The Cubs’ latest roster shuffle sends two regulars to the injured list and adds some immediate depth in response.
Right-hander Edward Cabrera was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right middle finger blister, while shortstop Dansby Swanson went on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain. The club also optioned infielder James Triantos to Triple-A Iowa.
Coming up in their place are right-hander Javier Assad, outfielder Kevin Alcántara and infielder Owen Miller, whose contract was selected. To clear a 40-man roster spot for Miller, right-hander Daniel Palencia was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Before the move became official, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reported that Miller, Alcántara and Assad were already in the clubhouse.
Swanson’s absence was expected after reports indicated the oblique issue would keep him out for several weeks. Manager Craig Counsell said today it would be about four weeks, according to Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network.
That leaves Nico Hoerner to handle shortstop for now, with Pedro Ramírez set for more work at second base. Matt Shaw could also enter the mix at the keystone if he’s able to return from his own IL stint first.
Shaw has been out since late June with a left hand sprain and could begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday, per Bastian.
Miller looks like the key piece of this group if the Cubs want another shortstop option on hand. Hoerner can obviously hold down the position, but with Ramírez and Triantos only having brief shortstop experience in the minors, the move gives Chicago a little more insurance.
The 29-year-old Miller joined the Cubs on a minor league deal this offseason and has put together a solid year in Triple-A, hitting .296/.350/.457 with a 102 wRC+. That said, the batting average on balls in play is sitting at .328, so that production may be a little inflated. In the majors, he’s hit .238/.287/.342 with a 75 wRC+.
Even if the bat doesn’t carry him, Miller brings useful versatility. He’s a quick runner with 18 career steals and only two caught stealings. He has just eight big league innings at shortstop, but he’s logged plenty of time there in the minors and has played every position on the diamond except catcher, which makes him a natural fit for a bench role.
Cabrera’s situation is a little different. He had just come off the IL yesterday after missing several weeks with a hamstring strain, but his return outing was cut short when the blister kept him from getting through four innings. The Cubs are giving it time to settle down.
Blisters have followed Cabrera around for much of his career. By the time he’s eligible to return from this IL stint, it will be September.
Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that Counsell said the Cubs will use him in shorter outings because the blister tends to get worse as a game wears on. That means Cabrera will work as a reliever in September.
Whether that becomes a long-term shift is still unclear. His blister could heal fully in the offseason, but this is not a new problem. While he was with the Marlins, he landed on the IL with blister issues in both 2021 and 2025.
Cabrera remains under club control for two more seasons after this one, and the Cubs paid a notable price to get him from Miami, sending away three players, including Owen Caissie, in exchange for three seasons of Cabrera. That kind of move suggested a starter’s future, but the Cubs may now be looking at the path that keeps him healthiest.
Palencia’s transfer to the 60-day IL is simply procedural. He originally hit the 15-day IL on June 16 with elbow inflammation, and he has already been sidelined long enough to qualify for reinstatement. He’s been on a rehab assignment for nearly two weeks and could be back at any time.
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