TODAY: Wolters cleared waivers and has been outrighted to the Cubs’ alternate training site, the team announced.
APRIL 14: The Cubs announced Tuesday that they’ve reinstated catcher Austin Romine from the 10-day injured list and designated fellow backstop Tony Wolters for assignment in order to open a spot on the roster. Romine was sidelined by a knee sprain partway through Spring Training, prompting the Cubs to bring Wolters in on a big league deal.
Romine, 32, inked a one-year, $1.5MM deal over the winter and is expected to serve as the primary backup option to Willson Contreras. He hit just .238/.259/.323 in 135 plate appearances with the Tigers in 2020 but is only a year removed from a more impressive .281/.310/.439 output with the Yankees.
Wolters, 28, appeared in three games with the Cubs and went hitless in five trips to the plate. He spent most of Spring Training with the Pirates but opted out of that deal after Pittsburgh went with waiver claim Michael Perez as the backup to starter Jacob Stallings. Wolters spent the 2016-20 seasons as the Rockies’ primary catcher and posted a tepid .238/.323/.319 batting line in that time (57 wRC+, 61 OPS+), although he’s known more for his glove than his bat.
The Cubs will have a week to trade Wolters, pass him through outright waivers or release him.
Poor Wolters. That 0-for-4 showing gives him a -0.1 WAR, which automatically will disqualify him from consideration due to most sabermetrics and algorithms since it’s below replacement level. All from four at-bats.
From consideration for what?
Richdanna –
Right? What’s the point being made here by Egon? “Poor Wolters”….what’s that all about?
An absurd comment.
We get it, you hate sabermetrics and will take every chance to clown on them.
Wolters was hitting a pristine .000 in the 3 games he played.
Is it really that unusual for a part time player to go 0-4 over 3 games? What, did Wolters throw a fit about being released or am I missing something here?
Hopefully Romine gets to play today so Contreras can quit crying. What a immature piece of trash. You set up right over the plate continuously and then freak out like a little kid when you get hit by a pitch. The Brewers have been hit by just as many pitches in the series, yet the Cubs react by throwing a pitch BEHIND Woodruff after little Willie gets hit again?. So who’s doing what intentionally here? Pathetic. Rizzo sets up right over the plate too, and gets beaned all the time because of it….however he acts like a man and just takes his base.
Contreras proceeded to act like a childish fool after hitting a HR and then whined about Brewer fans booing him for the way he’s been acting?? Just shut up. He’s making Yadier Molina look like a choir boy. Even his Cub teammates are acting embarrassed about it. If you keep hanging over the plate when you bat, you’re going to get hit. It’s that simple. Pitchers are allowed to pitch on the inside part of the plate. What a punk. You’re going to continue to get hit!.
Yep been saying that about Contreras for at least last 2 years. Love his intensity but every time he gets hit he thinks it’s on purpose. He’s turning into their new Zambrano, hey Willi just lay off the PEDs for a few years, they’re making you very angry!
Stop crying and let the kids play.
Have glove, will travel.
He’ll have a new club shortly.
Gee I hope Romine is as good as Striking out as the rest of the line up that way he will fit right in.
Nice job building a roster Jed.
It’s pretty much the same roster that made the playoffs last year… And the same core that won the WS… Jed is a baseball executive, not a magic genie.
Bandwagon pretend fans and trolls everywhere .
Any chance Contreras available via trade? Sanchez for Contreras change of scenery could be good for both.
He might be available but I doubt the Cubs take Sanchez.
Sure nyfan, throw in Gleyber Torres or DJL and the Cubs might begin to listen.
ROMINE’S TIME TO SHINE