Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced that outfielder Cody Bellinger is going to be activated from the injured list today, relayed by Bruce Levine of 670 The Score on X. The full slate of moves was laid out by Madde Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times on X, with outfielder Alexander Canario optioned to Triple-A, while right-hander Daniel Palencia was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder stiffness with fellow righty Keegan Thompson recalled to take his place. Additionally, outfielder Seiya Suzuki is going on a rehab assignment, playing with Triple-A Iowa tomorrow. Lee was among those to relay that on X.
Bellinger landed on the IL a couple of weeks ago after colliding with the Wrigley Field wall and fracturing two ribs. Despite that scary diagnosis, he’s made a quick return without going out on a rehab assignment.
Prior to the injury, Bellinger had hit five home runs in his first 22 games of the season. Despite a tiny .215 batting average on balls in play, he was still slashing .226/.320/.440 for a 107 wRC+. With the Cubs in 2023, he hit 26 homers and had a .307/.356/.525 batting line, which translated to a 134 wRC+.
The quick return should be good for both the club and for Bellinger personally. Assuming he finds a bit better batted ball luck going forward, his numbers this year could move closer to where they were last year. That would naturally be good for the club’s offense while also helping set Bellinger up for this winter.
Despite his strong 2023 season, Bellinger never found a large contract to his liking. That was perhaps at least partially due to his notable struggles in 2021 and 2022 in the aftermath of shoulder surgery. He returned to the Cubs on a three-year deal with opt-outs after each season, allowing him to grab a bit of financial security while also giving him the chance to return to free agency when he sees fit.
Another lengthy injury layoff would have hurt his chances at maximizing his earning power this coming winter, so the quick turnaround still gives him a shot at putting together a good stretch of quality playing time between now and the end of the year.
Pete Crow-Armstrong came up when Bellinger first got injured but it seems he’s sticking around for now. His defense is excellent but he’s hitting just .216/.231/.351 on the year so far. Perhaps he will stick in center with Bellinger in a corner or in the designated hitter slot, with Mike Tauchman and Ian Happ also in that mix. But when Suzuki is ready to come off the IL, perhaps Crow-Armstrong will be optioned back down for regular playing time with Bellinger back in the regular center field role.
Good news for the Cubs! Not sure how ribs can heal that quickly but I’m not complaining.
The rib fracture must not have been as severe. I bet Bellinger was trying his best not to sneeze the whole time though!
Pete’s hitting isn’t strong enough yet to crow about.
Glad he’s back. Cubs now have an all LH hitting OF now. Happ is basically below average to average RH. Although Tauchman and Bellinger hit Lefties just as well as Righties.
Happ is awful at hitting lefties. I hope the Cubs either go defense heavy against southpaws (Bellinger in left if he can handle it and PCA in center) or bite the bullet and stick Wisdom in left.
Wisdom in left would be unwise.
The puns are coming left and right today!
I’m not so sure bringing back Thompson was a good idea. He was awful lately. I’d have like to see if he was capable of getting hitters out, in Iowa. It didn’t look like it to me.
He started with 10 scoreless before he had a bad two outings.
Those 10 were pretty good
I was trying to make a case for bringing up Arias from AA, But, And I only found this out from reading the article about Cade Horton is that apparently they use a different ball in other leagues in the Minors but use the same ball as MLB in AAA. How this makes any sense I have no idea, Nor did they say what the difference is. So I’m still wondering, Why they just brought up Horton, But left Arias behind. That makes even less sense to me as Arias was doing just as well as Horton.
Where’s Curly?
@Uncle Mike from what I heard the ball down there is easier to grip, more “tacky.” The MLB balls this year are like cue balls in pool, and inconsistent height/thickness of the seams.
Last season they used a pre-tacked baseball. Probably the case this year. It’s one of the reason Brown struggled in AAA last season.
To me, it’s kind of stupid to use two different balls. I get it from MLB perspective, trying to see if it’s viable but also from a team developmental view point it’s dumb.
Yeah well whether we like it or not if Hendricks does well in Iowa tonight he’s probably back here starting by Sunday. And he just struck out the side in the 1st inning.
Wisdom should not be in the field. Happ definitely needs to not be hitting 3rd. Put him in the 7th spot.
Happ did really well in the 2 hole and leadoff to start the season. I don’t think he’s been healthy and/or maybe he’s putting too much pressure on himself.
