Does it count as a cut if you’re told you won’t make the team, but aren’t, like, cut? I guess it does.
Today the Chicago Cubs informed reliever Zach Putnam and infielder Alberto Gonzalez that they would not make the team out of Spring Training. The Gonzalez decision was unsurprising, given that Dale Sveum has essentially said it’s either Steve Clevenger for that 25th spot or a waiver pickup.
Putnam, 25, was competing with Hisanori Takahashi and Cory Wade for the final bullpen spot, and hopefully he’ll now head to AAA Iowa to continue to develop and be ready for a call-up. I guessed yesterday that Putnam probably wasn’t going to win the job, and I’m sticking with Takahashi, thanks to his left-handedness. Wade would be a fine choice, too. Or, the Cubs might find someone on the waiver wire that they like better.