Cubs News: A look at September call-ups who could help Chicago

Sep 24, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman

(left) throws to shortstop

(9) on a fielder

You cannot take anything for granted in a season’s final month. Luckily, the Chicago Cubs have plenty of reinforcements on the way when rosters expand September 1.

For obvious reasons, this list is headlined by infield prospect Javier Baez, who has shown the ability to mature and adjust after spending the year with Triple-A Iowa after missing the cut out of Spring Training.

However, despite what many casual fans think, this team boasts enough talent to help add much-needed depth to the big league roster for the season’s final month, in which Chicago hopes to lock up one of the league’s two wild card berths.

Carrying a seven-game edge over the reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants into Wednesday’s late matchup with Bruce Bochy‘s club, the Cubs are nearing the first of multiple hurdles in their quest for October.

Here are a few players who could help in that pursuit come September.

Next: Carlos Pimentel

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Pimentel

The right-handed-tossing Pimentel has been stellar for Triple-A Iowa this season, exceeding even the work of Donn Roach, who left the organization earlier this summer.

A former member of the Texas Rangers organization, the 25-year-old starter has pitched to a sterling 2.98 earned run average with the I-Cubs this season, just one year after getting shelled for a 5.35 ERA in 101 innings of work for Iowa.

Granted, he’s issued his fair share of free passes (61 in 127 innings pitched), which is always a concern when you factor missing your location into an equation involving big league hitters. But, that being said, he still represents a potential depth piece for a Cubs pitching staff that has searched for answers at times this year.

Pimentel isn’t the flashiest of the talents down on the farm for Chicago, but he could make an impact out of the bullpen in the season’s final month.

Next: Emilio Bonifacio

Jun 8, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder

(21) and Chicago Cubs center fielder Emilio Bonifacio (64) in their game at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Emilio Bonifacio

Having just returned to the Cubs on a minor league deal, Bonifacio represents one of the more likely candidates to see the big league roster when they expand come September.

To say the utilityman has struggled this season is a massive understatement. In 47 games with the Chicago White Sox this season, Bonifacio batted just .167/.198/.192, making matters worse by stealing just one base.

Just one season ago, the speedster was a spark plug for a struggling Cubs team, swiping 14 bags in 69 contests before being traded to the Atlanta Braves, with whom he added another dozen stolen bases in the second half.

With Chicago, he batted a respectable .279/.318/.373 – but his numbers fell off a cliff with the Braves, leading to him only landing a minor league deal with the Sox early this year.

He’s a perfect piece for a Cubs team looking to add depth pieces for the stretch run; he can play almost anywhere on the diamond, is a speedy, smart base runner and knows the franchise.

Next: John Andreoli?

Apr 26, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A Chicago Cubs hat and glove sits in the dugout during a game with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

John Andreoli

The Iowa Cubs’ outfielder is another one of those talents that has quietly performed well this season after struggling in the past.

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After batting just .211/.329/.249 last season for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, the former 11th-round pick of Chicago has changed perceptions of him on a dime in 2015, carrying a .283/.371/.415 line into the final week of the Pacific Coast League season.

That’s not to say he’s never shown signs of solid play before. Just two years ago, Andreoli batted .305/.379/.402 between High-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee; which lends one to believe that last season was an outlier for the Massachusetts native.

He brings an interesting mix of speed and pop to the table come September. Andreoli has 28 stolen bases on the year for Iowa and has eclipsed the 40-steal mark on two occasions in the past, racking up 55 bags back in 2012 with the Daytona Cubs.

Speed is something this team is lacking heading toward October; Bonifacio could fill that void, but should he struggle, this is a player certainly worth a look.

Next: C.J. Edwards

Mar 2, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher C.J. Edwards poses for a portrait during photo day at the training center at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Edwards

Currently sidelined by an injury on his pitching hand, this lanky right-hander represents one of the most-promising pitching prospects in the Chicago farm system.

Acquired in the deal that sent Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers a few years’ back, Edwards has been stellar for Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa this season, pitching to a 2.87 ERA and 1.238 WHIP across 53 1/3 innings of work.

He’s averaged more than a dozen strikeouts per nine, but he’s also been wild – walking 41 batters in those 53 innings of work. As is the case with Pimentel, control issues and big league hitters could spell disaster – or in Edwards’ case, it could allow the Cubs to catch lightning in a bottle given his electric stuff.

With the injury, it’s still up-in-the-air as to whether or not Edwards sees Chicago when rosters expand. But with a bullpen already missing Jason Motte (and others) – he’s worth a look if he’s ready to roll.

Next: Javier Baez