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Dontrelle Willis | Starting Pitcher

Team: Chicago Cubs
Age / DOB:  (31) / 1/12/1982
Ht / Wt:  6'4' / 225
Bats / Throws: Left / Left
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Dontrelle Willis has signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.
The Ducks have added some star power the last two days, as they inked Vladimir Guerrero to a deal Thursday. Willis was in spring training with the Cubs but suffered a shoulder injury and never had a shot to break camp with the big club, anyway. The lefty is a longshot to ever put on a big league uniform again. Apr 5 - 1:18 PM
Source: Jerry Crasnick on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Cubs released LHP Dontrelle Willis.

Willis is still working his way back from a shoulder injury that he suffered early in spring training. At this point, it's fair to wonder if another team is willing to take a shot on him. The Cubs will give him his outright release rather than demote him to the minors.
Mar 30 - 12:19 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis (shoulder) is back on a normal throwing schedule.

Willis had to exit his spring debut Monday because of left shoulder tightness, but he's pain-free now. The southpaw is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Iowa.
Source: Roger Mooney on Twitter
Mar 1 - 11:07 AM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis left his spring debut Monday against the Dodgers because of left shoulder tightness.

Willis wasn't in the running for a major league roster spot anyway. He'll probably be given a few weeks of rest.
Source: Carrie Muskat on Twitter
Feb 25 - 6:42 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis was lifted from his spring debut after just seven pitches due to an undisclosed injury.

Willis appeared emotional in the dugout after departing, which would suggest that it's something serious. The left-hander signed a minor league contract with Chicago in January. The Cubs should provide an update soon.
Source: Patrick Mooney on Twitter
Feb 25 - 6:14 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Cubs signed LHP Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract.

Willis announced his retirement from baseball in July after posting an 8.53 ERA and 2.21 WHIP in four games for the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate. The D-Train hasn't been major league relevant since the 2007 season, but is still only 30 years old. It's a low-risk signing for the Cubs, and if he can regain his control, he could develop into a decent lefty out of the bullpen.
Jan 4 - 9:53 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis has announced his retirement.

Willis has really struggled during his time with the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate and has decided to walk away rather than toil around in the minors. The two two-time All-Star and 2003 Rookie of the Year award winner will finish his career at age 30 with 72 wins and a 4.17 ERA.
Source: Norfolk Tides on Twitter
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 04:49:00 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis will not make his next start at Triple-A Norfolk and is considering retirement.

Willis has posted an ugly 8.53 ERA in four appearances (one start) this season with the O's Triple-A affiliate. The 30-year-old left-hander could probably linger around for a few more years, bouncing from organization to organization. But he's pretty much already done that, and has probably grown tired of the frustrating results.
Source: Roch Kubatko on Twitter
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 03:30:00 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis allowed four runs on six hits and two walks over just 2 2/3 innings in his first start for Triple-A Norfolk Thursday.

He did strike out four, but it was an ugly outing for the veteran southpaw. Willis could eventually be an option for the O's rotation if he settles in, but it's certainly a longshot that he'll be a fantasy option this season.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 09:07:00 AM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis (forearm) threw five innings in a simulated game Thursday.

He's expected to join Triple-A Norfolk soon. Willis will be used in the rotation after resolving his spat with the Orioles.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 08:40:00 AM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis is close to joining one of the Orioles' minor league affiliates.

Willis has been in extended spring training while getting stretched out to start. He won't be an option for the Orioles for a while.
Source: Roch Kubatko on Twitter
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 08:35:00 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis has dropped his grievance against the Orioles after the team granted his request to pitch as a starter in the minor leagues.

Willis left Triple-A Norfolk two weeks ago after he was told he would pitch in relief. The veteran southpaw claimed that he received permission to leave the team, but the Orioles later said that he didn't receive management's consent. He was then placed on the restricted list, which led to him filing the grievance. Willis will report to extended spring training in Florida this week in an effort to build up his workload, but given his recent results, we aren't expecting much.
Source: ESPN.com
Wed, May 9, 2012 12:06:00 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Dontrelle Willis has filed a grievance against the Orioles for placing him on the restricted list rather than allowing him to sign with another team.

Willis left Triple-A Norfolk last week after they asked him to assume a bullpen role. He's claiming, in the grievance, that a team official granted him permission to leave. But Orioles GM Dan Duquette has denied that. The 30-year-old left-hander is aiming to be released from his contract.
Source: ESPN.com
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 04:23:00 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that the Orioles have no plans to release Dontrelle Willis.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed Monday that Willis was placed on the restricted list after leaving Triple-A Norfolk "without permission." Willis' agent, Matt Sosnick, told Kubatko that the southpaw was under the impression that he would get his release if he wasn't going to get a chance as a starter, so it appears there was some miscommunication somewhere along the line. Teams in Japan and Korea have interest in Willis if he's ultimately cut loose.
Source: Roch Kubatko on Twitter
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 06:57:00 PM
Dontrelle Willis - S - Cubs

Orioles executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette confirmed Monday that Dontrelle Willis left Triple-A Norfolk "without permission."

"He just left," Duquette told Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Willis apparently had a disagreement with the coaching staff at Norfolk after being assigned to a relief role. The O's have placed him on the restricted list and aren't sure whether he'll be returning to the organization.
Source: CBS Sports
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 03:40:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Welington Castillo
2Dioner Navarro
3Steve Clevenger
1B1Anthony Rizzo
2B1Darwin Barney
SS1Starlin Castro
3B1Luis Valbuena
2Cody Ransom
LF1Alfonso Soriano
2Ryan Sweeney
CF1David DeJesus
RF1Nate Schierholtz
2Scott Hairston
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Matt Garza
2Jeff Samardzija
3Edwin Jackson
4Scott Baker
5Scott Feldman
6Travis Wood
7Carlos Villanueva
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Kevin Gregg
2Kyuji Fujikawa
3Carlos Marmol
4James Russell
5Shawn Camp
6Hector Rondon
7Henry Rodriguez
8Rafael Dolis
9Zach Putnam
10Blake Parker
11Arodys Vizcaino
12Brooks Raley