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  • Chicago Cubs Trade & Free Agent Rumors

    Follow the latest Chicago Cubs trade and free agent rumors, along with quick notes on the big league club, the minor leagues and the draft.
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    Andrew Wright
    The Chicago Cubs have selected Carson Jasa the with No. 98 overall pick in the MLB draft. Slot value for the selection is $800,000. Jasa went 10-2 with a 3.59 ERA across 87 2/3 innings pitched for Nebraska last season. He limited opponents to just a .204 average last season and posted a 30.4% strikeout rate.
    Jasa used his fastball just 28% of the time last season, but that was because opponents struggled mightily against his off-speed pitches last season, managing just six hits and punching out 81 times against his curveball.
    His player profile from MLB.com says the following about his talents.
    "Jasa averages 96 mph and reaches 98 with his fastball, but it lacks life and command and tends to get hit harder than would be expected, so he has used it just 28 percent of the time this spring. He leans much more on a tight upper-80s slider that tops out at 91 and plays well off his best pitch, a downer 78-82 mph curveball. Opponents went 6-for-111 (.054) with 81 strikeouts against his curve in 2026. Though he doesn't employ his low-80s changeup very often and has difficulty landing it for strikes, it shows promising tumble and fade at its best. Jasa has much better feel for his breaking balls than his dead-zone fastball, and while his control has improved, it's still below average. That means he comes with a good deal of reliever risk, though he also has huge upside as a starter if a team can help him improve his ability to shape and locate his heater. He's athletic and has improved tremendously in college, leading to hope he can continue to do so at the next level."
    Steve Drumwright
    The dynamic talent of Pete Crow-Armstrong is going back to the All-Star Game.
    The Chicago Cubs' center fielder was voted in as an NL reserve to the July 14 game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Crow-Armstrong also went last year.
    Crow-Armstrong is a highlight machine, whether it is with his range and glove covering gap to gap (with the occasional miscue) or his bat booming home runs. He has a slash line of .287/.374/.526 entering play Saturday with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs. He also has a 5.1 bWAR, which is the best in MLB and near the 5.9 he posted last year.
    The nine starters for each team were determined by two rounds of fan balloting, with Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement getting automatically selected to start by virtue of leading the first round in the NL and AL, respectively.
    The 23 reserves, which includes 12 pitchers as that position is not up for voting, are selected by player voting and the Commissioner's Office, which ensures that each team has a representative in the game.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Chicago Cubs are ready to see what the Drew Pomeranz experience in 2026 is like.
    The Cubs on Friday selected the left-hander from Triple-A Iowa and sent left-hander Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa.
    Pomeranz, who pitched for the Cubs last year, was released by the Los Angeles Angels on June 18 and scooped up by the Cubs four days later. With the Angels, Pomeranz had a 6.33 FIP (5.01 ERA) in 23⅓ innings over 25 relief appearances to go along with an 11.1% walk rate and 14.8% strikeout rate, all notably worse than his 2025 numbers with the Cubs. He also gave up five homers with the Angels.
    In 57 games with the Cubs last year, Pomeranz had a 3.36 FIP (2.27 ERA) with a 7.4% walk rate and 28.1% strikeout rate. His career rates are 10% and 24%.
    After beginning the season on the 15-day injured list, Wicks has been with the Cubs twice now, appearing in four games, starting twice and getting saves in the other two. He has pitched 10⅓ innings and posted a 10.45 ERA with two walks and eight strikeouts.
     
    Brian Kelder
    Veteran Hoby Milner has hit the IL with appendicitis. His place is being filled by Gavin Hollowell.
    An unbelievable stretch of Cubs pitching injuries continues. Ben Brown (neck) and Edward Cabrera (splits, hamstring) went down this week, as did closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) and walking-earned run Phil Maton (ego, knee).
    The Cubs will continue to play games, with or without healthy pitchers. The staff is reeling, and at this point, all you can do is chuckle.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    Another day, another pitching injury.
