The Cubs had an active deadline, picking up outfielder Cameron Maybin from the Tigers and a pair of relievers- Andrew Chafin and Josh Osich– from the Diamondbacks and Red Sox, respectively. With Maybin in the fold, outfielder Albert Almora will be optioned to the alternate training site, per Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic (Twitter link). The 26-year-old has only gotten 34 plate appearances in 2020 after a poor showing in 2019, when he hit just .236/.271/.381.
Maybin and Osich will step right onto the active roster, but Chafin will not. The southpaw has been on Arizona’s injured list since August 19 with a finger sprain, and he’s not quite ready to return. Cubs’ GM Jed Hoyer says the organization hopes he’ll be back on the field within “a couple weeks” (via Jordan Bastian of MLB.com).
Likely to join Chafin on the IL is fellow hurler Tyler Chatwood. The right-hander actually just returned from the IL but left yesterday’s start in the third inning with discomfort in his throwing elbow. He’s undergone an MRI and is awaiting results, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. While that sounds ominous on the surface, the Cubs expect Chatwood will be able to return this season, notes Patrick Mooney of the Athletic. Fortunately, Chicago has José Quintana on hand as a potential Chatwood replacement.
In more encouraging injury news, Kris Bryant is seemingly nearing a return from his own finger sprain. Indeed, it’s possible he could be activated before tomorrow’s game against the Pirates, per Mooney. It’s been a disappointing year for Bryant, who has mustered just a .177/.271/.323 line over 70 plate appearances, with a significant drop in his batted ball metrics along the way. Hand injuries can sap a hitter’s contact quality, so the hope is certainly that the time off will allow Bryant to return to his past levels of elite power production.
Martinez may be the best addition they made. Baez and Contreras look lost right now and the middle of that lineup really needs a right handed boost.
Cubbies dropping in standings like a rock.
Still in first in the division by 3 games and still the #2 seed in the playoffs.
Am I missing something?
the username lol. They jump in on every Cub related post. Just ignore them and they’ll go away eventually
The only point he ever has is the one on top of his head.
There is a couple Sox guys that comment on everything cubs related. I am 99.9 percent sure they are the same people. I believe last year he posted as the second guy without changing his username. So it’s one person with a lot of time on his hands.
The other one he posts on is chitown311. Even used his same tired dumpster diving Theo comment on both
You’re freaking obnoxious!
Cubs can add 25 new players and won’t make a difference.
I’ve always liked Almora but the guy just can’t figure it out at the plate. He was excellent the first half of 2019 but I think that incident with the foul ball really messed with his psyche. Hopefully he can figure his batting out in the minors; similar situations improved Schwarbs and Happ. Watching Almora play defense is a treat.
I completely agree. He was never the same after he hit that little child. You could see how distraught he was. He’s a really good guy, and I feel for him. I hope 1) MLB adds netting to the foul poles and 2) he gets his swagger back.