The Cubs finally got what they could for Willie Banks in a trade Monday night. And, as expected, it wasn’t a whole lot.
Banks, a former Minnesota Twins top draft pick, went 0-1 with a 15.42 earned-run average with the Cubs this year.
The Cubs removed Banks from the roster June 13 and designated him for assignment–a procedural move that gave them 10 days to either release Banks, trade him or clear him through waivers.
At least two National League teams conctacted the Cubs about trading for Banks before the 10-day deadline. The Dodgers made the best offer, but it wasn’t a heart-stopper. They gave up Dax Winslett, 23, from their Class-A Vero Beach club.
Winslett is 6-4 with a 3.18 ERA this year. He has allowed 108 walks and hits in 85 innings. Last year, he allowed 242 walks and hits in 159 innings at Bakersfield of the California League.
Plunked: Shortstop Shawon Dunston, who had to leave a game last week after twisting his back on a swinging strike, was hurt again Monday night. He bruised his hip on a pitch by Padre relief pitcher Andres Berumen in the sixth inning. Dunston ran the bases, but left in the bottom half of the sixth when his hip tightened up.
Pitcher-hitter: Good thing Kevin Foster never hit like this when he was with the Expos.
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Foster was chosen by Montreal in the 1987 draft as a third baseman, but hit just .216 in his first two seasons and was moved to the mound, where he has become one of the Cubs’ promising young stars.
But, suddenly, he has started hitting, too. Going into his 10th start of the season against the Padres Monday, Foster was hitting .317 (6 for 19) with one homer this season.