Tuesday Transactions – There Will Be a Few Moves Coming Today, but Not as Many as Last Week

Last week saw a flurry of moves with several big-name players changing affiliates, including Cade Horton, Kohl Franklin, Luke Little, and James Triantos. We are probably not going to get that kind of high-level movement this week. There will be moves, but many of them will be minor transactions. 

Two moves were made late yesterday afternoon by the big league club.

RHPs Jeremiah Estrada and Nick Burdi recalled from Iowa

Hayden Wesneski optioned to Triple-A

We also have to be extremely close to the return of Zac Leigh who has been pitching quite a bit in Arizona.

Over the weekend, there were many procedural moves that took place.

The Pelicans also activated SS Rafael Morel from the 7-day injured list while SS Pedro Ramirez was assigned to the ACL Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans. 

In addition, Tennessee Smokies transferred LHP Burl Carraway from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. 

The Iowa Cubs transferred C Jake Washer to the Development List as catcher David Avitia moved back to South Bend to make room for Miguel Amaya. Then on Sunday, the Iowa Cubs reactivated Washer.

Daniel Palencia was placed on the Development List in Tennessee for an undisclosed reason. There are many possible reasons why he was placed on the development list, but the most likely answer is that the Cubs are going to work on his secondary pitches. I don’t think we’re at the point where the Cubs are ready to give up on him as a starter in only his second full year playing baseball.

There are many players who are getting close to being worthy for a promotion from one level to another. I’m not saying that these guys are going to get promoted today, but keep an eye on them over the next two weeks as they continue to improve.

Myrtle Beach

Saul Gonzalez is probably ready as he’s going to get at Low-A and he is really looking good as he has a 2.70 ERA on the year. Starting pitcher Brody McCullough is also drawing some attention. He has a 2.92 ERA on the year and has struck out 33 batters in 24.2 innings. As for the position players, Parker Chavers is healthy and producing at a high rate and he could make it to South Bend later in the summer. Felix, Stevens, though, is close to ready now as he’s flexing his power muscles as well as hitting for average.

South Bend

Starting pitchers Brandon Birdsell and Connor Noland have been pitching well for the last month and a half and probably have earned the right to go up to Tennessee along with reliever Jarod Wright who has been outstanding in that role. Relievers Frankie Scalzo, Adam Laskey, and Sheldon Reed are very close to being ready to move up. As for position players, at this level, I don’t think anybody’s moving anytime soon. Pinango could possibly move in June, but someone will have to move from Tennessee to Iowa for that to happen.

Tennessee

Jordan Wicks is probably the closest to being ready to move up a level as anybody in the organization. Even though he’s only been there a week, Luke Little is pushing the envelope of being fast tracked in his new role as a relief pitcher. It’s still too early for any of the other Smokies to move up other than Luis Vazquez. In fact, he’s probably overdue at this point

Iowa

I could go for seeing Ben Brown get a spot start in Chicago. I could also see Jeremiah Estrada go back up. As for the position guys, Miguel Amaya is ready whenever the Cubs need him. The same is true for Jake Slaughter. All of a sudden, Darius Hill is starting to knock on the door again as well.

Many of those are not going to happen today or even in the next two weeks. However, over the next 3 to 4 weeks, several of those names should have new addresses underneath their name on the envelope.

I will check back around 8:30 AM to see if there are any moves. That’s when everything went down last week. I doubt we see that kind of roster fluidity today, but there will be moves.

My fingers are actually crossed for Ed Howard.

8:30 AM

Nothing is happening yet I will back around 10 AM.

10:00 AM

Nothing but crickets, but it is early, We should hear something from Iowa and Myrtle Beach between 1 and 2. I will check in at noon and 1.

12:00 PM

Still no transactions on the wire or by email. I will be back at 1. FYI – I am heading to Beloit about 3:30. As a result, there will be a brief blackout of news.

12:38 PM

No moves for Myrtle Beach today.

3:30 PM

Iowa has added Javier Assad. That’s a pretty slow day. I am now off to Beloit where I check in around 4:15-4:30.