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The Cubs were the only MLB team to have no players test positive for COVID-19 after the intake process in 2020.
That won’t be the case this year:
Cubs reliever Kyle Ryan is being placed on the Covid list. His start to the spring will be delayed
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 16, 2021
Ryan had a pretty good year for the Cubs in 2019 (73 appearances, 3.54 ERA, 1.377 WHIP, 1.2 bWAR) but wasn’t quite as good in 2020 (18 appearances, 5.17 ERA, 1.404 WHIP, -0.2 bWAR). Hopefully this won’t keep him out too long, but:
The Cubs already have a player, Kyle Ryan, on the covid list and they expect more could happen after the intake process.
— Cheryl (Raye) Stout (@Crayestout) February 16, 2021
Well, that isn’t good. And neither is this:
Jed Hoyer just mentioned that Rowan Wick is still dealing with a bit of an intercostal issue. Missed the end of last season with an oblique injury. Sounds like he’ll be slowed at least at the start of camp.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) February 16, 2021
That seems a long time to be dealing with such an injury. Hopefully it’s nothing serious, as Rowan Wick was being counted on to be a key contributor to this year’s bullpen.
Maybe that’s why Jed Hoyer is still looking for relief pitchers:
Jed Hoyer says the Cubs will have another ML signing for the bullpen soon.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 16, 2021
Hopefully it’s Trevor Rosenthal, as I wrote earlier today, or David Robertson, as I noted here last week.
That’s the news as it stands from Cubs camp on the day pitchers and catchers reported. The first pitcher/catcher workout is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, February 17. Due to COVID protocols, the back-fields workouts are closed to the public so I won’t be able to attend.