Another day another bullpen arm for Cubs as Yoervis Medina gets call

CLEVELAND – The Cubs’ revolving bullpen door took another spin Wednesday when the Cubs put left-hander Zac Rosscup on the disabled list, as expected, and recalled recently acquired right-hander Yoervis Medina.

Rosscup left Tuesday night’s 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians in the ninth inning because of shoulder soreness. The Cubs are calling the injury “inflammation.”

“We’re not anticipating anything elongated,” manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s just something that needed to be quieted down, and the only way to do that is through rest.”

Medina, 26, was acquired from the Seattle Mariners on May 19 for catcher Welington Castillo.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder has a 2.82 ERA in 141 career appearances over two-plus seasons in the majors, with 140 strikeouts in 137 innings.

He had been with AAA Iowa since the trade, giving up six runs on 15 hits and seven walks in just 11 2/3 innings across 10 appearances.

Medina, a fastball-slider pitcher, said he was surprised both at his demotion in May after spending the last two seasons in the majors, and his subsequent trade.

He said the Mariners never communicated why he was being sent down, whether for something in his performance or because of service time (to add a year before arbitration eligibility).

As for the day Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik told him he was headed to the Cubs: “I thought they were joking,” Medina said, with the help of teammate Miguel Montero translating. “It’s part of the game. It’s a business, and I understand the business side of it.”

In his last six appearances for Iowa, he allowed two runs in seven innings (2.57).

“I know that he’d been killer last year, and then this year it’s not been as lights-out,” Maddon said. “I heard things were getting better.

“I know he’s got a big arm with really good stuff. It’s definitely a high ceiling with this guy if he gets it all back together. I’m curious to see it, too.”

Medina will be the 14th reliever used by the Cubs this season. That doesn’t count Anthony Varvaro, the righty who spent a day in the Cubs’ pen without pitching, before being returned to the Red Sox when the Cubs’ waiver claim was nullified because of an existing injury.