Chicago Cubs Jose Veras DFA, Hector Rondon activated

Right-handed reliever Jose Veras and the Chicago Cubs agreed on a one year contract worth $3.85 million with a club option for 2015 on December 27, 2013 – but things did not quite work out.

According to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald, the Chicago Cubs have designated the 33-year-old closer for assignment. Veras (0-1, 8.10 ERA) appeared in only 12 games with the Cubs this season and was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain near the end of April. Opposing hitters were able to record 12 hits (two home runs), 12 earned runs, draw 11 walks but struck out 13 times against Veras in 13 1/3 innings while he was on the mound for the Cubs.

He was later activated from the disabled list on May 14 and was used once in the series against the St. Louis Cardinals the very next day.

His previous three appearances out of the bullpen were not all that bad, working four innings across three games against the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers. Veras held the Giants to only one hit with four strikeouts in an 11-1 blowout loss and worked two scoreless innings against the Brewers in his last outing with the club on May 30. It’s still somewhat frustrating that this team continues to struggle when it comes to the bullpen, but doesn’t help when Rick Renteria allows someone who is struggling on the mound to remain in the game until things are out of control.

In a corresponding roster move, Hector Rondon has been reactivated from the paternity list.

Miles also notes, the Cubs have purchased the contract of catcher Eli Whiteside who will be filling in for Welington Castillo until he returns from his rib injury. The Cubs designating Veras makes room for Whiteside on both the 40-man and 25-man roster.

Whiteside will come up after hitting .171/.235/.295 with 18 hits, four doubles, three home runs and 18 RBIs in 105 at-bats with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.