Chicago Cubs deal for two pitchers, one will start Saturday
The Cubs made a pair of trades Friday. They acquired lefty Clayton Richard from the Pirates for cash considerations. He'll start Saturday night's game.
They also acquired pitching prospect Manny Rondon from the Angels, along with a reported $149,700 in international signing-bonus money (the fourth signing slot) in exchange for catcher Rafael Lopez, whom they recently designated for assignment. Lopez made his big-league debut for the Cubs last year.
Rondon, 20, has gone 3-7 with a 2.94 ERA in 36 games (18 starts) over three seasons in the Angels organization.
Rest is key:
Friday was Starlin Castro's day to rest.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon this week has been using utility man Jonathan Herrera to give regulars Castro, Addison Russell and Kris Bryant each a breather.
For Friday's game against the Marlins at Wrigley Field, Russell moved from second base to shortstop, and Herrera started at second base. Castro entered the 2-1 loss as a pinch hitter and grounded out in the ninth inning.
"I've been wanting to give them all (a day) off," Maddon said. "Jonny gave Addison off, then he gave KB off and now he's giving Starlin a day. It's very helpful moving down the road."
And the long road is what Maddon has his eye on.
"You can't run your guys into the ground," he said. "I don't care what the birth certificate says. It's a lot about the mental part of failure. When you're going well, everybody can hang out and play every day. When you're having a tough time, it's not that easy. The everyday player, there's not enough appreciation for what these guys do. I don't think everybody generally understands how difficult it is to perform at that level every day at this game."
Listening to the fans:
During the seventh-inning stretch, the Cubs played a clip of the late Harry Caray singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on the videoboard.
Fans have been clamoring for the Cubs to do so since two boards were installed for this season. Since Caray's death in 1998, the Cubs have used guest conductors to sing and lead the crowd. Crane Kenney, the Cubs' business president, issued a statement to the team's website.
"One of the things that we think would be really fun is to bring back a number of our departed historic figures, like Harry Caray, Ernie Banks, Ron Santo," Kenney's statement read. "We want to bring them back to the fans via the video board. We listen to the fans. We're learning from them."
Minor matters:
Outfielder Jorge Soler was expected to play nine innings Friday at Class AAA Iowa as he rehabs from an ankle sprain. It appears Soler is close to being activated.
The Cubs named outfielder Mark Zagunis and right-handed pitcher Carlos Pimentel their player and pitcher of the month, respectively, for June. Zagunis batted .326 with 4 homers at Class A Myrtle Beach. Pimentel was 4-1 with an 0.95 ERA at Iowa.