April 15--The Chicago Cubs decided Tuesday they need relief help more than third base assistance, so they promoted left-handed reliever Zac Rosscup from Triple-A Iowa to take the roster spot of infielder Tommy La Stella, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right ribcage.
Jonathan Herrera will start at third base while Mike Olt rests his sore right wrist. With Thursday serving as a day off, the Cubs need another infielder on Friday if Olt's health doesn't improve.
All signs might point to top prospect Kris Bryant, but President Theo Epstein isn't looking far ahead.
"We're going day-by-day and assess where we are," Epstein said. "As afar as Kris, the whole point of sending him down was to let him get into a good rhythm. They just started their season (at Iowa). He's doing that, but you also have to pay attention with what's going on with the big league club.
"You can't plan everything out exactly the way you want it. We'll just see where it happens. Right now we're thinking about today's game and the fact an extra reliever would come in handy. We got like a couple relievers down, based on recent workloads. It will be nice to have Rosscup here. He's been throwing the ball well."
Bryant, who was sent to the minors despite batting .425 with nine home runs in 40 at-bats this spring, is batting .381 with two home runs in five games at Iowa, who had their game at New Orleans rained out.
"We watch all the minor league video," Epstein said. "We watch him the same way we watch all our other prospects. He has good at-bats.''
The Cubs' bullpen has pitched 8 2/3 innings over the past two games, so the addition of Rosscup gives the Cubs 13 pitchers for the first time since the Rick Renteria era.
But they might not need the 13th pitcher if Jake Arrieta and Travis Wood can pitch deep the next two games, thus they could add a position player like Bryant with an open spot on their 40-man roster.
Rosscup was unscored upon in two appearances at Iowa.
