Chicago Cubs designate Eli Whiteside for assignment
The Chicago Cubs designated veteran catcher Eli Whiteside for assignment on Sunday in order to free up 25-man roster space for Welington Castillo, reports Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald. The Cubs now have 10 days to trade, release or send Whiteside through waivers, at which point he could accept an assignment to the minor leagues.
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Whiteside, 34, signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in the offseason and began the year playing with Triple-A Iowa. After Castillo, the team’s starting catcher, went down with a rib cage injury in early June, Whiteside spent the past few weeks sharing time behind the plate with John Baker.
He didn’t do much in Chicago, batting .120/.115/.160 with just one extra-base hit in 26 plate appearances, so it’s understandable that the Cubs will pull the plug. However, Miles says he could accept the minor league assignment back to Iowa if he clears waivers, a likely possibility given the struggles he’s had this season.
As for the Cubs, the return of Castillo should provide a significant boost to a position that’s cratered in production without his presence. Whiteside was miserable at the plate in his brief stint with the team, and Baker hasn’t been much better. Castillo, on the other hand, was an above-average hitter last season and, while he hasn’t been as good in 2014, remains a clear upgrade.
Since making his MLB debut in 2005, Whiteside has appeared with the Orioles, Giants and Cubs over parts of six seasons. He’s a .210/.265/.327 batter in 563 plate appearances, with most of value coming from his ability to play behind the plate.