Cubs Will Change Daniel Palencia's Role When He Returns
Daniel Palencia is nearing his return from the IL, but the Cubs are not planning to immediately put him back into the closer role he held last season.
Video Transcript
More changes are coming to the Chicago Cubs pitching staff.
Daniel Palencia is set to be activated, nearing his return here in the next couple of days.
We've already seen the Cubs make some moves.
Edward Cabrera activated, then put back on the IL with a blister after getting shelled by the Cardinals.
Javier Assad up and down between Chicago and Triple-A Iowa.
He and David Peterson in the rotation, in the bullpen, everywhere in between.
And then you still have Ben Brown, Daniel Palencia that will come off the IL.
But when Palencia returns, it's gonna look a little different than what Cubs fans are used to seeing because Palencia was the primary closer last season.
Twenty-two saves, a two ninety-one ERA, and all twenty-two of those saves came after May 21st once he started getting regular opportunities in the ninth inning.
Heading into twenty twenty-six, Palencia once again was in line to be that closer, but he only recorded three saves over his first 19 appearances this year.
The last one, May 14th, and on June 16th, he went down on the IL with elbow inflammation.
He's been down ever since.
Meanwhile, Jacob Webb has really stepped up into that closer role since Palencia has been on the IL.
Webb has been Craig Counsell's go-to high leverage reliever.
He's recorded a save or a win in each of his last six outings.
So there's been question, Palencia, Webb, what are you gonna do closer wise once Palencia returns?
Counsell clarified this week and, well, the Cubs are planning to use him as an out-getter without a defined role moving forward.
The exact role he had during the two thousand twenty-five postseason, where he appeared in six games, never pitched later than the seventh.
There was a lot of fourth inning, fifth inning, sixth inning for Palencia.
Just use your high leverage arms to get the outs when you need to get them, when you're in the jams.
It's a modern baseball philosophy that more, modern managers use, but it can be an effective one.
I mean, why save your best pitcher like Palencia for a save situation if you're not guaranteed to have the lead late?
So after some early concerns during his rehab outing, Palencia has settled in a little bit.
Craig Counsell said he didn't look sharp, but, you know, couple scoreless innings, including one where he struck out the side in Triple-A Iowa this past weekend, now gives the Cubs a little more confidence in bringing Palencia back.
So expect him to join the Cubs roster over the next few days, just not in the closer role we're used to seeing him.
