Update: Scott Baker has been shut down indefinitely and the MRI showed inflammation in his throwing arm. Baker won’t throw for at least a week. Baker was going to start the season on the DL anyways, but it looks like Baker will have a longer stint on the DL now.
The Chicago Cubs are MRI happy this spring, first starting pitcher, then third baseman Ian Stewart and now starting pitcher Scott Baker to undergo an MRI on his throwing arm. Baker pitched on Sunday and the day after his outing (Monday), Baker’s arm felt soar. The Cubs say the MRI is for precautionary reasons only.
Baker did not pitch great on Sunday as he couldn’t he out of the first inning. Baker gave up 3 earned runs, 3 hits and 2 walks in 0.1 innings. After the start, Baker said his arm felt great. But Baker’s arm tricked him and wasn’t all good.
Baker is recovering from Tommy John Surgery and he missed all of the 2012 season. The Cubs signed Baker in hoping he can get back to his 2011 form. Baker will not be ready for opening day and will start the season on the DL, along with starter Matt Garza. Baker was looking at a mid-April return from the DL, but that may not be the case anymore. Depending on how Baker’s arm feels and the results of the MRI.
Roster Cubs
The Cubs announce their 4th round of cuts on Monday as expected. The kids were cut as Dale Sveum said the only players left in camp have a shot at making the opening day roster:
Javier Baez – minor-league camp: We all knew this time would come, but Baez did show he’ll be in the majors in a couple years.
Jorge Soler – High-A Daytona: Soler did struggle at times. However, he did show he’ll be on the same roster as Javier Baez very soon.
Christian Villanueva – Double-A Tennessee: Villanueva looked alright, but he did show he has power. I still see Villanueva as the Cubs future 3B or 2B.
Josh Vitters – Triple-A Iowa: We didn’t see Vitters much as he was dealing with a nagging injury and didn’t see much action this spring. I do think we will see Vitters at some point this season.
Junior Lake – Triple-A Iowa: Lake’s spring was cut short after he sustained a rib injury. So, we didn’t see all Lake could have offered this spring.
Rafael Lopez – minor-league camp: I really didn’t see Lopez play, but he was just an extra body at camp and had no shot at making the opening day roster.
The Cubs camp roster currently stands at 46 players. Cubs’ management and front office has two more weeks to cut down the roster to 25 players for opening day.
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