Chicago Cubs: Taylor Teagarden DFA’d to make room for Clayton Richard

Teagarden DFA’d to make room for Richard, eventually Haren

The Chicago Cubs have become familiar with the “designated for assignment move”. Hopefully, these moves are becoming fewer and far between, but they needed to make another today. Taylor Teagarden was DFA’d to make room for Clayton Richard who will start the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers. This will inevitably lead to another move for Dan Haren to claim his spot. Haren pitched the day before he was traded, so he would likely start later this week. 

Teagarden was called up to help behind the plate when Miguel Montero went down with a sprained thumb. Once it was revealed the Cubs would be without Miggy for an extended period of time rookie Kyle Schwarber was called up. I don’t want to say I smell a Wally Pipp story brewing–because I like Montero and Ross–but it may be coming.

Teagarden appeared in just eight games with the Cubs, going 2-for-15 with two RBIs. He did, however, conquer Goliath in his brief stint in Chicago. In an extra-inning game against the Reds in Cincinnati, Teagarden roped a fastball off the dominant Aroldis Chapman in the top of the ninth for the eventual game-winning hit. So no matter how it ends up, he’ll always have that to talk about.

When Montero returns, Joe Maddon has said that Schwarber will be staying in Chicago, per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. So Teagarden was probably aware this was coming at some point in the near future.

The Cubs roster has begun to take shape as the summer winds down. The large group of younger players have struggled at times but have done well enough to keep the Cubs in the playoff hunt for the second Wild Card spot. There is also the chance we could see Javier Baez back with the Cubs sometime this season, possibly when the rosters expand in September.

Next: Cubs play it smart at deadline