The Cubs sent an infielder/outfielder Scott Kingery straight to Triple-A Iowa, according to his trade tracker on MLB.com. This indicates that he withdrew the waiver after being appointed to the job last week. You have the right to choose a free organization but the log does not say whether you will choose it or not.
Kingery, who turns 32 tomorrow, signed a minor league deal with the Cubs earlier in the season and cracked the Opening Day roster. He gave them versatile depth off the bench but the manager Craig Counsell he didn’t use her much. Kingery was on the roster for the month and appeared in eight games, mostly as a shortstop, with only four plate appearances. It seems that Counsel and the Cubs prefer Nicky Lopez in that role on the bench, as they traded Lopez last week and added him to the roster, while Kingery was cast as a similar move.
In his major league career, Kingery has been a workaholic. In 1,160 plate appearances, he produced a .227/.278/.381 batting line. He is ranked in every position on the diamond except first base and catcher.
Players have the right to decline direct assignments in favor of free agency if they have prior direct employment or at least three years of service time. Kingery qualifies on both accounts. Of course, he will be offered to the minor leagues as a free agent, because all the clubs have refused to ask him to be waived. He could stick with the Cubs as a possible roster entry in the event of a future injury, though he may look for a similar role elsewhere.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
