Monday Morning North Sider: Luis Vázquez Is Here, Brennen Davis Go Brrr, And More

The Cubs are really starting to feel the effects of their injuries, losing two of three to the powerful Atlanta Braves before being stumped by the Pittsburgh Pirates three times in a four-game set. The offense is struggling, scoring more than four runs just once all week (in a 7-1 win in the series finale against Atlanta).

• It's hard to pick out a "big" news story during such a lethargic week, so let's turn our attention to the minor leagues for a bit.
• Luis Vázquez is getting the call to the majors! The defensive stud is hitting .270/.369/.409, good for a 106 wRC+ at Triple-A Iowa this season. However, it's worth noting the last three weeks have not been kind to the 24-year-old (.143/.273/.232, a 39 wRC+).  
• Most likely, he'll be stepping in as a fill-in for Dansby Swanson or Nico Hoerner, who may be behind in their recovery timelines. Miles Mastrobuoni and Nick Madrigal have filled in adequately for the time being, but they aren't true, everyday players.
• The Cubs do have a day off Monday, so some corresponding roster move will take place to accommodate this, but it might not be immediate. Regardless of what that transaction ultimately looks like, all the team needs from Vázquez is a more competitive, theoretically dangerous at-bat than Madrigal has given them--which is a low bar to clear.
• Elsewhere in the minor leagues, Brennen Davis is [NBA Jam voice] ON FIRE. The one-time top prospect in the Cubs' farm system has now become an afterthought, given his injury troubles and the loaded outfield for the parent club, but he still possesses as much raw talent as anyone. On Saturday, he hit two home runs, running his total up to seven in eight games.
• Who knows what Davis, who is on the 40-man roster, is capable of doing across a full season anymore, if his body can even handle the rigors of it. However, at just 24 years old, there's still plenty of time for him to come up and make a big impact on the big-league team. He was a top-20 prospect in baseball just a couple of years ago, after all.
• Jake Slaughter was traded for Tyson Miller this week, which is a bittersweet goodbye to one of the longest-tenured players in the farm system. Slaughter, 27, was originally drafted by the Cubs in the 36th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, but then headed to college, only to be picked by the Cubs again in the 18th round (in 2018). The utility infielder was batting .297/.392/.487 for the I-Cubs at the time of the trade.
• Richard Lovelady was also traded this week, to open up a roster spot for Tyson Miller. In return, the Tampa Bay Rays sent back lefty arm Jeff Belge, a 26-year-old reliever who’s never reached Triple-A. It's a low-end return, but Lovelady had already been designated for assignment, and had no significant trade value. Perhaps the Cubs' Pitch Lab can turn Belge into a useful reliever.
• Cade Horton got his first Triple-A win this week, pitching five innings of three-run ball on Friday. He looks closer and closer to being ready for The Show.
• Like I said, there isn't much to talk about from the big-league team this week that hasn't been said one million times already this season. The lineup is banged up and can't score runs with any consistency. Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad are the best 1-2 punch atop any rotation in baseball right now, but Kyle Hendricks looks awful, and the rest of the rotation can't stay healthy. And don't even get me started on the bullpen. Hopefully, Adbert Alzolay's Injured List stint helps him fix whatever's been ailing him this season. The Cubs need a surefire reliever in the worst way right now.
• The Cubs were heavily active on the trade market this week, but those were just moves around the margins. As the trade deadline draws near, Jed Hoyer and company may have to bite the bullet on a blockbuster move if they hope to hang with the Milwaukee Brewers atop the division.

That'll wrap it up for this week, folks. The Cubs are off today before facing the fightin' Snitkers again (this time at home, at least) for three games. They'll then head to St. Louis to take on the rival Cardinals for the first time this season. The weekday set will be a difficult one to win, but the Cardinals are currently fourth in the NL Central. A .500 week, at minimum, is needed for the Cubs to right the ship.

Have a good week, everyone! Go, Cubs, Go!