The Cubs have signed left-hander Jorge De La Rosa to a Major League contract, the team announced. (MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat was among to report the news). The veteran southpaw has already been activated and is on the Cubs’ roster for today’s afternoon game with the Nationals. To create roster space, Yu Darvish was transferred to the 60-day DL and left-hander Randy Rosario was sent down to Triple-A.
De La Rosa was released by the Diamondbacks earlier this week after he posted a 4.63 ERA, 6.9 K/9, and 1.42 K/BB rate over 35 innings out of the Arizona bullpen. It was something of a feast-or-famine situation for De La Rosa this season, as he posted both a 51.9% grounder rate but also an ungainly 20% home run rate. Right-handed batters hit De La Rosa hard, to the tune of a .927 OPS, though he was quite effective against left-handed batters, limiting them to just a .220/.309/.407 slash line.
Justin Wilson is the only other left-hander in Chicago’s bullpen, and while Wilson has generally pitched well this season, he has continued to have control issues (6.2 BB/9). The 24-year-old Rosario has a 3.00 ERA over 33 frames this season, though since he had almost as many walks (19) as strikeouts (21), it makes sense that the Cubs wanted a more experienced left-handed presence, despite De La Rosa’s own struggles.
The club was known to be looking at bullpen help in the leadup to the trade deadline but came away with two right-handers (Brandon Kintzler and Jesse Chavez) rather than additional left-handed depth. Mike Montgomery has pitched well as a starter, but the Cubs could still potentially make him their primary left-handed relief option once Darvish returns from the DL, since Montgomery probably wouldn’t be in line to be used as a starter anyways in a potential playoff series.
Is Darvish going to play again this season even? Terrible contract, should’ve just signed Arrieta who is better in regular season, playoffs, and isn’t injury prone and mentally weak.
Probably not. Darvish has always been more hype than anything and injury prone. He’s never lived up to expectations.
The 60 day was just a roster move. He will be back in September. Hopefully he’s effective
Joe pull you aside after a wine tasting with this nugget?
Shouldn’t you be wondering how the Yanks are going to pull off a win in the WC game. Oh yeah they are going to win 130 games this year. Psssf
Typical NYer all bs talk.
Oh and remember how Stanton, Judge and that no name catcher were gonna hit 175 HRs combined?
Lifes little pleasures for the small minded.
Bruh condolences to you and yours…
No all you have to do is pay attention to get that info.
Being the premier strikeout pitcher of your generation is hype?
Lol did you call him the strikeout pitcher of the generation? How about Sale, Scherzer, Kershaw etc? Darvish isn’t even a top 50 sp off this generation, he’s overhyped and mentally weak.
All lower career K/9 than Darvish. Mentally weak… you keep gripping to that.
Don’t let facts get in the way of your opinion….or lack of knowledge…which ever may be more dominant. Here’s another tidbit of info for you—prior to this season Darvish has pitched in the majors five seasons and was an all star four of them. Pitchers make the all star team based on accomplishment not popularity. I’ll let you do the research to come up with the list of pitchers that have made the all star team four of five season. Now—all that said—if he’s not healthy and has a track record of not being healthy, there’s an argument for you, I will give you that.
Why they preferred Darvish over their own guy in Arrieta was beyond my comprehension at the time. And it’s still out of my grasp. Very bad move for team Theo and Co.
They didn’t prefer him, but Arrieta was asking for a RIDICULOUS amount of money. He’s a very good pitcher, don’t get me wrong, but the price was outrageous, and it didn’t help that he has Boras as his agent.
Mentally weak… Get bent.
Its really not as people say it is. Theres opt out options after next year and I think the 3rd year. I personally never liked this move. It’s not a bad deal at all.
Didn’t Theo and Cubs,early on, offer Arrieta $110-120 M and he turned it down? He wanted $200M (insert laugh track). Quite frankly, I think Arrieta wanted out of Chicago anyway.
agreed on all counts. people seem to forget Cubs offered him a lot of money. he either wanted out of Chicago or he needs a new agent.
The problem was Scott Boras (his agent). Boras is known for being a hard @s$ that doesn’t bend or negotiate. He sets the price, and that’s it.
He has been successful, in the past, with this method. However, in today’s current climate, teams aren’t willing to award guys for past performance with these outrageous contracts.
They’re looking to younger guys, or cheaper international guys, instead. Teams are learning to build from within.
The game has changed and he refuses to adapt. As a result, he demanded an absolutely outrageous amount for his client, and the Cubs (rightfully so) said, “Yea, that’s not happening.”
He tried to play hard ball, to the end, because he thought the Cubs would cave. It didn’t work.
Arietta was on fire until someone mentioned the possibility of steroids, then for much of the 2nd half of last season, Arietta ‘s numbers mysteriously went up, including salary requirements..
