The Cubs announced Tuesday that right fielder Kyle Tucker has been placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 6) due to a strained left calf. Catcher Moises Ballesteros was recalled from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.
Tucker has been dealing with calf discomfort for a week. He was lifted midway through last Tuesday’s game and hasn’t played since then. The Cubs kept him on the roster for what they initially believed would be a day-to-day issue. Tucker hasn’t improved as quickly as they hoped, and he’ll now be ruled out for at least another week. Teams can only backdate an injured list placement for a maximum of three days even if the player’s last game action came before that.
This is the first injured list stint of the season for Tucker. He suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand on a stolen base attempt in early June. Tucker played through that injury. He initially remained productive but went into one of the worst six-week stretches of his career between July and the first half of August. Manager Craig Counsell gave him a brief reset with a trio of games on the bench. Tucker caught fire upon returning to the lineup but the calf shut him down a little less than two weeks later.
That the Cubs waited a week before placing Tucker on the injured list seems to suggest this isn’t a serious issue. He could return as soon as September 16 and would have a week and a half of reps before the start of the postseason. The Cubs aren’t playing for a whole lot this month. The Brewers have all but officially wrapped the NL Central. Chicago is eight games clear of the NL’s top non-playoff team, the Giants. While they’d presumably prefer to secure the top Wild Card spot rather than dropping to the #5 seed, that’s a relatively minor consideration. The far bigger concern is having Tucker at full strength in October.
Willi Castro and Seiya Suzuki will split the right field work in Tucker’s absence. Suzuki has gotten most of his at-bats at designated hitter. Ballesteros or Carlos Santana could pick up an extra start or two at DH on days when Suzuki draws into the outfield. Assuming Tucker makes it back before the end of the regular season, the injury shouldn’t have much or any impact on his impending free agency.
Woah.
Should have been done days ago. Why Ballesteros? Another mystery with no answer.
Ballesteros can DH so Suzuki can play RF. Unless you want to see more of Turner/Santana at DH. Probably will against lefties, anyways.
No I want to see Caissie play RF like he should have all year.
I read elsewhere that Caissie didn’t play at Iowa this weekend. Could be that he is hurting as well.
The cubs brought Caissie to Atlanta in case Tucker went on the IL so he was in town. Then he did go on the IL and the Cubs sent Caissie back to Iowa and brought up Ballesteros. Caissie is playing in Iowa tonight. Makes perfect sense right? On Pluto maybe.
Agreed. They were playing shorthanded for almost a week, and now, instead of recalling Cassie for a solid 10 day audition, Mo Baller gets the call. Why not another outfielder? Meh, it wouldn’t matter anyway since Counsell would just bury him on the bench. This is a totally unserious organization.
I agree, playing shorthanded never meant sense. Alcantara gives them more defensive versatility in the outfield than Caissie, especially with PCA being banged up. Maybe as a left-handed bat, they prefer Ballesteros to Caissie.
Nothing wrong with Ballesteros he may be the full time DH next year, happy that Cubs kept Caissie, Alcantara, Horton and Ballesteros. The moves you don’t make are often the best.
Tucker has cooled since first half, so something else could be bothering him
Could be the hand he fractured in June and was confirmed last month but that’s a guess…
His hand has already healed, which was pretty evident by how Tucker’s offensive production had spiked lately. He was looking like the Tucker we knew from the first half of the season. Unfortunately, he was feeling tightness and hit the bench to recover. Doesn’t seem like there’s any mystery to unravel.
It is likely the thought of playoff baseball bothering him.
extend Jed Hoyer another 10 years
Hoyer is so overrated.
Oh the sheep don’t wanna hear that. You’ll be on their bad side like me.
Baaaaaa! You guys are salty because you wanted Jed fired and he was extended after it was near certain the Cubs will make the playoffs.
But bucket—we get a good three or four more years of Uncle. As much as he doesn’t like Hoyer, they are linked at the hip as far as this site goes.
There is an entertainment part to all of this.
Keep buyin those season tickets waiting for the WS that’s not coming. What do they soak you for those? I suppose you have no other option than to hope Hoyer gets lucky for that kind of bread. I feel stupid for paying 19.99 a month for Marquee for 6 months.
Darn straight I’m going to keep buying them.
You very well may be right it that they may not win another World Series in my lifetime. That’s not a critical check point in my life.
Whether it’s a drip of $4,000 or $25,000 a year—I’m not getting soaked spending a portion of my disposable income as I wish. That’s really no concern of yours.
I’m guessing multi-year to be two seasons. So, we can extend Uncle for two more, too.
I’m not gonna stop you. Just get a major chuckle.
Aren’t you in your late 60s, “Uncle” Mike? I’d suggest against major chuckling as the stress and obsession over the feared Gollum may worsen through advanced age.
