The Cubs point to the right Robert Stock for assignment, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com (Twitter link). The move clears 40-man grid space for left-handers Kyle Ryan, activated from the COVID-19 list, by Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago demanded redemption from the Red Sox last December.
A former Cardinals’ second-round pick as a catch prospect, washed out Stock as a position player but clicked after a conversion to the hill. The hard-throw reliever earned a major league track with the Padres 2018 and showed some promise, winning a 2.50 ERA / 3.61 SIERA over 39.2 overs.
Stock could not convey the success in the subsequent seasons, especially due to problems with the strikes. He has had an ERA of 7.13 over 24 innings over the past two seasons with San Diego and Boston. The share price of 24.6% at that time was adequate, but he gave runs at an unsustainable cut of 15.3%.
Despite its control problems, it’s easy to see why Stock has still attracted interest from teams with space available in the back 40s. Stock’s four-ball fast ball sits in the mid-high 90s. He got swing and missed at an average league rate and during his big league career induced ground balls on a strong 50.8% balls. Perhaps there is still hope that the late-flowering stock can develop adequate control and remain in a team’s middle relief.
The Cubs have a week to trade Stock or place him on waivers. He has not yet reached arbitration, and he still has an option year for minor leagues, and therefore he will be a fairly flexible low point for potential acquisition clubs.