NEWSLETTER
So much for Ian Stewart’s non-injury.
The MRI of his quad showed a mild to moderate strain, per Gordon Wittenmyer, which is likely to keep Stewart out of action for 10 to 14 days. Stewart hurt the quad during Thursday’s intrasquad game.
It’s a really unfortunately timed injury for Stewart, who is already coming back from wrist surgery, which emanated from an ongoing wrist problem that cost him most of the 2012 season. He says the wrist is feeling 100% for the first time in years, but that’s not going to help him with this new quad problem.
Hopefully, with rest, and the long Spring Training, this won’t really be an issue.
The non-guaranteed nature of Stewart’s contract* becomes even more relevant in this context. The Cubs can cut Stewart by March 16, and owe him just 1/6 of his $2 million salary (or $333K). If they cut him by the end of Spring Training, they owe him 1/4 ($500K). Either way, Stewart will need to show that he’s worth that extra $1.5 million by Opening Day, or the Cubs might simply opt to save some cash.
*Note that there is nothing special about Stewart’s deal, as some folks have written. Typical contracts for players during their arbitration years include this non-guaranteed language – Stewart got the same kind of deal that a typical arbitration player would get. Although he was non-tendered, he’s still in his arbitration years. There’s no there there, as they say.
