Cubs Sign Ramon Ortiz for Iowa

The Cubs signed 37 year old pitcher Ramon Ortiz to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple A Iowa this weekend. While it certainly isn’t impossible that Ortiz will visit Wrigley for a spot start at some point this season, it is unlikely. Ortiz was signed to replace Coleman in the Iowa starting rotation and to give the Cubs the option of calling up another Triple A starter if needed. This early in the season, the Iowa Cubs need to be careful not to overtax their bullpen just like the Chicago Cubs do. Allowing guys like Chris Carpenter to risk arm injury due to overwork as a result of the Cashner and Wells injuries is just bad management. Just like the Ojeda and Looper minor league contracts before spring training, Hendry signed Ortiz as an insurance policy and to provide the team with some more options. Given the army of minor league starters the Cubs have… including a very impressive rotation in Double A Tennessee… Ortiz is probably going to remain in Iowa this season.