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There has been no word on this via any official press release from the team, but the first clue as to this roster move comes from tonight's lineup in Philadelphia:
#Cubs lineup vs #Phillies 6/13: Coghlan LF, Sweeney CF, Rizzo 1B, Castro SS, Valbuena 3B, Schierholtz RF, Baker C, Barney 2B, Arrieta P
— Al Yellon (@bleedcubbieblue) June 13, 2014
Hm. Ryan Sweeney wasn't on the active roster Thursday... he obviously is today, and the only reason to have activated him would have been the injury to Emilio Bonifacio. Deduced!
Sweeney is 29 and seemingly every time he comes very close to breaking out and becoming the player he looked like he was becoming in the minor leagues (top-100 prospect three years in a row, 2005-07), he has been injured. It happened to him twice last year, then again in spring training, then again at Wrigley Field May 2 when he was just beginning to get out from under a horrific start to the year. He had been 6-for-21 with a double when he got hurt.
With Bonifacio out I would expect Sweeney to split time in center field with Justin Ruggiano, or maybe Junior Lake, or maybe a situation where the three of those players and Chris Coghlan kind of rotate through left field and center field, with Ruggiano also seeing some time in right. Or something -- I can't really read what Rick Renteria will do with his outfield. It does seem as if it will mean more playing time for Darwin Barney, who's hitting .262/.289/.381 (11-for-42 with five doubles) since May 22. That isn't great -- .670 OPS -- but with his elite defense, you could live with that at second base if he can keep it up. Luis Valbuena, who has been one of the hottest players in the league in June, seems to have played himself into an everyday role for now.
So it goes. We'll see what happens going forward.