Cubs starter Yu Darvish is headed to the disabled list (retroactive to May 23) with right tricep tendinitis, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic tweets. The club has recalled lefty Randy Rosario from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move, and righty Tyler Chatwood will start in Darvish’s place Sunday.
This is already the second DL placement of the year for Darvish, who missed time earlier this month on account of the flu. Darvish’s newest issue looks like a much more alarming one for him and the Cubs, given that it’s an arm injury and the team has so much invested in him.
Darvish parlayed stardom with the Rangers and Dodgers from 2012-17 into a six-year, $126MM guarantee from the Cubs over the winter, though the free-agent signing has gotten off to a slow start in the Windy City. The 31-year-old has pitched to a 4.95 ERA/4.81 FIP with 4.73 BB/9 across 40 innings (eight starts), thus offsetting a strong strikeout rate (11.03 K/9). Darvish has continued to throw hard, however, and his most recent outing (May 20) was among his best as a Cub. He earned his first win with the team after tossing six innings of two-hit, one-run ball – with seven strikeouts and three walks – against the Reds.
The severity of Darvish’s injury isn’t yet known, but it’s worth noting that arm issues aren’t anything new for him. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder previously underwent Tommy John surgery May 2015, causing him to miss that entire season and some of the ’16 campaign. Darvish bounced back nicely from that procedure, though, and the Cubs will hope he’s able to return in short order from his newest ailment. In the meantime, the 28-22 Cubs will continue trying to catch up to the NL-Central leading Brewers, who own a 32-20 record and a 3.5-game advantage over them in the division.
So I guess this is how they’re going to keep Darvish from pitching at home: DL him right before each start. Keeps his feelings from getting hurt. But hey, Cubs get an improvement in the rotation so yay!
Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta is having a very good year pitching in Philly at half the cost (both in terms of years and dollars).
But they got a compensatory pick by going the Yu route. So that makes up for everything according to many
I always said resigning Arrieta was better than Darvish. Less tread. More of aFierce competitor. In such good shape that I think he’ll age well. Plus he was already a Cub. This kind of mistake is one that you can’t come back from quickly. I get it’s early, but this will be the way it goes.
I always said the opposite, Jake didn’t want to come back, it was time to move on.
It’s about the same the Red Sox letting Lester go only to sign that flash in the pan choke artist Price for way more dough.
If Jake didn’t negotiate like such a little vagina, he would’ve been back. Instead, he screwed himself with way less years and way less money. Oh well, the guy is as arrogant as the day is long. Definitely not missed. He’ll be a shell of himself in a year-and-a-half.
Yeah, he only went to a first place team instead of staying with the fourth place Cubs. I think he’ll be ok.
arietta is making $25 mil to Darvish $21 mil
Judging a 6 year deal while still in the first year (even where injuries are concerned) is a fools errand. I point to the Jayson Werth deal as an example…
We’re not even 30%, into the season of his first year and people are ready to declare his contract an albatross — Lately, Darvish has shown positive signs of improvement, in his pitching performance.
I think Darvish will perform much better, when comes off DL
He gets 10 days to clear his head.
Based on what? He hasnt been the same after TJ surgery.
Dude’s got 7 pitches to work with — most in MLB — I really think he’ll figure this out.
I won’t make Cubs’ fans feel bad about this one. Darvish has the pitch repertoire & history of success.
He just needs to hone his focus. I’m sure somewhere in those 7 pitches (counting his Slow & fast curve) lies the answer. He needs to use certain pitches more or less. —
For those wondering:
Fourseam, Slider, Cutter, Sinker, Changeup, Splitter, Slow Curve.
“He just needs to hone his focus . . . He needs to use certain pitches more or less.”
And neither the Rangers nor the Cubs pitching coaches have been able to figure this out?
Without the ability to deliver all those pitches, it’s his arm, not his head.
Actually 8 pitches if you count his Slow and fast curve — which I think is insane.
Darvish used throw a screwball, but shelved it 2006, because strain it caused, or injury worried it can cause. I think he replaced it with the Splitter.
Anyway, I’m one of the few who thinks (and hopes) he will rebound. Keep your heads up, Cubs’ fans !
Doesn’t matter how many pitches he can (barely) throw if his arm is completely wore out! Good thing the geniuses in charge of the Cubs didn’t give him a big/long contract huh?
Why do you care about how Cubs fans feel?
I think it’s still too premature to make Cubs’ fans feel like **** about the contract.
Wait one year, at the least. That’s my personal opinion, about any contract.
lol.
When they gave him this contract, I had a bad feeling about it after his performance in the post season.
You weren’t watching then when he was in Texas. Everybody thought the Dodgers got the better end of that trade. Nope.
Oh classic Madman. Ranting about how the Dodgers must include Buehler or Verdugo to get Darvish. Then it ends up being Willy Calhoun and now you pretend thats the greatest trade ever for Texas
Lol great deductive skills
Darvish reminds me of Tribe reliever Paul Shuey from the early 2000s. Everyone who saw him marveled at his stuff, but the guy couldn’t stay healthy, and his results were never reflective of his reputation. Flamed out without achieving anything, but oh the guy had stuff like you’ve never seen.
So much for Chris Gimenez catching his pal on Sunday night. Maybe the Cubs can find a way to put Gimenez on the DL and recall Victor Caratini until Darvish is healthy enough to pitch again.
Looks like Epstein is human! Darvish is a bum
Go brewers!!!!!!!
Said all 10 of their fans!
The Cubs are the National League version of the Yankees. Unlimited money spent on making defensive moves to hurt division rivals. Theo outbid St Louis to grab Heyward..the Brewers wanted Darvish and Quintana and he swooped in with more resources and grabbed them first, regardless of whether they’re all that necessary. A lot like the Yankees taking Ellsbury and Damon away from Boston. Before anyone commissions a Hall of Fame bust of Theo, let’s see him take on the challenge of turning around a team like the Mariners or the Padres.
Too late! The plaque has been made and will be unveiled when Theo decides to retire.
Yeah and look at how bad the JHey ans Quintana moves have been
Go Crew