No because Tucker never should have been here. Cam Smith should have played 3rd, Caissie in right and Shaw should have been the utility guy. Hoyer traded a potential 40-50 HR guy who was controlled forever for a guy who missed half of last year hurt for 1 year that he knew they weren’t gonna re sign. Makes perfect sense to me.
Cam Smith is a potential 40-50 home run guy?? Now who’s in fantasy land…
what a weird thread. “play the unproven player all year instead of the known all-star”, “I can’t believe you support your favorite team”, fans of the same team fighting, etc. This board never ceases to amaze me.
That’s not the point Redwine. Cam Smith, very likely would have spent the year in Iowa. The point is, some believe the Cubs gave away wayyyyyy too much for one year of Tucker. Of course it helped Ricketts to sell tickets. That’s how Ricketts rolls – and all he really cares about is- making money.
It amazes me that people are still acting like the Cubs gave up some massive haul in the Tucker trade. Cam Smith is the only piece that has any potential future impact, but that’s what happens when you go out to get one of the premier players in the game- you have to give up something of value.
But there was no room for Cam Smith on this team- or, at least, that’s the calculation. Matt Shaw was going to be at 3B, you have Alcantara and Caissie slotted to take over the outfield spots (joining PCA) once Happ and Tucker leave.
Hayden Wiesnewski… that dude was the Ben Brown of 2024. He showed some promise as a starter, and no promise whatsoever out of the bullpen. He would’ve been DFA’d and released this year. Paredes didn’t do jack for the Cubs while he was here, and since the plan was to bring up Shaw, there was no place for him.
The Cubs literally got rid of two players that didn’t fit in their plans (Wiesnewski & Paredes) and one prospect who they couldn’t see a realistic path for (Smith).
Smith could turn out to be really good. That’s the risk you take for a player of Tucker’s caliber. In the meantime, Tucker has had a transformative effect on the Cubs this year. The Cubs have had one of the best records in MLB all year long, and Tucker is a big part of that. Hopefully it’s the precursor for a deep post-season run. I’m totally content with trading away the occasional prospect to get top line players that put the team in a place where regular season victories leads to post-season potential.
Any criticism you want to lob at the Ricketts family, I will happily cosign. That whole family can go suck it.
Chicago expat- Glad you’re not here anymore. Cubs didn’t give up a haul? Parades was a decent 3B and because of this trade left the Cubs with a rookie 3B and threw him to the wolves. Wesneski was nothing? He was a reliable and controllable arm which Hoyer avoids like the plague. Sure he had TJ. What pitcher doesn’t get one sometime. As far as I know they didn’t cut his arm off and he’ll be back. And Cam Smith could have been the 3B for a long time. Alfonsin Rosario for Morgan? He wasn’t even a regular part of the Gards bullpen last year and will probably need TJ himself while Rosario is like a top 10 Gards prospect. Ferris,Hope, Herz, Gallagher, Armstrong all good young arms and prospects traded for what? Busch who was out of options with the Dodgers and should have been for almost nothing but were given a gold mine for and Castro who is a FA after this year. Trader Jed gets fleeced on a regular basis he’s an awful awful trader. The worst. You’re an idiot and if you think muting me is the answer, See how good it worked. Maybe somebody will tell you how lame you really are. He had to have the precious Tucker even though the Cubs already had an embarrassment of OF riches in the organization. He’s a fool just just like you.
You sure do talk out both sides. It’s ok to throw Cassie to the wolves and not trade for Tucker but not ok to throw Shaw to the wolves?
To Chicago expat:
You wouldn’t last long as a GM. So _ _ YOU think trading away your First Round pick for a ONE Year of a good player is the way to run (and build) a franchise?? You please go to the back of the line.
That is ridiculous, just plain dumb.
Plus Shaw wouldn’t have been thrown to the wolves because Parades and Smith would have been here. Shaw got thrown to the wolves because there was nothing else.
@dogbone
Kyle Tucker isn’t just some “good player.” He’s one of MLB’s best. So, yes, giving up something of value to get someone of Tucker’s caliber is a worthwhile trade. And the results so far have proven it. Tucker has had a huge impact on this team. The Cubs have had one of the best records in MLB all season long, and that’s not something Cubs fans have been able to say many times in the past fifty years.
Also, a 1st round pick in MLB is a far different measure of player potential than it is in the NBA or NFL, and trading one away is very unlikely to hobble a team. Cam Smith may or may not turn out to be a great player. Kyle Tucker has already proven to be a great one, and he’s been great for the Cubs. So, yes, from time to time, trading potential for one of the established best is a smart move. And the results with Tucker have proven it.
