Cubs center fielder Jake Marisnick made an early exit from Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Pirates, as a right hamstring strain forced Marisnick to depart during the top of the first inning. While pursuing a Wilmer Difo fly ball to left-center field, Marisnick seemingly took a bad step and then fell to the ground as Difo’s hit fell for a single. Marisnick was immediately removed from the game, with Kris Bryant taking over in center field and Joc Pederson replacing Bryant in left field.
Manager David Ross told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian (Twitter link) and other reporters that Marisnick will undergo further tests tomorrow to determine the extent of the strain. Hamstring problems were a recurring issue for Marisnick last season when he played for the Mets, as separate injuries to both hamstrings led to two separate trips to the injured list, and he ended up playing only 16 games in 2020.
Signed to a one-year free agent deal worth $1.5MM in guaranteed money, Marisnick was ticketed for a fourth outfielder role for Chicago. With Ian Happ injured, however, Marisnick has seen more regular duty in center field, and delivered in something of an unexpected way. Known for his defense more than his hitting over nine MLB seasons, Marisnick’s defense hasn’t been great (-1 Defensive Run Saved, -35.7 UZR/150) over 118 innings in center field, but he is hitting .264/.350/.623 over 60 plate appearances.
If Marisnick’s absence wasn’t enough, Jason Heyward was also removed from the game for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning due to what Ross described as a problem with his right hand. Heyward is also undergoing examination from team trainers. It’s been a tough start to the season for the veteran outfielder, as Heyward is hitting just .173/.239/.317 over his first 113 PA.
The Cubs don’t play on Monday and they also have an off-day on Thursday, so it’s possible Heyward and Marisnick might have enough time to recuperate without a trip to the IL. That being said, being down two outfielders would leave Chicago pretty short-handed with Happ and Nico Hoerner also sidelined, and it would leave Bryant as the team’s top center field option. Cameron Maybin, Ian Miller, and Rafael Ortega are all available at Triple-A, though none are on the Cubs’ 40-man roster.
In better injury news for the Cubs, Jake Arrieta is tentatively scheduled to return from the injured list for a start against the Tigers on Friday. In a pregame chat with reporters (including Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago), Ross said that Arrieta felt good after a bullpen session yesterday, and would throw another bullpen on Tuesday or Wednesday. A right thumb abrasion sent Arrieta to the 10-day IL on May 4, so he would miss only the minimum 10 days if he was activated on Friday. Arrieta has a 4.31 ERA/4.63 SIERA and a below-average 20.7% strikeout rate and 8.9% walk rate over 31 1/3 innings for Chicago this season.
Playing Bryant if CF ups that trade value
I know Pederson hasn’t been considered good enough for cf in awhile but he did come up as a cf and had a 30/30 season in aaa. Is Bryant really a better option in center? That’s surprising to me and I would think it does indeed increase his value.
Yes, Bryant is a better option than Pederson in CF.
The question we should be asking is “is Bryant a better option than Heyward in Center”.
Depends how good he is in center. Can’t plug any player in center or short and claim they are worth more
Btw are the Cubs still sold on trading Bryant anymore? Maybe but he looks like the guy I was scared of coming up from the minors again
That Heyward contract
Gonna pop a bottle of champagne when it’s finally come to a close.
Finally, a Cubs fan not defending it
I’m kinda against most giant contracts, esp with the luxury tax cap. What I see is teams spending all their money on 2 players and then they can’t spend money on anyone else. And maybe no contract should exceed 5 years, I dunno. I just hate getting stuck with players who don’t pan out. Blegh.
The MLBPA needs to get rid of, or at least greatly increase, the CBT limit in the next CBA.
Iowa Cubs with a combined no hitter today. Some guys might have an even better day with a callup.
I do love J-Hay but if they can talk a team into taking him and 80% of his remaining salary then they should really do that.
All it would cost is Brennen Davis, Ed Howard, and Chase Strumpf.
If they can get a bag off balls and a team to pay 10-15% of his salary they should take it.
Ain’t no team taking on 80% of what Heyward has remaining on his contract. Not only isn’t he hitting, but his defense is going away, too. Just a total waste of money for that bum
Jakes headed to the DL. Cam Maybin will be called up and probably will finish season with the team if he hits
That Heyward deal is atrocious. He’s the oldest 31 year old in baseball. How is it you’re 6”5 240 and you have no power? He’s had one good season in Chicago. That deal never made sense.
Most of the free agent deals struck by Theo Epstein made no sense. Jason Heyward, Tyler Chatwood and Craig Kimbrel ….. All were Epic busts!!!!
It’s like internal development helps.
Chatwood was actually good his 2nd year of the 3 year deal. Heyward hasn’t been that bad and Kimbrel has been solid this year.
Kimbrel has been dominant since the the second month of last season, so I’d say that one is fine. The rest no argument from me lol
Theo really is something of an anomaly. He’s like the best worst baseball executive of all time. What he does well, he does really well, and what he does horribly, he does REALLY horribly.
Had to double check that hes actually only 31… damn
2022 is the last year of that crippling Jason Heyward contract. Thankfully for the Cubs but that can’t come soon enough.
Before the season began, I thought Pederson-Marisnick-Heyward would be a great defensive outfield and Cubs pitching would benefit greatly. What happened?
