The Cubs made it through the trade deadline without moving every piece that looked vulnerable, but that doesn’t mean the roster is settled. With October in view and injured pitchers lining up to return, Chicago still has some trimming to do, especially on the pitching side.
That’s where the real pressure is building. The additions of Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes give the Cubs a rotation that looks ready for October, but the bullpen still has a couple of spots that need to be sorted out. As more arms get healthy, the front office is going to have to make room somewhere.
Javier Assad is one of the clearest examples of a player hanging on by a thread. Daniel Palencia, Hoby Milner, and Edward Cabrera are expected back by September, and next month could bring even more names into the mix with Ben Brown, Justin Steele, Hunter Harvey, and Shelby Miller all possible options.
It’s unlikely all seven return this season, but even if only two do, the Cubs will need openings. Assad is one of the few pitchers on the current staff who still has minor-league options left, and that makes him the most movable.
Aaron Civale is in a different spot, but the end result may be the same. If Assad is pushed to Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs could still lean on bulk options in the bullpen with Cabrera and Colin Rea.
In that scenario, Civale looks like the odd man out by the time September arrives. He filled a need and helped bridge the gap while the staff got healthier, but his runway appears short.
Caleb Thielbar’s situation is less about roster math and more about performance. His ERA sits at 5.30, and his WHIP is 1.35.
The Cubs don’t have a surplus of high-leverage left-handers in the bullpen, which could keep him around a little longer, but that safety net is fading. Left-handed hitters have posted a .843 OPS against him this year, and that’s a hard number to ignore.
James Triantos survived the deadline too, but a spot on the roster still doesn’t look likely to last. If Matt Shaw is healthy, Triantos would be the one to lose his place.
If Shaw isn’t ready, Owen Ayers could emerge as a surprise option. Either way, Triantos feels more like a temporary name than a lasting one on the Cubs’ roster.
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A couple of familiar names sit at the center of the long view. Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly are both set to reach free agency after the 2026 season, and the Cubs are expected to spend heavily on pitching this winter, a priority that could shape every other decision. Kellys future already feels uncertain enough that the front office is planning for a 2027 roster without him, while Suzukis situation may ultimately come down to how far the club is willing to stretch after addressing the mound. [Read more 🡒]
Phil Matons Cubs Setback Just Became A Bigger Bullpen Concern
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The good news for Chicago is that the pitching staff is in a better place than it was a few weeks ago, with trades and minor-league rehab assignments giving the club more cover. Even so, Matons recovery now has a different kind of uncertainty around it, and the Cubs can afford to be cautious only because they have managed to build some breathing room elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]