None of us would last as GM. Nobody here on these boards truly understands the scope and complexity of being a front office person. But we watch the games and we make observations and offer opinions. That’s what I’ve done with my opinion on the Tucker-Smith trade. My opinion was neither ridiculous nor dumb. Next time, take a deep breath before responding.
That’s OK Bone. Manfred Moron and Ex Pat both muted me anyway because they’re both short bus people who can’t keep up. Keep em coming. LMAO
Aloha uncle, a lot of fans don’t want to admit that the trade hasn’t gone as planned. If you asked most fans after the trade, who on the roster will lead the team in WAR, most would have said Tucker, including myself. And how many fans would believe that Tucker not only is not the top WAR player but would be behind PCA and Nico? As much as I didn’t like this trade I was hoping Tucker would have his first ever 6+ WAR season going into free agency like Juan Soto did last year. That would be good for the Cubs going into the post season and good for him to get paid massively by the Dodgers or Yankees. I didn’t anticipate it would be like this and his splits home and away are really concerning. Not to mention his defense has regressed as well. I hope the team can go into the post season with some momentum. We’ll see. Mahalo!
Aloha KG- The sheep don’t want to admit that Tucker wasn’t the big deal that everybody though he was gonna be and that Jed got fleeced again. I totally hope the Cubs DON’T re sign him even for the 16 million he’s making this year or whatever it is much less for 400 million. That would be a stone waste of money. I’ll even go a step further and say that Happ should go to. I’d keep Suzuki for his last year even though his shine is wearing off the further we get into the season. Caissie, Alcantara, PCA and Suzuki would be fine and cost controlled OF for next year. Maybe bring back a guy like Tauchman for a 5th. I’d like to see what they can do. But they’re so far into this Tucker nonsense they hope he’ll prove worthy to save face. But it would be throwing good money after bad. Anyway stay tuned. I keep hoping for the best with this FO but getting the worst. Mahalo and watch the Playoffs and see my friend.
he went from $500 mil contract to probly now taking a pete alonso 1yr deal to reinvent himself
Couldn’t possibly be more wrong. It might affect his overall dollars but Tucker is getting paid.
Ok so two wrong people. A hand injury doesn’t take away his proven track record. He’s the #1 FA this offseason. He’s getting 300 million minimum.
Right? He’s going to be the most sought after free agent in baseball this off-season. I’m not saying that he necessarily deserves it but he is certainly going to get paid.
One could argue he deserves half what Soto got cause he’s more than half the player Soto is
“chandlerbing” is known to always be wrong.
And hyperbolic.
And insufferable.
He had a broken hand you bucket of boiled hot dog water. Bet you couldn’t type anything relevant if you had a broken hand. You’re not doing it with two working ones.
@Bartolo, You truly think he’s going to get a one year deal? Really?
So he didn’t have a fractured hand? Are you for real? And a 4.8 WAR is sucking in a contract year? Enjoy the circus cause you’re a clown.
$15 mill per for 3 years. He’s too injury prone and unlikeable. You can’t base an advertising campaign around this guy, he doesn’t smile. He also doesn’t know when to sit himself down for awhile when his body is telling him to. Selfish player. Let the Astros resign him; perfect for that unlikeable organization.
Yeah, that’s hilarious. 15 million per? You really think that Kyle Tucker who will be the premier free agent is only going to get a three-year contract totaling $45 million? Can you please pass over whatever you are smoking?
He can’t pass it over he’s clearly partaken in all of it.
Like I’m all for the dialogue of intelligent baseball talk but that bartolo kid just got blocked. What a clown.
Tucker went from a $450 million contract in June to a $350 million contract in September. Life is tough.
Prayers and thoughts for a speedy recovery so he can take again and make mega bucks in the offseason.
Prayers to what? I though God didn’t exist
Yes I know I made a spelling error. At least you know it’s not AI
@choof
AI can intentionally make errors so it makes you look like your reply wasn’t generated by AI. I know you’re using AI.
@choof
One can still pray to other things. Humans do it all the time.
I’ll be sending thoughts and prayers for you to have you retire your “Old York” schtick character instead.
@Steinbrenner2728
What ‘schtick’? When are you planning to end your trolling schtick?
I think the important thing here as the calendar inches to October is that Tucker is out at least another week.
No issue with giving it time to see how it improved and keep the roster spot open, but now—it being another full week before he can come back makes it a little scary that the treatment and path aren’t working.
It’s got me anxious, too. Things were looking pretty good for a bit there when Tucker finally came out the other side of that hand injury and resumed his role as main offensive weapon. The post-season seemed a lot more promising.
We need to do better in the IL section
I suspect the disappointing Tucker has played his last game as a Cub. Good riddance to The Superstar Nobody Ever Saw.
