The Cubs announced today they’ve placed catcher Willson Contreras on the 10-day injured list, as expected. Taylor Davis has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take his spot on the 25-man roster.
Contreras came up hobbling in yesterday’s game and was diagnosed with a hamstring strain. The team decided it needn’t wait until receiving the results of tomorrow’s MRI to shut him down. It’s dreadful timing for the first-place Cubs, who lead the NL Central by a mere half-game and just traded away catcher Martín Maldonado. Contreras has been one of the Cubs’ best players, slashing .275/.365/.525 over 340 plate appearances.
In his absence, the club will turn to Víctor Caratini, who has hit well himself in limited time and might be a superior defender to Contreras but can’t match the latter’s offensive track record. Caratini’s no doubt a better reserve backstop than what most teams can run out, but it’s never good news to lose a top five player at one’s position.
Behind Caratini will be Davis, a 29 year-old who’s seen sporadic big league action the past three seasons. Davis has never shown much punch with the bat, and his .250/.358/.350 line in Triple-A in 2019 is fairly underwhelming, considering the high-powered offensive environment he’s played in.
Saw that coming after his 4th stride out of the batter’s box…
Injury prone!
Former 2016 Cub Tim Federowicz is available in the Rangers minor leagues.
Yes TRADE for him in AUGUST. No, I am not joking, that is allowed. A TRADE in AUGUST.
I thought the “trades in August” were dropped?
You can still trade they’re just not eligible for post season roster
If he’s on a minor’s contract he can be traded.
Actually they would be eligible for the postseason if they are on the 40 man prior to September.
Why trade?? He has been placed on waivers & cleared.. Just go sign him.
If signed, he is eligible for the post-season if placed on the 40 man BY 8-31-19
Did the rule lowering the 40 man pass? Or was it a no go.
The Cubs can always ask the Sox about Castillo!
Montgomery traded for Maldonado. Maldonado traded for Kemp.. Those trades aren’t feeling to good right about now. Taylor Davis…ugh. Let’s just throw Shwarbs back there every 5th day.
That’s not going to happen…Feds is out there, Lucroy and others for a short term fit
Yeah, I didn’t figure so. I have a feeling our short term fix is ganna be Davis unfortunately. And he is no Jody.
Not a snowball’s chance in he-ll that the Cubs ever put Kyle behind the plate. Davis should be serviceable. Of course Maldonado was an excellent framer but he couldn’t hit a lick. Davis hits a bit better at least.
If you’re a lineup like say the Astros loaded from top to bottom with good hitters you can easily afford to waste a batting spot on a defensive specialist like Maldonado. Cubs as we all know have struggled batting so putting Maldonado in there with a bad bat might have been tough.
K.
Maldonado homered in his first game back with the Stros. Of course.
With the Castellanos deal it was reported Cubs are about $300,000 under the next luxury tax level. Nobody is coming from outside right away.
I doubt the Taylor Davis experience lasts very long. He’s not only a below average hitter, he is a below average defensive catcher as well.
But he stared at cameras! He’s soooo funny!!!
Darvish or Arrieta now and going forward?
At catcher? Darvish, I guess.