    The Chicago Cubs on Friday placed right-handed reliever Phil Maton on the 15-day injured list with a right knee injury. Left-hander David Peterson, acquired two days ago in a trade with the Mets, was added to the 26-man roster and will make his Cubs debut when he starts Saturday against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
    Maton becomes the 11th Cubs pitcher to currently be on the injured list. He was on the IL in the early stages of the season with tendinitis in his right knee, but was out just a brief time. Acquired at last year's trade deadline and then re-signing with the Cubs as a free agent, Maton has struggled this season. In 30 games and 26⅔ innings, he has a 5.47 FIP (6.08 ERA) with an 11.5% walk rate and 23.8% strikeout rate, both numbers a few percentage points below his career averages (9.2% and 26.5%).
    While the Cubs are desperate for starting pitching, Peterson has also struggled this year, putting up a 3.85 FIP (6.09 ERA) in 16 games, including eight starts. He has a 9.4% walk rate and 19.7% strikeout rate.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    After a few days of mainly bad news regarding the health of the starting rotation, the Chicago Cubs made official what everyone had been anticipating: Matthew Boyd is back.
    The Cubs activated the left-hander from the 15-day injured list so he could start Thursday's series finale against the New York Mets. Right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
    Boyd had gone on the injured list May 6 after an incident at home where he was playing with his kids and tore his left meniscus, which was immediately repaired via surgery. That came after he missed a good chunk of April with a strained left biceps.
    Boyd's return comes a couple days after the Cubs placed two starters, Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown, on the 15-day IL. Brown's injury, originally called a neck strain, actually ends up being more serious than first thought, with manager Craig Counsell calling it a stress reaction in his neck and keeping Brown sidelined at least a month. The Cubs also claimed right-hander Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.
    That led the Cubs to make a trade with the Mets following their doubleheader Wednesday in which Chicago acquired left-handed starter David Peterson for prospect first baseman Cole Mathis, who is currently injured.
    Hollowell has been Yo-Yo'd recently. Called up June 16, he was sent down Tuesday, called up Wednesday and sent back to Iowa on Thursday. He appeared in a total of three games for 2⅔ innings in that span.
    After the Mets series, the Cubs begin a big three-game series on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers, who lead the NL Central.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    As injuries continue to hit the pitching staff, the Chicago Cubs continue to bring in help from wherever they can find it.
    The Cubs on Wednesday claimed right-hander Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. Right-handed reliever Christian Roa was designated for assignment to make room for Wilson on the 40-man roster. A move regarding the 26-man roster will need to be made once Wilson reports to the Cubs.
    Wilson was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Monday. The Cubs are approaching desperation mode after two more starting pitchers went on the 15-day injured list before Wednesday's doubleheader against the New York Mets in Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown. The good news is left-hander Matthew Boyd is set to come off the 15-day IL and rejoin the rotation Thursday.
    Wilson made just one appearance with the Phillies, pitching two scoreless innings in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Mets.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    Within the span of about 12 hours, the Chicago Cubs lost 40% of their starting rotation.
    The Cubs on Wednesday placed right-handed starters Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown on the 15-day injured list. Right-handed relievers Gavin Hollowell and Vince Velasquez were called up from Triple-A Iowa. Velasquez needed to be added to the 40-man roster, which is full, so right-hander Eduardniel Nunez was designated for assignment.
    Cabrera went on the IL after he strained his left adductor and left hamstring while stretching for a throw as he covered first base in Tuesday's 9-6 victory over the New York Mets. Brown's IL placement was due to a strained neck. They make it six Cubs starting pitchers on the IL, with left-hander Matthew Boyd set to come off Thursday.
    More testing was set for Wednesday to determine the extent of Cabrera's injury, which figures to be much more longer than Brown's. Brown is likely to just have a minimal IL stay. Cabrera, acquired in a big offseason trade with the Miami Marlins, is on the IL for the second time this season after missing the minimum with a blister on his right middle finger, having just returned June 5.
    Cabrera has a 5.07 FIP (5.10 ERA) with a 9.4% walk rate and 21% strikeout rate in 14 starts. Brown has stepped into the rotation following a myriad of injuries, making eight starts in his 20 appearances. He has a 2.50 FIP (1.85 ERA), walking 7.2% and striking out 24.5% of batters.
