Last night the Cubs traded South Bend lefty Tyler Thomas to the Rangers for some added bullpen depth in the form of Jesse Chavez.
This has been something of a breakout year Thomas, and, given his 9.72 K/9 and 1.68 BB/9, he was probably soon due for a promotion to Myrtle Beach. Beyond that, his mechanics and stuff looked pretty good to this #NotAScout. The Rangers are getting a guy they can dream on as a back of the rotation starter or quality bullpen arm one day. While he isn’t commonly ranked now, Thomas would likely have been on the mid-season Top 40, probably somewhere in the bottom third.
As for the trade as a whole? Frame it and put it on display as just about the perfect example of a trade. Not a steal of a deal or a huge impact move, mind you. But it’s just a perfect example of a trade. The Cubs needed Major League bullpen depth, they had good-not-great low-level pitching prospect depth, and they exchanged the later for the former. Regardless of what happens from here, this was just a darn good trade. I’d like it more if Chavez wasn’t going to leave in free agency in a matter of months, but I can’t even really complain too much about that. [Brett: Luke and I will probably always disagree slightly on that front, but I like rental trades in circumstances like this, as it allows you to get some assistance for this year, and then re-set things in the offseason. Sometimes that’s preferable to trading up to get a longer-term piece.]
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Memphis 4, Iowa 1
Iowa 3, Memphis 0
David Bote played shortstop in Game One and left field in Game Two.
Eddie Butler: 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 1 K
Alberto Baldonado: 1 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Ryan Court: 2 for 2, BB
Game Two
Casey Coleman: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Dillon Maples: 1 IP, 4 K
Mark Zagunis: 1 for 3, HR
Ryan Court: 2 for 3, HR
Casey Coleman: 1 for 2, 2B
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Biloxi 2, Tennessee 1
Biloxi 4, Tennessee 1
Despite some pretty good pitching, the Smokies were swept on the road.
Keegan Thompson: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Trent Giambrone: 1 for 2, HR, BB
Eddy Martinez: 1 for 3, 2B
Keegan Thompson: 1 for 2
Game Two
James Buckelew: 4.2 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Zack Short: 1 for 2, 3B, BB
Yasiel Balaguert: 2 for 3, 2B
Jesse Hodges: 0 for 1, 2 BB
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Potomac 6, Myrtle Beach 3
The Pelicans trailed by five after an inning and a half.
Rollie Lacy: 4 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Ryan Kellogg: 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Erick Leal: 3 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Roberto Caro: 2 for 5, 2B, SB
Jared Young: 1 for 4, HR
Tyler Alamo: 2 for 4
Andruw Monasterio: 2 for 3, SB
Wladimir Galindo: 2 for 4, 2B
Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 5, Quad Cities 2
The Cubs got their five runs on just four hits.
Javier Assad: 4 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 8 K
Garrett Kelly: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Yapson Gomez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Brian Glowicki: 2 IP, 2 K
Austin Upshaw: 1 for 3, HR, BB
Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 7, Tri-City 3
A win today would give the Emeraldds wins in consecutive games for the first time since July 1.
Zach Mort: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K
Carlos Vega: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Levi Jordan: 1 for 5, SB
Luke Reynolds: 1 for 4, BB
Nelson Velazquez: 2 for 4, 2B, SB
Jonathan Sierra: 1 for 4
Tyler Durna: 2 for 2
Jake Slaughter: 1 for 2, 2B
Rookie: AZL Cubs 1
Cubs One 9, White Sox 2
The Cubs put the game away with a five run fifth that gave them a nine run lead.
Didier Vargas: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Ryan Webb: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Kwang-Min Kwon: 2 for 5
Jimmy Herron: 2 for 4
Alexander Guerra: 2 for 3, HR
Jonathan Soto: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
Christopher Morel: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
Rafael Mejia: 3 for 4, HR, SB
Rookie: AZL Cubs 2
Cubs Two 4, Reds 3
The Cubs are back to .500 on the season.
Eduarniel Nunez: 4.1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Elias Herrera: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 K
Cole Roederer: 1 for 4, HR
Fidel Mejia: 1 for 4, 2B
Richard Nunez: 1 for 4, 2B
Miguel Pabon: 1 for 2, 3B, 2 BB
Other Notes
For the second time this season Dillon Maples had to record four strikeouts in one inning. Maples was credited with a wild pitch on the third strike to the first batter, and the batter reached. Three more strikeouts later and Maples had his second 4K inning. Three of those strikeouts were swinging.
Other pitchers who looked good for Iowa: the rehabbing Eddie Butler and the rebounding Casey Coleman. Either or both could be up with the Cubs in September (or sooner, if needed).
Keegan Thompson has made five starts for Tennessee since being promoted from Myrtle Beach. He did not allow a run in three of them.
As you saw yesterday, first round pick Nico Hoerner has been shut down with an injury. Honestly, that’s probably not a bad thing (provided he comes back healthy and has no lingering effects). Hoerner, like most players who come out of very good college programs, has already played a ton of baseball this year. The Cubs frequently shut down or greatly limit college pitchers in the year they are drafted; the position players aren’t going to be hurt by that same treatment. Yes, he’ll lose a little developmental time, but – assuming there are no lingering effects – I’m not worried by that in the slightest. Let him rest up from his already long season, then get him on a program to have him ready for spring training. I think there is still a good chance he’ll debut with Myrtle Beach next spring anyway.
How about shortstop David Bote on this beautiful play:
https://twitter.com/MiLB/status/1020134617943355392
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