Munenori Kawasaki Returns
Today, the Chicago Cubs are bringing back utility man/extremely affable guy Munenori Kawasaki, optioning Jeimer Candelario back to AAA Iowa.
Unless the move is designed to get Candelario a chance to play in the Futures Game, to which he was selected earlier this year, the timing is fairly odd. I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.
Kawasaki, 35, was up with the Cubs briefly earlier this year, notching one hit in his two plate appearances. Otherwise, he’s spent the year at AAA Iowa, hitting .271/.348/.325, playing his typically solid defense in a variety of positions, and generally being a really fun guy.
As for Candelario, his stay with the big league team figured to come to an end when, among other possible players, Dexter Fowler was ready to return. Hopefully that’ll come soon after the All-Star break, and it’ll now probably be Kawasaki whom he replaces. Of course, many things can happen between now and then, so we’ll see. In the interim, Kawasaki will be a utility option off the bench, good with the glove and the baserunning, light with the stick.
Candelario will go back to raking at AAA Iowa, and awaiting a more permanent opportunity.
