment in time when we have a bit of a hole in center field. It makes sense to see what Javy looks like."
Dexter Fowler was the Cubs' center fielder in 2015, but he's likely to go elsewhere via free agency. The Cubs are in the market for a veteran center fielder. Free agent Jason Heyward offers a high price tag, and the Cubs still are prioritizing starting pitching, either via free agency or through the trade market.
Baez, the Cubs' top draft pick in 2011, played in 28 major-league games this year, all in the infield.
"He's always enjoyed taking flyballs during batting practice out in center field and always looked really good doing so, Epstein said. "We're going to work with him a little bit more to see what it looks like, whether it's to create center-field options for Joe (manager Maddon) late in games or as an injury fill-in or who knows what it could lead to down the road."
Thinking spring:
The Cubs will open their Cactus League season March 3 on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers. The home opener at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, will be the next day against the Los Angeles Angels.
In all, the Cubs will play 14 exhibition games at Sloan Park and 14 on the road in Arizona. They'll also play the New York Mets in Las Vegas March 31 and April 1. Before opening the regular season at Anaheim, they'll play the Angels in an exhibition game April 3 at Angel Stadium.
The Cubs face the White Sox twice, March 12 in Mesa and March 18 at Glendale.
Individual tickets for Sloan Park games go on sale Jan. 9.
More left-handed inventory:
The Cubs added a left-handed reliever to the mix Friday, claiming Edgar Olmos off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. The move brings the Cubs' 40-man roster to 37 players.
Olmos, 25, was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 6 appearances with the Mariners in 2015. That included 2 starts. He spent most of the season at Class AAA Tacoma, where he went 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 20 games (2 starts).
"We like his arm," Theo Epstein said. "We like the way it will play against left-handed hitters out of the bullpen and (he'll be) someone to add to our inventory, come to camp and try to win a job."
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