The Cubs didn’t move Pedro Ramirez at the trade deadline, and that call is looking better by the day.
With Dansby Swanson headed to the injured list because of an oblique strain, Ramirez suddenly matters even more. The plan is for Swanson to be back in the starting lineup in about a month, but until then, Ramirez is in line for the bulk of the work at second base while Nico Hoerner shifts over to shortstop.
That setup gives Chicago a workable answer in the middle infield, especially with Matt Shaw beginning a rehab stint this week. As Swanson works back, the Cubs have another option on the way, but Ramirez is the one carrying the biggest load right now.
He’s earned that trust. Through 49 games and 140 plate appearances entering Monday, Ramirez had put up 1.2 bWAR and given Craig Counsell steady production along with a veteran-style presence at just 22 years old.
The Cubs are now counting on him more than ever. Hoerner is set at shortstop, Ramirez is taking over at the keystone, and Chicago’s ability to absorb Swanson’s absence depends heavily on how well Ramirez handles the role.
That’s why the decision to keep him looks so sharp in hindsight. After an offseason that included Jed Hoyer trading for Edward Cabrera and signing Alex Bregman, the choice to hold onto Ramirez may be the one that looms largest now.
Swanson still matters plenty to the Cubs’ World Series hopes. But Ramirez gives them a chance to stay steady while he’s out, and that matters a lot as October comes into view.
In Other News...
Dodgers Drama Just Gave Cubs Fans New Ammo In Ricketts Debate
A major off-field mess around the Dodgers has suddenly become relevant in Chicago, where Cubs fans have long debated what ownership ambition and outside capital should look like in baseball. Two insurance companies tied to Dodgers owner Mark Walter are now under federal investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office and the SEC over billions of dollars in undisclosed related-party loans, with the scrutiny extending to the Dodgers organization itself because of direct lending between those insurers and Dodgers-affiliated entities.
For Cubs supporters still weighing the Ricketts family against the sports most aggressive spenders, the timing is hard to ignore. Walters ability to keep financing the Dodgers could be affected depending on how the case develops, and the possibility of ownership changes only adds another layer to a situation already dripping with uncertainty. It is the kind of reminder that big-money baseball can look stable from a distance right up until the people paying the bills start drawing federal attention. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Bullpen Picture Just Shifted Before A Crucial Seattle Trip
The Cubs wrapped up their final regular-season meeting with the White Sox in a 3-0 loss, one of those flat afternoons where the offense never found a groove and the bullpen conversation quickly became part of the bigger picture. Jose Urquidy kept Chicago in check over six strong innings, while Clay Holmes took the loss despite coaxing plenty of ground-ball outs, leaving the Cubs with another reminder of how thin the margins can be as the schedule tightens.
Craig Counsell said the bullpen mix is about to get a boost heading into a crucial trip to Seattle, with updates also coming on a few injured arms. The timing matters for a Cubs team trying to steady itself on the road, and the next few days should bring a clearer sense of who is actually close, who still needs more time, and how much of the relief workload can be reshaped before the series opens. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cubs Flop Shows How Much This Team Has Changed
Jon Bertis major league career is over, and for the Cubs it leaves behind a small but telling reminder of how much the roster has shifted around him. Bertis final appearance in the majors came with Chicago in 2025, a stint that never found much traction as his offense lagged and the speed game that once made him useful never quite delivered the same edge.
What stands out now is less Bertis stop in Wrigleyville than the fact that a once-fragile Cubs bench no longer looks like an obvious soft spot. Contributions from players such as Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw have given Chicago more dependable depth, a marked change from the days when the bench felt like a place where innings could slip away. [Read more 🡒]