Cubs Select Ildemaro Vargas from Alternate Site, Place Matt Duffy on COVID IL

The Cubs announced Tuesday that they have selected infielder Ildemaro Vargas from the alternate site after placing infielder Matt Duffy on the COVID-19 related injured list.

Vargas, 29, was claimed off waivers from Minnesota on September 5 last year and hit .222 with a solo home run in six games for the Cubs. He was a candidate to make the Opening Day roster, but it was Duffy earning a shot instead. The versatility should help a little and it’s hard to imagine Vargas hitting any worse than anyone he’d sub for at this point.

Duffy has batted .125 (1-for-8) with a double and a walk in seven games after signing a minor league deal with the Cubs in December of last year. Those numbers are actually better than some of the regulars, not that anyone should be celebrating that fact.

The Cubs, who’ve been public about their struggles to reach the 85% vaccination threshold for loosened protocols, are on the verge of a serious COVID outbreak issue. After going all of last season without a single positive from active players, they’ve now had two coaches test positive and have placed four players on the IL due to being close contacts.