The Cubs have placed 31-year old lefty reliever John Grabow on the 15-day disabled list with knee tendinitis. Grabow has pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 0-3 with a 9.45 ERA and a 2.15 WHIP. He has given up 32 hits (5 homers) and he has walked 11 batters in only 20 innings this year which is downright pathetic. The Cubs have called up 23 year old righty starter/reliever Andrew Cashner who was their #4 rated prospect heading into this year according to Baseball America. Cashner will work out of the pen for the Cubs. He has pitched in 11 games (9 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he is 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He has only given up 39 hits in 57 innings this year while whiffing 59 batters. The Cubs have a big need in the bullpen and they hope that Casher is ready to rock from day #1.

The Cubs need to make a big splash to help the bullpen from the right side or the season is going to be a huge disappointment for them. With that in mind the Cubs need to make a call to the Blue Jays and bite the bullet offering outfielders Tyler Colvin and Sam Fuld for Jason Frasor, Jeremy Accardo, Brian Tallet and Jeremy Reed. I know that Colvin is a fan favorite right now but the Cubs can’t afford to wait to make a deal. Frasor, Accardo and Tallet would give the Cubs a lot of help in the bullpen the rest of the year and the Cubs should consider pulling the trigger on a deal like this sooner rather than later. The Cubs could then flip a minor prospect like outfielder James Adduci to the Indians for Austin Kearns who will fill in as Kosuke Fukudome’s new platoon partner in RF. The Cubs need to get into the groove by adding to the bullpen or they might be a seller at the trade deadline in July.

The Cubs have designated 26-year old righty reliever David Patton for assignment to make room on the roster for Bobby Howry. Patton pitched in 7 games (0 starts) in A-ball this season for the Cubs and he was 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. Patton pitched in 20 games (0 starts) with the Cubs last year and he was 3-1 with a 7.50 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP. I don’t think the Cubs will miss Patton much if at all down the road.

The Cubs have signed 36-year old righty reliever Bobby Howry and he will be with the team starting tonight in Texas. Howry pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs this year before being released by them and he was 1-0 with a 10.67 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. He has now pitched in 745 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 45-49 with 66 saves, a 3.79 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. I know that Howry didn’t do much for the D-Backs but maybe a return to the Windy City will get him back on track. Giving Howry another chance was a good move for the Cubs whose bullpen stinks right now other than Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol.

27-year old righty closer Carlos Marmol has some of the nastiest stuff I have ever seen in my life. He has pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 1-0 with 7 saves, a 1.31 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Marmol has only allowed 12 hits in 20 2/3 innings while whiffing an absolutely amazing 40 batters! His only problem has been his control as he has walked 12 batters this season but it’s damn hard to score without hitting the baseball.

24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Tyler Colvin came into this season as the Cubs’ #17 rated prospect according to Baseball America and he’s showing that he should have been higher up that list so far. Colvin has played in 34 games for the Cubs this year and he is 18 of 61 (.295 avg, .936 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 4 homers, 10 RBIs and 1 stolen base. With Kosuke Fukudome, Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano all hitting so well it’s hard for the Cubs to get Colvin a lot of P.T. but it’s a good problem to have.

The Cubs have placed 26-year old righty reliever Esmailin Caridad on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain. Caridad has pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this season and he is 0-1 with a 11.25 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. He will be replaced in the bullpen by 26-year old righty Jeff Stevens who has been recalled from AAA. Stevens has pitched in 12 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 0-0 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 1-0 with a 7.11 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. The Cubs hope that Stevens will be better this time around for them.

21-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brett Jackson came into this season as the Cubs’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America and he’s showing why so far in his minor league career. Jackson has played in 30 games in A-ball so far this season and he is 38 of 115 (.330 avg, .872 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 10 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He has now played in 83 games in his two years in the minors and he is 105 of 326 (.322 avg, .894 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 8 homers, 46 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. The Cubs are likely going to take their time with Jackson so that he isn’t overmatched at any level before getting the call to Chicago.

The Cubs have been getting outstanding pitching out of 27-year old lefty starter Tom Gorzelanny and 31-year old righty starter Carlos Silva so far this year. Gorzelanny has really stepped up this season for the Cubs. He has started 6 games for the Cubs so far this season and he is 1-4 with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He has only given up 31 hits in 35 innings while whiffing 36 batters as his stuff has been outstanding. Improved control has been a key for him and if he continues to throw strikes he will have a outstanding year for the Cubbies. Carlos Silva was an afterthought over the winter when the Cubs got him for Milton Bradley. But due to Ted Lilly starting the season on the D.L. he won a starting job and he hasn’t looked back. Silva has started 7 games for the Cubs this season and he is 4-0 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He is getting back to throwing his power sinking fastball and he is throwing strikes. He has only walked 9 batters in 42 1/3 innings this season which is outstanding. I think he could be a huge asset to the Cubs as long as he keeps pitching like he is right now.

27-year old righty swinging catcher Geovany Soto is off to a outstanding start for the Cubs. He has played in 23 games for the Cubs this season and he is 22 of 65 (.338 avg, 1.069 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 4 homers and 9 RBIs. Soto is showing great discipline at the plate as he has walked 21 times this season while only whiffing 12 times. The Cubs came into this season a little worried about Soto. He played in 102 games for the Cubs last season and he was 72 of 331 (.218 avg, .702 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 11 homers and 47 RBIs. The Cubs need Soto to keep up the good work with the bat as he really gives the Cubs a nice asset in the lineup.