The Cubs have chosen the contract of lately acquired righty Jesus Tinoco, tweets Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. He’ll be a part of their large league bullpen to start out the season’s second half. Lefty Jordan Wicks, already out greater than a month with an indirect pressure, is being transferred from the 15-day injured listing to the 60-day injures listing to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Wicks will now be out till mid-August on the earliest.
Chicago acquired Tinoco from the Royals in trade for money earlier within the week. Presumably, given how rapidly he’s been added to the large league roster, the right-hander had some type of opt-out or upward mobility clause in his contract that led to the swap.
Tinoco, 29, pitched 10 innings for the Rangers earlier this season and allowed 9 runs earlier than being designated for task. He rejected an outright task to Triple-A in favor of free company, signed with the Royals a number of days later, and now will discover himself again within the majors with the Cubs lower than a month after he grew to become a free agent.
This 12 months’s run with the Rangers clearly didn’t go how he’d hoped, however Tinoco tossed 20 2/3 innings of two.18 ERA ball for Texas again in 2022 and has pitched to a 4.58 earned run common in 76 2/3 innings throughout elements of 5 seasons. He averages higher than 96 mph on his fastball however doesn’t miss bats at a very excessive degree; he’s fanned 18.1% of his large league opponents towards an untenable 13.9% stroll price. He’s had a stable exhibiting in 28 Triple-A innings this season, nevertheless, posting a 3.86 ERA with an enormous 31.9% strikeout price towards a extra manageable (however nonetheless greater than common) 9.5% stroll price.
The Cubs’ bullpen has been problematic for a lot of the 2024 season. They’re a middle-of-the-pack group when it comes to ERA however have commonly faltered in high-leverage conditions, due in no small half to possessing the third-highest stroll price within the majors, at 10.8%. Tinoco will give them a contemporary arm, although his personal historical past of command troubles doesn’t encourage a lot confidence that he’ll assist the group minimize down on its stroll points. If the Cubs plan so as to add to the roster between now and the July 30 commerce deadline — they’re at the moment 3.5 video games out of a Wild Card spot within the NL — bullpen assistance will possible be a spotlight.
