NEWSLETTER
Although I could gripe about the choice of reliever who was shuffled out today, I have no complaints about righty Tony Barnette finally being added to the big league bullpen.
The 35-year-old righty has been rehabbing a shoulder injury that started popping up in Spring Training, lingered, gave him a setback, and then finally abated. The former Ranger was dominating at Iowa (2.31 ERA, 27.9% K rate, 4.7% BB rate), so it was high time to get him in the mix. The Cubs signed Barnette in the offseason after three very good years in Texas, so it’s going to be nice to have him in the bullpen (well, unless he struggles like other offseason signings … ).
As for Wick, 26, I don’t think there’s much question at this point that he has big league stuff. He’ll just keep refining his craft at Iowa, and the Cubs will keep using him as an up-and-down guy – it kinda stinks for them, but it’s the benefit to the organization of their minor league options.
Good luck to Wick, and good luck to Barnette.
Reporter to new #Cubs reliever Tony Barnette: Have they told you what you’re going to do?
Barnette: “I’ll be pitching.”
Love this guys already. pic.twitter.com/g4BrcHvqzc— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) June 23, 2019
