The decision to call up right-handed reliever Rich Garces is the latest sign that Steve Buechele’s days with the Cubs are numbered.
Buechele, 33, was eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday, but the Cubs bypassed him and called up Garces from Triple-A Iowa. That was significant because the Cubs already had 11 pitchers on the roster and Garces is out of options. That means he can’t be sent back to the minors without clearing waivers.
The easiest move for the Cubs to make would have been to activate Buechele, who strained a muscle in his left side earlier this month about the time the Cubs traded for Todd Zeile and gave him the third-base job.
Manager Jim Riggleman said Garces was called up because the Cubs needed another right-handed middle reliever and because Buechele still needs a few more days to recover.
The Cubs are trying to buy time and do the best they can for Buechele, who has been both popular in the clubhouse and steady in the field. He is basically untradable at this stage of the season because of his age and $2.95 million salary.
If the Cubs release him, they would have to pick up his salary and any other team could sign Buechele for a pro-rata share of the major-league minimum, about $50,000.
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Rich doings: Garces pitched briefly in the majors for Minnesota in 1990 and 1993, appearing in eight games and earning two saves. He was 0-2 with seven saves and a 2.86 ERA in 23 appearances at Iowa this year. He struck out 36 batters in 28 1/3 innings, while walking just eight. Garces replaces Anthony Young, who went on the disabled list with a strained hamstring.