The Cubs announced several roster moves this afternoon. The club selected the contracts of right-handers Shane Greene and Tyler Duffey, while transferring infielder Nick Madrigal and right-hander Michael Fulmer to the 60-day IL to clear space on the 40-man roster for the duo. Right-hander Hayden Wesneski and left-hander Jordan Wicks were optioned to the minors to make room for the duo on the active roster. In a separate pair of moves, second baseman Nico Hoerner was placed on the 10-day IL with a left knee contusion while infielder Jared Young was recalled to replace Hoerner on the active roster.
Greene is in the tenth season of his big league career, having debuted as a member of the Yankees back in 2014. From 2017-2020, Greene was a strong set-up option at the back of the bullpen for the Tigers and Braves, posting a 3.25 ERA and 4.04 FIP in 221 1/3 innings of work, including his lone All Star campaign in 2019. Unfortunately, he’s struggled badly since then with a 6.83 ERA in 27 2/3 innings since the start of the 2021 campaign. Greene was selected to the major league roster by the Cubs earlier this year, but recorded just one scoreless inning before being outrighted off the 40-man roster. Now he’s back for the final game of the season, with the Cubs having been eliminated from postseason contention last night.
Duffey, 31, spent his entire career as a member of the Twins prior to the 2023 campaign. Since his debut in 2015, he’s posted a 4.57 ERA and 3.96 FIP in 475 innings of work with Minnesota. Upon hitting free agency last offseason, Duffey signed on with the Cubs on a minor league deal but is only just cracking the big league roster despite a solid 3.77 ERA in 45 1/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level. That’s in part thanks to a elevated 12.6% walk rate. Still Duffey posted a solid 29% strikeout rate and will now appear in the ninth big league season of his career, should he get into today’s game.
Departing the roster to make room for the pair of veterans are Wesneski and Wicks, a pair of youngsters who each got auditions in the Chicago rotation this season. Wesneski posted a 4.72 ERA and 5.52 FIP across 87 2/3 innings of work with the big league club, while Wicks sported a sterling 3.00 ERA and solid 3.96 FIP through six starts before getting shelled during last night’s game against the Brewers in Milwaukee, which raised his season stats in the majors to a 4.41 ERA and 4.70 FIP. Both youngsters figure to enter Spring Training next season as potential options for the Cubs at the major league level.
Meanwhile, Hoerner heads to the IL after fouling a pitch off his knee during Friday’s game and sitting out on Saturday. With the Cubs having been eliminated from postseason contention last night, clearly the club saw no reason to have Hoerner play through the injury on the last day of the season. It was a strong campaign for Hoerner, who slashed .283/.346/.383 in 688 trips to the plate while going 43-for-50 on the basepaths and playing elite defense at second base. Taking Hoerner’s place on the active roster is Young, a 27-year-old rookie who made his MLB debut with the Cubs last year. Through 65 trips to the plate in the big leagues the past two seasons, Young has slashed .224/.308/.466 while playing first base and right field.
The moves are purely procedural for both Madrigal and Fulmer, who were already on the injured list through the end of the season.
Nico in 2023: WAR 5.0, H 175, HR 9, Avg. .283, R 98, RBI 68, SB 43, OBP .346.
Great job!
Indeed. As rough as most of this season was I’m still looking forward to many years of Hoerner and Swanson up the middle.
Who cares! Luke Little should of been put in some of those close game situations. I believed it cost them their playoff spot. Putting guys like Cuas, Palencia etc just did not cut it. This is just an opinion. How many more leads can a team give up late in the game or in extra innings would it take to have given Little a shot? Ross may lose his job. If he doesn’t he has a long off season to think about it.
“should’ve been” or “should have been”
To Epps: Not that I disagree with you Ray – but are you either related to, or a friend of Luke Little?
I mean, no use in playing Hoerner for a lost season now, might as well start rehabbing him and anyone else to have them ready for Spring Training. Hopefully Hoyer gets bullpen pieces, it’s obvious that was a need before the season started even more so when the trade deadline came around.
The Cubs #1 priority needs to be re-sign Bellinger. Unless he’s seeking 6+ years then and only then a should the Cubs move on from trying to re-sign him. 5/155 is more than a fair deal for both sides.
Buyer beware
8/240 is more his market. Ontani should get 10/500 coming off TJ
He is going to want a huge long term contract and he’s young enough someone will give it to him
Why would you If your the Cubs give Bellinger a long term contract.
Your minor league system Is overload with outfield prospects.
Look they give Ian Happ 3 years 60 million dollars off one good year
How did that work out for the Cubs
Cody can play First Base, so he might be worth it for that position.
First base is no longer the high dollar position it used to be. No need to pay that much for anything less than a sure thing, and Bellinger is not a sure thing. Look at what Atlanta paid Olsen per year and drop from there. You want to pay him more than Freeman? Wake up!?
Wait a minute and you have to factor in his glove work at the position and the fact he plays more than one position.
Cody can play all three outfield spots, first base and has shown he can produce at the plate once again.
So you will have to pay for his glove and bat, and what you consider the right price will differ from what GM’s consider the right price and I am betting he gets a seven year deal around two hundred million dollars with a opt-out after two years.
Also, name someone that hits like Cody that is major league ready to play first base and Mervis was not ready this season.
Happ basically repeated his numbers this year so I would say it worked out well this far.
Also, Bellinger plays an outstanding first base and Mervis being passed over for Young should raise all kinds of red flags for fans. Bellinger should be a priority, then seeking a corner infielder on a one year deal should be the next in the pecking order.
I’m a Happ supporter, and no way was his play this year justifying a $20M/yr salary. And I think he would be the first to admit that.
According to Fangraphs, his vale was 28 million based on his WAR. Sad state we live in now that his production is valued that high but it is what it is
Because he helped boost tbe cubs back into contention. Unfortunately winning only 5 of their last 16 or whatever it was didn’t help.
When Seiya Suzuki missed the fly ball last Monday that was the nail in the coffin to the cubs otherwise very good season. They exceeded expectations. They overachieved. He’s a great clubhouse guy. Why not sign him long term? Pca isn’t quite ready yet. With a very very small sample size he didn’t collect a hit in 14 ABs.
Happ had a good season. 21 HRs and 84 rbi is about what is expected of him.
Happs season was good from an over all statistical standpoint but 84 RBIs out of a three hole hitter doesn’t cut it. Hopefully Suzuki turned the corner and can be a middle of the order bat and bring Bellinger back, drop Happy to 5/6.
Odds are Ortega, I mean Tauchmann isn’t our lead off hitter again next season so maybe Happ moved up to two.
1B. PCA will be starting in CF.
I’m just glad they didn’t make the playoffs. Ok cub fans all together now. “Wait till next year”
Setting their playoff roster I see. Hope they bring back Stroman for a stretch run if they don’t trade him
Most likely the Rotation will be the same. Tom Ricketts pretty much said Hendricks should come back and most expect Stroman take the money after his injury shortened year. Returning he did not make a statement that he was past it so cash in hand is the best play.