Right-hander Robert Gsellman, whom the Cubs designated for assignment back on May 30, went unclaimed on outright waivers, as first indicated on the team’s transactions log at MLB.com. The longtime Mets right-hander has enough service time to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency, but Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register tweeted this weekend that Gsellman has rejoined the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
Non-tendered by the Mets last winter, Gsellman signed a minor league deal with Chicago and had has contract selected in early May after posting a tidy 1.17 ERA through 15 1/3 innings with the Cubs’ Iowa affiliate. Gsellman worked an identical number of innings in the Majors following that initial call to the big league roster, but he was tagged for 10 runs (eight earned) on 17 hits and three walks with nine punchouts prior to his DFA.
The 28-year-old Gsellman has battled his share of injuries but has at times been a solid middle relief/setup option for the Mets. Over the past five years in Queens, Gsellman has dealt with a hamstring strain, a ribcage fracture, a pair triceps injuries and, most recently in 2021, a lat strain that limited him to just 17 appearances. Gsellman sustained that lat strain in a June 19 appearance for the Mets last summer and didn’t return to the mound until the final weekend of the season, on Oct. 2.
Gsellman’s 93.5 mph average heater in 2022 was down from its 95.5 mph peak (2019), and his 41.2% grounder rate through those 15 1/3 frames was considerably south of the career 48.6% mark he carried into the 2022 season. He also allowed far too much hard contact, with exactly half the balls put in play against him clocking it at 95 mph or more. Given the inexperienced state of the Cubs’ bullpen — plus the looming likelihood of trades involving veteran arms like David Robertson, Mychal Givens and Daniel Norris — there ought to be future opportunities for Gsellman to work his way back into the big league mix if he continues performing well in Triple-A.
Triple A depth and or an extra arm in case someone gets hurt, COVID or DFA’d.. etc. Good to have these kinda guys in the system.
That was my thought. With all these veterans not getting claimed when the Cubs DFA them, they will have a veteran laden pitching staff at Iowa since most pitching prospects are gaining experience at A and AA ball and not ready for AAA.
I’m not sure how much trade value Daniel Norris has. He seems like a take this guys salary and you can have him.
Noris has been awful… it’s funny how bad the bullpen has looked now that Ross doesn’t have Keegan to lean on.
Cubs gonna grab Keuchel!
And the sign said
“Long-haired freaky people
Need not apply”
So I tucked my hair up under my hat
And I went in to ask him why
He said, “You look like a fine upstandin’ young man
I think you’ll do”
So I took off my hat and said, “Imagine that
Huh, me workin’ for you”
Whoa
Loved this reference from the 1971 Five Man Electrical Band. Thank you.
One of the many great 70s Canadian rock bands :). RIP Les Emmerson recently passed
Greatest 70’s Canadian rock band? The DeFranco Family, of course.
Chris Martin moved from bereavement to restricted so a 40 man spot opened back up. I assume Bote or Mills takes it soon.
If Simmons isn’t launched when Bote comes back, I’m going to scream. Bote probably doesn’t have any real value either but watching Simmons there times a week is cringeworthy.
For all the grief on here about the Cubs not spending money…..here is $4 million they can never get back. I’m not sure we’re the career and the cliff met, but boy, the Cubs missed his valuable years by quite a wide margin.
His skills have completely abandoned him, but that should come as no surprise. Simmons has been in the downward spiral since he left the Angels. Well, it actually started when he was in ANA to be fair.
I think Villar has to go for Bote, what purpose does Villar serve now that Bote finally appears to be healthy? (Not that Bote himself serves much purpose, of course)
That would suck to get fired after having emergency dental work done from a freak accident from the gym.
Villar in my opinion serves more of a purpose and has more value than bote. The guy has been awful for years… sure he can play all over the infield but so can morel and hoerner. Cut ties with bote now, thanks for that one time you hit the grand slam.
This is going to be interesting… Bote was able to come off the IL yesterday but has been flat out awful in AAA during his rehab assignment… I wouldn’t be all that surprised to see the cubs dfa him vs reinstating him to the 40 man.
Simmons has been pretty awful in his own right, especially at the plate. Defensively at short he’s still done well…
To me, it’s frustrating to see heyward continue to get the call over Frazier. Frazier at least has some potential to be part of the cubs long term plans where heyward does not. I can understand playing Villar when healthy and Simmons just to showcase their skills but no one is trading for heyward. Just sit on the bench and collect your money.
It’s time to cut the cord on Heyward.
I cannot understand why the cubs just do not drop him… he isn’t selling jerseys, he isn’t providing anything on offense, defense he has been average at best and he is robbing Frazier of playing time…. Seriously jed, Tom, Dave.. stop living in the sunk loss fallacy and cut your dead weight. Hope someone signs him and you get $700k back
He’s still sad that he has to go sing for Coldplay. I’d be bereaved too
Hey DDT, how is Dumpster Diving Ricky doing? Looks like he needs to be diving.
Gsendheit
Will the Cubs be Gsellers or Gbuyers at the trade deadlines?
As long as they have nothing to do with Grandalers.
I wouldn’t want anything to do with that contract either, Grandal blows.
He’s bad
As always, we await developments.
If Angel Hernandez is an umpire, I can’t take MLB seriously