The Cubs, who trail the NL Central-leading Cardinals by a half-game, are hoping to get back a pair of notable reinforcements in the next few weeks. Second baseman/outfielder Ben Zobrist has barely contributed this season, while reliever Brandon Morrow hasn’t taken a major league mound since July 15, 2018. Both players are now working toward returning.
Zobrist, who has been on the restricted list since May 8 while dealing with a pending divorce, began a rehab assignment Friday. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein discussed the Cubs’ plans for Zobrist with reporters, including Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Epstein revealed Zobrist will “play rehab games on and off for the month of August to get ready. He’s going to take some time off in between these stints to continue to get his body in shape and continue to practice.”
The Cubs are taking that tack with Zobrist because “he’s not going to come back as an everyday player anyway,” according to Epstein. “So it makes sense to get him ready this way.”
Filling a part-time role will be a first in Chicago for Zobrist, a starter for the club since it signed him to a four-year, $56MM contract entering 2016. The deal had paid off handsomely for the Cubs until this season, which has been a disastrous on- and off-field field campaign for Zobrist. The 38-year-old switch-hitter batted a punchless .241/.343/.253 with no home runs and a shockingly low ISO (.012) in 99 plate appearances before going on leave, though he did continue to show a keen awareness of the zone with 14 walks against 12 strikeouts.
Zobrist has seen more time in the corner outfield than at second base this season, but the Cubs addressed both areas prior to Wednesday’s trade deadline. They acquired fellow second baseman/outfielder Tony Kemp from the Astros and reeled in a much bigger fish, right fielder Nicholas Castellanos, in a swap with the Tigers. But it’s anyone’s guess whether those additions will help push the Cubs to the playoffs.
Second base has been a problem for the team all year, as Zobrist, the now-injured Daniel Descalso, David Bote, and current minor leaguers Addison Russell and Robel Garcia have combined for subpar production. Kemp, meanwhile, doesn’t carry an especially impressive MLB track record. The corner outfield now has two defensive question marks – Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber – flanking Jason Heyward. Zobrist is a better defender than Schwarber, who has added to the Cubs’ woes against southpaws this season, and has hit lefties well throughout his career. Ergo, platooning the two could make sense.
As for Morrow, his year-plus absence has been a major blow to the Cubs’ bullpen. After signing a two-year, $21MM contract with the Cubs going into 2018, the oft-injured Morrow thrived for a few months, but then elbow issues upended him. General manager Jed Hoyer indicated Thursday the team’s not holding its breath for the return of Morrow, who has been rehabbing in Arizona.
The 35-year-old Morrow took a more optimistic tone Friday, telling Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com: “I faced hitters just last week, so I’m pretty built up. I’ve thrown the last two days and should be back on the mound early next week.”
Morrow added he’s free of “aches and pains” in his elbow and forearm, and he’s expecting “to progress quickly.” Asked when he believes he’ll rejoin the Cubs, Morrow said, “I guess not more than a month away from being back.”
The money the Cubs have saved during Zobrist’s time away, not to mention Morrow’s inability to take the mound, played key roles in the the three-year, $43MM contract they gave star closer Craig Kimbrel in June. Kimbrel hasn’t exactly been a cure-all for the Cubs’ bullpen, though. The 31-year-old righty has yielded eight earned runs on 12 hits (four home runs) and eight walks in his first 11 2/3 innings as a Cub.
Since the Cubs won it in 2016, I can never be mad at them ever again for being competitive, yet not not dominant.
Thank you Epstein. Not even a cub fan
Same here!
Well said
Personally, I wouldn’t mind if the Cubs didn’t win the World Series for another 108 years.
However, Cubs fans should be happy with the moves the team has made to try and get back over the past few years. Some moves don’t pan out like expected, but the Cubs are continuing to go for it with this core, which is all a fan can really ask for.
Exactly they could have pulled a marlins and break up the team right afterwards like the marlins did not once but twice
Hahaha
Yes. That was a realistic option for a team like the Cubs.
