Cubs' silence on forgotten offseason signing likely seals another Jed Hoyer failure

For what is currently plaguing the Chicago Cubs, Tyler Austin isn't going to be the solution. The Cubs don't only need their pitching staff to get healthy, they need to account for the regression the starting rotation has seen from Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon. Having said that, Austin was signed to be an important piece on the Cubs' bench this season.

After spending the last several seasons in Japan, the expectation was that Austin would serve as a platoon partner for either Michael Busch at first base or Mosies Ballesteros as the team's designated hitter. Given how he revamped his swing while playing in the NPB, there was reason to believe he could find success in his return to the majors with the Cubs.

Instead, shortly after spring training started, the Cubs revealed that Austin was dealing with a knee injury that required surgery. The Cubs didn't put a timeline on Austin's potential return, only suggesting that he would be on the IL for a matter of months, not weeks.

Two months into the season, as Craig Counsell has provided daily injury updates, Austin hasn't been mentioned. Looking at the Cubs' injury update on their website, Austin's status was last updated on March 24. It's around the time that an update on Austin should be expected, but that hasn't been the case.

Making things more complicated is that the Cubs didn't reveal the type of surgery Austin had. Their website lists it has knee debridement surgery, which carries a general timeline between four and eight weeks. Depending on the type of surgery, it could even be longer.

Another failed signing for Jed Hoyer?

Again, Austin shouldn't be viewed as difference maker for the Cubs. Having said that, with Michael Conforto cooling of later and Moises Ballesteros slumping throughout the month of May, the idea of Austin being a boost for the bench eventually this summer would be welcomed. That being said, the longer it goes without the Cubs providing an update on the veteran first baseman, the more likely it seems that he won't be playing this season.

Injuries certainly can't be predicted, so it's hard to fault Jed Hoyer entirely for the signing of Austin. Under the circumstances at the time, the move made sense. That said, combined with the struggles of Phil Maton and Alex Bregman no quite showing the power yet, Hoyer's free-agent class from offseason hasn't aged in the best of light.

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