The Cubs launched reliever Josh Staumont from his minor league contract, tweets Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register. It’s not clear if the right-hander triggered an opt-out or if the Cubs merely determined they weren’t going to name him up.
In both case, Staumont returns to the market simply two weeks after signing with Chicago. The 30-year-old pitched twice for Chicago’s prime affiliate in Iowa. He walked 5 batters whereas recording solely three outs. Staumont had run a way more spectacular 16:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 10 2/3 frames with the Twins’ prime affiliate earlier within the season. He clearly didn’t have any form of command in his very small pattern in Iowa.
A former second-round choose of the Royals, Staumont pitched components of 5 seasons with Kansas Metropolis. He posted an above-average 26.2% strikeout charge however walked greater than 13% of batters confronted via 168 1/3 innings. The Royals non-tendered him final winter. Staumont signed an enormous league cope with Minnesota that assured him $950K. He made 25 appearances for the Twins, working to a 3.70 ERA over 24 1/3 innings. His walks remained excessive and his strikeout charge dropped sharply to 17.6%, so Minnesota reduce him unfastened after they introduced in Trevor Richards on the commerce deadline.
Staumont’s camp can once more search for minor league alternatives for the subsequent few weeks. He’d must signal with a crew by September 1 to be eligible for postseason play along with his new membership, although that’s a secondary consideration to pitching his method again to the majors.