After adding four players before the trade deadline yesterday and getting two more back from the Injured List today, the Chicago Cubs had some serious roster maneuvering on the to-do list (as you can tell by the lengthy headline), and that’s just what they did.
Here’s the press release via Twitter:
Today’s #Cubs roster moves: pic.twitter.com/oULK69PuEw
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 1, 2020
Starting with the injured listees, Kris Bryant and Steven Souza Jr. have been activated and added to the 28-man roster. Bryant is starting at third base tonight and batting second, as we discussed earlier, and Souza will be available off the bench. Both guys got some at-bats at South Bend and were expected to rejoin the active roster today.
To make room on the active roster, (1) Tyler Chatwood is headed to the 10-Day IL, also as expected, after experiencing some elbow soreness and (2) Albert Almora Jr. is heading to South Bend, which we found out yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Cubs found room on the active roster for three of their four deadline additions, DH Jose Martinez (starting tonight), outfielder Cameron Maybin, and left-handed reliever Josh Osich. The fourth deadline player, Andrew Chafin, is on the Cubs now, but remains on the IL and off the 28-man roster for now. The hope is he can contribute in a couple weeks.
Josh Phegley was already designated for assignment to help make room for the newbies, and now we learn that Casey Sadler has been DFA’d, as well. The Cubs now have seven days to trade, waive, or release Sadler. The hope, as always, is that he will clear waivers, and then he’ll be able to decide whether he wants to become a free agent or instead go to the Cubs’ alternate site, where he could conceivably come back up at some point over the last month of the season. Sadler had a 5.79 ERA (6.56 FIP) with an 18.2% walk rate in his 10 appearances this year.
Here’s where things stand (there are so many moving parts)
Heading Out
• Albert Almora Jr. (optioned to SB)
• Tyler Chatwood (10-Day IL)
• Josh Phegley (DFA)
• Casey Sadler (DFA)
Coming In
• Jose Martinez (starting tonight at DH)
• Kris Bryant (starting tonight at 3B)
• Steven Souza Jr. (available off the bench)
• Cameron Maybin (available off the bench)
• Josh Osich (available out of the pen)
• Andrew Chafin (on the IL)
Cubs 60-man player pool roster stands at 58, with 28 active players on the major league roster, two players on the IL, and 28 players in South Bend.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) September 1, 2020