The Return of Tony…Tony Campana

The Chicago Cubs announced that starting pitcher Ryan Dempster has been placed on the 15 day disabled list in a move that is retroactive to Tuesday after Dempster made his last appearance with the Chicago Cubs. Randy Wells is with the Cubs as the team plays the Cincinnati Reds this weekend, but the Cubs have yet to officially place Wells on the 25 man roster. That move is likely to come Sunday, when Wells is expected to make the start in place of Dempster.

But rather than calling up Wells to take the place of Dempster on the 25 man roster, the Cubs have called up outfielder Tony Campana.

Wait, What? Instead of making the logical move and have Wells take the place of the injured Dempster on the 25 man roster, the Cubs’ opted to bring up another outfielder in Campana. The Cubs already have five outfielders on their 25 man roster in Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd, David DeJesus, Reed Johnson, and Joe Mather. Campana makes that six outfielders on the Cubs’ 25 man roster. Obviously, the Cubs are not going to carry six outfielders on their 25 man roster.

When Wells is added to the 25 man roster, it stands likely that the Cubs are going to subtract an outfielder from their 25 man roster. Marlon Byrd would be the likely  candidate. Byrd has looked lost offensively with the Cubs this season as the center field has hit .070/.149/.070/.219 in 43 at bats with the Cubs this season. There were Spring Training rumors that the Cubs have been looking to trade their starting center fielder, and rumors resurfaced when the Boston Red Sox lost center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury for the next four to six weeks. It is possible that those rumors may finally come to fruition.

As for Dempster, the Cubs have yet to classify how serious his injury is. Dempster has been off to an impressive start. In three starts this season, Dempster has pitched in 20 1/3 innings giving up only five runs on 11 hits while striking out 23 batters. Dempster’s start to the 2012 season was encouraging to see. Especially when a team is in the position that the Cubs are in this season. The Cubs are geared towards building for the future. The 34 year old Dempster does not fit into the Cubs’ long-term plans. For that reason, it is likely that Dempster will be among the Cubs’ players that are shopped before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

If Dempster’s injury is deemed serious, then the starting pitcher’s trade value will be effected. For now at least, Dempster’s quad injury should only cause the pitcher to miss one start. Though, the Cubs will likely give an update on Dempster’s injury at some point during the day.