Bellinger being back is great, once Suzuki gets back the line up will look really nice. Hopefully both can hit the ground (or ball) running.
What’s up with Happ? He used to hit with power….he had 42 doubles one season.
I personally believe he is banged up. His home run power has been down over the past couple seasons but as you mentioned, he was a doubles machine.
Of course, Happ has always been streaky and prior to Bellinger return, he could have been putting a lot of pressure on himself to produce.
I guess this is the only way to help our bullpen? Rush the missing and most productive offensive bats back to the lineup. Hopefully Suzuki and Bellinger have no setbacks. We need to score more runs for our starters to safely hand the game over to our bullpen!
This one is on Jed Hoyer big time for not making ownership dole out more money. This team could easily have the best record in baseball even without our ace and 2 best bats for a whole month.
Hoyer should be kicking the tires on a potential trade with the Marlins for Tanner Scott. That would be one way to help the bullpen in my opinion.
Hoyer wasn’t cheap on the bullpen, we have a lot of injuries. Of course Hendricks and Alzolay being awful hasn’t helped anything either but no one could predict that.
If it wasn’t for the sheer amount of injuries, the bullpen would be looking pretty good (aside from Alzolay) Merryweather, Brown, Wesneski, Smyly and/or Wicks in the pen would/will eventually have made a major difference
I am not convinced that Tanner is better than Adbert, Leiter or Neris. For now, I see Neris as closer and Leiter and the alternate when Neris is unavailable. I am open to acquiring a better closer, just not Tanner Scott.
Agree with Manny. Scott walks the world.
I know inter=division trades are rare, but Helsley should be available.
I just threw out Tanner Scott’s name out there as an option, but I do think the Cubs should get a reliever to help the bullpen. They can shoot for the stars, there’s enough prospects to get something done.
The biggest problem with the bullpen is the walks. More importantly the stupid lead off walks to bottom of the order bats. The Cubs have a slew of Tanner Scotts. Little-Arias-Hodge- The now injured Palencia- The lame Alzolay. So we need another one? Either go for a big time arm like a Kenley Jansen or a short term fix who could be a long term asset or just keep bringing them up.
Kenley Jansen is having his own problems throwing strikes this season. I don’t think he’s your best option.
He was just a name I threw out. he’s not the only possibility.
@drasco- yes there are lots of injuries. But he was cheap on the bullpen. What money did he spend to bring who in? All you did was mention guys who were already in the organization, who are being paid peanuts.
Hector Neris seems like he was the”big” signing. He’s not worth $9m to walk more guys than he strikes out. He could’ve had Chafin for half that and he probably would be locking down that 9th inning. Would’ve been great to have both them actually. As much as I dislike Neris, I’m sure he’ll provide a useful month or 2 at some point.
Nico,
By all means please tell me who the Cubs should have signed?
Chaffin? Why? Because he is doing well now but choosing to ignore how awful he was last season?
I mentioned those guys because A.) those guys are solid and B.) for all the “spend money guys” you have to realize having options have to be weighed into decisions you make. Lastly you have C.) 40 man roster decisions. You complain about the Cubs not signing players but ignore the impact on both the 40 man roster and the fact you have to have several relievers with minor league options, especially with the “new balanced schedule” where teams have to play 30 games straight.
Neris was a perfect signing for the Cubs. A guy with closing experience, solid reliever who could step in for Alzolay. Alzolay being awful could not be predicted. Nor could you predict Merryfield going down.
Hindsight is 20/20 as they say, but the roster construction was solid. High leverage was solid, Alzolay, Merryfield, Leiter jr, Neris good young arms with upside Little, Brown, long relief Wesneski, Smyly, Assad.
Let’s also not forget we were only looking at having to fill 1 slot in the rotation. Then Tailon got hurt in spring training, then Steele, then Hendricks was awful/hurt and now Wicks. So feel free to keep complaining but actually use some brainpower
Good about Bellinger. And the other moves make sense per se. But no one will say it, so I will: the Cubs are the whitest team in the majors, and have been for a couple of years. I don’t think Hoyer and Hawkins are racists, but there might be a kind of “soft racism” in play: when H and H think about a team player, a high-character guy, they visualize a white kid from southern California. They unconsciously associate the swaggering way *some* players of color self-present as selfish or erratic or somehow away-from-good, when in reality it is just different. Nowadays, when one even talks about race, he is attacked for being racist, so I suppose I’m going to get ripped by some of you; I can take it. But I think this tendency on the part of H and H is both wrong (morally) and wrong (baseball-wise); you need all kinds of skills and people to build the best team.
