Cubs Roster Moves: McKinstry Arrives, Rivas to Iowa

I’m stunned the Cubs didn’t simply wait on this till after the deadline, since there will probably be different maneuverings occurring. However I assume the Cubs actually needed to get new utility man Zach McKinstry within the door to work with the group as a lot as potential this 12 months.

McKinstry, acquired yesterday from the Dodgers for Chris Martin, is becoming a member of the Cubs right this moment, with Alfonso Rivas being optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room:

Rivas, 25, has hit simply .232/.313/.316/79 wRC+ on the huge league degree this 12 months, and he’ll head again to Iowa the place Matt Mervis has most likely change into the first starter at first base. It’s powerful to say what comes subsequent for Rivas, whose glove is basically good at first base and whose bat is sort of definitely too good for Triple-A. Will he be retained on the 40-man for the offseason, and given one other shot to win a bench job within the spring? Will the Cubs see if there are different groups on the market within the early a part of the offseason? Will the Cubs attempt to sneak him by waivers in November? All questions for later, I suppose.

McKinstry, 27, figures to have the within monitor on a bench job subsequent 12 months, however the Cubs will proper now concentrate on attempting to get him a bit of extra huge league enjoying time than he was getting with the Dodgers. You wish to understand how properly you suppose the bat – which has all the time hit at Triple-A – can translate within the huge leagues with extra semi-regular enjoying time. The glove will play virtually wherever, in order that brings up the ground significantly on his worth off the bench.

For extra on McKinstry, should you didn’t see the updates yesterday, see right here.