The Chicago Cubs are planning to promote pitcher Shane Greene and outfielder Alexander Canario from Triple-A Iowa, sources with knowledge of those decisions told The Athletic ahead of the September roster expansion.
Greene, a one-time All-Star closer, earned the call-up after five abbreviated Triple-A starts, a build-up that will likely make him a factor in Friday’s doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds. Greene, 34, made 343 career appearances with the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, though he’s pitched only three major-league innings since the end of the 2021 season.
Signed to a minor-league deal in June, Greene is now an option to start Friday’s Game 2 at Great American Ball Park. The Cubs listed that probable pitcher as “TBD.”
Canario, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants in the Kris Bryant trade, will be positioned to make his major-league debut when the active roster increases from 26 to 28 players. Canario, 23, appears to have recaptured what made him such a highly regarded prospect before he suffered a combination of injuries while playing winter ball last offseason in the Dominican Republic.
3 straight games with a home run ✅
12 straight games with a hit ✅Alexander Canario gives us the lead with this solo home run! pic.twitter.com/GKClBi1eaa
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) August 24, 2023
Canario, a right-handed hitter who’s expected to be a role player off the bench in September, didn’t make it back to Triple A until the middle of July. In August, he launched seven home runs and 10 doubles while posting 25 RBIs in 23 games.
The Cubs did not acquire a player through waivers on Thursday, the system the Los Angeles Angels upended when they dumped a lot of talent to save some money, potentially changing the trajectory of the playoff races.
From a Chicago perspective, the Cleveland Guardians successfully claiming Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore and Reynaldo López was a better outcome than those pitchers landing in the National League with the Reds, Giants or Arizona Diamondbacks, three wild-card contenders the Cubs are scheduled to play 14 times in the first 17 days of September.
(Photo of Shane Greene from 2022: James A. Pittman / USA Today)
