CHICAGO – Left-handed pitcher Doug Davis’ career as a Cub didn’t end well.
The Cubs unconditionally released Davis on Wednesday in conjunction with the activation of second baseman Darwin Barney from the 15-day disabled list.
General Manager Jim Hendry appreciated Davis’ work with the club’s younger pitchers and noted that he’s a “consummate professional.” The decision came the day after Davis allowed 10 runs on 12 hits in 41⁄3 innings against the Giants.
“Just felt like he was getting a little short, and moving forward we would like to take a look at some other people down the road,” Hendry said. “We just felt it was time.”
In nine starts for the Cubs, Davis went 1-7 with a 6.50 ERA after they selected his contract May 14. Davis’ release came days after reaching 10 years of service in the majors.
Davis was scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale against the White Sox, and for now the starter is to be determined. Hendry and Cubs manager Mike Quade will discuss their options, which include Rodrigo Lopez and Triple-A Iowa pitchers Casey Coleman and Ramon Ortiz.
Barney, wearing a brace on his left knee, returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing 15 games with a sprained knee. He went 1 for 4 with a strikeout in the Cubs’ 2-1 win against the Giants, returning to the team after four games with Iowa on rehab assignment.
No fire sale: Forget the Cubs’ awful record and the notion the team will be dismantled as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. Hendry shot down the rumors Wednesday that the Cubs are soon-to-be major sellers.
“People use the word fire sale, that’s not going to happen,” Hendry said. “We’re not interested in trading people at all that will be valuable to us moving forward. People like to float names of your better players which make no sense to trade. If we make moves it will be designed to make us better for the future, and we still want to see how we play the next month or so.”
Hendry wants to see how the team performs when outfielder Marlon Byrd and reliever Kerry Wood rejoin the team which could happen in the coming days.
“We’ve got a lot of young people out there pitching and playing,” Hendry said. “Those are some people that will be very productive a year from now that when you’re ready to put together a team in the offseason, you certainly wouldn’t want to start out without them anyway.”
Cubs quick hits: The Cubs own a .605 winning percentage (26-17) when scoring four or more runs in a game. … Aramis Ramirez didn’t start against Giants’ right-hander Tim Lincecum. He entered the game in the ninth as a pinch hitter and recorded the game-winning hit. Left-handed hitter Blake DeWitt started at third base.
