Daniel Palencia, Hunter Harvey Tracking Toward Early August Rehab Assignments
The Cubs are very active in the search for pitching help on the trade market, but the deadline could coincide with two internal reinforcements. Relievers Hunter Harvey and Daniel Palencia have combined to throw less than 21 innings this season, but both are trending to begin rehab assignments the week of August 3. Craig Counsell told reporters in Pittsburgh that Palencia’s Saturday bullpen went well enough for him to throw an up-down on Tuesday before moving to live BP.
This is Palencia’s second IL stint of the season, the first of which came from a left oblique strain that shut him down for a little less than three weeks. He’s now been out nearly six weeks with right elbow inflammation, so he’s pitched only 16.2 innings in 19 appearances. He also has just three saves, which is still good enough for a second-place tie with Trent Thornton. Jacob Webb‘s five saves are the most of 12 Cubs pitchers who’ve closed games this year. Getting Palencia back will be huge.
Harvey is likewise looking good in his recovery from triceps inflammation and subsequent stress reaction that has kept him out since early August. His addition wasn’t just a bit out of character for Jed Hoyer as something of a gamble based on the $6 million price tag, it also ran counter to Harvey’s initial desires. His preference was to avoid big cities, but the Cubs “mesmerized” him with a recruiting pitch based on their ability to keep pitchers healthy.
That was big for a guy who had really struggled to stay on the mound in his career, with an unofficial tally of 12 IL stints prior to joining the Cubs. He made just four appearances before hitting the shelf this season, so getting him back in the bullpen will be almost like trading for a big arm. If he can actually stay on the mound, that is.
“He’s throwing the ball really well, so there’s optimism there,” Counsell said. “Obviously we have a bunch more steps to get to, but right now everything is going well.”
Acquiring all the relievers in the world won’t matter if the starters spot their opponents half a dozen runs, which is why Hoyer needs to find rotation help as well. That will mean parting with some of their position-player depth, perhaps even an MLB-ready bat or two, but it’ll be worth it if the return is a deep playoff run. This offense is far too good to lose big games because the pitchers can’t make seven runs stand up.
