CHICAGO -- The manager has said it and now the general manager has echoed it as well: There are no immediate plans to call up 2011 first round pick, Javier Baez.
"We would love to get him going and not just for a week to 10 day hot stretch," Jed Hoyer said before the Cubs played the San Francisco Giants on Thursday evening. "We want him to get into a rhythm and get established down there."
Hoyer called Baez' season "truncated" due to being out of the lineup twice for extended periods of time, once for a death in the family and once because of a wrist injury. He's hitting .306 with 11 home runs but the Cubs don't have any room for him in a starting role anyway. Hoyer said an "urgent need" could change things.
Waiver wire: August is the month where waiver wire deals occur. Hoyer says the Cubs have already put in a couple claims but the opposing teams pulled the players back.
"It'll be pretty tight," he said. "A lot of teams are vying for the playoffs. They'll definitely be deals."
The Cubs could always use another bullpen arm or perhaps a veteran bench player -- or even a starting pitcher -- but they aren't as desperate as other teams. They're a fairly healthy team for this time of year.
"We're spending our time going through the waiver wire and making our claims," Hoyer said. "We've had claims that were given but everyone has been pulled back."
Rest coming: Hoyer also echoed Joe Maddon's thoughts on the playing rotation once Miguel Montero returns to the lineup. All the young players will get their rest.
"It's a big positive," Hoyer said. "Platoon advantages."
Maddon will mix-and-match depending on who's hot and who's on the mound for the opposition. It could give a player like Kris Bryant a breather or two down the stretch.
"It's probably a combination of first time being in the big leagues, facing really good pitchers and making adjustments," Hoyer said of Bryant's struggles. "Probably some fatigue. He'll snap out of it."
La Stella update: Long forgotten infielder Tommy La Stella might finally be ready to return to the big league team -- but first he has to play in back-to-back games at Triple-A Iowa.
Hoyer said they'll re-evaluate if he makes it through the weekend unscathed. La Stella has missed all but two games this season due to an oblique injury. Hoyer said he could help as a left-handed bat who can work the count and draw some walks.