Cubs Reportedly Sign Outfielder Noel Cuevas to Minor-League Deal
By Adam Weinrib
The Cubs are adding some outfield depth in the form of a bat that's played at . every level of the minors, but hasn't translated to MLB production yet.
Noel Cuevas, freshly 28 and recently of the Rockies, will be heading to Chicago on a minor-league deal. And if he can ever put it all together, he's got plenty to offer.
Outfielder Noel Cuevas to #Cubs on minor-league contract, source tells The Athletic. Salary of $575K if in majors.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 16, 2019
Cuevas' 2016 season at Double-A Hartford (.340 in 50 games) was followed up by a stellar season-and-a-half stint in Triple-A Albuquerque in the juiced PCL. He hit .312 with 15 homers and 79 RBI in a full 2017 campaign, followed up by a .331 mark prior to his promotion to the Rockies in 2018.
Unfortunately, the thin air at Coors Field did little to help Cuevas' bat in the same way the rest of the Pacific Coast League environments did; he hit just .233 in 153 plate appearances for the Rockies.
Cubs sign Noel Cuevas. When you can get a guy whose only significant MLB season involved an OPS+ of 47, 53% below league average, while playing for the Colorado Rockies? Ya gotta do it
— Away Games Podcast (@AwayGamesPod) December 16, 2019
Chicago's outfield picture and depth is in flux. Albert Almora Jr. hasn't progressed, despite having the organization's full blessing, and rumors are abounding (as always) about the Yankees trying to step in and grab Kyle Schwarber, as the Cubs continue to contemplate a fire sale. If Cuevas ever finds his Triple-A bat, there could be ABs there.