Murton Optioned....Rapada Recalled

According to several reports out of Chicago, the Cubs have optioned Matt Murton to Triple-A Iowa and recalled lefty Clay Rapada. Murton has struggled both in the plate and in the field this season for the Cubs and will benefit from regular playing time at the Minor League level.

Clay Rapada is in Chicago and will be available for Wednesday night's game against the Mariners. Rapada was perfect in 9 save opportunities for Iowa with a 3.77 ERA.

Clay Rapada was added to the Cubs 40-man roster this previous off-season and has not pitched at the Major League level. The Cubs signed him as a non-drafted free agent in July of 2002. Rapada was in Mesa this past spring with the Cubs and posted a 1-1 record with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He allowed 6 runs on 11 hits, surrendered 3 home runs, walked 1 and struck out 5 in 6 innings of work.

The addition of Rapada to the big league roster gives the Cubs 13 pitchers and another roster move is likely to come soon. Lou Piniella now has six southpaws on his staff, three in the rotation and three in the bullpen.

Clay Rapada's stats from the Baseball Cube

Gramps

13 pitchers? Won't be surprised to see some sort of deal before tomorrow's game. Hoping it is Jones and Izzy.

And to all the guys who want to dump Barrett, who would you like to be the catcher for the Cubs? And be reasonable in your projections. I would rather play this out than dump Barrett. I still think that throw last night was most of Jones' fault. Has Barrett had any trouble handling Soriano's throws from left field? I don't see any of the infielders wearing a catcher's mitt to get ground balls, and can not understand how Jones can not throw it all the way to the plate or even better on one bounce. That throw was terrible!

Eric

Zip -- I agree; I like Murton as well. But with Floyd's history of injury trouble, it is nice to know that Murton is there and is getting the at-bats he needs. He hits well for average and has decent power once he gets in there and gets going; we saw that last season.

Jim H.

Nice. This should be interesting.

Zip

Well....good and bad thoughts on this. I like Murton...very much. But, he couldn't compete with Floyd in right or at the plate. Time to trade him, though, as he is good enough to play in the majors, in my opinion. He deserves that much respect, in my view.