I hope against hope that Ballesteros gets into some games, like tonight. Whatever you have read elsewhere, the Cubs are NOT a lock to make the postseason. Not yet. They need to win a few games for that to be a valid assumption. Eamus Catulli!
Ok, Kyle. See you batting second next week.
Between the old man perpetually yelling at the cloud (Alan) and the crazy Uncle who thinks good players are useless and only unproven rookies should play, I’m afraid to admit I’m a Cubs fan on this forum anymore.
This is the perfect example of cut of your nose to spite the face hoping to be right to prove a silly premonition.
Not sure what that sentence means, but as a student of post-modernist literature, I admire it for its Joycean elliptical-ness.
Uhhh… you want Tucker to be out for the season and the Cubs to colossally-collapse missing the playoffs to then be able to yell “I told you so!” followed by whining over the entire offseason through Spring Training about the Cubs’ front office being incompetent. Is that close enough?
Even the 1995 Angels or 2007 Mets would have made the postseason if there were six seeds. The Cubs are in better shape than those teams were at this time of the season.
Alan
Cubs are a LOCK to make the postseason at least more likely than any team in NL that is not the Brewers.
The Cubs are a good solid team this year. They could easily beat or lose to any team in the post-season because they are good but not dominant.
I would argue playing for the 4 seed and a chance to host WC series at home is a lot to play for. Would you rather play the Padres/Dodgers at home or their place?
I think the assumption is if you think your team is good enough then it doesn’t matter what seed they start with. If you’re afraid of your team losing on the road in a short series, then they aren’t good enough in the first place.
They call it home field advantage for a reason…
And after bringing up ballesteros you’d think they’d be starting the youngster to energize this dead offense!
No, the point is the sane lineup and no production game after game means any changes good to get team moving forward.
Haven’t checked the lineup but assume much the same actors and order. Will the result be the same a loss? Tuckers fault!
Lots of one-base advances on singles lately. Evaluating that depends on the placement of the hit, of course, but the trend does suggest an element of timidity and flop sweat that has infected the team. Sometimes you have to make the outfielder throw you out.
What’s the worst record the Cubs can have the rest of the way and still retain their playoff spot?
The Cubs won tonight and the magic number to get to the postseason is 10. Let the countdown begin.
They could lose 18 in a row and still make playoffs since their competition all sucks.
I think the Cubs need to go about 4 wins and 12 losses to be the second wild card. Maybe 9 wins and 7 losses to be the first wild card. Maybe 16-0 could win the division and 1-15 might make them the last wild card.
How about showing some URGENCY . This bull crap Hoyer, Council and Ricketts keep coming up with for a roster moves is to the point we as fans need to boycott Wrigley Field.
Its been 3 years of DUMPSTER DIVING for roster players and relievers. Crap moves at the deadline and play at a all time low. Im tired of the excuses youre getting paid to manage this team then light a fire. If you idiots can in sure we can find a boyscout who can…
This year has been a fun year overall. They have the number one wild card spot and the guys on the team come to play. Major props to Hoyer and Counsell for righting the ship this year.
Oops he did it again
No matter what Tucker isn’t sniffing 400 million. If he does it will be one of the worse contracts in history
Can anybody explain to me with good reason why hoyer made the moves for old timers turner and Santana when they play and bar once per week and now the young and developing ballesteros to rarely play and pinch hit? And besides none of them can play outfield in tuckers absence!Doesn’t make sense.
If you’ve ever had a strained calf, you know that it takes a long time to heal. Even when the pain is mostly gone, you are surprised by the way your calf “pulls” when you walk fast or rise and start walking suddenly. And a ballplayer has to make sudden movements and accelerate quickly; a calf injury is a bad injury for that.
Tucker can’t be blamed for getting hurt. But I think it’s time for all of us to acknowledge that he is pretty much Bad News as a player in a variety of ways. He gets hurt a lot. He pulls up on catchable fly balls in right. He rarely gets “big” hits, the kind that turn around or win a game. (He has not had a Gatorade shower all season.) His power comes and goes, but mostly goes. He walks a lot, which inflates his WAR and OPS, but a walk is not as good as a hit. He seems to be unable or unwilling to adjust his game to the weather conditions at Wrigley Field. (Not enough is made of the fact that some hitters, by nature or nurture, seem to be better off playing half their games in domed stadiums with controlled environments.) He has an oddly aloof and snotty affect that is part of what has turned the fans at Wrigley Field against him. He doesn’t seem to want to be a Cub, and I think most fans don’t want him to be. No one is talking about giving him a 400 or 500 million dollar contract anymore (that is a good thing). He was overhyped, and he didn’t come anywhere near living up to the hype.
Whatever WAR says, by the eye test, by the fan test, he was not a “tranformative” player; he was not even a very valuable one, except in small spurts. I suspect he’s played his last game as a Cub, and that’s fine.