The Cubs dropped their third round of spring roster cuts before tonight’s game, with a group of relievers heading out.
Five roster reductions for the Cubs:
RHP James Norwood optioned to AAA Iowa.
LHP Danny Hultzen, RHP Ben Taylor, RHP Dakota Mekkes and LHP Wyatt Short reassigned to Minor League camp.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 12, 2020
With options left, Norwood was unlikely to make the Cubs out of Spring Training even if he’d lit things up. He’s got big league stuff, clearly, but without the fastball control, he won’t be as useful as he could be. For now, he keeps working at Iowa.
Hultzen is on a minor league deal (without options), and since we can’t know if he’s ready to pitch back-to-back games yet, it makes sense that he won’t make the big league team just yet, even if there is a need for a second lefty. Rex Brothers is going to have a legit shot to make the team.
After these cuts, the Cubs’ spring roster stands at 39.