September call-ups used to be more interesting, when teams could basically promote the entire 40-man roster (and some actually did that). It was a way of rewarding long-time minor leaguers with a cup of coffee in the big leagues, or looking at prospects play at the MLB level for a few weeks.
In the most recent CBA, owners reduced the September roster limit to just 28, meaning only two players can be added after Sept. 1. This is too few, in my view. Sure, 40 was too many, occasionally leading to ridiculous
parades of relievers (with Bruce Bochy being the worst offender — just check out this 2015 game where he used nine relievers in three innings). Teams can’t do that anymore anyway with the three-batter minimum, but I still think a limit of 30 would be more useful. Of course, teams also save on travel and MLB salary expenses with the lower September roster limit. It’s unfortunate for those long-time minor leaguers who might never get a chance to play in the big leagues, but here we are.
In practical terms, that means that most September call-ups are either guys on the injured list who are re-activated, or players who have already been on minor-league shuttles.
Teams can add just one pitcher and one position player, as there is a 14-pitcher limit in September.
So who will the Cubs add?
Javier Assad would be the most likely pitching addition to the roster, but having been just sent to Triple-A Iowa, he’s not eligible to return until Sept. 7. I would assume Assad will be added at that point, but that means someone else would be added for a few days before that.
One option the Cubs have is Eli Morgan, who has missed most of this year with a right elbow impingement. Morgan is currently on rehab assignment to South Bend. One of the advantages to activating Morgan, if the Cubs choose to do so, is that he has an option remaining. So he could simply return for a few days, then be optioned back to Triple-A Iowa (the I-Cubs regular season runs through Sept. 21) when Assad returns. Other relievers at Iowa who could return include Tom Cosgrove, Porter Hodge and Gavin Hollowell, though Hodge and Hollowell have been ineffective at Iowa. Cosgrove is left-handed and might be a fit for an expanded bullpen.
Ryan Brasier and Michael Soroka are on the injured list. I do not expect either of them to throw another pitch for the Cubs.
As far as a position player, I would think the Cubs would recall Moisés Ballesteros, who’s already had a couple of brief MLB stints, batting .222 (4-for-18) with a double and six RBI. The thing about Ballesteros is that he’s really only a DH at this stage of his MLB career and the Cubs already have a bench player in Owen Caissie who can DH.
The Cubs have only two other position players on the 40-man roster who are on option to Iowa: Kevin Alcántara and Ben Cowles. Alcántara had a brief MLB stint last year, going 1-for-10 in three games, but has just had an okay year at Iowa. The Cubs have never seemed much interested in promoting Cowles, who is 25 and who has hit just .234/.299/.379 in 108 games at Iowa this year. Cowles would seem a prime DFA candidate if (for example) Morgan is activated, because Morgan is now on the 60-day injured list and would need a 40-man spot.
What would I do? For the pitching spot, I’d promote Morgan, DFA Cowles and then bring Assad back when he’s eligible, sending Morgan to Iowa. For the position player spot, Ballesteros seems the logical choice. While he’s likely only a DH, he could catch in an emergency. It doesn’t seem likely Miguel Amaya will make it back this year.
What would you do?
