Steve Drumwright

Veteran right-hander Corbin Martin had his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa and will be in the Chicago Cubs' bullpen for Saturday's game against the New York Mets. Martin was called up after closer Daniel Palencia went on the 15-day injured list just before Friday's game with a strained left oblique. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed starter Cade Horton was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. Horton underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday and will be out the remainder of the season. The 30-year-old Martin had appeared in just two games for Iowa this year, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts in two innings. The Cubs will be the fourth MLB team for Martin, who made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Houston Astros. He also pitched in 2021-22 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles. He has appeared in 34 games, including 10 starts, across those four stops with a 6.95 FIP (5.79 ERA) with a 12.8% walk rate and 20.7 strikeout rate. View full rumor

Injuries continue to strike the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff. Right-handed closer Daniel Palencia went on the 15-day injured list Friday with a strained left oblique. A corresponding move to fill Palencia's spot on the active roster was not immediately announced, leaving the team shorthanded for Friday's game against the New York Mets. Palencia becomes the 10th Cubs pitcher to currently be on the injured list, which has challenged the team's depth. He has made five appearances this season, recording a save in his only opportunity while not allowing a run in five innings. Palencia has allowed three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Palencia last pitched Sunday, getting the win after pitching the top of the ninth in the Cubs' 7-6 walk-off win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Palencia emerged as the Cubs' closer last season, converting 22 of 25 save chances and posting a 2.91 ERA in 54 appearances. Right-hander Colin Rea is the only other Cub with a save this season, but he is now part of the starting rotation due to the slew of injuries. With Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Porter Hodge and Jordan Wicks also on the IL, the Cubs are likely to use a committee approach to the closing duties. View full rumor

The Porter Hodge situation took a dramatic turn Wednesday. The right-handed reliever, who has appeared in 75 games over the past two seasons, will have surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow next week, manager Craig Counsell said before Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. That would put most if not all of next season in jeopardy for Hodge. Counsell said Hodge, who began throwing again April 4 after being shut down early in spring training, recently had a setback that led to the decision to have the procedure, which will take place Monday. Right-handed starter Cade Horton is slated to have his UCL reconstruction surgery Thursday. The 25-year-old Hodge made his MLB debut in 2024 and had a fantastic year. In 39 appearances, Hodge compiled a 1.88 ERA and converted nine of 12 save opportunities. His 2025 was almost the opposite of his rookie year as Hodge's ERA blew up to 6.27 in 36 games, including two saves in five chances. View full rumor

The competition for right-handed starter Lucas Giolito is heating up, which means there could be a decision soon on one of the top free agents from this past offseason. According to The Athletic on Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are the top contenders to land the 2019 All-Star who has yet to find a home despite a moderately successful 2025, his first season back from Tommy John surgery. Giolito had a 4.17 FIP (3.41 ERA) in 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox last year. The Cubs and padres are in need of fortifying their starting rotations. The Cubs are in a more precarious situation at the moment. Right-hander Cade Horton, last year's NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, is likely to undergo season-ending surgery on his right UCL in the latest blow to an injury-ravaged staff. Left-hander Matthew Boyd, the Cubs' Opening Day starter who is on the 15-day injured list with a strained left biceps, is slated to have one rehab appearance before rejoining the rotation next week. Padres Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta left Sunday's game with stiffness in his right elbow. More on his fate, which is likely to include a trip to the injured list, could be revealed Tuesday. Giolito, who had three top-11 finishes in AL Cy Young Award voting (2019-2021) with the Chicago White Sox, is a Southern California native who has said he has been throwing bullpen sessions of 75 pitches to stay in shape and hasn't signed because no team has met his price. View full rumor

Perhaps now we know why Hunter Harvey was struggling in the early stages of the season. The Chicago Cubs' right-handed reliever was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right triceps inflammation. Left-handed reliever Charlie Barnes was promoted from Triple-A Iowa and added to the 40-man roster, which had an open spot. Harvey becomes the eighth pitcher to go on the IL this year. Signed to a one-year, $6 million contract with an option for 2027, Harvey has appeared in four games with a 8.37 FIP (6.75 ERA), allowing three runs, including two homers, with one walk and four strikeouts in four innings. He last appeared in a game Wednesday, facing the minimum three batters while giving up a hit in the ninth inning to finish off a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Barnes is back in the majors for the first time since 2021 with the Minnesota Twins. He made three appearances, one start, at Iowa and posted a 2.38 ERA in 11⅓ innings. Barnes gave up three runs on eight hits, but did walk eight while striking out 14. He made nine appearances for the Twins five years ago with a 5.92 ERA, then spent the next three seasons with Lotte of the Korea Baseball Organization. View full rumor

Right fielder Seiya Suzuki is making his much-anticipated return to the Chicago Cubs' lineup Friday. Suzuki was activated from the 10-day injured list following his sprained right posterior cruciate ligament during the World Baseball Classic while playing for Japan. Outfielder Dylan Carlson was designated for assignment. The Cubs also made a move in their bullpen, putting right-hander Phil Maton on the 15-day IL with tendinitis in his right knee and calling up Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa. Suzuki will be a welcome addition to a Cubs offense that entered Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a .680 OPS, which ranked 14th in MLB. He is coming off a 2025 in which he slashed .245/.326/.478 with career highs of 32 homers and 103 RBIs. Carlson signed a minor-league contract in January and made the club out of spring training primarily due to Suzuki's injury. But Carlson appeared in just three of 12 games, going 0-for-4 with a run scored and two strikeouts. If he clears waivers, it is possible that he reports to Triple-A to remain in the organization. Maton had struggled in his five appearances, posting a 13.50 ERA in four innings with four walks and five strikeouts. Roberts is back for his second stint with the Cubs this season after being the extra player for Sunday's doubleheader, getting the final two outs of the 6-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. View full rumor