June 07--WASHINGTON -- After activating veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia from the 15-day disabled list, the Chicago Cubs might not be done tweaking their 25-man roster.
Tuesday night, the Cubs open a stretch of seven road interleague games in a 13-game span, which could dictate adding another hitter. Manager Joe Maddon plans to talk to President Theo Epstein about the options, which may include staying put.
"You got that window of opportunity," Maddon said Sunday. "If you want to do something, there it is."
The Cubs will use the designated hitter for two games in Detroit before returning home for six games against the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians before traveling to Cleveland and Minnesota for five games under American League rules that employ the DH.
"If you want to manipulate (the roster), there it is," Maddon said.
The possibility of altering the roster during interleague games under AL rules surfaced nearly two weeks ago, but Maddon said Kyle Schwarber's name didn't directly surface. Schwarber, the Cubs' first pick in the 2014 draft, is batting .326 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs at Double-A Tennessee but has yet to play at the Triple-A level.
Although Javier Baez hit his eighth home run for Triple-A Iowa that struck a light pole, Maddon seemed more curious about the quality of pitching he was facing. Baez was batting .314 with 29 RBIs but had struck out 40 times in 137 at-bats while playing more third base this past week.
"Where was the pitch?" Maddon said. "Where was the velocity? How is he doing against velocity? Is he chasing (pitches out of the strike zone)? I don't know. I haven't had one of those discussions with anybody, so I don't know the answer for that.
"I'd have to see him right here. And then getting there on time against an above-average velocity fastball and be on time. That's what I'd have to see."
