NEWSLETTER
Well, okay then. Moments after we learned that the Cubs have released Jake Arrieta, a series of other roster moves came down the pipe, none of them good.
The first and most important/unfortunate news is that Willson Contreras has been placed on the 10-Day Injured List with a right knee sprain.
Willson Contreras placed on 10-day IL with a right knee sprain. RHP Ryan Meisinger has his contract selected from Iowa. Austin Romine activated from 60-day IL. Kyle Ryan DFA'd
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) August 12, 2021
When Contreras was removed from last night’s game, I figured it was entirely about load management. The game was far gone and the season is lost, so there was no reason to keep him in there. And when Robinson Chirinos was slated behind the plate for this afternoon’s finale against the Brewers, it seemed like it was just part of the schedule with a day game following a night game. Alas. I was wrong.
Contreras is reportedly dealing with a right knee sprain, which is not an uncommon injury for catchers, and we’re left to hope it’s not particularly significant. He remains crucial to the Cubs chances next season (and beyond, be it via trade or extension) and you just hope his heavy workload this year – again, in a totally lost season – didn’t add unnecessary hurdles to the Cubs immediate future.
Maybe it’s not the time, but this is why it was so valuable to pair Contreras with a really great and versatile backup catcher like Victor Caratini. Contreras has just been leaned on way too much. Ugh. Man. This really stinks.
If you’re a glass half full kind of fan, maybe MAYBE you can hope this is something of a phantom/low-impact injury and the Cubs are just taking things to the extreme. I’m just not sure how likely that is.
The Cubs original backup catcher, Austin Romine, brother of today’s shortstop Andrew Romine, has been reinstated from the injured list. He’s taken just 9 plate appearances for the cubs this year, dealing with injuries from the jump.
Beyond that, Kyle Ryan, who was once a very good bullpen piece for the Cubs and has since become a frequent flyer on the bus between Iowa and Chicago, has been designated for assignment. In his place, 27-year-old Ryan Meisinger (4.25 ERA with big strikeout numbers and an elevated walk rate at Triple-A Iowa this year) has been called up.
The 40-man roster will lose two members today (Arrieta and Ryan) and gain two members (Romine and Meisinger). Willson Contreras stays on the 40-man on the 10-Day IL.
The active roster loses Arrieta and Contreras, but gains Romine and Meisinger.
