Aramis Ramirez: What Happens after A-Ram Plays in Peoria?

A popular saying around the Central Illinois area is, “Will it play in Peoria?”

In Aramis Ramirez’s case, the answer to that question might come soon.

Ramirez, fresh off of a separated shoulder injury that has kept him off the field since May 9, is expected to play for the Peoria Chiefs, the Cubs’ Class-A affiliate, this weekend in a rehab stint before joining the big- eague team.

Many Cubs fans are optimistic as Ramirez, undoubtedly their best offensive player, has been sorely missed in a lineup that has failed to produce any offense.

So, with A-Ram’s expected arrival back to the Cubs within the next week or so coupling  the return of other disabled-listers like Reed Johnson, Aaron Miles, and Angel Guzman (who is currently rehabbing with Peoria), what are the Cubs' plans for the young players that are currently taking up big-league roster spots?

Guys like Jake Fox and Andres Blanco, who have provided sparks offensively and defensively after being called up from Triple-A during the season, may be making the trip back to Iowa very soon.

Also, recent call-ups Jeff Samardzija, Kevin Hart, and Sam Fuld could find themselves making just a short trip up to the big leagues for the time being.

However, a more interesting approach to the dilemma that will soon face Cubs’ GM Jim Hendry is that maybe he will trade some of this young talent away. Whether it’s for more-proven veteran talent or more farm-system projects will be determined.

You have to find it coincidental that guys like Micah Hoffpauir (who has cooled off recently) and Mike Fontenot (who has been cool pretty much all season) are still in the lineup. You also have to think that maybe Hendry is trying to get them more big-league at-bats so that he can show them off to other teams.

On the other hand, that might not be the case.

Also, the moves throughout the Cubs’ farm system over the past couple of days have sparked some interest from me.

Highly-touted prospect Josh Vitters made the move, along with pitcher Chris Carpenter, from Peoria to advanced Class-A affiliate Daytona.

Shortstop Darwin Barney, a prospect that may not be as popular as Vitters, was recently called up to Triple-A Iowa. The Spring Training invitee could join the likes of Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot as Cubs who've turned college success into something positive at the professional level. Barney won back-to-back College World Series titles with Oregon State in 2006 and 2007.

Pitcher and 2007 first-round draft pick Andrew Cashner was also involved in the busy farm-system movement when he, along with infielder Nate Samson, were called up from Daytona to Double-A affiliate Tennessee.

With all of this shuffling around of rosters, it has to make you think that Hendry is either making room for recent draft picks (although most start out playing rookie-ball) or he’s in the market for making moves.

So, as excited as most Cubs fans are for A-Ram to grace the presence of Wrigley Field again, so too am I to see what will happen with our young Cubs when he returns.