We knew at least one set of moves was coming today for the Cubs with Triple-A righty Robert Stock coming up to take the start, but it turns out the Cubs are doing a little more.
First, you’ve got Stock coming up, which requires a spot on the 40-man roster. That spot will come from catcher P.J. Higgins, whose forearm strain must be a little more serious, because he’s being transferred to the 60-day IL. That’ll put him out into August at least, and the Cubs’ back-up catcher spot remains a mess (Jose Lobaton is currently the guy, but I figure the Cubs might be in on Wilson Ramos).
Since Higgins was not on the 26-man roster, the Cubs need a spot for Stock there, too, and that’ll come by way of Trevor Megill being optioned back to Triple-A. Love Megill’s frame and stuff and velo, but he’s an up-down guy at the moment for this bullpen.
The Cubs wanted a little more length for the bullpen, so they’re also bringing back Cory Abbott … who can return already because he’s taking the place of Dillon Maples, who is going to the IL with a right triceps strain. Maples was a little wild earlier this week – nothing new there – but must have felt something. Hopefully it’s minor, because you always worry about any of those areas that connect to the elbow being structural, rather than soft tissue.
OK, so in sum for tonight, you’ve got Stock and Abbott in, Megill and Maples out (and Higgins transferred from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL).