The Chicago Cubs have asked a few rookies to play major roles in the lineup this spring. Third baseman Matt Shaw started for the Cubs to begin the season but was sent to Iowa in April so he could work on his offense.
With starting pitcher Shota Imanaga dealing with a mild hamstring strain, the Cubs brought up Cade Horton last week, who made his debut and earned his first win in Chicago’s 6-5 win over the New York Mets on Saturday.
On Tuesday night, catcher Moises Ballesteros made his debut in the majors in the Cubs’ 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins in front of 38,083 fans at Wrigley Field. Ballesteros went 0-for-4 at-bat, but his fielder’s choice off a ground ball advanced Carson Kelly to third base in the ninth inning before the Cubs would score three runs to complete an exciting comeback.
MLB teams want Moises Ballesteros
During an appearance on 670 The Score’s “Mully & Hugh Show” on Tuesday, Bruce Levine dropped a nugget on what the Cubs might have to give up in a trade to boost third base or their pitching staff. He said “every team” that the Cubs talk to has brought up Ballesteros as a player they want in a trade.
“But for now, this is the move, and he’ll be in the lineup tonight,” Levine said of the Cubs playing Ballesteros against the Marlins this week. “So I’m sure people are going to be really excited to see him. Every team in baseball that the Cubs talk to, Ballesteros’ name comes up as part of, ‘Are you willing to trade him as a part of any deal?'”
Are the Chicago Cubs dressing up Ballesteros?
Levine’s report makes the Cubs’ decision to play Ballesteros this week more interesting. Chicago has a unique opportunity to dress up Ballesteros’ stats against the lowly Marlins and Chicago White Sox while Ian Happ is on the 10-day injured list for an oblique issue.
Ballesteros didn’t take advantage of his opportunity on Tuesday, but he’ll get more at-bats over the next week. The 21-year-old from Los Teques, Venezuela, was batting .368/.420/.522 in Iowa with a .942 OPS through 34 games.
If Ballesteros’ bat gets warm, Chicago might have a tough decision between keeping the promising catcher or trading him for a position of need.
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