Latest Chicago Cubs roster move proves team has no desire to address weaknesses
Another roster move that should infuriate Chicago Cubs fans.
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After being removed from Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants after suffering a groin injury, Chicago Cubs outfielder Mike Tauchman was likely headed toward an IL-stint and that move was confirmed on Tuesday.
Craig Counsell announced on Tuesday that the Cubs placed Tauchman on the 10-Day IL with a Grade 2 left groin strain. Tauchman will need more than the designated 10 days to recover as Counsell mentioned that the expectation is for the veteran outfielder to miss 4 weeks.
Mike Tauchman is going on the IL with a Grade 2 left groin strain.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) June 18, 2024
Tauchman’s injury will require 4 weeks to heal, Counsell said: “He’s going to miss significant time.”
Tauchman isn't an ordinary fourth outfielder for the Cubs. In a season where the core members of the Cubs' starting lineup have struggled, Tauchman has been the team's best offensive player. Through 256 plate appearances this season, Tauchman is slashing .259/.359/.382 with a 117 wRC+.
If there was any silver lining to Tauchman being placed on the IL, it provided an opportunity for the Cubs to give an extended look to one of their hot-hitting outfield prospects at Triple-A.
The Chicago Cubs' roster moves continue to lack urgency.
Former top prospect Brennen Davis could have been an option. Davis is already on the 40-man roster, slashing .229/.390/.543 with a 139 wRC+ this season with the Iowa Cubs.
Alexander Canario could have been an option. Like Davis, Canario is already on the 40-man roster. With the Iowa Cubs this season, Canario is carrying a 142 wRC+ with 13 home runs.
Now, if you're following the Iowa Cubs this season, you would know that both Davis and Canario are dealing with lingering injuries and while neither is on the IL, that could be why they did not get a promotion to the Major League level.
The retort to that idea would be Owen Caissie. Caissie, not on the 40-man roster, is carrying a 131 wRC+ in Triple-A this season with 8 home runs. Caissie not being on the 40-man roster is an easy fix as the team could promote Nick Madrigal and immediately place him on the 60-Day IL.
Instead of doing that, the Cubs promoted utility infielder Miles Mastrobuoni. Mastrobuoni is never a fix to any need that the Cubs have on their Major League roster, and his 15 wRC+ should be enough of a detriment to keep him at Triple-A permanently.
The Cubs continue to prove this season that they are not serious about contending despite that being the expectation at the start of the season. Failure should create urgency, but instead, for the Cubs, it creates complacency.
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