The Cubs have placed closer Brandon Morrow on the 10-day disabled list with inflammation in his right biceps. The placement has been backdated to July 16th.
There’s no indication at present that a lengthy absence is anticipated. Indeed, skipper Joe Maddon suggests the opposite is true, as ESPNChicago.com’s Jesse Rogers tweets. Morrow hit the DL earlier this year owing to lower back tightness, but that was only a brief stint.
That said, the organization surely isn’t thrilled to see a key reliever dealing with any problems in that particular part of the body, particularly a hurler with the history of Morrow. Soon to turn 34, he has excelled in his second act as a reliever after injuries and inconsistency ended his time as a starter.
To this point, Morrow has delivered excellent value on the two-year, $21MM deal he signed with the Chicago organization over the winter. He owns a 1.47 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 over 30 2/3 frames, with 22 saves already in the bag. Though the Cubs have been careful not to push Morrow too hard — he has recorded more than three outs in only one appearance and just once has been asked to take the ball on three straight days — he’s giving them everything the club hoped when it did the deal.
For the time being, Anthony Bass will take the open roster spot but obviously won’t step into Morrow’s role. The Cubs can choose between pitchers including Steve Cishek, Pedro Strop, and Carl Edwards Jr. to take the ball in the ninth inning. Unless further examination reveals added cause for concern, it seems unlikely that the injury will alter the team’s deadline plans.
Nothing new here.
Too bad Brad Hand was already traded..
Sometimes you have to deal with the Hand that’s been dealt.
Bravo!
Nice….
Gotta Hand it to you there
Lol, NOT!
Ya know theres this guy we have named Yates…maybe you heard of him alot of people say hes better than Hand..
Ya know theres this guy we have named Yates…maybe you heard of him alot of people say hes better than Hand.. interestd? Haha
has wade davis been on the DL at all?? this is Morrow 2nd trip. Better get Britton ASAP!!
Yep. Agreed
Because Brittion’s a model of durability?
Let’s see the difference… Wade is 0-2, 27 saves, 4 blown saves, 38.2IP, 16ER, 4HR, 19BB/42K, 1.11 Whip, 3.72ERA…. Morrow is 0-0, 22 saves, 2 blown saves, 30.2IP, 5ER, 2HR, 9BB/31K, 1.08 Whip, 1.47 ERA…. Ok, so I know Davis pitches in Colorado… got it… Morrow pitches in Wrigley with the wind blowing out and shorter field (thanks baskets)… This is not to mention, Davis is making $10M this year and Morrow $1.25M… I loved having Davis, but not at $10M…. (Stats per ESPN player pages).
Umm Morrow is making much much more than that, as is Davis.
Morrow is making 9mil this year, Davis 16mil.. you were close though!
You’re looking at 2017 salaries on their respective ESPN pages. This is 2018, both were signed as free agents.
Davis has more saves!
Davis also has more save opportunities because the Cubs blow out their opponents more often than Colorado does. Davis also has more blown saves. Davis also has an ERA over 2 points higher than Morrow.
Saves are like BA… ?
Not the only stat for evaluation, JDGoat.
Plus Morrow has double Davis’ Fangraphs WAR (0.6>0.3)
I was joking I know saves are garbage
Morrow is making $9M…..you sure are a true Cubs fan. Davis also had a 2.30 ERA with the Cubs.
Forget the incorrect salaries no one has a problem with him making the argument that wrigley field is a tougher place to pitch than doors? I do.
Strop and Cishek will be perfectly fine
As will Justin Wilson
lol
Justin Wilson is garbage. Far too inconsistent and usually cracks in high pressure situations, as he just did right now as I’m typing this.
While you are typing he is pitching in Major League Baseball .
Yea, and not doing a very good job of it.
They need a backup like Britton quick. He has too much of a history with injuries. Not that Britton doesn’t but the odds of them both being on the dl at the same time are not very high. I’m tired of seeing these minor leaguers come up every time someone goes down that give up tons of runs.
The Cubs can choose between pitchers including Steve Cishek, Pedro Strop, and Carl Edwards Jr. to take the ball in the ninth inning. Unless further examination reveals added cause for concern, it seems unlikely that the injury will alter the team’s deadline plans.
He has a history of injuries. They do need bullpen help and considering Britton is a closer he would fit perfectly in that role if Morrow goes down again
I probably would not be handing the ball to strop in the 9th
What now, he was pulling off his shirt when it happened?
Morrow and Darvish. Lol
I don’t know why the laugh at Morrow? He’s pitching great.
PADRES TRADE KIRBY YATES TO CUBS!!!!!
No thanks.
For Ian Happ
Now I know your trolling. If you trade Ian Happ at all, it’s to start a trade for chris Archer and a reliever. Not kirby Yates. That’s just dumb.
Oh god! You’re gonna get all the Chris “overrated” Archer all up in a tizzy. “But his contract!”
*Fans
Not necessarily archer. Someone like him with a controllable contract. Ian Snell would take at least happ, Schwarber, adbert alzolay and corey black. Just to keep the rays GM on the line. I’ll pass on that all day.
