The Cubs announced on Wednesday that they’ve designated right-hander Pierce Johnson for assignment in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for fellow righty Jen-Ho Tseng, whose contract has been selected from Triple-A Iowa.
Now 26 years of age, Johnson once ranked as one of the Cubs’ very best pitching prospects and was considered the game’s No. 87 overall prospect by Baseball America in the 2013-14 offseason. The former No. 43 overall pick turned in a very strong 2.74 ERA with 9.4 K/9 against 3.3 BB/9 across two A-ball levels in 2013 in order to earn that distinction, but his star has faded since that time.
Johnson posted similarly strong ERA marks in both 2014 and 2015, but he struggled with control in ’14 and saw his strikeout rate drop drastically in ’15. The Cubs shifted him to the bullpen for much of the 2016 season in Triple-A Iowa, but Johnson responded with a 6.14 ERA and 6.1 BB/9 through 63 innings that year (albeit with a gaudy 10.7 K/9 rate).
The 2017 season was better, as Johnson pitched almost exclusively in a relief role and posted improvements in ERA (4.34 ERA), strikeout rate (12.3 K/9) and walk rate (4.5 BB/9). He has an option remaining beyond the 2017 season, so he could very well draw interest from other clubs in need of pitching depth that can afford to exercise more patience with the once touted right-hander than the Cubs can afford to at this juncture.
The 22-year-old Tseng, meanwhile, currently ranks as the Cubs’ 13th-best prospect in the estimation of Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis of MLB.com. Chicago signed the Taiwanese righty to a $1.625MM bonus as an 18-year-old amateur back in 2013, and he’s enjoyed success at each stop as he’s risen through their minor league ranks. Tseng split the 2017 campaign between Double-A and Triple-A, logging a combined 2.54 ERA (including a 1.80 ERA in 55 Triple-A innings). He’s averaged a combined 7.6 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 this season, and his ground-ball rate spiked from 39.4 percent in 90 1/3 Double-A frames to 53.1 percent in his 55 frames in Iowa.
The late season injury- and slump-induced roster churn continues.
Tseng is starting in place of Montgomery whose moving to the bullpen where he pitches better. Arrieta is taking back his spot anyway this weekend. What are you talking about?
Addison Russell gets hurt. Mike Freeman gets added to the 40. Seth Frankoff gets the DFA. Is claimed.
Willson Contreras gets hurt. Rene Rivera gets claimed. Aaron Brooks gets DFA’d. Gets claimed.
Justin Wilson struggles. Dillon Maples is added. Jose Rosario is DFA’d.
Leonys Martin added by trade. Jack Leathersich DFA. Is claimed.
Since Maples, Wilson, Grimm, and Uehara are struggling, Tseng is added to return Montgomery to the pen. Johnson DFA’d. Will be claimed.
Injuries and ineffectiveness have cost the Cubs Aaron Brooks, Jack Leathersich, Seth Frankoff, and Pierce Johnson.
Any of them may have been useful in 2018.
Which is what I’m talking about.
Yes, I opposed Chris Rusin getting mis-used regarding the roster in 2012 and 2014. Now, he’s killing it in Colorado, with three team controlled seasons remaining.
Meanwhile, Justin Wilson is unreliable.
Tseng would have been eligible fir the Rule 5 draft, so adding him to the 40 was just a matter if months.
Correct. But waiting three weeks would have allowed Johnson to stay in the talent pipeline. The same applies to Maples.
Losing talent for surrender value is bad practice. Unless you already know a player has no future. Which is a rarity with pitchers that throw 95 and merely lack polish.
If you’re a fan of a team, you should hope your side adds Johnson. Not saying he’ll get it done, but he has two option seasons left.
The bottom part of the 40 is always going to be fluid. It’s not a huge deal.
You likely said that about Chris Rusin in 2012 and 2014.. Who provides $30.2 million in value this year (Fangraphs) against less than $600 K in cost.
Give up talent for surrender value when necessary.
If you consider Johnson of little value, that’s fine. Lead with that in the future,if he ends up better than you expected. Then, we’re good.
Role players for 2018 mean nothing when the Cubs are chasing another trophy. But I’m sure Leathersich (who was claimed from the Mets) and Johnson are better than winning in 2017.
Tseng is Kyle Hendricks lite, good to have one of those guys, but 2?
The braves had like 3 in the 90s lol
I’m nervous about Tseng starting in such a close race, but it should be interesting. I hope he does well.
Hopefully Tseng pitches adequately and makes a case to be a starter next year in place of Lackey. It would be nice to have a cost controlled back end. And allow Montgomery to stay in the pen.
God help us, the Orioles will be all over this guy…