September is here, and the Chicago Cubs significantly shook up their roster today, as expected, calling up infielder Javier Baez, outfielder Quintin Berry, and pitchers Trevor Cahill and Tsuyoshi Wada. The Cubs announced that Berry was added yesterday (playoff eligible), and Cahill was added today (not playoff eligible, absent a subsequent injury fill-in situation).
Berry and Cahill weren’t on the 40-man roster, so, two open up space, the Cubs also designated pitchers James Russell and Rafael Soriano for assignment.
Russell returned to the Cubs this year back in May, and, although he was useful for a few weeks, fell off dramatically, and has struggled mightily since early July. Soriano didn’t look right after coming to the Cubs following a mid-season signing, and he’s been rehabbing a shoulder injury at Iowa.
The Cubs will have 10 days to trade, waive or release the pitchers. It’s not impossible that one or both could clear waivers and then accept an assignment to the minors, waiting for a possibility to contribute to the Cubs down the stretch. But, with rosters already expanded to the full 40-man, and the Cubs without spots for them right now, a return is unlikely.
The Cubs also today added Austin Jackson, for whom they traded yesterday. The Cubs previously designated Mike Olt for assignment to make room for Jackson on the 40-man roster.
The Cubs also activated catcher David Ross from the family emergency medical leave list.