Cubs place Darvish on 10-day DL for second time this season
It's yet another setback for Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish.
The Cubs have placed their prized free-agent acquisition on the 10-day disabled list for the second time this season. They put Darvish on the DL Saturday (retroactive to May 23) with right-triceps tendinitis. At the beginning of May, he went on the DL with a flu-like illness.
The Cubs have recalled left-handed pitcher Randy Rosario from Class AAA Iowa. Tyler Chatwood, who was supposed to start Monday in Pittsburgh, will be moved up to start Sunday night in Darvish's spot. Off-days during the past week enabled the Cubs to move Chatwood up. The Cubs may have to dip into their system for a pitcher Tuesday against the Pirates. They could possibly call up prospect Adbert Alzolay.
"He's been bothered a little bit recently," manager Joe Maddon said after Saturday night's 5-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants. "We thought we could work through it. There's some inflammation. We want to back off to make sure that it's all well. He probably will get a test MRI, and then we'll know more for sure."
Darvish would be eligible to pitch next Saturday at New York against the Mets.
The Cubs signed Darvish to a six-year, $126 million deal on the eve of spring training, but so far, he has gone just 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA.
He missed the entire 2015 season with the Texas Rangers after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March of that year.
"We're not overly concerned," Maddon said. "We're just going precautionary right now to make sure everything is good based on the fact the guy has a history. When I talked to him in my office, it didn't sound awful. But it sounded like something was there."
Gimenez up, Caratini down:
The Cubs on Saturday selected the contract of catcher Chris Gimenez from Class AAA Iowa and optioned catcher Victor Caratini to Iowa.
Gimenez, 35, went to spring training with the Cubs as a nonroster invitee but he was beaten out by Caratini for the backup catcher's role. He could have opted out of his contract at the beginning of June.
Early speculation was that Gimenez was called up to catch Yu Darvish, with whom he worked in Texas. But manager Joe Maddon said that was not the case. Later in the day, the Cubs announced that Darvish was going on the DL.
"Not playing Caratini enough really bums me out," Maddon said. "That bothers me a lot. He needs to play. We've got to get him out playing again. Something will occur here that we're going to need him on a more consistent basis. You know that it's likely to happen."
Gimenez played for Maddon at Tampa Bay. He also has played for Seattle, Cleveland and Minnesota. He was batting .224 at Iowa this season.
"This is my first experience in this clubhouse," Gimenez said. "It's been quite a tour so far. I've been here for like four hours and been lost six times. I'm OK with it. This place is kind of everything they talk about. I'm excited to do whatever they want me to do. I'll be a cheerleader. I'll do whatever they want me to do."