MLBits: Martinez and Archer Coming Back, Fake Injuries, Giants Trade Candidates, Jackson, La Tortuga, More

It’s amazing how much better life is when the Cubs are winning. Cold weather doesn’t bug me. My wedding hangover is hardly a concern. Food taste better. Music sounds better. Some woodland creatures helped me get dressed this morning like Snow White.

It’s just been a good weekend. But the Cubs aren’t just winning and they aren’t just beating good teams along the way, as Brett pointed out earlier. They ALSO just took 5 of 6 from the Brewers and Cardinals from one weekend to the next. That just makes it all so much sweeter. I’m walking on sunshine.

  • Moving onto the rest of the league … Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez (shoulder), who has yet to throw a pitch in the big leagues this year, is progressing:
  • But even if he does make his way back to the Majors sooner than later, he’s going to pitch out of the bullpen, where he can help out, but obviously not as much as he can when he’s a starter. With just a combined 1.0 fWAR, the Cardinals’ starting staff has been the fourth worst in MLB and second worst in the National League. Then again, their bullpen just narrowly escapes the bottom five in that category, as well (-0.1 WAR, 25th in MLB), so they can really use the help anywhere they can get it.
  • (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

  • In other NL Central pitcher return news, Pirates starter Chris Archer (thumb) is scheduled to rejoin the rotation this Wednesday. Archer is having pretty much the worst season of his career so far, but there’s still plenty of time to turn it around. The Cubs don’t play the Pirates again until the first week of July, for what it’s worth.
  • Check this out:
  • 35-year-old Edwin Jackson has been in the big leagues for 16 seasons and has managed to play on 14(!) different teams, including, as we all remember, the Chicago Cubs. You can read all about his journey right here. And here’s the thing: Although bouncing around that much might seem to reflect a poor career, it actually says quite a lot of good about who he is as a person and teammate. It’s not easy to get 14 different big league clubs to give you a shot, especially with how brutal some of his seasons have been, so he must be doing something right behind the scenes. And as long as he keeps doing it in the American League, I’m rooting for him all the way.
  • Well here’s something you don’t see everyday – a player ADMITTING to doing a “fake injury” for roster-related reasons:
  • Giants President Farhan Zaidi disputed that fact recently and Manager Bruce Bochy said he wished Holland expressed his frustration somewhere not public, but I’m with Holland. Who wants to be asked to fake an injury? That stinks. For what it’s worth, Holland and Zaidi seemed to have just disagreed over the extent of a finger issue that dated back to Spring Training. Per Zaidi: “He felt he could continue pitching. We felt it would be prudent to give him the time off.” Later on, Holland walked back his comments a little … you know, after talking to the front office.
  • At 17-23, the once mighty San Francisco Giants are in last place of the NL West and already 8.5 games out of first place – the second biggest deficit for any team in the National League. And indeed, the who can we trade for prospects narrative has already begun, with names like Will Smith, Tony Watson, Sam Dyson, Mark Melancon, Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, and, yes, even Madison Bumgarner all considered available.
  • Let’s put the relievers aside for a second and focus on Bumgarner, who has the Cubs on his limited, eight-team no-trade list, but not because he doesn’t want to come to Chicago:
  • It’s fairly common for players with limited no-trade clauses to put contenders on their lists, because those are the teams most likely to make a play for him. And if/when they do, that player can then wield some leverage to get an extension or option picked up (or something along those lines). With that said, absent an injury (or two, really), I can’t see the Cubs come calling for Bumgarner, even as he’s been pretty good this season (3.88 ERA, 3.44 FIP through 9 starts with a 25.3% strikeout rate and 3.5% walk rate).
  • Aside from already having a full rotation (PLUS Mike Montgomery and Tyler Chatwood), Bumgarner is yet another veteran lefty. The Cubs rotation is loaded with left-handed pitchers (Jon Lester, Cole Hamels, Jose Quintana). Getting a fourth would be surprising. I guess it doesn’t matter if they’re all good, but I just don’t see it happening.
  • As for some of those relievers, well, there’s your angle. The Cubs obvious still have needs in the bullpen, even as the performances have improved, and the Giants do have a number of interesting names. Will Smith has been particularly good this season (2.87 ERA, 2.54 FIP) and has been connected to the Cubs in the past, and Dyson (3.05 ERA, 2.19 FIP), Watson (2.57 ERA, 3.61 FIP), and Melancon (2.93 ERA, 3.70 FIP) each have ERAs or FIPs below 3.00, as well. They’ll all come at varying asking prices, but you can expect the Giants to pursue young outfielders – if not top prospects, because obviously that’ll be their first ask. Let’s put a pin in this for now, but keep that in mind as the calendar flips to June and July and the Cubs continue on without Pedro Strop or Brandon Morrow.
  • Okay, he good:
  • With 3.5 fWAR, Bellinger has a 0.8 lead on the second-place player, Christian Yelich, and a full win on Mike Trout. Even Javy Baez (2.1 WAR), who’s tied for the 6th most WAR in baseball is not within shouting range.
  • Willians Astudillo (aka La Tortuga) has a 1.7% strikeout rate this season (LOL)  – that, after a 3.1% strikeout rate in nearly 100 PAs last year – and is beginning to shift the way scouts think about baseball:
  • Also, baseball is so freakin’ weird. This guy goes on the longest hitless streak in the history of baseball … and then just absolutely snaps:
  • written by

    Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

    more cubs news

    The Morel Foul Ball, Madrigal’s D, Busch Heads Up, Langford Respect, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ah, now the obligatory off-day after Opening Day. And an Opening Day loss no less, which always makes today that much better, right ... You could hang on so many things from the opening loss - one-run losses in heavily-scrutinized...

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    Latest News

    Marlins vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

    The Miami Marlins (0-1) are favorites (-132) on the moneyline when they square off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) Friday at 7:10 PM ET, live on BSFL.Miami's Andrew Jacob Puk and Pittsburgh's Martin Perez have been named the starters for...

    Rays vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

    The Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) and Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) meet Friday at Tropicana Field, starting at 6:50 PM ET on SNET. The Rays are -122 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Blue Jays are favored against the spread...

    Astros vs. Yankees Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

    The New York Yankees (1-0) visit the Houston Astros (0-1) for a road game on Friday at 8:10 PM ET.The Astros will look to Cristian Javier versus the Yankees and Carlos Rodon.Astros vs. Yankees Pitcher Matchup and Game InfoWhen: Friday,...

    Bet $5 with FanDuel Promo Code, Win $200 Bonus Including NCAA Tournament

    This weekend is packed with great sports action including the NCAA Tournament, MLB, and NBA for bettors. Check out the FanDuel promo code to score a $200 bonus if your first $5 bet wins! If you live in NC, you...

    DraftKings Promo Code: Get $150 for $5 Bet on College Basketball and More Sports

    This time of the year on the sports calendar is truly special with the MLB season starting, college basketball in full swing, and much more! Don't miss out on the chance to grab a bonus by using the latest DraftKings...

    Rays vs. Blue Jays Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

    The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) play on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at Tropicana Field. The game is set to start at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.The Rays will call on Aaron Civale versus the Blue Jays...

    Marlins vs. Pirates Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

    The Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) play on Friday in Miami against the Miami Marlins (0-1). First pitch is at 7:10 PM ET.The Marlins will call on Andrew Jacob Puk against the Pirates and Martin Perez.Marlins vs. Pirates Pitcher Matchup and Game...

    Duke vs Houston Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

    We have a couple of number-one seeds in March Madness action tonight including Houston (32-4) as the Cougars take on Duke (26-8). Check out the odds and more for Duke vs Houston which tips off tonight at 9:39 pm ET...

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enjoyed a successful 2023 season, capturing their third straight NFC South title and pushing the Detroit Lions in a thrilling Divisional Round matchup. This strong showing translates to a relatively stable roster with few glaring weaknesses...

    Fanatics NC Promo Code Scores Up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets Over 10 Days: Dive into North Carolina Sports Betting

    After a long wait, legal sports betting has finally arrived in the Tar Heel State. Fanatics NC, along with host of other sports books are up and operating in North Carolina. This exciting development opens doors for fans to wager...

    more cubs news