The Cubs are adding some experienced bullpen depth to the mix, agreeing to a minor league deal with right-hander Yacksel Ríos, per reports. It’s a low-risk move aimed at bolstering organizational pitching depth, and while Ríos isn’t expected to break camp with the big league club, there’s some intrigue here if he can stay healthy.
Ríos, 32, has had a winding journey through the majors, pitching in parts of six MLB seasons. Most fans will remember him from his early run with the Phillies, where he got his first real taste of big league action.
Since then, he’s bounced around - with stints in Pittsburgh, Seattle, Boston, and Oakland - before spending the last two seasons in the Mets organization. Despite that, he hasn’t appeared in a major league game since 2022.
Injuries have played a major role in that. Ríos was off to a solid start in 2024, posting a 3.30 ERA over 30 innings at Triple-A before going down with an injury in late June.
That setback cost him the rest of the season and nearly all of 2025. He did make it back for a brief rehab stint in the low minors and eventually returned to Triple-A in mid-September.
His two outings there were a mixed bag - he gave up four runs in his first appearance, then bounced back with a clean inning and a strikeout to end his season on a more positive note.
Ríos’ big league numbers - a 6.32 ERA across just under 100 innings - don’t jump off the page. But his Triple-A track record paints a more promising picture: 200 1/3 innings with a 4.13 ERA and a 24.5% strikeout rate.
And perhaps most importantly, his fastball was still touching 97 mph during his brief return last year. That kind of velocity will always get a second look, especially from a team looking to build bullpen depth.
For the Cubs, this is about taking a flyer on a live arm with big league experience. Ríos isn’t likely to be in the Opening Day bullpen plans, but if he can stay healthy and continue to throw hard, he could be a valuable option for Triple-A Iowa - and potentially more if the Cubs need reinforcements later in the season.
In today’s game, you can never have too much bullpen depth. And while Ríos may not be a headline-grabber, he’s the kind of veteran arm who could quietly play a role if things break right.