The Cubs have placed 37-year old righty reliever Shawn Camp on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right big toe.  Camp has pitched in 20 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 1-1 with a 7.56 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP.  Camp has given up 26 hits (4 homers) and he has walked 4 batters while whiffing 12 of them in his first 16 2/3 innings this year, as he has been getting hit really, really hard so far this year.  The Cubs have called up 25-year old righty reliever Rafael Dolis to replace Camp in the pen.  Dolis pitched in 2 games (0 starts) earlier this year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.  He has also pitched in 12 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Cubs this year and he is 1-0 with 1 save, a 5.40 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.  Dolis can’t be any worse than Camp has been so far in 2013.

The Cubs have claimed 24-year old righty reliever Eduardo Sanchez off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.  Sanchez has pitched in 9 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Cardinals so far this year and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 3.72 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP.  Sanchez has pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 3-2 with 5 saves, a 3.40 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.  This could turn out to be a steal for the Cubs as Sanchez was lights out for the Cardinals as a rookie back in 2011.

The Cubs have designated 26-year old righty reliever Michael Bowden for assignment.  He pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this year and he was 1-2 with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.  Bowden pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Cubs and he was 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.  I don’t see any way that Bowden clears waivers, so the Cubs should try to deal him and at least get something for him.

29-year old righty starting pitcher Matt Garza is going to return to the Cubs’ starting rotation early next week.  He has pitched in 4 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball so far this year on a rehab assignment and he is 1-1 with a 1.17 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP.  Garza has pitched in 49 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 15-17 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.  The Cubs will move 29-year old righty Carlos Villanueva to the bullpen.  He has pitched in 8 games (all starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 1-3 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.

The Cubs have dealt 30-year old righty swinging infielder Alberto Gonzalez to the Yankees for either a player to be named later or cash.  Gonzalez played in 11 games for the Cubs this year and he was 5 for 23 (.217 avg, .661 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs.  Gonzalez has played in 413 games in his first seven years in the majors and he is 221 of 916 (.241 avg, .597 OPS) with 94 runs scored, 4 homers, 87 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  This isn’t much of a loss for the Cubs moving forward.

The Cubs have released 29-year old righty reliever Cory Wade.  Wade pitched in 10 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Cubs and he was 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA and a 2.18 WHIP.  Wade gave up 28 hits (3 homers) in 16 innings pitched in AAA-ball year, so he got hit pretty darn hard.  Wade has pitched in 161 games (0 starts) in his four years in the majors and he is 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.  This is not much of a loss for the Cubs.

The Cubs have designated 31-year old righty reliever Kameron Loe for assignment.  Loe pitched in 7 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP.  He gave up 12 hits (3 homers) and he walked 4 batters while whiffing 4 in 8 1/3 innings pitched as he got hit hard.  Loe has now pitched in 11 games (0 starts) overall this year for the Mariners and Cubs and he is 1-1 with a 7.80 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP.  This isn’t much of a loss for the Cubs moving forward.

UPDATE:  (5/10/2013) - Kameron Loe rejected an outright assignment to AAA and he has become a free agent.

The Cubs have released 28-year old righty reliever Jensen Lewis.  Lewis pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Cubs this year and he was 0-1 with a 17.18 ERA and a 3.55 WHIP.  He gave up 10 hits (4 homers), walked 3 batters and only whiffed 1 of them in 3 2/3 innings in AAA-ball this year and that is pathetic.  Lewis has pitched in 161 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 7-11 with 14 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  Lewis deserved to get let go with how horrible he was pitching in AAA-ball for the Cubs this year.

The Cubs have claimed 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Julio Borbon off waivers from the Texas Rangers.  Borbon played in 1 game for the Rangers this year and he was 0 for 1 (.000 avg) with 1 run scored.  Borbon has now played in 216 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 194 for 685 (.283 avg, .681 OPS) with 101 runs scored, 7 homers, 73 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.  This was a good pickup for the Cubs as a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered to bring out the best in Borbon.

The Cubs have designated 30-year old righty swinging infielder Alberto Gonzalez for assignment.  Gonzalez played in 11 games for the Cubs this year and he was 5 for 23 (.217 avg, .661 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs.  Gonzalez has now played in 413 games in his first seven years in the majors and he is 221 of 916 (.241 avg, .597 OPS) with 94 runs scored, 4 homers, 87 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  The Cubs needed Gonzalez’ roster spot for Julio Borbon, who they have claimed on waivers.

UPDATE:  (4/23/2013) - The Cubs have outrighted Alberto Gonzalez to AAA.