Neris, Alzolay, Assad, Morel, Gomes, Almonte, Amaya, Suzuki, Imanaga, Palencia, what is your definition of “white”?
Skin color. What is sadly telling is that even Cubs who are technically non white tend to have light skin. And Morel is the only Cub who has what one of my black friends calls “CPS”–Colored People Swag. But it’s also more impressionistic than that: watch the Padres lineup tonight as they come to bat, and watch the Cubs lineup. It’s like the black guys against the white guys.
Your statement in itself is racist. And your virtue signaling doesn’t mask your true feelings as well as you might believe.
….. Oh boy, Alan with all due respect, take a walk outside.
Technically, there are zero black players on the Padres roster and zero on the Cubs roster.
Christopher Morel is Dominican, a Latino. Yan Gomes from Brazil. Miguel Amaya, Panama. Seiya, Arakawa, Japan. Alex Canario, Dominican. Hector Neris, Dominican. Shota, Kitakyushu, Japan. Alzolay, Venezuela. Assad, Mexico. Almonte was born in Miami but may have Domincan roots further back.
Alan 53-Muted. Race card really? Look at the whole lower levels of the organization. It’s mostly international.
Yes. But I’m a Cubs fan, going back to 1960–so it is MY team that I care about and feel ashamed of.
No, I’m not racist. Noticing race isn’t racist. And I’m not virtue-signaling, which I agree is an annoying thing we see too much of. I’m just making an observation, and in a thoughtful, nuanced, precisely-worded way. But good writers like me need good readers. Some who have responded seem yo be good readers, which I appreciate.
Not sure what your point is; it strikes me as a lazy response. Thanks anyway though.
And your virtue signaling doesn’t mask your true feelings
========================
But he has what some blacks call a “TBF ” -Token Black Friend.
Alan5326 mins ago
I’m just making an observation
======================
No, you’re not. They have the most foreigners of any team in their division. And the fact that you refer to “tend to have light skin” is an SNL skit from 40 years year ago.
Back to Mississippi with you.
The Padres have 0 black players on their roster.
Hmm I don’t know, Schwarber, Harper and Rhys Hoskins were boisterous (rather they are still) and have swagger. Those three are white dudes.
Congratulations! You win the top prize for dumbest thing typed on this website today! They sign and play the best players regardless of race.
I like to think that’s true, and for the most part it is–but as I said, there is a kind of “soft racism” that comes into play.
Alan53,
Read the attached article. Teams only average two black players from the Uds. Guys like Neris are dark-skinned Latinos (Dominican Republic). Maybe a baseball issue, but nothing unique to Cubs.
dailynews.com/2024/04/14/number-of-black-major-lea…
Thanks. I will read. Yes, it’s a problem throughout baseball, and one has to shake one’s head ruefully when MLB makes a big show of celebrating Jackie Robinson Day each year, at a time when there are so few *African American* players– that is, descendants of American slaves–in MLB. It is a scandal, and I think the soft racism I alluded to is one of the contributing factors.
Alan531 hour ago
that is, descendants of American slaves–in MLB. It is a scandal, and I think the soft racism
==========================
You’re the worst type of racist. Blacks choose FB and basketball because that is where their biggest advantage is.
The fact that you think there is something wrong with their logical decision making is despicable.
Alan, there is just a dearth of African-American players in general. My team has one: JP Crawford. Check out the Brewers or Royals sometime as well…pretty dang white (sprinkled with Latin American flavor).
Black (African-Amer)players off the top of my head: Crawford, Adell, Mookie, Judge, Stanton, Nick Gordon, Hunter Greene, Marcus Semien, Simeon-Wood, Byron Buxton, CJ Abrams, Laurence Butler, Will Benson, Marcus Stroman…I’m sure I left some out, but the point is there aren’t very many.
Yes, it is a league-wide problem.
I also believe that we should discount any “black” player that doesn’t vote liberal and doesn’t speak out about racism. They aren’t really black and are white on the inside
You actually left several off the list. Baseball actually has more black players now than 10 years ago. Players like Stroman and Jazz have made a conscious effort to add more style/culture/personality to their game in hopes to attract more young black talent to the game. Heyward and Stroman have worked to build baseball programs for inner city youths as well.
