The Cubs announced Friday the team retained LHP Clayton Richard two days after the lefty was designated for assignment. Richard cleared waivers and was optioned to Iowa.
With Clayton Richard staying in the organization, the Cubs’ 40-man roster currently stands at 40 players.
The Cubs designated Richard for assignment prior to Wednesday’s doubleheader in Cincinnati. After the bullpen covered eight innings in Tuesday’s extra innings win over the Reds, the Cubs needed a reliever. RHP Yoervis Medina was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.
Clayton Richard spent the first half of the season in the Pirates’ system at Triple-A Indianapolis. The Cubs acquired Richard from the Pirates for cash considerations on July 3. Richard started against the Marlins on the Fourth of July and was the beneficiary of two home runs and six RBI by Kris Bryant in his first two at bats.
Clayton Richard had two good starts among his three appearances with the Cubs. Richard was 1-0 in three games, two starts, with a 5.40 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 4.99 FIP. In two starts, Richard allowed five runs on 12 hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 12 innings (3.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP).
Unless an addition is made to the organization, the Cubs will have to use either LHP Tsuyoshi Wada or RHP Dallas Beeler for Tuesday’s start against the Rockies. If the same rule applies in this case, Richard cannot be recalled for 10 days unless he is replacing an injured player on the active roster.
The Cubs have time to decide how to use Tsuyoshi Wada. Wada started his latest rehab assignment on July 6. Pitchers can be on a rehab assignment for 30 days. And Dallas Beeler can be recalled for Tuesday’s start because players used as the 26th man for a doubleheader do not fall under the minimum 10-day restriction.
The Cubs caught many off guard when Clayton Richard was designated for assignment. Richard did his job in the two starts he made. While he received more than enough run support in the Marlins’ game, Richard turned his start against the Reds over to the bullpen with the Cubs ahead by a run.
• Clayton Richard’s Page on Baseball-Reference