Juan Cruz released

[inari]

Per MLBTR. Maybe he could fill the 8th inning void?

[Sammy Sofa]

He is an 8th inning void.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though it wouldn't hurt to give him a shot.

[CubbieBum]

Cubs should definitely get him. At the very least he is a near lock to be a better option than the last guy in our pen and has the chance to return to what he was a couple years ago which was a great reliever.

[Keener98]

A smart team would pick him up. The Cubs aren't a smart team, so I fully expect to see the Cardinals sign him in the coming days.

 

Oh and if the Cubs signed him they'd probably move him to the rotation

[JockJones]

It looks like he, or the guys coming in after him, have really been able to work out of trouble so far this year. His ERA isn't bad at 3.38 but his WHIP is 2.4 on 9 hits and 4 walks in 5.1 innings. If he could get his command under control, which would also probably lead him to not throw so many hittable pitches, then he could return to being a decent reliever.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I see no reason not to give him a shot at league min. He cant be any worse than what we have.

[Post Count Padder]

Sign him cheap. Worst case scenario is he sucks for a couple games and they dump him. Can't do any worse than some of the guys we're throwing out there now.

[YearofDaCubs]

I see no reason not to give him a shot at league min. He cant be any worse than what we have.

Agreed. We would have nothing to lose by signing him.

[Keener98]

I see no reason not to give him a shot at league min. He cant be any worse than what we have.

Agreed. We would have nothing to lose by signing him.

 

Sure we would. It may mean that Hendrys boy toy Shark would be sent to AAA where he belongs(well he belongs out of baseball but whatever).

[JockJones]

I see no reason not to give him a shot at league min. He cant be any worse than what we have.

Agreed. We would have nothing to lose by signing him.

 

Sure we would. It may mean that Hendrys boy toy Shark would be sent to AAA where he belongs(well he belongs out of baseball but whatever).

 

I'm hoping that Shark gets sent down with Ted's activation today...but Hendry sure loves Shark so who knows.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

do it!

[Little Slide Rooter]

I see no reason not to give him a shot at league min. He cant be any worse than what we have.

Agreed. We would have nothing to lose by signing him.

 

Sure we would. It may mean that Hendrys boy toy Shark would be sent to AAA where he belongs(well he belongs out of baseball but whatever).

 

I'm hoping that Shark gets sent down with Ted's activation today...but Hendry sure loves Shark so who knows.

 

I have a very bad feeling that Shark will not be sent down and either Berg, Gray, or maybe Russell will. Samardzjia is a mistake that Hendry refuses to admit, and we'll continue to pay for.

[A-Cal]

I thought we would trade for him, but now that he is dumped there is absolutely no reason to not sign him.

[Wrigley Rat]

Juan Cruz and Carlos Zambrano in the bullpen will be just like old times (2002 - before Zambrano became a fixture in the rotation)!

[NCCubFan]

I'm hoping that Shark gets sent down with Ted's activation today...

Done.

[haubrich91]

Juan Cruz would be a solid pick-up for our bullpen. Please do it, Jim.

[Four and Twenty]

This front has been altogether too quiet.

[soapy]

Yeah, I'm a little surprised this hasn't happened yet. Or at least some word about the Cubs looking at him.

[evv98]

FWIW, Olney's blog entry from the 25th stated that Cruz was not placed on waivers on Friday as reported, but was supposed to be yesterday. That means he would not clear waivers until Wednesday.

[Keener98]

FWIW, Olney's blog entry from the 25th stated that Cruz was not placed on waivers on Friday as reported, but was supposed to be yesterday. That means he would not clear waivers until Wednesday.

 

Yea and he also said to expect the Cubs to kick the tires of Cruz.

[Guest]

Does anyone know if Cruz has lost velocity? Looking at his pitch values it's really the fastball that has led to his poorer performance.

[sweetpeteman]

Does anyone know if Cruz has lost velocity? Looking at his pitch values it's really the fastball that has led to his poorer performance.

 

 

According to gameday he's been able to get it into the mid-90's, touching 96, 97, but is having trouble locating it (at least according to GameDay locations).

 

 

Except in his last start, he only hit 93, but that can be chalked up to the gun, him being a little off that day, what ever.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hes been available for league min for 5 days now, and not so much as a rumor about him, so the GMs must know something that we dont. I know he had a rough go of it in the AL, but you never know if a return to the NL could be what he needs, so theres no reason not to go after him at that price.

[dew1679666265]

Hes been available for league min for 5 days now, and not so much as a rumor about him, so the GMs must know something that we dont. I know he had a rough go of it in the AL, but you never know if a return to the NL could be what he needs, so theres no reason not to go after him at that price.

 

Unless he's hurt.

 

I don't think it's that odd for a guy this early in the year to still be a free agent. Most teams don't have a great need in the bullpen at this point, especially for a guy who had a WHIP over 2 so far this year. I expect a team to sign him, but doubt too many are hurrying to do it.

[cubfan]

Hes been available for league min for 5 days now, and not so much as a rumor about him, so the GMs must know something that we dont. I know he had a rough go of it in the AL, but you never know if a return to the NL could be what he needs, so theres no reason not to go after him at that price.

 

A few post above yours says that he was not released on Friday and would not be available until today. I don't know if this is right or not but could also explain why he has not been picked up.