One of the major issues with attracting young black athletes in America is the weather disparity. Baseball is a very expensive game to play and there are not many parks in inner cities where players can play.
The reason you actually see a bit more black players now is a change in scouting philosophy, scouts who are focusing on multi-sport athletes vs guys who sole focus is on baseball, playing year round.
I didn’t count Jazz because he’s from Curacao if my memory serve. As is Profar.
Are you white?
What a moronic, BS take. MLB execs could care less about skin color, it’s all about winning and making money for the team. And as for swagger, Christopher Morel alone has as much swagger and flash as any player in the game. Seriously, watch his HR trot, I’m surprised he doesn’t get knocked down constantly.
Yes, Morel is the one exception.
Cubs are Mid,
I think Alan is wrong about anything unique to Cubs, but I would not call it “moronic”.
dailynews.com/2024/04/14/number-of-black-major-lea…
Alan – IMHO that’s a bad take, seems to me you are not that familiar with their roster. By the way, I have never thought of Belli as a “high-character” guy, just an incredibly talented player who was maybe a little under-motivated but mostly injured and then had a resurgence. Guys like Morel, Alzolay, Amaya, Nico and Dansby are better team leaders.
Belli loves smoking the tweed, although I am unsure of its legality in Illinois.
the Cubs are the whitest team in the majors,
========================
I did a quick count, only for the number of foreigners, and only in their division. They have more foreigners than any other team in their division..
Care to explain that?
It’s fine that they have a couple of Asian players, but the lack of darker-skinned African American or Afro-Latin players is conspicuous. And they don’t have non-Asian minority players in prominent positions. The white guys are the main guys; some of the scrubs include a rotating (Canario being sent down today, for instance) group of players of color. I take your point, but it’s not just a matter of counting.
Apparently every ethnicity is white except black.
That isn’t even remotely true.
Stroman, Caus, Rios, Alzolay, Morel, Candalario, Velazquez and Canario were not “dark” enough for you?
Heyward, Givens, Stroman Villar, Simmons, Hermosillo either?
Cubs fans certainly have had their history of racism but the organization, not so much.
It’s not a question of whether they are dark enough for me, it’s a question of whether they are too dark for Cubs mgmt.
And yiur list actually makes my point: very few odmf the players on it were Cubs for long. An outmaker like Swanson and a stuck-up clubhouse lawyer like Happ get long-term contracts, and one thick-thighed white college pitcher with a below-average fastball gets drafted every summer, but players of color, especially ones with darker skin, have shirt tenured.
Drasco, I go back as a fan to 1960. I’m an old man. I remember the Wrigley regime, which in its last years was undeniably racist. So I am sensitive to any indication that those bad old days are back. Maybe oversensitive, as you and others have suggested (some with undies meanness, but that’s the ‘Net. I would love to be wrong, and I hope that Hoyer proves me wrong with his acquisitions and promotions over the next couple of years. But I see what they have on the field now. The makeup (and the quality) of the team are not good.
Ed Howard, Jordan Nwogu, Nazier Mule, Christian Franklin, BJ Murray all recently drafted, all black. Ed Howard was a first round pick.
You’re just making up racism and it’s ridiculous.
Now, you are attacking Happ and Swanson(even going personal on Happ) Lol at this guy
Edwin Jackson
Dexter Fowler
Quentin Berry
Austin Jackson
Addison Russell
Jason Heyward
CJ Edwards
Terrance Gore
Tony Kemp
Cameron Maybin
Billy Hamilton
Tryce Thompson
Jeremy Jeffers
Dwayne underwood jr.
Simmons
Mycha Givens
What are your thoughts on not enough black athletes participating in baseball in general? Can you provide statistics in regards to the Cubs being more racist than other organizations this year?
Also what are your thoughts on basketball teams with all black athletes? Are they racist since they aren’t including more non black athletes?
The Cubs are racist, apparently, because Ian Happ is better than Canario and Darby Swanson is better than Ed Howard.
This guy is ridiculous, he claimed the Padres were “black” despite not having a single black player on their roster and the Cubs were white because the team doesn’t have enough style
I’ve been impressed with the Cubs ability to succeed in spite of all the injuries. It’s a sign of a cohesive organization.
In the short term, it makes sense to return PCA to Iowa to get regular at-bats and ride Tauchman’s hot hand for as long as it lasts.
