This time, it’s actually true. The Chicago Cubs trimmed their roster for the third time this spring, and it’s the first time that anyone who had had a remote chance of making the team was actually cut.
The Cubs sent nine players, including their 2008 minor league pitcher of the year, out of major league camp, trimming their spring roster to 45 (including 22 pitchers) with 16 games left before the team breaks camp.
Three pitchers were optioned to AAA Iowa: right-handers Mitch Atkins (the minor-league pitcher of the year), Justin Berg and Jeff Stevens. Right-hander Marcos Mateo was optioned to AA Tennessee.
Five non-roster players were reassigned to minor-league camp: infielders Luis Rivas and Darwin Barney, outfielders Doug Deeds and Jason Dubois and catcher Welington Castillo. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Atkins, Stevens and Mateo had teeny, tiny chances to make the big league pen, and Luis Rivas had as good a shot as anyone to make the bench. We may see him on the big team at some point this season later on.