The Chicago Cubs designated infielder Patrick Wisdom for assignment on Wednesday after the team acquired relief pitcher Eli Morgan from the Cleveland Guardians, according to sources. The move isn't all that surprising after Wisdom really struggled at the plate in Chicago in 2024. The 33-year-old former first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012 out of Saint Mary's slashed a dreadful .171/.237/.392 with a .629 OPS, eight home runs, 23 RBI, five stolen bases and 16 runs scored in 75 games after hitting 20-plus home runs in each of the previous three seasons for the Cubs. Wisdom struggles to make consistent contact at the plate, but he proved the last three years that he has intriguing pop when he finds the barrel. He could be claimed off waivers by another club, but if he isn't, he should land somewhere for the 2025 campaign.
Chicago Cubs corner infielder/outfielder Patrick Wisdom had a big day in Sunday's victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The slugger went 3-for-4 with a walk, stolen base and solo home run. The home run would occur in the top of the 10th inning off Aroldis Chapman to help propel the Cubs to a win. Wisdom had a slow start to the season with it beginning on the injured list, but he is now hitting .321 with two homers, seven RBI and three stolen bases over his first 28 at-bats. Wisdom has gone on power surges in the past and he is a joy to roster during those times, but he also does not provide much outside of the home run ball. With Wisdom operating as a bench player, he can be avoided for now.
Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the San Diego Padres. The right-handed slugger has served as the designated hitter during three of the last four games. During that span, Wisdom went 4-for-11 with a home run, a double, and two RBI. In his absence, Christopher Morel will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup versus right-hander Yu Darvish on Monday.
Chicago Cubs infielder Patrick Wisdom is making his 2024 debut on Friday against the visiting Miami Marlins and left-hander A.J. Puk, starting in right field and batting second in the batting order. Wisdom was activated from the injured list on Thursday but had to wait to make his season debut on Friday after Thursday's contest against the Fish was postponed due to inclement weather. The 32-year-old has a prime lineup spot and will be hoping to make an immediate impact now that he's back in the big leagues. Wisdom is more of a DFS play against lefties than an asset in single-year fantasy leagues, as he's most likely only going to start for the Cubs when they face southpaws. In his career, Wisdom has an .813 OPS against lefties. He's never faced Puk in his career.
Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom (back) was activated off of the 10-day injured list on Thursday evening. The 32-year-old slugger recently embarked on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa and will be back with the big club ahead of Friday's series opener against the Miami Marlins. Wisdom is a boom-or-bust bat that combines serious home run power with undesirable strikeout numbers. The Cubs infield is already crowded with Christopher Morel and the recently surging Michael Busch, so it is unclear exactly where Wisdom fits in. He would have slightly more value if he found an everyday role, but until then, he is a waiver-wire option for fantasy managers needing power in deeper leagues.
Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Patrick Wisdom (back) is continuing his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa and started Tuesday's game at right field for the first time this year. It's an interesting development for fantasy managers to keep an eye on, as Chicago's everyday right fielder, Seiya Suzuki (oblique), is expected to miss several weeks. Wisdom is essentially fully recovered from a back strain, but Michael Busch's recent power surge (five home runs in his last five games) is likely the reason why he hasn't been activated from the IL just yet. It looks like the Cubs could be grooming Wisdom for some action in right field, however, so his return appears imminent. The 32-year-old slugger is an all-or-nothing power hitter who smashed nine homers in his final 36 outings of the season in 2023, and he could be a decent source of pop if he lands a sizable role upon his reinstatement.
Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Patrick Wisdom (back) went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBI as a designated hitter in his minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. He's served as the DH twice after playing third base in his first rehab outing. Out of game action since March 13 due to a back strain, Wisdom has a chance to join the team at some point during Chicago's current road trip that extends until next Wednesday, per manager Craig Counsell. The 32-year-old all-or-nothing slugger went 6-for-16 with two homers and six RBI in spring training before going down, and he will serve as a power bat off the bench for the Cubs upon his return. Wisdom has blasted at least 23 homers in each of the past three seasons, but he's a career .214 hitter and would only have a path to everyday at-bats if Michael Busch were sent back to Triple-A.
Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A on Saturday. There is no definitive date for when he will rejoin the Cubs, although a mid-April return is possible. Wisdom hit .375 this spring with two home runs before a back injury landed him on the IL. Christopher Morel and Nick Madrigal have handled duties at the hot corner to begin the season, with Morel hitting .321 (9-for-28) with two home runs, four RBI, and seven runs scored, while Madrigal is 5-for-15 (.333) with four RBI, one run scored, and one stolen base. Wisdom has had 23 or more home runs for three straight seasons, so managers in need of some power numbers should keep an eye on his return, however, his K% has been no lower than 34.3% over the last three seasons with his batting average hovering just above the Mendoza Line the last two (.205, .207).
Chicago Cubs corner infielder Patrick Wisdom (back) will begin the 2024 regular season on the injured list, according to manager Craig Counsell. The hope is that Wisdom will have a minimum stay on the IL to open up the season. The 32-year-old right-handed slugger offers 20-home run power as a corner infielder in deep mixed and NL-only fantasy leagues, but he doesn't provide much else. When he's healthy, he'll be a part-time player for the Cubs against left-handed pitching and can fill in at third base, first base and designated hitter. In the last three years with Chicago, Wisdom has slashed .214/.298/.474 with 76 home runs, 173 RBI, 16 stolen bases and 164 runs scored in 1,211 plate appearances and 337 games. His fantasy stock is obviously down now that he'll open the 2024 season on the IL.
Chicago Cubs corner infielder Patrick Wisdom (quadriceps) is no longer scheduled to play in the team's Cactus League game on Tuesday. Wisdom remains day-to-day after having a setback with his right quadriceps muscle in camp last week and will be held out for another day. There's still time for the 32-year-old right-handed slugger to be ready in time for Opening Day on March 28. When healthy, Wisdom provides modest 20-homer power from the corner-infield spots in Chicago, but he's likely only to be in the Cubs' lineup when they are facing left-handed pitching. He's had at least 23 home runs in each of the last three years, including a career-high 28 in 2021, but it's come with a .214 career batting average and .298 on-base percentage in six major-league seasons.
