Cubs content to allow Bryant's shoulder to heal on its own
The Cubs seem content to allow Kris Bryant's ailing left shoulder to take its own course in healing.
Bryant did not come off the 10-day disabled list Friday, as the team had hoped he would. But Bryant did take swings in the batting cage. He has been on the DL effective June 23 with inflammation.
“He had a real good day today in the cage,” said team president Theo Epstein. “We're going to get together and see what that means, see whether he wants or needs a rehab assignment or not just to test it in a game situation before he comes back.
“The shoulder is an important joint for the swing, especially with his swing and the finish that he has, I don't know that we expected it to be this long but it certainly is a very legitimate and he needs to be able to execute his swing.”
Darvish “feeling better:”
Right-hander Yu Darvish seems back at square one as he continues his slow rehab from right-triceps tendinitis.
Darvish has been on the DL effective May 23, and it may not be until early August until he pitches in a major-league game.
He is in the early stages of a strengthening program. After that, he'll begin throwing. A simulated game or two is likely followed by at least one minor-league rehab start.
“He's feeling a little better,” Theo Epstein said. “It's been a good couple days for him. He's still in that strengthening mode. We're not going to set any timetables yet until he moves from the strengthening phase to the throwing phase. It's been a really good couple days for him.”
Edwards back from DL:
Reliever Carl Edwards Jr. returned to the active roster after being sidelined since late May with right-shoulder inflammation. To make room on the roster, the Cubs optioned reliever Dillon Maples to Class AAA Iowa. They also activated left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny from the DL and optioned him to Iowa.
Edwards struck out the only batter he faced in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Reds.
Hello, old friend:
The Cubs have signed one of their former players to a minor-league contract. Right-hander Casey Coleman, a 2008 draft pick, pitched 6 innings Thursday for Class AAA Iowa, giving up 3 hits and 1 run while striking out nine.
He was a Cub from 2010-12, going 7-13 with a 5.36 ERA. In 2014 for the Royals, he was 1-0 with a 5.25 ERA. He was pitching this year for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League.
“I actually emailed with him this winter,” Theo Epstein said. “He was in winter ball and was doing pretty well. All of a sudden our Triple-A rotation got really strapped and he was throwing well in the independent league. This is a good reminder of how of you enter and how you exit an organization is important. He's always been someone we've kept on really good terms with. He as an easy reach-out for our guys, and he responded real well in his first start. We'll see how that develops. It probably surprised a lot of you guys to see his name pop up in the box score. He's a great kid and still has a good arm and knows how to pitch.”
This and that:
Minor-league pitching prospect Oscar De La Cruz, a member of the 40-man roster, has been suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program … The Cubs announced the signings of 32 players from this year's amateur draft ahead of Friday's signing deadline. That includes each of their first 20 picks.