The Chicago Cubs have recalled hitter supreme Jake Fox from AAA Iowa, less than two weeks after sending him down. Fox is likely to see starting action when the Cubs play interleague games in the AL stadiums later this month – you know, so he can DH.
In a corresponding move, and as I predicted, reliever Jason Waddell is the one heading out – bringing the pitcher/positional player split down to a more respectable 12/13. Surprisingly, though, the Cubs didn’t demote Waddell, they DL’d him.
Waddell has a 5.40 ERA with no record in three relief appearances for the Cubs, his first major league action after nine seasons in the minors. The club said he was put on the DL for evaluation and treatment of a nonbaseball-related medical issue. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Normally, when you see a guy sent to the DL with a non-baseball issue and it conveniently opens up a spot for a guy the team wanted to add, you assume it’s a bogus, made up thing. But I don’t think that’s the case here, because there’s no reason for it: Waddell is in an option year for the Cubs, so they could freely send him back and forth to AAA Iowa, just like Jake Fox.
So I truly don’t understand why the Cubs would DL Waddell instead of simply sending him down to Iowa where he could actually pitch, unless he isn’t going to be pitching.