Thank you Epstein. Not even a cub fan
Small sample size for Kimbrel’s stats. Having said that, I’m glad the Braves decided to move on from singing him. A lot of Braves fans were angry as hell about it. And AA received so many downvotes after he signed with the Cubs, that option was removed, never to return. I thought it would have made a great story. Craig coming back to the Braves rejuvenating his career and becoming dominate again. No disrespect to Craig but I’m happier with the way things have turned out for the Braves so far.
You’re happier with Luke Jackson?
Well, Luke Jackson isn’t the Braves closer.
Luke Jackson is maybe the 4th or 5th best arm in the bullpen now. Because you know, the trade deadline happened.
It’s a good thing they signed him for additional seasons so everyone can go “oh it’s a small sample size”. Because the way he was signed halfway through the season, that “sample size” is actually more like 25-30% of the innings he’ll throw this season including the playoffs.
And? AA is willingly paying Mark Melancon 18.5 MM over the next year plus. Nobody is going to care about Kimbrel’s first bad 11 innings if he’s fine moving forward. Not looking sharp for hist first 10 innings was probably more likely than anything else. You shouldn’t have signed Kimbrel or Keuchel if you were looking for a guy who’d be razor sharp on day 1.
I’d like to think the Cubs can squeeze a tiny bit of value out of Morrow and his albatross contract, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Dodgers got the best of Morrow, the Cubs got a shadow.
The cubs should have read his medical report and history before they gave him that contract.
Morrow was highly effective as our closer initially, so although not an outright “win” for the Cubs, it wasn’t an outright disaster
Morrow is done. We get his $$ back this offseason.
Whew!
Saved the Rays the pain of paying that $$ for basically no help to the pen (Kimbrel).
Put that $$ towards their upcoming arbitration players anyways. Glad to see Zobrist nearing a return to play this season.
Wait…so he’s been off 3 months to get divorced?
“Wait…so he’s been off 3 months to get divorced?”
Apparently it was sudden. Plus he has 3 kids and about $60 plus million in cash/assets (after taxes/living) to split up so 3 months seems reasonable to get your affairs in order.
Unless she is a bad mother or a nut, in which case he might need time and a good lawyer.
Guess he’s the first ballplayer with any assets to ever get divorced during the playing season….if he indeed has $60 Million, I would suggest his attorneys are doing the heavy lifting day to day….he’s just dealing with the emotional side which can be devastating but again…is he the first male to deal with having to go through a divorce while having to earn a living?
He’s apparently lucky to be employed by a very generous and understanding team like the Cubs.
That was the point. Is he the first ball player to ever get a divorce in season? Seems kind of strange that’s all.
I still don’t understand this argument. I work for a large national corporation and absolutely have the option to take an unpaid, leave of absence of up to 6 mos and still have guaranteed employment when I return. Maybe not the same position or pay rate, but a job nonetheless. In order to qualify I must have been employed for at least 12 mos. Kinda the same, is it not?
It’s not an argument…I’m saying this is the first guy I’ve ever heard of taking 3 months off during the season to handle a divorce.
Be careful. They might hear you.
I’m surprised Theo bit on this guy. Dave Roberts in 2017 World Series used him like an old used car that had 5 miles left but was trying to get another 500 miles out of it. Morrow was instrumental in what the Dodgers accomplished in 2017 but giving an aging RP with a history of arm and shoulder problems wasn’t exactly the smartest plan.
Doubtful either one will help the immediate cause and that is winning the NL Central.
Zobrist retires at the end of the season. The Cubs give Morrow the 2 million dollar buyout and say so long.
“Doubtful either one will help the immediate cause and that is winning the NL Central.
Zobrist retires at the end of the season. The Cubs give Morrow the 2 million dollar buyout and say so long.”
I’m Willing to bet Ben will try to squeeze in a couple more years after losing half of is fortune. Honestly if he can still contribute he would be foolish not to.
As soon as Morrow steps on the mound I expect his arm to fall off. As for Zobrist I wish him well in whatever he does. If he does retire I would hope there is a place for him in the Cubs organization. He only had the biggest hit in franchise history. .