The Cubs have to be really impressed with 22-year old righty swinging outfielder Evan Crawford this year. Crawford has played in 100 games in A-ball so far this year and he is 123 for 385 (.319 avg, .802 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 2 homers, 47 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. He has now played in 274 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 302 of 1,051 (.287 avg, .739 OPS) with 173 runs scored, 7 homers, 109 RBIs and 70 stolen bases.

31-year old righty starter/reliever Dave Bush has opted out of his minor league contract with the Cubs and he has become a free agent. Bush started 5 games in AAA-ball for the Cubs and he was 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. He also pitched in 17 games (3 starts) for the Rangers earlier this year and he was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. This will be no loss for the Cubs as Bush was rather unimpressive in the minors.

The Cubs have released 28-year old switch-hitting outfielder Fernando Perez and 36-year old righty swinging infielder Augie Ojeda. Perez came over from the Rays in the Matt Garza deal over the winter. He played in 76 games in AAA-ball this year and he was 60 for 252 (.238 avg, .649 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 3 homers, 20 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. Augie Ojeda played in 18 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he was 10 for 50 (.200 avg, .501 OPS) with 7 runs scored and 3 RBIs. The Cubs won’t miss either of these guys this year or down the road.

If the Chicago Cubs starting dealing infielders this month (like Jeff Baker/Blake DeWitt), maybe 24-year old lefty 2B/3B Ryan Flaherty could get a shot with them. Flaherty came into this season as the Cubs’ #22 prospect according to Baseball America. Flaherty has played in 78 games in AA-ball so far this year and he is 86 for 285 (.302 avg, .909 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 14 homers, 65 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 396 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 418 for 1,480 (.282 avg, .823 OPS) with 244 runs scored, 52 homers, 244 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

33-year old switch-hitting infielder Bobby Scales has left the Cubs to sign with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. Scales played in 68 games in AAA-ball for the Cubs this year and he was 70 for 230 (.304 avg, .959 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 9 homers, 43 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. In parts of two years with the Cubs, Scales was 34 for 137 (.248 avg, .743 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 3 homers, 17 RBIs and 1 stolen base. This was a good move for Scales as he will get a chance to make more money in Japan before his career ends.