By Steve Rhodes
One in an occasional series tracking the movements of those who have worn Cubbie blue.
1. Daniel Poncedeleon.
Poncedeleon made his major league debut for the Cardinals on July 24th against the Cubs, which was notable for two reasons:
First, the Cubs drafted him in the 14th round in 2013, but “he failed his physical due to concerns about nerve placement in his elbow.” He had already been drafted by the Rays and Reds in 2010 and 2012, but didn’t sign with either team. The Cardinals then picked him in 2014 and he finally signed and stuck.
Second, this:
“He suffered a fractured skull in May 2017 while pitching for Triple-A Memphis when Cubs prospect Victor Caratini struck Poncedeleon in the right temple with a line drive, requiring emergency brain surgery. He missed the rest of the season and now wears a carbon fiber insert in his cap. (For more on his remarkable comeback, check out Joe Trezza’s story at MLB.com from spring training.)”
2. Casey Coleman.
Coleman pitched for the Cubs in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons and was generally okay. Now he’s back in the system at Triple-A Des Moines.
3. Chris Rusin.
The former Cub pitcher is nearing a rehab stint for the Rockies.
4. Josh Donaldson.
The former Cubs 1st-round draft pick who became a star in Toronto averted a trade at the deadline.
5. Fernando Rodney.
Likewise, The Arrow.
6. Billy McKinney.
The oft-traded McKinney was on the move again last week as the Yankees shipped him and Brandon Drury to the Blue Jays for J.A. Happ. The Yankees, of course, acquired him from the Cubs in 2016 with Adam Warren, Gleyber Torres and Rashad Crawford for Aroldis Chapman. The Cubs had acquired McKinney from the A’s with Addison Russell and Dan Straily for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel.
7. Adam Warren.
The Yankees just sent Warren to the Mariners for $1.25 million in bonus slot international pool money.
8. Chris Volstad.
The White Sox designed the former Cub for assignment on July 27th.
9. Austin Jackson.
The well-traveled Jackson was with the Cubs in 2015. He signed with the Mets last week.
10. Chris Archer.
The Rays finally dealt Archer after years of rumors, some connected to the Cubs, who acquired him from Cleveland in 2008 with John Gaub and Jeff Stevens for Mark DeRosa. Now Archer is a Pirate. Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows and a player to be named later go back to Tampa.
11. Leonys Martin.
Martin was with the Cubs briefly at the end of the 2017 season, including placement on the playoff roster. He signed with the Tigers in the offseason. The Tigers just sent him and Kyle Dowdy to Cleveland for Willi Castro.
12. Dan Vogelbach.
A frequent name in this feature due to erratic nature of his career in Seattle, where the Cubs, who picked him in the second round of the 2011 draft, sent him in 2016 with Paul Blackburn for Mike Montgomery and Jordan Pries. The Mariners just optioned Vogey to make room for their new trade deadline acquisitions – and also because he’s just not very good, though some in Seattle think manager Scott Servais, a former Cub catcher, let him rot on the bench.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on August 2, 2018