Stewart will open season on disabled list
MESA, Ariz. — In what might have seemed inevitable, the Cubs on Tuesday said third baseman Ian Stewart will open the season on the disabled list.
The announcement came after results of an MRI exam on his injured quadriceps showed a “pocket of fluid” still in the area he first injured running out a double in an intrasquad game Feb. 21. He underwent a procedure to drain the fluid Tuesday.
Stewart suffered a setback the first day he returned to action, in a minor-league game Thursday in which he batted five times.
“There was a couple check swings where I felt that muscle pull,’’ he said. “I just know there’s still pain there. It’s been frustrating, just because I could do pretty much everything somewhat pain-free but without being able to run. I know what it’s like to play through pain. And that’s what’s hard about this, that I can’t get through that pain and play with it because it’s just too much.”
The decision means Luis Valbuena is the Cubs’ Opening Day third baseman. He should get most of the starts until Stewart returns.
The decision also means the Cubs will pay the full $2 million of Stewart’s deal instead of releasing him before rosters are set and owing him only $500,000.
Lillibridge in
Former White Sox Brent Lillibridge opens the season as the Cubs’ top utilityman.
“Under the circumstances, it’s pretty much a no-brainer,” Sveum said of the versatile right-handed hitter who has played every position this spring except catcher and pitcher. “He’s just too valuable a commodity.”
Sveum said the hot-hitting Lillibridge could share time with Valbuena at third because he hits left-handers especially well.
Bench decisions
With Lillibridge in and Stewart on the DL, the Cubs have two more openings on the bench. Outfielders Brian Bogusevic and Dave Sappelt and catcher/infielder Steve Clevenger are among the strongest candidates.
“Whether we do something within or through the waiver wires and guys that are being released here in the last two weeks, we’ll just have to wait and see on that,” said Sveum, who seems intrigued by keeping the lefty-hitting Clevenger.
“If we go with [him], you can pinch-run and you can pinch-hit Navarro if he’s not playing as well.”