Your alternative headline up there is: Nelson Velazquez gets to stay.
With center fielder Cody Bellinger on his way back from paternity leave tonight, it would’ve been fair to guess that the guy who filled in for him – Velazquez – would be optioned out to make room. But Velazquez has played so well in his two big league looks, and has looked like a steady and ready big leaguer, that the Cubs could not send him down this time. They need a fourth outfielder, and he’s the guy. Glad he’s staying.
So, instead, the Cubs designate catcher Luis Torrens for assignment to make room for Bellinger on the 26-man roster (in the process, opening up a 40-man spot for future usage). The Cubs will have seven days to trade, waive, or release Torrens.
Torrens, 27 in a few days, got just 22 mediocre plate appearances for the Cubs so far as a bench bat. The fact that he could catch was immaterial, because he never actually went behind the plate. I understood carrying a third catcher in theory, but in practice, he just never got meaningful usage.
I expect the Cubs are hoping that they can sneak Torrens through waivers and keep him at Triple-A as the third catcher. If not, Dom Nuรฑez would be the next man up. Beyond him, the Cubs do have Miguel Amaya on the 40-man roster, and while I’m sure they would not want to call him straight up from Double-A this point, he certainly is raking. Maybe now they feel comfortable with him as the emergency fourth catcher, and thus are slightly more willing to risk losing Torrens?