Cubs signed C Brian Esposito to a minor league contract.
Esposito, 33, has appeared in just three major league games. And that’s unlikely to change this season.
Cubs
Brian Esposito (Cubs)
5/21/12 1:33 pm
Starlin Castro (Cubs)
5/20/12 6:11 pm
Cubs manager Dale Sveum said he may change the 1-2-3 hitters in the lineup.
Sveum is looking to jump-start his offense, but this plan likely won’t have any barring on that. Promoting Anthony Rizzo would be a start, but that won’t happen until at least next month. The Cubs were pummeled in a three-game series against the White Sox over the weekend and Sveum is targeting the top of the lineup as an area of concern. “I might think about changing things at the top of the order,” Sveum said. “It’s not that anybody is doing anything wrong but just to change something because we aren’t producing any runs that way. We might change things up there.” David DeJesus, Tony Campana and Starlin Castro would be moved down in the order if Sveum goes through with this plan. Castro has hit third all season. He’s in a 3-for-18 slump.
Source: mlblogs.com
Paul Maholm (Cubs)
5/20/12 5:12 pm
Paul Maholm got roughed up in Sunday’s loss to the White Sox, allowing five runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Maholm struck out five and walked none, but was done in by surrendering three home runs. The non-quality outing was his second straight, and leaves him with a 4.73 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 27/12 K/BB ratio through 45 2/3 innings. Off the radar in mixed leagues, he’ll get the light-hitting Pirates in Pittsburgh next weekend.
Anthony Rizzo (Cubs)
5/20/12 10:43 am
Cubs manager Dale Sveum said he will talk to team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer about the possibility of bringing Anthony Rizzo up in June.
Not surprisingly, Sveum notes that if Rizzo is promoted, he’ll have to play regularly. That likely means a move to the outfield for Bryan LaHair. Rizzo is crushing Triple-A pitching this season to the tune of a .353/.418/.706 batting line with 14 homers and 39 RBI. Of course, he mashed in the minors last year, as well, before struggling in the bigs. Still, he’d be worth an immediate add in mixed leagues if promoted.
Source: twitter.com
Steve Clevenger (Cubs)
5/20/12 10:11 am
Steve Clevenger (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa Monday.
Assuming he doesn’t have a setback, Clevenger is expected to be activated next weekend. With all the injuries the Cubs are dealing with at catcher, he figures to be in line for plenty of playing time when he returns.
Source: twitter.com
Carlos Marmol (Cubs)
5/20/12 10:09 am
Carlos Marmol (hamstring) is headed to Triple-A Iowa to begin a rehab assignment.
Barring a setback, Marmol is expected to be activated in time for next weekend’s series against the Pirates. He’ll be used in a setup role.
Source: twitter.com
Alfonso Soriano (Cubs)
5/19/12 10:37 pm
Alfonso Soriano admitted Saturday that recurring pain in his left knee may ultimately force him to undergo a second surgery.
He went under the knife for the first time in 2009 and apparently the discomfort has yet to subside. “I have tremendous respect for what Soriano’s doing out there in left field for us this year and the way he’s worked and what he’s put in knowing what his body’s gone through,” recently-retired Kerry Wood said. The Cubs medical staff doesn’t view surgery in-season as an option at this point, but Soriano thinks it’s coming eventually. “Maybe after the season,” he said. “See how far I can go and after the season check it again, see what they can find in the knee. It’s not fun being in pain.” Soriano has heated up recently — including a 3-for-4 night with a homer Saturday against the White Sox — and is now batting .269/.301/.396 on the year. Soriano had zero home runs before Tuesday but has blasted three in his last five games.
Source: suntimes.com
Blake Parker (Cubs)
5/19/12 9:26 pm
Blake Parker has a tight right hamstring and will be re-evaluated Sunday.
Parker was pulled during Saturday’s game with the injury. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Source: twitter.com
Blake Parker (Cubs)
5/19/12 8:41 pm
Blake Parker was removed from Saturday’s game against the White Sox in the eighth inning after being examined by a trainer.
Parker struck out Brent Lillibridge and then threw three straight balls to Alejandro De Aza. After examination, Parker “came off mound awkwardly,” according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat. Michael Bowden came on in relief. We’ll update you on Parker’s status when the Cubs announce his prognosis.
Source: twitter.com
Steve Clevenger (Cubs)
5/19/12 6:59 pm
Steve Clevenger (oblique) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week.
The assignment is expected to last only a week or less. Clevenger could return to the Cubs when they return from a two-series road trip next Monday. The Cubs’ catching situation is a mess right now. Geovany Soto was placed on the disabled list Saturday and his backup, Wellington Castillo, is expected to miss a week with a sprained MCL. The Cubs promoted Blake Lalli Friday and dealt for Koyie Hill on Saturday. Hill is expected to get most of the playing time at catcher over the next week. When Clevenger is activated, Lalli will likely be sent back to the minors.
Source: go.com