    Hollowell had just been sent down the day before as right-hander Jayden Murray was added to the roster following a trade.
    Velasquez made a triumphant return to the majors this season after last appearing in 2023. The recently turned 34-year-old pitched in just one game, going 2⅓ shutout innings, with one hit, no walks and one strikeout April 25 in a 12-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
     
     
    Steve Drumwright
    After a rough go with the Houston Astros, Jayden Murray has a second chance with the Chicago Cubs.
    Murray was officially added to the Cubs' 26-man roster after being acquired in a trade Saturday from the Houston Astros for minor-league first baseman Cameron Sisneros. Right-hander Gavin Hollowell was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
    Murray had been designated for assignment by the Astros after a 7.43 ERA in eight appearances and 13⅓ innings. That was quite the difference from when he made his MLB debut in 2025 with the Astros, when he appeared in nine games and had a 1.54 ERA in 11⅔ innings. Murray was drafted in the 23rd round in 2019 out of Dixie State.
    Hollowell has appeared in three games with the Cubs this season, allowing two runs in 3⅔ innings for a 4.91 ERA with five walks and two strikeouts.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    With only a few 40-man roster options available, the Chicago Cubs opted for outfield defense to replace a slumping hitter.
    The Cubs on Friday called up outfielder Justin Dean from Triple-A Iowa following the demotion of designated hitter Moises Ballesteros.
    Dean will be making his Cubs debut after being claimed off waivers this offseason from the San Francisco Giants. Dean was somewhat of a cult figure in the Los Angeles Dodgers' run to the World Series last year, appearing in 13 games but not once coming up to bat. He was a late-inning defensive substitution and pinch-runner. Dean made his MLB debut last year and is hitless in two at-bats over 18 games.
    At Triple-A this year, Dean was slashing .238/.369/.354 with three homers and 25 RBIs, stealing 14 bases in 15 tries.
    Ballesteros being sent down would seem to open more at-bats for Matt Shaw, who was in the lineup in right field for Friday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, with Seiya Suzuki as the designated hitter.
     
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Chicago Cubs have decided that Moises Ballesteros needs a reset.
    The 22-year-old designated hitter was optioned Thursday to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs. A move to fill Ballesteros' spot on the 26-man roster will need to be made before Friday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field.
    Ballesteros has a slash line of .231/.303/.385 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 59 games. Those numbers would be better had it not been for an awful month of May, where he slashed .102/.206/.153 with just six hits in 59 at-bats. His June has been better at .231/.286/.269, already matching his hit total for May in 26 at-bats.
    The left-handed hitter was thought to be an offensive star in the making after making his MLB debut last year and putting up a .298/.394/.474 slash line, hitting two homers and driving in 11 in 20 games. But that has not been the case and the Cubs, at 39-36 and 7½ games behind the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, decided it was time for Ballesteros to restore some confidence in the minors.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    For the second time this season, the Chicago Cubs are down their closer.
    Right-hander Daniel Palencia was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday by the Cubs with inflammation in his right elbow. Right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell was called up from Triple-A Iowa.
    Palencia went on the 15-day IL on April 16 with a mild strain of his left oblique. It was a short stay there as he returned to the Cubs on May 3. Palencia appeared in Monday's game, pitching the ninth inning of the Cubs' 5-4 walk-off victory over the Colorado Rockies. He walked one and struck out three.
    The 26-year-old has a 3.46 FIP (2.70 ERA) in 19 games and 16⅔ innings, with a walk rate of 8.5% and a strikeout rate of 26.8%.
    Hollowell is up for the second time this season. In a one-day call-up, he appeared in the May 7 game against the Cincinnati Reds, pitching 1⅔ innings, giving up two runs on two hits, including a homer, with four walks and a strikeout. In 15 games at Iowa this year, he has a 3.63 ERA with 14 walks and 27 strikeouts in 17⅓ innings.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    New papa Trent Thornton is back in the Chicago Cubs' bullpen.
