The Cubs have designated P Jairo Asencio for assignment
Asencio has a pretty good ERA (3.07) to his credit, but he’s walked more batters (11) than he’s struck out (8) in 14.2 IP, that’s just not a good way to keep yourself in the Cubs’ bullpen.
Really, though, he’s just the odd man out. With the trading season upcoming and at least three of the Cubs’ starters the subjects of trade rumors, the team needs someone who’s a more traditional swingman in the bullpen in case the need for a spot start arises. Asencio can’t really do that, and he hasn’t pitched well enough to make himself unexpendable. I probably would have been inclined to option Rafael Dolis to AAA and keep Asencio for now, since a) Dolis has options left, and b) isn’t pitching regularly for the Cubs and would probably be better of in AAA anyway. It’s not that losing Asencio is any great loss, and they may be able to hold on to him anyway if he slips through waivers. But they didn’t have to get rid of him now.
EDIT 7/26/2012: Asencio has been outrighted to Iowa.
