Cub Tracks turns full circle

Well, that didn’t turn out well. Plus Willson Contreras is going to the IL. But help is on the way. See below.

Here’s today’s Cubs News and Notes. As always, * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views.

The big news this morning is the trade of Mike Montgomery to the Royals for Martin Maldonado and you can read details in Josh’s article here.

“You have to anticipate where you might be vulnerable to an injury and try to build that depth up in advance…knowing there is no escape valve in August. You really have to do all your work this month.” — Theo Epstein.

• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Front office message to Cubs as deadline approaches: Don’t wait for outside help. “Where we are in the division really matters,” Theo Epstein said.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cole Hamels is ‘progressing well’ and could throw off a mound this week. “He’s progressing well,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said after watching Hamels. Michael Cerami adds on.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): José Quintana, Cubs prove just how valuable a little rest can be. “If you’re more rested, you tend to do what you do better,” said Joe Maddon.
• Teddy Greenstein (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Joe Maddon says Ben Zobrist won’t return to the Cubs ‘anytime soon’. “It would be bad to assume that without ramping back up, he’d be able to contribute like we’re used to seeing,” Maddon said. Mark Gonzales has more. Jeff Arnold moves the runners over. Tony Andracki takes a holistic approach.
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): Kris Bryant leads MLB in going from first to third on singles. “The only other player with as many is Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Jason Heyward getting back to ‘who he’s supposed to be’ in Cubs lineup. “I don’t try to break it down at all, honestly,” Heyward said.
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Central): Prospect Update: Erich Uelmen’s sinker is going down and hard. “A 4th round pick in 2017, Uelmen is progressing nicely.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Why Marty Brennaman turned down the Cubs and what the Reds broadcaster thinks of Ryno. “... he would never leave his feet to field a ball. Never. And I had a problem with that.’’
• Cubs birthdays: Dad Clark, Lee Elia.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.