Injury concerns won’t affect how Cubs use trade chips
Concern over possible injury won’t affect how the Cubs view pulling the trigger on a trade, said general manager Jed Hoyer, who acknowledged calls from teams about Cubs players are increasing.
“We worry about injuries every day, regardless,” Hoyer said. “Every time I see [head trainer] PJ
Mainville’s name on my phone, my heart skips a beat.”
The Cubs were a phone call from finishing off a trade of Matt Garza last July when Garza suffered a stress reaction in his elbow and missed the last two months of the season.
League of his own
How important is Alfonso Soriano to the Cubs’ lineup? Evidently, he’s the key when it comes to beating teams from the other league — hitting .367 with seven home runs, 17 RBI and a 1.190 OPS in 19 games against American League teams through Tuesday.
Despite Wednesday’s 13-2 loss against the Angels, the Cubs finished 13-7 in interleague play, losing only one of eight series.
“I don’t think there’s any rhyme or reason,” manager Dale Sveum said, “except that Sori swung the bat really well in all those American League games as well [as good pitching].”
Tough debut
Right-hander Jake Arrieta, the key player acquired from Baltimore in last week’s Scott Feldman trade, got roughed up in his first start for Class AAA Iowa, but Hoyer pointed out that Arrieta hadn’t pitched in nearly two weeks.
“It’s kind of a little bit of a mulligan,” he said. “But he wasn’t sharp. We’re hoping it’s because he’s rusty.”
Notes
Sveum said he planned to start Travis Wood in the second game out of the All-Star break and suggested Jeff Samardzija might start the first game out, before backing off of that. The big factor is whether Garza will be around.
Cubs sources said last week the team planned one more big international signing. According to reports, it will be 18-year-old Taiwanese high school pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng, who will receive a bonus of more than $1.5 million.
Brian Bogusevic, who hasn’t played in more than a week because of a hamstring injury, is expected back Thursday.