TODAY: The Cubs placed Winkler on unconditional release waivers, per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). He will be a free agent.
AUG 17: The Cubs have selected outfielder Michael Hermosillo to the big league roster, the team announced. Reliever Dan Winkler was designated for assignment to open space on the active and 40-man rosters. Additionally, Chicago announced that left-hander Kyle Ryan has elected free agency after being passed through outright waivers.
Hermosillo reaches the majors for the fourth consecutive season, as he saw brief time with the Angels every year from 2018-20. Between those three years, the right-handed hitter only picked up a grand total of 118 plate appearances, slashing .188/.288/.287 with a single home run. Amidst those struggles, Los Angeles passed him through waivers last August and he hit minor league free agency over the offseason.
Chicago added the 26-year-old on a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Iowa. Hermosillo has been brilliant in the minors, raking at a .310/.448/.600 clip and popping ten home runs in 183 trips to the plate while playing all three positions on the grass. With the Cubs reeling at the major league level, they can afford to give Hermosillo a look to see if he can emerge as a late-blooming option for the 2022 team and beyond. He’s out of minor league option years, so Chicago now needs to keep him on the active roster or expose him to waivers.
Winkler has been a fixture in the Cubs’ bullpen over the past two seasons. He kept runs off the board last year despite underwhelming peripherals, but he’s had a difficult 2021 campaign in every regard. The righty has a 5.22 ERA over 39 2/3 frames, striking out hitters at a below-average 21.1% rate while walking a very high 15.8% of opponents.
The past few seasons have been a struggle for Winkler, who pitched well from 2017-18 with the Braves. With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, he’ll find himself on waivers in the coming days. A claiming team would assume what remains of his $900K salary; otherwise, the Cubs will be on the hook for the tab. Winkler has the right to elect free agency while retaining his entire salary should he pass through waivers.
That’s the course of action Ryan chose after being designated for assignment last week. The veteran southpaw is now set to explore other opportunities. Should he sign elsewhere before August 31, he’d be eligible for his new team’s postseason roster.
Huh. Winkler has been strong except for last three appearances. Can the Cubs afford to just dump him?
YES!
Cubs’ playoff hopes are now dashed.
LOL
He’s a free agent at the end of the year anyway. If he isn’t a stabilizing presence, they’re better off using the spot to sort out guys from the 40 man. And this way, he gets a chance to latch on with a team in contention.
Agree .. the Cubs actually made a respectful (to Winkler) decision.. he gets paid either way.. even if he could have contributed to the Cubs, a) he would be taking innings away from ‘look-see’ arms and b) he would just be throwing ‘dead’ innings..
This way, he (might) have an opportunity to be a bullpen depth piece for a playoff club ..
Oh lawd that Bleacher Nation guy has a hard on for Hermosilo. I bet he bust a nut upon seeing this headline
He’s been bad longer than that.
Dan Winkler is pretty good. I think that is a big mistake! Cub fans tell me I am wrong!
I don’t know if you’re wrong, but you’re definitely not right.
Ever since the sticky crackdown he’s sucked.
…..and that effort on Saturday evening in Miami had to be one of the worst efforts I have seen in an MLB game, since the last time Jake Arrieta pitched.
Nice to see another tristate guy commenting on the Cubs!
He was equally bad last night.
You must have missed Hembree’s efforts for the Reds monday night.
You… you watched that game long enough for to remember a relief performance? God bless you.
poor Winkler, had been having a good year
Must have told off some Score Station hack Like Joliet Jake!
ERA finally catching up with his FIP.
If Arrieta can find a job with a contender, so can Winkler.
Winkler may be starting for the Padres Thursday. Actually, Winkler was quite good most of the first half. He throws a million cutters and he has no idea where it is going right now and it’s doing nothing. No point having him on the roster. Then again, no point having half that pitching staff either.
I’m sure if you remove all of the bad appearances from Matt Harvey, he is having a good year too. I mean the guy has been the worst pitcher in baseball for a month. They are relievers so they can turn it around but he can’t be on a MLB roster..
Over 5 era in 40+ appearances. Not that great.
This Hermosillo cat has been tearing it up on the farm.
AAAA
Winkler was picked up within 20 sec of news on the wire
We aren’t competitive this season. May as well let hood veterans have a shot to catch on elsewhere and get the younger guys some experience and a chance to develop.
Must be why the cubs have so many no show fans against the Brewers!
The team of misfit AAAA players continues………
I would have to respectfully disagree. This is not a 4-A team, if it was they would at least be competitive. These guys aren’t even playing competitive games. I’d put them at organizational players at best. The career minor league fill in guys.
I hope this means Brennan Davis gets promoted to start playing in Iowa.
He’ll be DFA’ed in 24-48hrs
cool to see him get another shot
I remember getting toasted by Cub fans for once again letting them know the team was in a FULL rebuild. Guys came at my head! It is a FULL rebuild guys! See ya in 5 years. Scary thing is that the Pirates have a two-year head start and have been stocking the farm system with tremendous depth.
yeah but PIT has one big thing working against them…they’re PIT.
Ironic that you have this inside info. It’s a partial rebuild, sonny
“Guys came at my head!”
2 things
– It’s the internet, bro. How exactly did anyone do anything violent towards you?
– Dovetailing with that; well, aren’t you just a “special” little drama queen.
Winkler had a difficult 2021 in every regard? He had a near all star first half!
I wouldn’t say all star caliber, definitely pretty good. 3 straight awful games brought his ERA from 2.60 to 5+. He’ll latch on as a depth pick up with a contender.
Goodbye to the Fonz. Winkler’s response: “ayyyyy”
These aren’t Happy Daya for Winkler.