Esteban

Quiroz

Quiroz got into 14 contests for the Cubs during the 2022 campaign and hasn’t been back to the majors ever since. The 32-year-old infielder has spent the last two years in the Phillies’ minor league system as emergency organizational depth. He was officially jettisoned earlier this week after slashing .158/.289/.259 with four homers and one steal in 190 plate appearances over 54 games this season for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Quiroz went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment last November by the Cubs and will head to Philadelphia to bolster their organizational infield depth. The 31-year-old journeyman infielder got into 14 contests last year for Chicago.

The procedural move clears a spot on the Cubs’ 40-man roster. Quiroz went unclaimed on waivers and will remain with Chicago as extra organizational depth. The 30-year-old infielder was acquired last March in a trade with the Rays and wound up getting into 14 contests for the Cubs in the late stages of the year.

Good for Quiroz. The former Mexican Leaguer is getting his first taste of the majors despite missing a bunch of time and really struggling in Triple-A this year; he was far better in 2019 and 2021. At 30, he’s probably not going to be a long-term major leaguer. Still, he can get on base and also hit for some surprising power. He’s earned this look he’s getting with the Cubs.

Quiroz will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a contest for the Cubs. The 30-year-old journeyman was acquired from the Rays back in late March in exchange for outfielder Harold Ramírez. He’s hit .212/.358/.322 with three homers in 148 plate appearances over 40 games this season at the Triple-A level.

Quiroz hit .268/.401/.536 with 12 homers in 262 plate appearances last year at Triple-A Durham in the Rays’ minor-league system. The 30-year-old infielder will provide the Cubs with some additional organizational depth in the upper minors.

Quiroz, 28, is PTBNL to complete the deal that shipped Pham from Tampa Bay to San Diego this winter. He performed well in his 96 games with Triple-A San Antonio last year with a .923 OPS, 19 homers and three stolen bases in the Pacific Coast League. There’s a chance he could see some playing time with Tampa Bay before the 2020 season closes.

Quiroz was part of a huge round of cuts at Padres’ camp, which also included Allen Craig, Alex Dickerson, Boog Powell, Seth Mejias-Brean, Buddy Reed, Jacob Scavuzzo, T.J. Weir, Ryan Bollinger, Eric Stout, Jerry Keel, Kyle McGrath, and David Bednar. Quiroz might not be the most familiar name in there, but he was a candidate to make the Opening Day roster in a utility role. The 26-year-old was acquired from the Red Sox over the winter after putting up a 1.011 OPS in 104 plate appearances in Double-A.

Quiroz has spent most of his playing career in the Mexican League, but he signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox last November and posted a 1.011 OPS in 104 plate appearances at Double-A Portland. The 26-year-old second baseman also had a strong showing in the 2018 Arizona Fall League. He’ll have a better shot at cracking the major league roster in San Diego than he would’ve in Boston.

Quiroz started at second base for Team Mexico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and hit two home runs over just 10 plate appearances before Mexico’s controversial early exit. He then put up an impressive .293/.428/.488 batting line with 11 home runs, 49 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 64 runs scored in 89 games this summer for Leones de Yucatan in the Mexican League. The 25-year-old second baseman could challenge for a spot on the Opening Day roster in Boston with a big showing next spring, as Dustin Pedroia (knee surgery) will likely be sidelined through late May or early June.