Trey Mancini’s time with the Cubs never got off the ground, and now his playing career is over.
The former first baseman, who was brought in to help stabilize Chicago’s post-Anthony Rizzo situation, never found his footing after signing with the Cubs in 2023. The bat never matched the hope around the move. Mancini finished his Chicago run with a 75 wRC+ across 263 plate appearances, and the Cubs moved on before the season ended.
That was supposed to be the fresh start after the rough patch that followed his 2022 season with the Houston Astros. Instead, the struggles carried over, and the Cubs’ gamble at first base fizzled quickly.
Mancini did keep going after that. He spent much of the past three seasons bouncing around minor-league affiliates, then made it back to the majors this year with the Los Angeles Angels.
The stint was brief - just 14 games - but he managed four hits in 14 plate appearances before deciding to step away. MLB announced on Monday that the 34-year-old has retired after eight Major League seasons with the Orioles, Astros, Cubs and Angels.
While one former Cub is hanging it up, Craig Counsell is sorting through another roster wrinkle. Dansby Swanson is dealing with an oblique strain and is expected to miss around four weeks, though the timeline could change depending on how he responds. The Cubs believe he should still be back in time for the postseason.
For now, Counsell turned to Pedro Ramirez at second base on Monday against the Chicago White Sox, and that looks like the likeliest path moving forward. Nico Hoerner has moved over to shortstop, which helps cover the loss. Matt Shaw also figures into the mix once he’s ready; Counsell said Shaw will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday with the Iowa Cubs.
And in the bullpen, the Cubs have found something they didn’t have to chase at the trade deadline: a closer they can trust. Jacob Webb has taken over the late-inning role and, by the numbers, he’s earned it. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 22 appearances and has struck out more than 27% of the hitters he’s faced since June 24.
Chicago spent the winter betting on Phil Maton with a multi-year deal and hoping Hunter Harvey could stay healthy, but Webb has emerged as one of Jed Hoyer’s best moves. With other arms eventually returning, the Cubs may have options. But if Webb keeps pitching like this, the ninth inning should still belong to him.
In Other News...
Pedro Ramirez Looks Like A Cubs Fit With One Test Left
Pedro Ramirez has spent most of his brief Cubs career looking like the kind of multi-use player every contender wants to find before it becomes expensive to keep one. The 22-year-old rookie has already shown he can handle multiple infield spots while bringing enough offense and defense to make the profile more than just an emergency patch, which is part of why the organization is viewing him as a possible answer to a future roster puzzle.
The next step is less about proving he can play and more about stretching the boundaries of where he can play. Chicago wants to see how Ramirez fits in the outfield corners, a move meant to add another layer to his value as veterans near free agency and the Cubs think ahead to what the lineup might need down the road. He has barely any professional experience out there, so the coming reps will say a lot about whether this promising fit can become a real everyday option. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Prospect Move Just Put More Focus On Their Future Outfield
The Cubs took another small but telling step in mapping out their next wave of outfield help by moving Ethan Conrad up to High-A South Bend. The recent first-round pick had done enough at Low-A Myrtle Beach to show real progress, and the organization is clearly eager to see how his bat and overall game translate against a tougher level as it keeps sorting through the long-term shape of its roster.
Conrads rise adds another name to a group the Cubs are watching closely, especially with future outfield planning already in the background. There are other moving parts around the roster, too, from BJ Murrays Rule 5 draft eligibility to the possibility of extra bench opportunities created by Dansby Swansons injury, but Conrads promotion is the latest reminder that Chicagos prospect pipeline is starting to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Face A Dansby Swanson Problem At The Worst Time
Dansby Swansons timing could hardly be worse for the Cubs, who now have to navigate a stretch without one of their most important everyday players in the middle of the season. The shortstop is dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain, and the club is expected to put him on the injured list while calling up a replacement to handle the roster spot.
For a team trying to keep its footing through the grind of the schedule, losing Swanson alters the infield picture and forces Chicago to adjust on the fly. The hope is that the absence is temporary enough to get through this patch without bigger damage, with a path back that still leaves room for him to rejoin the club when the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]