    Thornton on Friday was activated from the paternity list by the Cubs, who sent down fellow right-handed reliever Tyler Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa. Thornton went on the paternity list Tuesday.
    Ferguson appeared in one game after being called up to replace Ferguson, going 1⅓ innings and giving up one run on three hits with no walks and three punchouts. It was his second MLB appearance this year after the May 5 game against the Philadelphia Phillies while he was a member of the A's.
    In that game, he gave up four runs on four hits, including two homers, with a strikeout in 1⅓ innings. He was designated for assignment by the A's the next day and traded to the Cubs the day after.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    After making a handful of moves before Tuesday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies, the Chicago Cubs tacked on another in what has been a revolving door in the bullpen.
    The Cubs placed Trent Thornton on the paternity list and called up fellow right-handed reliever Tyler Ferguson from Triple-A Iowa. Thornton can be away from the club for up to three days for the birth of his child.
    Thornton has a 5.30 FIP (1.69 ERA) in 12 appearances and 16 innings. He has a rather high 11.3% walk rate and a very below average 9.7% strikeout rate.
    Ferguson is up for the second time this season with Chicago, but has yet to make his Cubs debut. He was acquired from the A's on May 7 after he had been designated for assignment after giving up four runs in 1⅓ innings against the Philadelphia Phillies. He had been called up last week, but didn't pitch and was optioned back to Iowa.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    Just when you think the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff is getting healthier, another injury strikes.
    Right-handed starter Jameson Taillon was put on the 15-day injured list Tuesday by the Cubs due to a strained left hamstring. In good news, utilityman Matt Shaw was activated from the 10-day IL after battling midback tightness. Right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts was recalled from Triple-A Iowa, while outfielder Kevin Alcantara was optioned to Triple-A.
    Taillon was injured in his start Sunday in a 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants in 10 innings. He threw a pitch for ball four to Matt Chapman in the second inning and immediately waved to the dugout for medical attention. The Cubs currently have seven pitchers in the IL, with five on the 60-day IL. One of those, left-hander Matthew Boyd, could be on the verge of returning to the rotation.
    Through 13 starts this season, Taillon had struggled his way to a 6.31 FIP (5.19 ERA) in 67⅔ innings. He has given up an MLB-worst 20 homers while posting an 8% walk rate and 20.6% strikeout rate.
    Shaw returns to the roster after being placed on the IL May 22. In 42 games before then, Shaw was slashing .242/.291/.400, hitting three homers and driving in 12 while bouncing around the diamond defensively.
    Roberts came off the 15-day IL himself May 8 following a right middle finger laceration that sidelined him for about three weeks. In 14 appearances and 18⅓ innings, Roberts has a 3.76 FIP (1.96 ERA), with a 9.7% walk rate and 19.4% strikeout rate.
    Alcantara produced a .111/.200/.111 slash line in just 12 games (10 plate appearances) since coming up May 23.
     
    Brian Kelder
    The Cubs in the past few days have added a couple of relief options to their system. 
    First from Dodgers reporter Fabian Ardaya. Ignore the Glasnow part unless you own him in fantasy, and the second sentence has it. 
    Antoine Kelly has not pitched in the major leagues after beginning his career in 2019. This season, he's toiled in Triple-A Albuquerque, struggling to a 5.14 ERA in 21 innings pitched. In 2025 he was in the Rockies' system and performed similarly with a slightly worse 5.63 ERA. Kelly was acquired for cash considerations and will report to Triple-A Iowa, where he'll look to get his chance given all of the injuries the Cubs' staff has had.
    And second, from the Des Moines Register's Andrew Birch:
    Wantz, age 30, started in the Los Angeles Angels' system, toggling between the majors and minors since his debut in 2021. The Rays picked him up in 2024 after an elbow injury, and he was let go after allowing five runs in 1 2/3 innings on Saturday. 
    Wantz does have some success in the highest level, striking out 127 in 120 innings pitched over his career. His strikeout rate has dipped though, and he will look to increase his metrics and his success in Iowa to start. If he can, there are ample opportunities to contribute to the big club if Wantz can handle it.
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