The revolving door that is the Chicago Cubs roster is rotating yet again. This time the Cubs have placed IF Nick Madrigal on the IL with a lower back strain. Ildemaro Vargas, who was already in San Diego as part of the taxi squad, has been selected from Triple-A Iowa.
In a corresponding move, to clear room on the 40-man roster, RHP Adrian Sampson has been designated for assignment.
Here’s the official press release from the Cubs:
SAN DIEGO – The Chicago Cubs today placed infielder Nick Madrigal on the 10-day injured list with a low back strain and selected infielder Ildemaro Vargas from Triple-A Iowa. To make room for Vargas on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson has been designated for assignment.
Vargas will wear uniform No. 4 and is available for tonight’s 6:40 p.m. PT game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Vargas, 30, is hitting .279 (29-for-104) with three doubles, four triples, one home run and seven RBI in 25 games for Iowa this season.
Vargas begins his third stint in a Cubs uniform as he was selected off waivers from the Twins on September 5, 2020, and appeared in six major league games to close out the year. He opened 2021 in the Cubs organization before he was selected off waivers by the Pirates May 17, going on to hit.156 (12-for-77) with three doubles, one triple and seven RBI in 34 games between Chicago, Pittsburgh and Arizona last season.
In all or part of five major league seasons with Arizona (2017-20, 2021), Minnesota (2020), the Cubs (2020-21) and Pittsburgh (2021), the switch-hitting Vargas has batted .233 (84-for-361) with 14 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 42 RBI spanning 176 games. He has made 78 appearances at second base, 32 at third base, 10 at shortstop and five at first base while also appearing in left field (three games) and right field (one game).
A native of Venezuela, Vargas has appeared in 1,013 minor league games and batted .294 (1,152-for-3,923) with 220 doubles, 39 triples, 49 home runs and 424 RBI after signing as an international free agent with St. Louis in June of 2008.
Madrigal, 25, is hitting .203 (16-for-79) with three doubles and two RBI in 23 games for the Cubs this season.
Sampson, 30, has appeared in one game for Chicago this season while posting a 3.66 ERA (8 ER/192. IP) and an 0-3 record in five starts for Iowa this season.
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