Dodgers Immediately Designate Former Cub Marmol

Less than 24 hours after acquiring former Cubs closer Carlos Marmol, the Dodgers have turned around and designated the reliever for assignment. The initial report from Peter Gammons of MLB Network implied that the Dodgers were strictly interested in the $209,700 slot money received and not in the pitcher himself. In other words, the net transaction resulted in the Dodgers saving the Cubs $500,000 in cash in exchange for the slot money amount. As mentioned in the Marmol trade Cubbies Crib post earlier, Jayson Stark of ESPN had reported that should Marmol be designated and signed by another team, there was an agreement in place where the Cubs would send additional financial compensation Los Angeles’ way. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports Tweets that the move by the Dodgers is procedural and that Marmol has agreed to go to the minors to get back to form.

Apr 8, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Carlos Marmol (49) reacts to walking Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (not pictured) during the eight inning at Wrigley Field. Milwaukee won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

While my Cubbies Crib followers are probably thinking, “who cares? Marmol is the Dodgers problem now!”, the Cubs front office will care should Marmol get plucked off of waivers and if Stark’s report of money owed by the Cubs to the Dodgers is true.