The Chicago Cubs are preparing to welcome several pitchers back from the injured list. That is good news for Craig Counsell, although the pitchers currently occupying those roster spots may disagree.
Edward Cabrera, Daniel Palencia and Hoby Milner are all nearing returns. Chicago cannot activate them without removing other players from the 26-man roster, creating three legitimate candidates who could be pushed aside before October.
Trent Thornton
Thornton has pitched much better than someone normally associated with a roster cut. He owns an ERA below 3.00 and has helped Chicago survive an absurd number of bullpen injuries.
His underlying performance is less convincing, however. Thornton’s fielding independent pitching (FIP) sits at 4.74, suggesting his results have been considerably better than the quality of contact, walks and strikeouts would normally produce.
More importantly, Palencia is not returning to occupy a middle-relief role. He entered the season as Chicago’s closer and handled late innings before returning to the injured list with a flexor strain. If healthy, he immediately jumps Thornton in Counsell’s bullpen hierarchy.
The Cubs could try to retain Thornton in the minors if their roster flexibility allows it. If not, they may need to designate him for assignment.
Thornton has done his job. The reality is that Palencia may return and take it anyway.
Caleb Thielbar
Chicago needs left-handed relievers, but that alone may not protect Thielbar.
The 39-year-old has occupied a middle-relief role while Milner recovers from an appendectomy. Once Milner is activated, the Cubs will have another veteran left-hander available and will need to create room for him.
Chicago could initially option Braxton Garrett, who was recently recalled from Triple-A Iowa. That would delay a harder decision without eliminating it. Cabrera and Palencia are following Milner toward the active roster, so the Cubs will eventually run out of temporary solutions.
Thielbar does not offer the same roster flexibility as several younger pitchers. If Chicago chooses Milner as its preferred left-handed reliever for October, Thielbar becomes a realistic designation candidate.
That would not necessarily reflect one disastrous performance. Sometimes a veteran loses his place because another veteran returns and the roster spreadsheet starts demanding a sacrifice.
Javier Assad
Assad is the most surprising name because he has produced a respectable 3.58 ERA across 75â…“ innings. He can start, relieve and cover multiple innings. Those are usually qualities teams want to keep around.
The Cubs’ rotation has become crowded since the deadline. Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes joined a group that already includes Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd and David Peterson. Cabrera is now approaching his return after throwing five no-hit innings during his latest rehabilitation start.
Assad could move into the bullpen, but Chicago already has several pitchers capable of working multiple innings. Because he retains minor-league options, the Cubs can send him to Triple-A without exposing him to waivers.
That makes Assad easier to move than a less accomplished pitcher. Chicago could option him to keep him stretched out as rotation insurance, then recall him if another starter gets hurt.
Assad would remain in the organization, but he would still lose his major-league roster spot. With three pitchers nearing returns, somebody has to receive the bad news. These are the three players most realistically standing near Counsell when it arrives.
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