As expected, the Cubs did not stick with nine relievers for too long, sending lefty Tim Collins back to Iowa in exchange for a position player:
The #Cubs today selected the contract of INF/OF Jim Adduci from @IowaCubs. LHP Tim Collins was optioned to Triple-A following yesterday’s game. pic.twitter.com/2mBzyMVJ0Y
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 27, 2019
Adduci, 34, is actually a former Cubs prospect before he set about a journeyman quest of up-and-down AAA/MLB stints with the Rangers and Tigers, and then a stint in Japan. He never made it to the big leagues with the Cubs previously, so this is actually a pretty nice story.
He’s been raking at Iowa lately, too:
Jim Adduci has been swinging a hot bat lately for the @IowaCubs. Hit .429 (12-for-28) with three homers and 11 RBI in his last eight games, including a six-RBI game yesterday at New Orleans. #Cubs
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) May 27, 2019
He also recently did this:
https://twitter.com/IowaCubs/status/1131599073293852672
Obviously Adduci is a short-term positional fill-in for the Cubs, who were otherwise going with only three on the bench. Even in an American League series, that’s a bit risky.
Furthering that risk, of course, is Kris Bryant’s status. If he doesn’t go on the IL after yesterday’s collision, but needs a day or two, then the Cubs were going to be playing with a mere two-man bench. Again, can you pull it off in the American League? Yeah, sure. But is it at all desirable? No.
So good luck to Adduci, who will hopefully get a chance to rip one for a fun story.
With Adduci added, the Cubs’ 40-man roster is now back up to 40.