Daniel Descalso: Opts out of minor-league contract
Rotowire
Descalso opted out of his Triple-A St. Paul contract Tuesday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.
Any hopes of being called up by the Twins this season were squashed by a .093 batting average and .444 OPS in 75 at-bats with St. Paul since being signed May 13. Descalso, now 34 years old, hasn't been remotely impactful at the major-league level since 2018, so it's possible this stint with the Twins' organization was his last with an MLB club.
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Twins' Daniel Descalso: Signs minor-league deal
Rotowire
Descalso signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Thursday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.
Descalso spent the last two seasons with the Cubs but missed the 2020 campaign due to a left ankle sprain. The 34-year-old has been assigned to Triple-A St. Paul but could join the Twins as a utility option at some point in 2021.
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Daniel Descalso: Club option declined
Rotowire
Descalso's (ankle) $3.5 million team option was declined by the Cubs on Saturday.
Descalso missed most of the 2020 season with a left ankle sprain, and the 34-year-old failed to play a significant role with the Cubs during his two years in Chicago. As a result, he'll receive a $1 million buyout and become a free agent heading into the offseason.
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Cubs' Daniel Descalso: Shut down with ankle sprain
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Descalso on the 45-day injured list Wednesday with a left ankle sprain, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
No reports surfaced in summer camp suggesting that Descalso was tending to a major injury, but the utility man will now be on the shelf for at least the next month and a half while he recovers from the ankle sprain. His absence likely paved the way for both Jason Kipnis and Nico Hoerner to crack the Opening Day roster.
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Cubs' Daniel Descalso: Added to 60-man pool
Rotowire
Descalso will be a part of the Cubs' 60-man player pool this season and will head to Wrigley Field for summer camp.
Descalso had a season to forget in 2019, posting a .173/.271/.250 slash line in 82 games, but the Cubs like his versatility enough to keep him around. The 33-year-old isn't likely to have a significant role, however, with Jason Kipnis added to the mix in the offseason and Nico Hoerner also a member of the infield group training at Wrigley Field. There's also David Bote around to block Descalso for playing time at both second and third.
Descalso is likely to serve as a reserve infielder for the Cubs this year rather than being in the mix to start at second base, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Nico Hoerner is probably the team's most talented option to play second, but the organization is weighing whether to give the 22-year-old more seasoning in the minors. Even if Hoerner does start the year at Triple-A, both David Bote and Jason Kipnis are likely ahead of Descalso, which highlights the hurdles facing the 33-year-old when it comes to finding playing time. Descalso's experience and contract should keep him around to begin the season, though he could certainly be designated for assignment at some point.
Cubs' Daniel Descalso: Faces competition for playing time
Rotowire
Descalso will battle the likes of David Bote, Nico Hoerner and the newly signed Jason Kipnis for playing time at second base to begin the year, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
The addition of Kipnis in particular complicates things for Descalso, as both players are lefty bats expected to play mainly at second. Descalso struggled mightily in 2019, slashing just .173/.271/.250, and he could be hard-pressed for regular playing time if some of the other options on the roster play well in the early going.
Descalso (ankle) was activated off the 10-day injured list Sunday.
Descalso has been out with the left ankle sprain for just over a month but will rejoin the Cubs for the stretch run. The 32-year-old has struggled with a .181/.283/.263 slash line in 73 games, and he could see fewer opportunities with the return of Ben Zobrist (personal).
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Cubs' Daniel Descalso: Struggling on rehab assignment
Rotowire
Descalso (ankle) is 2-for-17 with two home runs through seven rehab games with Triple-A Iowa.
He started well with Iowa, homering in his first two games, but Descalso went without a hit last week (0-for-14, six strikeouts). The 32-year-old has really struggled with the major-league team this season, slashing .181/.283/.263, and the Cubs probably aren't in a big hurry to bring him off the injured list. Descalso will likely play a minimal role down the stretch.
Descalso (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Descalso has been on the 10-day injured list since July 27 with a left ankle sprain, but he now appears to be ready to resume live game action. It's unclear whether a spot on the major-league roster will be available for him when healthy since Addison Russell, Ian Happ and Tony Kemp are all available to play alongside Javier Baez in the middle infield.
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Cubs' Daniel Descalso: Heads to IL
Rotowire
Descalso was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
This helps explain why Descalso hasn't seen any action since Tuesday. The move is retroactive to Wednesday, making the utility man eligible to return in a week should he prove ready. Derek Holland was added to the active roster in a corresponding move. David Bote and Ian Happ should handle utility duties in his absence.
Descalso is starting at second base and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Reds.
Descalso has fallen behind Addison Russell and David Bote in the pecking order at second base, which isn't surprising given his .185/.283/.272 slash line this season. He did post a .789 OPS last year in Arizona, so perhaps he'll be able to improve somewhat on this year's .555 mark, though he'll have to do so in limited playing time.
