WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Chicago Cubs claimed right-handed pitcher Shawn Armstrong off waivers from St. Louis yesterday and today added him to the active roster. In corresponding moves, the team today optioned right-handed pitcher Daniel Palencia to Triple-A Iowa and released catcher Tomas Nido.
Armstrong, 33, is a 10-year MLB veteran who is 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA in 49 appearances—seven starts—this season for Tampa Bay and St. Louis. He was traded to St. Louis on July 30 and had a 1-0 record with a 2.84 ERA in 11 relief appearances, including an active scoreless streak of seven outings (7.2 ip). In those seven outings, he is holding hitters to a .130 batting average (3-for-23). A native of New Bern, N.C., Armstrong was designated for assignment by St. Louis on Tuesday.
Across his major league career, Armstrong is 11-7 with a 4.17 ERA in 291 games—16 starts—for St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Miami, Baltimore, Seattle and Cleveland. He was drafted in the 18th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by Cleveland out of East Carolina University. He was originally selected in the 33rd round of the 2008 MLB Draft by Houston but did not sign.
Palencia, 24, has made nine relief appearances for the Cubs this season and is 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA.
Nido, 30, hit .128 (6-for-47) in 17 games for the Cubs after being signed as a free agent on June 19.
The Cubs play the Washington Nationals today at 3:05 p.m. CT in Washington, D.C. at Nationals Park in a game that can be seen on Marquee and heard on 670 The Score.
