Cubs Roster Update: Grimm Recalled, Pena Optioned to AAA

This has basically become a weekly post in which we simply transpose the names in the title. That last spot in the bullpen is just a rent-by-the-hour motel at this point. Even so, Justin Grimm hadn’t gotten another shot since heading to AAA to serve as the closer for the Iowa Cubs.

Excluding one outing in which he vomited all over himself, giving up three hits, a walk, and four earned runs (on a grand slam), Grimmer was unhittable in his MiLB stint. Okay, he actually gave up two hits in six other innings of work, striking out eight and walking four. That was enough to show the Cubs that he was ready for another shot, so he’s back and Felix Pena has been sent back to Iowa.

The hope is that the veteran bounces back like he did last season and wedges a stop in the revolving door that has been spinning for the last few weeks. Part of the reason for the streaming has been the need to keep a fresh arm back there, but more has been lack of production. Had any of the guys the Cubs used inspired confidence that they could be a dude, they’d have stayed up.

Grimm has been a dude in the past and still has the stuff required to lock things down here and there. He’s just got to keep the ball in the zone. As much as I love the Cubs providing us #content, I’d enjoy some consistency on the roster.

Ed. note: sorry for the late notice on this, I was trying to not not die while climbing a ladder to paint our pergola.