The Cubs have acquired reliever Jesús Tinoco from the Royals for cash, as reported by Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. Tinoco had signed a minor league contract with Kansas City three weeks prior and was not on their 40-man roster. Unless tonight’s transaction was prompted by an upward mobility clause in that contract, the Cubs do not need to immediately add Tinoco to their 40-man roster.
Tinoco appeared six times with the Royals’ top affiliate in Omaha. He threw 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball, striking out ten and giving one walk. Tinoco also missed a lot of bats in Triple-A with the Rangers earlier this season, striking out 30.3% of batters over 21 1/3 innings. His control was much less consistent than it had been in his limited sample with K.C., as he walked up to 11% of opponents with the Texas affiliate.
Tinoco, 29, has participated in parts of five MLB seasons, with the Rockies, Marlins, and Rangers. As a rookie in 2019, he pitched a career-high 36 innings for Colorado with a 4.75 ERA. Tinoco experienced more intermittent work over the next few years, only exceeding the 20-inning mark once. He spent the season in Japan, where he pitched for the Seibu Lions and had a 2.83 ERA despite low strikeout and walk rates.
Tinoco returned to the affiliated ranks this winter, signing a minor league contract with the Rangers. He appeared in nine Major League Baseball games with Texas earlier this season, allowing nine runs in ten innings. That brings his career earned run average to 4.58 after 76 2/3 MLB innings. Over that time, he has a below-average 18.1% strikeout rate and a walk percentage of around 14%.
Tinoco hasn’t had much success against big league hitters, but his recent Triple-A performance has clearly piqued Chicago’s interest. The Cubs’ relief pitching staff ranks 16th in the majors, with a 4.01 ERA. They rank in the top ten in strikeout rate, but only the Rangers and White Sox have granted more free passes.
The Cubs also have six relievers out with injuries: Julian Merryweather, Adbert Alzolay, Colten Brewer, Yency Almonte, Keegan Thompson, and Luke Little. Chicago optioned Daniel Palencia to Triple-A Iowa today, freeing up a position in the major league bullpen. If they elect to hire Tinoco directly, they will need to make room on the MLB roster for 40 players.
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