It wasn’t a mystery. It was regression.
Not original or creative…
He didnt want 200 mil. His greedy agent said he was worth 200 or more. And no less. Jake Arrieta would have stayed if maybe he was offered 133mil over 5 years. That’s still 26.6m AAV.
No way he would have taken that at the time. In hindsight, yes.
Yep, Theo and Jed tried to keep him. I think his agent filled his ear w promises of $200M contracts. I dont blame Jake, but he wanted to test the FA waters. Unfortunately for him, those waters have dried up recently. They offered Arrieta the same contract they gave Yu, beforehand, and he seemed insulted. I feel confident Darvish will outperform Jake the next coupe years, but this season makes Theo n Jed look bad- especially w the Chatwood deal. Aye.
Arietta wasn’t offered until they had basically agreed on Darvish. It was just showing respect to Jake as Cubs, 1) knew he would turn it down and, 2) didn’t like the way Jake’s peripherals were trending. Darvish is all-time leader in k/9 ip and is finally getting healthy and due to go on rehab soon. Sh be activated by 9/1.
No, he wanted to stay. But he wanted a lot of money. Very new concept there.
If arrieta and boras would have taken 4/110 from cubs they offered then we wouldn’t have been forced to sign darvish. Arrieta said aces get 7/210 how did that work for him?
Crap for scrap.
Grasping at straws. Wanna bet a bag of balls the Cubs are on the outside looking in on Oct. 1?
Yes. Yes, I do.
I certainly hope so. I get tired of all this cub crap all the tome. They win one measly World Series in a 110 years and their fans thinks they are the greatest organization ever assembled. Ya finally won one time. Wow it’s like the odds were with you. I doubt any organization will ever beat that 108 years in a row of losing. College or professional.
Not all Cub fans think that way so stop being a cardinal homer
How many teams have won a World Series In last 108 years? How many since Cubs have . I get tired of before 108 years now they win one and idiots scream only have one
We’ll get off your high horse. Ya have only won one in 110 years. No big deal really
What planet are you from dude? There isn’t one logical Cubs fan who thinks they’re the preeminent team right now. Are they one of the top 5 current teams? Absolutely. They’ll be in the discussion for a World Series title for the next 3 or 4 years and their window will close up and we’ll see where they go from there.
Unless you’re an Astros fan and can make fun of how the Cubs haven’t won a title in the last 600 days then you best go back to whatever it is y’all do with ya time.
Or one of the last two.
Tissues are in aisle 4.
The Cubs have been absolutely nailed by the injury bug this year. Right now alone, they are missing their number 2 pitcher(both in money and turn in rotation), their MVP(former, it’s Javy Baez now), and their very good closer. Russell, Schwarber, and Contreras have all been pretty weak at the plate this year. I’m not even really sure how they’ve hung around and won as many games as they have
Schwarber and Contreras each have a wRC+ of 117. In what world is that even remotely close to “weak at the plate”?
themed… Small thoughts from a small mind. Dig deep next time for something original beyond the ‘100 year’ chestnut. Just makes you look little. smh
Sound mad, bruh. You mad bruh?
Give YU a chance. Damn, people are so fickle. They’re probably the same that want madden fired or wanted Javy traded. I saw Yu absolutely own the brewers in April and he’s still capable. Just has to be healthy. If he comes back strong, he could be best starter in postseason. Cubs have LH hitting problems with bullpen and look at brewers, Dodgers, or Dbacks. They all have legit LHH that can mash. Cubs will hope De La Rosa can get outs in BP. Still optimistic, but waiting for cubs to get healthy/ go on tear
He’s had a career of breaks. Bet dodgers fans hope the cubs give him a few breaks in the playoffs. It’s not like he is 23.
De La Rosa is having an awful season, but the guy is a smart pitcher and I don’t think anyone has ever tried him as a lefty bullpen option. This could be a sneaky move that pays dividends for the Cubs, and if not very little is lost.
I think its a good move by the Cubs. Worst case, he’s a mop up and long reliever type option.
Or not!
Then they cut him. No biggie.
Can’t be worse than Duensing! I bet Theo n Jed are scouring the league and maybe even AAA for a left-handed gem that they can somehow acquire by August 31, for their postseason run.
Isn’t Duensing still around? I honestly don’t know but I thought he was the other lefty
Duensing on 10 day DL caused by dizzy spells watching balls he threw hitting outfield walls.
Yeah that or neck pain/whiplash from watching the balls fly out of the park right after he throws.
I think him and Chatwood are training together or something
Duensing is on the DL. Ideally, Duensing would get DFA’d and they would keep Rosario on the roster, but they won’t do that.
lol