The Cubs announced Saturday afternoon the team placed catcher David Ross on the 7-day concussion DL, retroactive to Thursday, July 2. The Cubs selected the contract of catcher Taylor Teagarden from Iowa, added him to the 40-man roster and called up from Triple-A for Saturday’s game against the Marlins.
The Cubs will have to create two spots on the 40-man roster in order to activate LHP Clayton Richard and C Taylor Teagarden. The Cubs’ 40-man roster currently stands at 42 players.
Updated 4:10pm CDT – Cubs transferred INF Tommy La Stella to the 60-day DL and designated RHP Gonzalez Germen for assignment.
With the six roster moves (LHP Clayton Richard and C Taylor Teagarden from Triple-A Iowa, C David Ross to the 7-day DL, RHP Donn Roach optioned to Triple-A Iowa, INF Tommy La Stella transferred to the 60-day disabled list and RHP Gonzalez Germen designated for assignment), the Cubs 25-man roster consists of 13 pitchers (five starters, eight relievers) and 12 position players. The 40-man roster currently stands at 40 players.
Both Richard, who will wear uniform number 33, and Teagarden, who will wear uniform number 27, will be available for Saturday night’s game, with Richard making the start against the Miami Marlins.
David Ross took a ball of the mask during Wednesday’s game and told the team Thursday he had a headache. The headache has not improved and the Cubs were forced to place him on the disabled list.
Taylor Teagarden signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in the off-season that included a non-roster invite to Spring Training. Teagarden did not play as much in the Cactus League as was expected due to injuries and started the season on the DL.
In 43 games for the I-Cubs this season, Teagarden has hit .294/.375/.437 with four doubles, a triple and four home runs for a .812 OPS. Teagarden has also seen time at first base with the I-Cubs.
Taylor Teagarden played in only nine games for the Mets last season and was 4-for-28 with a home run. Over seven seasons in the big leagues, Teagarden has batted .202/.262/.382 in 172 games with 26 doubles and 21 home runs for a .644 OPS.
Teagarden, 31, has appeared in parts of the last seven seasons with Texas (2008-11), Baltimore (2012-13) and the New York Mets (2014). Teagarden saw his most extensive big league action with the Rangers in 2009, when he hit .217 (43-for-198) with 13 doubles, six homers and 24 RBI in 60 games.
• Taylor Teagarden’s Page on Baseball-Reference
The Cubs have not said how long David Ross is expected to be out. Ross, 38, is batting .189 (14-for-74) with seven doubles and four RBI in 38 games this season. He owns a 2.56 catchers ERA (53 earned runs in 186 1/3 innings) in his 28 games (22 starts) behind the plate.
Donn Roach, 25, went 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA (four earned runs in 3 1/3) in his one start with the Cubs. He is 7-1 with a 2.29 ERA (21 earned runs in 82.2 innings) in 14 starts with Iowa this season.
Gonzalez Germen, 27, is 5-1 with four saves and a 3.78 ERA (14 earned runs in 33 1/3 inings) in 24 outings with Iowa this season. He posted no record and a 7.50 ERA (five earned runs in six innings) in six relief appearances for the Cubs earlier this season.