I think they should stay the course until they get healthier and avoid any knee jerk transactions. The Brewers are cooling off a little and the rest of the Central isn’t going anywhere fast.
Your post earlier of a potential trade for Helsley, I would do it if I were the Cubs. He’s having a great year so far, and your team isn’t exactly running on all cylinders. Mo should really be open to that if the wheels continue to fall off by the time June rolls around.
Good deal….Look I like Busch and PCA isnt quite their as far as hitting consistently in the big leagues but I just wonder what the talk was about signing Belli to be a full time 1bman. If he was even open to it? I understand the value in cf but man he would stay on the field more and his skills are insane at the corner. Anyway, Just hinesight. Glad hes back. Maybe he can pitch the 9th too. 🙂
they should rly remove walls from stadiums
that way outfielders wont crash into them and injured themselves
its like the pitch clock, if you take it away, all these pitchers wont be going down with TJ
Dude, stop. The Cubs in 2016 signed Jason Heyward to a $184MM contract and in 2021 signed Marcus Stroman to a $71MM deal.
Glad to see Belli make a quick recovery!
Rich get richer.
I’m starting to understand why Brewer fans didn’t speak very highly of Counsell. At first I thought it was just spite but I kind of get it.
Leaving Imanaga in for the 8th was a head scratcher for sure.
All’s well that ends well anyway.
With 100 pitches no less.
I do get it, I’m sure he wanted to rest the bullpen if he could and the pen has been pretty volatile but I wasn’t a fan
The surprise to me was I thought he was trying to give Almonte a blow after going 2 innings last time. But then he brought him in anyway after he blew the lead. The good news is it looks like Hendricks will be back this weekend. Wesneski goes to the pen with Brown. Hopefully Smyly replaces Lovelady soon. Imanaga gets an extra day with the off day and Hendricks coming back Things should be looking up a little anyway.
Is that tongue in cheek?
I don’t think Hendricks coming back to replace Wesneski is necessarily a good thing. Yes, the bullpen gets a boost but the rotation could very well get worse if Hendricks has not figured it out.
No it’s not. 16 million dollars says he gets another shot. Plus he’d pitching against Pitt on 5 days rest, Not a horrible match up for him. Seiya 2 for 2 with a walk today at Iowa. Wesneski to the pen helps a lot. Brown long man. I gotta think Smyly almost back for Lovelady. PCA staying at least until Belli can play CF again. We’re almost back to 100%. They have to at least see what they can get out of Hendricks and Smyly. Even to deal them they’d have to eat some money to save some money. Next year is next year. If Belli opts out they will have about 80 million to spend on the pen which 1. They won’t and 2. They will be awesome with their starters.
There’s no pen help at Iowa really. Riley Thompson is horrible and I have no idea why he’s still here. Franklin is hurt again. Little is a little lost right now. Keegan ? Not sure. Arias on the 40 but still at AA-No idea why. Then you have the hodge podge of Teheran-Edwards-Straily not really sure how they’re gonna help much. Hodge maybe but he’s not really closer material but he can help and Bigge is hurt. They need help from somewhere and they better realize it soon unless Brown and Wesneski can stabilize the late innings it’s gonna be a long summer.
Plus Wieck’s fastball tops out at 86 MPH now after 2 TJ’s and heart surgery after being low to mid 90’s. Roberts still rehabbing. Cuas- I’ve seen enough thanks. Escobar-No thanks. McWilliams is rusty he’s coming back from being retired and Pannone is doing awesome but the Cubs don’t need another starter right now Plus Wicks should go there for rehab soon which blocks him even more. Need I go on?
I’m not saying he won’t get another shot (Hendricks) but saying “the good thing is”.
I’m not overly worried about the pen once we get to full strength. I think in a perfect world Hendricks pitches well enough to be traded but if he does, Cubs will probably keep him. Wesneski, Brown, Little, Neris, Wicks, Alzolay will be enough and the Cubs likely will seek a reliever via trade. You have all the guys who can be recalled when a guy needs a break but the depth of long relievers should allow the Cubs to keep from having to option for a fresh arm.
For the sake of clarity, let’s try not to use hodgepodge and porter Hodges in the same paragraph lol
Pass me the pipe
I think he is trolling. I don’t think he is 70 years old like he says. Brilliant job.subtle hints. What 70 year old knows virtue signaling meaning? What person says “he feels ashamed of the lack of black players on. Team” Just race hustlers trying to make money. Not average joes