INDIANAPOLIS- The Cubs chose St. Louis Cardinals right-handed prospect Mike Parisi with the No. 12 pick of the Rule 5 draft on Thursday and will bring him to spring training to compete for a starting spot.
Parisi, 26, was a ninth round pick from the 2004 draft and underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in 2008. He missed most of the 2009 season, but went 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in five starts with the Cardinals' Rookie League and Class-A teams.
General manager Jim Hendry said the Cubs scouts were impressed with Parisi's performance in the Arizona Fall League, and decided it was worth a $25,000 gamble. Parisi's curve is his out pitch, and he has a good make-up, according to scouts.
"He's capable of starting, pitching in the middle of the game," Hendry said. "We don't quite have the (starting) depth. We'd like to go to camp with 8-9 starters, even if they're kids that are almost ready, like (Sean) Gallagher a few years ago."
The Cubs chose reliever David Patton in the Rule 5 draft last year and kept him, but the move didn't work out as he struggled early and was seldom used by manager Lou Piniella.
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Excuse, I have removed this question
Actually Kenny Lofton was a decent leadoff man and they almost made it to the world series with him at the top of the order.... Lou and Hendry need to go! Steriod era is long gone
"Piniella likes proven talent whether they're good or not. Thus rookies and newcomers don't stand a chance with this mis-manager."
So that's why Theriot, Fontenot and Wells have never had a chance to start?
Wow Bobby W.
Your comments are so idiotic that I have to defend the Cubs here.
Really. Lou Piniella cost the Cubs at least 25 games last year? So without Lou, they easily win what ... 108 games?
I won't sit back and say this move was good. But who knows? Most Rule 5 picks get returned after Spring Training. Why do people even care enough to knock a team for taking a guy in the Rule 5 draft?
When are the Cubs going to go after their real needs?They need a lead-off batter that knows how to get on base.knows how to bunt,take a pitch,and steal a base.I know that there should be one out there.They have not had a good lead-off man since Bobby Derneir.I know they need pitching,but their greatest need is a lead-off man,Station to station baseball really sucks.The 84 Cubs was the best team in base for many a years.Good pitching,peaple who knew how to run the bases.Put pressure on the other team.They just got robed.They were not beat,it was taken away from them.Get another part of the daily double,and watch them win.
Perfect fit for the Cubs. A guy with a bad arm, went 0-2 in the rookie league, and had a 4.70 ERA. Sounds like a Cubs pitcher to me. Now we can trade Big Z. The Cubs are making big moves at the meetings.
Piniella likes proven talent whether they're good or not. Thus rookies and newcomers don't stand a chance with this mis-manager. I hope Tom Rocketts and family see through this idiot and show him the gate ASAP. Waiting for Sandberg another year is wsteful thinking. Making out a lineup card is not "managing." Anyone can do that. Loopy Lou has no clue on what changes to make and when to make them. He looks like a dopey do-little going to and from the mound, especially in late innings. He lost at least 25 games by himself last year.
Once again, the only thing Hendry does is find players coming off injuries. When will it stop???