You mis-assessed?
It is going to be a very, very long rebuild for the Chicago Cubs. Farm system is trash! Major League team has very little talent that anybody wants via trade. This is what happens when you delay a rebuild that should have started 2 years ago. Now instead of going into the rebuild like the Chicago White Sox did a few years back trading MLB talent for young stud prospects ….. you are the Baltimore Orioles, who got scraps for Machado and are mired in a long and seemingly never ending rebuild.
The Cubs are trying to break their own record. Instead of 106 years, they’re shooting for at least 110. They are well on their way. Go Cubbies!!!
Most recent season having the worst record in the National League:
PIT (2020)
MIA (2019)
SFG (2017)
CIN (2016)
SDP (2016 also)
PHI (2015)
ARI (2014)
HOU (2012)
WSN (2009)
CHC (2006)
COL (2005)
MIL (2002)
NYM (1993)
LAD (1992)
ATL (1990)
STL (1918)
St. Louis is shooting for breaking the “reverse” record of the Cubs. They are well on their way. Go Cardinals!!!
1918 was the year shortened by WWI and by the Spanish flue. First or last place in Baseball was of little relevance.
Idk, cubs “last” rebuild started in 2012 with Theo. That only took 3 years to get uber competitive. They have good minor talent, but none are ready for the show anytime soon. I think the cubs have similar trade pieces as the sox had back then. Kyle Hendricks, Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras. Even kimbrel is making strides. They surely might not get as much, but not a ton of teams send multiple (top 25-50 prospects in all of baseball) high-end talent for one player. The cubs could get some solid mid range prospects + 3-4 higher end guys for the lot of them. That would greatly improve the farm. They would likely need to develop them. Full disclosure: i have not a ton of faith in Jed anyway. He must be picking up his frugal trait from Ricketts. Had a friend say that jed left like a 6$ tip on a 40-50$ order of food.
You are wrong on both accounts. Incredibly wrong actually. This team is loaded with players teams will want at the deadline. Bryant, Kimbrel, Contreras, Baez and possibly Hendricks. Also their farm isnt that bad, lot of very young high floor players. This could easily be a top 5 system by next years deadline if they play their cards right.
Yea ppl sleep on the farm, there are some studs in there. Even without a sell off which I don’t think is happening the system will have a much better ranking before next season.
That is like evaluating the Darvish trade before a lot of those kids even played an inning of professional ball. I always circle back to Tatis wasn’t on anyone’s radar when the White Sox traded him for Peavy.
Those kids the Cubs got are real prospects, they were paid like potential stars in the MLB, lets see how that trade pans out along with Howard and Hernandez.
You can add Arrieta to that list as well as Chaffin and Brothers if the offer is right. Marisnick, Duffy and Sogard would all be targets as well. Hoyer did a nice job adding players that will be sought after at the deadline, even if they will not bring in much.
You cannot sleep on those wildcard trades, you may not get a stud but you can get a valuable piece, such as Alex Mills.
You clearly know nothing about the Cubs farm system.
It’s funny how White Sox fans talk about how to rebuild… Epstein tore down and rebuilt the Cubs into a World Series contender and eventually a World Series winner in 3 years… a team who’s farm system boasted Baez and that is pretty much it.
The White have been rebuilding for 10 years… yeah lets follow that blue print of a decade or awful baseball.
Circling back to the Cubs “trash” farm system… Look at Nico, Alzolay, Steele and Thompson producing at the ML level (Alzolay has an inflated ERA due to the bullpen allowing inherited runners to score).
The Cubs have three top 100 prospects, they have two extremely talented players in Howard and Hernandez who will easily be top 100 prospects in the near future. They are loaded with extremely young high upside players like Made, Santana, Preciado, Pinango, Morel, Mena and my personal farm favorite Jordan Nwygu who improved dramatically since he committed himself to baseball.
Bryant SF Giants Next Year
I was pleased when the Cards obtained JHey from the Braves. He never had a lot of power but had good on base skills and of course great D in right field. It of course turned out well that they were not able to resign Jason. You just never know how big money will affect your play. You sometimes press to prove that the contract was warranted and create bad habits going forward. I hope JHey can still find a way to rebound. He still relatively young.
Our Cubs are a mess…KB in CF? Please say it ain’t so….Theo must be back…
Troll ^
Davro…Troll eh? How do you figure? KB is not a fleet outfielder, let alone CF…he’s great at third…a better choice would have been Heyward in CF…yet he hates that position…and the outfield issue is just part of the mess…a bigger mess is our Cubs starting rotation…
Have you heard of injuries? Also, they like Duffy in the lineup, so Bryant goes to outfield. Rotation was never going to be great. Hendricks and Davies have been disappointing, which is a surprise, but something you have to deal with. With all the injuries, poor hitting, bad starting pitching, they are still around .500 and within a few games of first.
Davro…. I’m glad you responded with logic versus the Troll slight… I think our Cubs are lucky to be at .500…many Cubs fans believe that 500 ball is successful…not me…the starters have been horrific…and we can thank the administration for unloading contracts in the off season, leaving us fans to simmer… LoL
Cubs pitching staff ERA 2021
1. Hendricks. 6.23
2. Arrieta. 4.31
3. Davies. 6.30
4. Williams. 5.81
5. Alzolay. 4.50