Just when things were looking up for the Chicago Cubs, the injury bug has come back to bite them. After Dansby Swanson went on the injured list Friday, Yency Almonte joined him on Saturday.
The 29-year-old reliever is dealing with a right shoulder strain. The team isn't exactly sure when he will return either. It's a huge blow to the bullpen as Almonte has been one of the Cubs' most consistent relief arms.
Jose Cuas will take over Almonte's spot in the meantime. It's not an inspiring replacement , but it gives Craig Counsell a fresh arm at the very least.
The Cubs were already dealt a big blow when Julian Merryweather went on the shelf in April. He's still not close to returning, and the team has felt his loss in a big way.
With Almonte now injured, the bullpen is down bad. It also emphasizes the team's most glaring issue, and it doesn't seem the Cubs can run from it much longer. Jed Hoyer must consider external additions if the Cubs are serious about playing in October.
With the dark cloud growing, it'll be interesting to see if it makes Hoyer act faster on the market. The starting rotation has been phenomenal but shouldn't be taxed this early given the bullpen's shortcomings.
Since Hoyer spoke to reporters on Monday, the team's pitching has trended in the wrong direction. Jameson Taillon was scratched from Sunday's start due to a back issue and now Almonte is on the IL.
The Cubs can't afford to become complacent. They need to get bold in pursuing bullpen upgrades because treading water while trying to compete with the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central is a losing endeavor. At some point, something's got to give.
More must-reads: