Cubs Promote Infielder Patrick Wisdom, Option José Martínez to South Bend

It’s impossible not to question the wisdom of that trade for José Martínez at this point. He was supposed to mash left-handed pitching, but has instead gone 0-for-21 with a walk since being acquired from the Rays a day before the deadline. He was optioned to South Bend after an 0-for-14 start and has been sent back to the alternate site again after seven more futile at-bats in his second stint with the Cubs.

In his place, the Cubs have purchased the contract of infielder Patrick Wisdom. The 29-year-old has played parts of the last two seasons with the Cardinals and Rangers and has batted .224 (17-for-76) with four home runs and 11 RBI in 41 career games. A right-handed batter, he plays the corner infield positions and will wear No. 59 for the Cubs.

Far be it for me to question the, uh, wisdom of the Cubs front office, but is a light-hitting corner infielder really what they need right now? I mean, yeah, that .224 average is better than three of the guys the Cubs have in the lineup Friday against the Sox, but neither first nor third is a position of need and this dude hasn’t exactly been stellar with the glove.

Desperate times, I guess. The real reason for the move was that David Bote experienced a flare-up of the undisclosed ailment that’s been bothering him, plus Kris Bryant is still unavailable.

In order to make room for Wisdom on the 40-man roster, the Cubs made the procedural move to recall righty Manny Rodriquez and place him on the 45-day IL. He’s still recovering from a right bicep strain, so this isn’t anything to cause concern.