CHICAGO – The Cubs swung a blockbuster deal to land Edward Cabrera over the offseason due to his top-of-the-rotation potential. His first season with the North Siders has featured frustratingly mixed results and multiple trips to the injured list.
The latest setback arrived on Monday, when Cabrera was placed on the 15-day IL due to a second recurrence of a blister issue on his pitching hand. This came one day after the starter’s much-anticipated return from the IL, following nearly two months on the shelf due to a left hamstring and adductor strain.
“I wish every story was a success story,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “This one, right now, is not. And we’re certainly going to keep working on trying to find answers there and trying to find solutions. I know it’s something that’s important, very important.”
With Cabrera shelved, Chicago recalled right-hander Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa on Monday as part of a pile of roster moves ahead of the opener of a three-game set with the White Sox. Shortstop Dansby Swanson (left oblique strain) was also placed on the 10-day IL, while outfielder Kevin Alcántara and utility man Owen Miller were promoted from Triple-A Iowa. Infielder James Triantos was optioned to the same affiliate.
One thing the Cubs are seriously considering for Cabrera for the rest of this season is having him transition to a relief role.
The blister troubles -- along with the fingernail being impacted as well, per Counsell -- have happened not only multiple times this season, but throughout Cabrera’s career. That said, it has not come up during bullpen sessions or some of the more abbreviated Minor League rehab outings, when the volume of throws is lower.
Counsell said the Cubs’ “working plan” is to allow Cabrera the time he needs for his hand to heal before then having him build back up with a bullpen role in mind. Perhaps, if the hard-throwing righty is not facing the same workload as a starting pitcher, the Cubs can avoid the blister issue for the rest of this season.
“Big picture, in general, we’ve got to come up with some better answers on the blisters thing,” Counsell said. “The nail, the blister, we keep having some issues there. Frankly, one thing we’re going to talk about is, like, ‘Is it happening the longer your outings are? And is that causing this?’ That may be something we consider for the rest of the year.”
The Cubs shipped a trio of prospects -- headlined by outfielder Owen Caissie -- to the Marlins over the winter to add Cabrera to the rotation. Through 15 starts, the righty has logged a 5.68 ERA with 67 strikeouts against 32 walks in 76 innings.
Cabrera posted a 4.06 ERA in his first nine starts (51 innings), but then had the blister first flare up on him during a May 20 outing against the Brewers. Dating back to that game, Cabrera has turned in a 9.00 ERA in nine appearances, in which he struck out 22 and issued 14 walks in only 25 innings.
“It hasn’t clicked,” Counsell said.
For his part, Cabrera said he is on board with the idea of moving to the bullpen, if that is the direction the Cubs want to go.
“One hundred percent, I’d go to the bullpen,” Cabrera said via team translator Fredy Quevedo Jr. “The important thing is to be here and to be able to help the team. So yeah, if they were to ask me to come out of the bullpen, I’d happily do it.”