Theo: Cubs’ play may shape next move
BALTIMORE — If you believe every tweet you read, then you might believe Athletics right- hander Sonny Gray was scratched from his start Friday in Oakland, even though he actually pitched.
Despite reports Friday that the Cubs had Gray in their sights for their next bold move after their blockbuster trade for Jose Quintana, sources said there has been no recent movement on the Cubs- Gray front. And it’s not even clear what the Cubs could offer to get such a deal done after shipping their top two prospects to the White Sox for Quintana.
Ask Cubs president Theo Epstein what his next move is, and he’ll tell you to “ask Wet butt”— the mysterious Reddit user Wetbutt23, who had the Quintana scoop Wednesday night.
Epstein suggested he’ll take more of an “aggressive posture” toward the July 31 trade deadline to help this year’s playoff push if the Cubs’ play in the next couple of weeks dictates. He also suggested the search for another controllable, quality starting pitcher will continue this month — though it could carry into the winter and possibly involve a look at free agents.
“Right now we’re taking a step back, taking a break, to kind of understand our roster and payroll dynamic looking forward now that we have Quintana in the fold,” Epstein said Friday before the Cubs’ 9- 8 win over the Orioles in which they blew an 8- 0 lead before Addison Russell’s go- ahead homer in the ninth. “We’ll be active. And we’re going to see how we play, too. If we don’t get hot, obviously we’ll have a little bit longer- term perspective. I like the look in our guys’ eyes. I think everyone’s refreshed and ready to put the first half behind us, while being accountable for it, ready to move on and play better baseball.”
Quintana’s contract — which includes an $ 8.95 million salary next year and a pair of $ 10.5 million club options after that — could be a key to anything the Cubs do with their roster and payroll over the next year or more as they try to stay under disproportionately low luxurytax thresholds.
“It’s really significant when you acquire a really good player who’s got a very reasonable contract,” Epstein said. “You almost start thinking of a slot being created for a second player, perhaps in free agency, that can come along with him that you can then afford because his contract is so manageable.”
That could be especially huge with core Cubs entering arbitration years next winter — and a potentially loaded free- agent class coming a year later.
“It really does create a ton of options,” Epstein said, “and we’ll be able to pack more talent on the roster because of his contract — there’s no way around it.”
NOTES: Kyle Hendricks, who has been on the disabled list since June 5 because of tendinitis in his hand, makes a second minor- league rehab start Monday, after which he’s expected to be activated. That could put him back in the rotation for the home series against the St. Louis Cardinals next weekend.
To make room on the roster for Quintana, reliever Dylan Floro was sent to Class AAA Iowa — for the fifth time this season.
With Quintana joining the rotation, Eddie Butler moves to the bullpen as a long man, for now.
John Lackey ( plantar fasciitis) played catch Friday and remains on track to return from the DL on Tuesday in Atlanta.
Maddon said ace Jon Lester was moved to the back of the rotation out of the break for “just purely rest.” Left unsaid: He also has been dealing with a sore ankle.