Who’s Ian Snell?
Schwarber isn’t going anywhere. He’s the starting left fielder, on a first place team. It would be best if the people that mention his name in potential trades just let it go. It’s never happening.
Ian Snell was a decent pitcher for the Pirates and Mariners in the early 2000’s. I didn’t know the Cubs would have to give up so much for a dude that hasn’t pitched since 2010. Man, they must be desperate. Lol
But you would have took hand in a heart beat…makes no sense..dont lie yes you would.
Cubs may not need to trade for a closer but definitely could use a bullpen arm to add depth.
Better luck toMorrow I guess!
The Cubs will definitely trade for a bullpen arm now. I’d rather they get a controllable arm and not a rental like Britton. If they can get him without anyone from the 25 man roster. I’ll take it. Possibly a starter too. Replace chatwood. Yu I think will be fine.
The Cubs can choose between pitchers including Steve Cishek, Pedro Strop, and Carl Edwards Jr. to take the ball in the ninth inning. Unless further examination reveals added cause for concern, it seems unlikely that the injury will alter the team’s deadline plans.
Picking Casilla off waivers sounds like the sneaky under the radar genius move the Dodgers would make rather than trade or acquire a legit pen arm.
It just wouldn’t be genius.
Bicep in 2009, forearm in 2013, and shoulder in 2014 all had Morrow on the shelf for extended periods. Hopefully this isn’t as serious, and he has a speedy recovery. I wonder if he was putting too much pressure on his arm because of the back issue from earlier this season.
Well, Morrow has managed to grind through 30 2/3 innings this year and has only been on the dl twice. What more could you ask of him?
I wisH He owned a 1.47 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 over 30 2/3 frames, with 22 saves already in the bag….wait
This write-up seems awfully … umm … positive about this news. Not my first reaction to a 34 year old flame-thrower with a biceps injury.
Because every injury is the worst case?
Report is vague as well. Is the discomfort/inflammation more towards the shoulder or elbow?
Hahn is ready to take a super deal for Soria.
Good luck with that
It doesn’t matter what bullpen arm the Cubs get. They are not going to be a postseason factor as long as Lester is their only reliable starter.
At least he’s never burned himself while trying to iron his shirt while wearing it.
Maybe if that would make him more like Smoltz he should try it.
He may not be the best available option, but Fernando Rodney could be had for a modest return. Granted he’s got a lot of mileage, but he’s durable and surprisingly effective. Rodney can close when Morrow’s on the DL and when he can’t close on consecutive days. Makes a lot of sense, and Cubs would still have the flexibility to add another SP or RP by the deadline.
Off topic here but, I’m just sitting down to watch the Cubs vs. Cards game that I had recorded. Why is Joe Maddon always starting Ian Happ? Albert Almora has the best batting average on the team and is hands down the best center fielder, what am I missing?
looks like Joe made the right call.
What you’re missing is that Maddon is an extremely intelligent manager that blends the old school with the new school (sabremetrics), and that means that he probably checked the metrics, along with the advanced scouting, and deemed that Happ has the most potential to have a good game.
Seeing as how he has a home run, it’s hard to argue with the results. The Cubs are an extremely deep team. The guys have to play sometime.
Their 3 main OFs, Happ and Zobrist all playing well. Against tough righty starter, ideal spot to start Happ. Not a fan, but they are deep and everyone getting fair amount of ABs working.
Padres trade RHP Kirby Yates, INF/OF Corey Spangenberg (former Jed Hoyer first round pick) and RHP Tyson Ross to the Cubs for LHP Mike Montgomery, LHP Brailyn Marquez, RHP Jeremiah Estrada and SS Aramis Ademan.
Ross was on the Cubs radar a few years ago when they Baez rumors were floating around, so I’d imagine there would still be mild interest to fill the rotation down the stretch.
Padres get back Brailyn Marquez, a 19 year old left handed starter with a plus fastball, the Cubs #26 prospect. Jeremiah Estrada, a 19 year old right handed pitcher with a big arm, the Cubs #16 prospect. Aramis Ademan, 19 year old SS, really toolsy kid. The Cubs #2 prospect and the real get in this deal for the Padres. Cubs add Mike Montgomery who immediately slots into the Padres rotation in Tyson Ross’s spot.
Not only are the Padres trying to improve the big league team via upcoming trades but they also need to have an eye to the extreme future. A handful of key guys need 40 man protection in November prior to the rule V draft. The Padres have so much talent that they are going to lose a lot of it if they don’t re-invest current talent on the roster into pieces that can help down the road. The 3 guys I proposed are all 19 year old kids with big upside and most importantly, they are all young enough to put in the system and let develop for years before having to make any moves with them.
The Padres would be cashing in on Ross’s expiring contract, the GM who drafted a player who has kind of fell out of favor in SD (Spangenberg) and Yates plus his team friendly control.
Thoughts?
On a slightly different note.. i feel like that is the one trade Preller f’d up big time not pulling the trigger on Ross for Baez and whatever other scrubs the Cubs were willing to throw in