The Cubs’ plan for Justin Steele’s return continues to come into focus.

After facing live hitters for 3 innings Friday at the team’s complex in Arizona, Steele will now move on to the Triple-A level next week.

“All good; no concerns,” manager Craig Counsell said Saturday afternoon before the Cubs’ game in Boston. “He’ll move on to the next step in Iowa likely on Wednesday.”

The Cubs are in the process of building Steele back up to rejoin the big-league rotation. They have not yet announced a plan as to whether Steele would make 1 or multiple rehab outings with a minor league affiliate.

Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said Thursday that the Cubs are hoping to get Steele back on a 5-day rotation with the first step Friday and the second step now mapped out for Wednesday.

That means that Steele would be on schedule to throw Monday, May 6. The Cubs’ minor league affiliates are all off that day but the Chicago Cubs are playing the Padres at Wrigley Field that evening.

If the Cubs opt to have Steele make another minor-league rehab outing, they could have him throw on Tuesday, May 7. In that case, that would mean Steele’s return to the Chicago rotation could come on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12).

TRADE TIME

The Cubs traded away veteran Garrett Cooper to the Boston Red Sox Saturday in exchange for cash considerations.

The Cubs designated Cooper for assignment earlier in the week as the team added Matt Mervis to the big-league roster. The club felt that with Patrick Wisdom back from injury, it was covered with right-handed hitters on the roster and were in search of another lefty bat (Mervis). 

Photo courtesy of Rich Biesterfield