Implications of the Canario DFA

Alexander Canario was part of the package that the Cubs received for Kris Bryant. If we didn’t know that already, we’ve been reminded a hundred times since he was DFA’d. But ultimately, how he came to be on the Cubs is much less important than what it means now. Prospects that are traded for expiring contracts often don’t make an impact with their new team, so this should not be all that shocking.

But the timing of this implies that Cubs did not believe Canario would be making the 26-man roster to start the season. Justin Turner was going to be the right-handed bat off the bench, and the backup to Michael Busch at 1st. Canario taking a few reps at first base early in spring training may have been a show for Turner’s agent.

The Cubs must also be confident that there is another candidate is a backup outfielder already on the roster. Time for some other speculation on why they might have made this move

Canario was not seen as a good bench bat

This is a simple scenario. Canario would get precious few ABs on the bench, and these at bats would be quite important in close games. Substituting Turner in this role, who has more experience coming off the bench, and has shown a much lower strikeout percentage, should make a difference.

Canario’s injury history also led to fewer at bats in the minor leagues. Sitting on the bench for the majority of the time would not help the Cubs in the short-term or his development in the long-term.

The Cubs wanted more flexibility for the remaining roster spots

As discussed in previous posts, I feel like 10 position players are nearly locks for the 26-man roster (Happ, PCA, Tucker, Suzuki, Shaw, Swanson, Hoerner, Busch, Amaya, Kelly). This left only 3 other spot, and Justin Turner will be taking one of those. That leaves only 2 more spot for players, assuming they will go with 13 position players. Also, if this assumption is correct, a spot will need to be opened on the 40-man roster for Shaw before the 1st regular season game. With those 2 remaining sports, players who can play infield and outfield (like Jon Berti) or all positions in the infield (like Vidal Brujan) would seems to be preferred options to someone who can only play the outfield.

Seiya Suzuki will be guaranteed time in the outfield

One of the consequences of acquiring new players is how it impacts the players already on the team. In Boston, there has already been some controversy over who will play 3rd, as they have both Devers and Bregman – with the franchise star Devers dictating that he will be the one. SImilarly in Chicago, with the acquisition of a gold glove outfielder, Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki has been told he will be primarily a DH. And he is not happy about it.

Letting go of Canario will give Suzuki the assurance that he will get time in the outfield if any of the regulars need a break. And the Cubs have several candidates to come up form the minors if there is an injury to provided needed depth.

Suzuki is a critical part of the offense – second only to Tucker – so keeping him healthy at DH and happy with hos role will be critical. This move might help with the keeping him happy part.

Trying to find room for Gage Workman

One of the most surprising moments of the off-season was the Rule 5 draft pick of Gage Workman. For a team that is looking to win, getting a AA infielder who would be required to stay on the roster the whole season seemed a bit goofy. At that time Isaac Parades was the third basement, Nico Hoerner was the second baseman and Matt Shaw needed a spot.

Since then, Parades was traded and Alex Bregman was not signed, leaving Shaw as the de facto third baseman. And now, a guy who also needed to be guaranteed a spot on the active roster (Canario) is no longer around.

So can the Cubs keep Workman around? His opposite field home run off a left-handed pitcher in the first Spring Training game can’t hurt his chances. But I don’t see the Cubs getting rid of Berti or Brujan heading into the season. So how could the Cubs keep Workman?

1. If Nico is not ready to go at the beginning of the season, Workman could take his spot. Once Hoerner is back, circumstances would dictate the next step.
2. The Cubs try to work out a trade for Workman, so that they woul dnot send him back to Detroit.
3. Workman gets hurt and has to go on the IL.

Sticking Workman on the bench with limited at bats for a whole season would not seem to good for his development, which seemed to be a concern with Canario. But, I don’t think the Cubs would have drafted Workman if they did not see something special in him, so I think they will try to make some maneuvers to hold on to him. Cutting Canario may have been one of the steps needed to make it possible.

Overall, it is painful to see Canario go, especially due to the Kris Bryant connection. But the Cubs have been forced to make several roster cuts already this off-season, which is a direct result of them adding new players. And having a locked-in 4-man outfield rotation this year, and Alcantara and Caissie still in the system, makes it easier to accept.