Cubs still trying to determine when Rowan Wick will return

Cubs reliever Rowan Wick still lacks a timetable for a return because of a lingering injury.

Rowan Wick appeared to be a solid addition to the Chicago Cubs bullpen when he debuted with the team in 2019. He posted a 2.43 ERA in 31 games and carried over that success into 2020.

Then came an oblique injury. He suffered the injury last September and, unfortunately, still isn’t on a throwing program as spring training gets underway. The latest report on his status is that the Cubs remain unsure of when he can return to action.

Rowan Wick remains without a timetable

This is concerning news. Oblique injuries are tricky because it will come down to when Wick can throw without discomfort. There is no special cure for such an ailment. The only way to return early is to throw with pain every single pitch.

The good news is that Wick has not been ruled out for the season. He may just hit the 60-day injured list to continue his recovery.

Wick missing the start of the year is not going to derail the Cubs bullpen. Players like Craig Kimbrel, Brandon Workman, Andrew Chafin and Jason Adam can carry the load and Wick’s return would serve as a bonus.

One good thing about Wick’s status is that he remains in the early years of team control. That means he is making minimum money and his absence won’t serve as a major distraction. It is not like someone with Kimbrel’s salary is out for an undisclosed amount of time.

The Cubs remain a team that could end up being major sellers at the trade deadline if the season goes south. If Wick’s injury lingers, some teams out there may want to get him for next to nothing in order to see if he can return to his old ways. Keeping an injured 28-year-old reliever around may no longer be in the plans if the Cubs enter a new era without Kris Bryant and potentially other core players.