It’s been a rough start to the season for Chicago Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr., and things got even worse Saturday for the hurler as he’s reportedly been demoted to Triple-A Iowa.
The news comes just seven games into the regular season, according to Chicago Sun-Times scribe Gordon Wittenmyer.
Edwards Jr., who has a 32.40 ERA in four appearances this season, has given up six earned runs and a pair of home runs in just an inning and two-thirds of work, and that’s the least of his problems.
During spring training, the reliever began experimenting with a new delivery, tapping his toe on the ground before throwing the ball to home plate. The move is modelled after Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, but just before the start of the regular season, Major League Baseball informed Edwards that his delivery was illegal.
“It would’ve been nice if they had told me in spring training, but it is what it is,” Edwards said. “It doesn’t matter. I just went back to what I used to do.”
It is unclear what roster move the Cubs will make to replace Edwards on the roster, but one possible option would be reliever Allen Webster. Webster has appeared in parts of four major league seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Cubs, and has a career 6.13 ERA in 31 games.
In one relief appearance with the Iowa Cubs this season, Webster has given up zero runs and struck out one batter.
Chicago Baseball
The Cubs will resume their series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m. at Miller Park.
