Cubs Non-Tender Allen Webster, Justin Hancock, and…Ronald Torreyes?

So much for that post about what Ronald Torreyes offers the Cubs that Tommy La Stella didn’t. Just two days after acquiring Torreyes from the Yankees, the Cubs opted not to tender him a contract for 2019. It’s a curious move on the surface, especially since 3AM was traded away Thursday, ostensibly because Torreyes made him expendable.

But as 670 The Score’s Julie DiCaro reported shortly after news of the non-tender came out, the Cubs are still working to sign Torreyes. So this could just be a way to save a few stacks of high society over the projected $900,000 the versatile infielder was going to earn through arbitration.

The Cubs also opted not to tender contracts to righties Justin Hancock and Allen Webster, who combined for 15.1 innings in the majors last season. Both pitchers could be in play for future contracts to provide more organizational depth, but these decisions are largely about clearing space on the 40-man roster, which now stands at 36.

There were scores of other players non-tendered Friday, many of whom have much more impressive resumes, so expect all kinds of activity in the coming days as teams swim in the inflated free agent pool.