Cubs' Injury Updates & Roster Moves
This roster moves and injury updates page will be updated throughout the offseason as news happens.
LATEST NEWS
Nov. 4: Cubs decline mutual option on LHP Drew Smyly for ’25
The Cubs officially declined their part of the mutual option ($10 million) to keep lefty Drew Smyly for the '25 season and will instead pay a $2.5 million buyout. Smyly, 35, had a 3.84 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 25 walks in 58 2/3 innings (50 appearances) last season in his 11th Major League campaign.
Nov. 4: LHP Rob Zastryzny claimed off waivers from Brewers; RHP Jimmy Herget designated for assignment
Zastryzny, 32, has a 4.30 ERA in 54 big league games in his career, which dates back to the '16 season with the Cubs. He pitched for Chicago during parts of the 2016-18 campaigns, and last year he posted a 1.17 ERA in nine outings for Milwaukee. Herget, who was eligible for arbitration, appeared in eight games for Atlanta last year but did not pitch for the Cubs in the Majors.
Nov. 4: RHP Adbert Alzolay, RHP Ben Brown, LHP Luke Little, RHP Julian Merryweather, INF Nick Madrigal, OF Brennen Davis reinstated from 60-day IL
Alzolay, Merryweather and Madrigal are all eligible for arbitration this offseason but are on the bubble as nontender candidates, given their injury issues last year. (The deadline to tender contracts to unsigned players is Nov. 22.)
Alzolay underwent surgery on his right elbow in August, and his status for '25 is unclear. If healthy, Brown and Little could be key parts of the '25 bullpen. Davis -- a former top prospect -- has endured a multitude of injuries over the past few years.
Nov. 4: RHP Yency Almonte, C Christian Bethancourt, RHP Colten Brewer, RHP Enoli Paredes clear waivers, elect free agency
Almonte (3.45 ERA in 17 games in '24), Bethancourt (.814 OPS in 24 games in '24) and Brewer (5.66 ERA in 16 games) were all eligible for arbitration this offseason but ended the year on the 60-day IL and were unlikely to be offered MLB contracts for '25. Paredes was a late-season addition to the bullpen, appearing in only one game for Chicago.
INJURY UPDATES
2B Nico Hoerner (right flexor tendon)
Expected return: 2025
The Cubs announced that Hoerner underwent successful flexor tendon surgery on his right forearm (performed by Dr. Keith Meister) on Oct. 11. The second baseman will focus on his rehab over the offseason and be assessed at the start of Spring Training in February to determine his next steps. In 151 games in '24, the 27-year-old Hoerner hit .273/.335/.373 with seven homers, 35 doubles, 48 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. He is signed through 2026 and set to earn $11.5 million in '25. (Last updated: Oct. 21)
LHP Jordan Wicks (right oblique strain)
Expected return: 2025
Wicks was placed on the 15-day IL on Sept. 20 due to a right oblique strain, which impacted a different area than a similar setback earlier in the season. The left-hander landed on the 15-day IL with a right oblique strain on June 15 and was activated on Sept. 1. Wicks also dealt with a left forearm strain early in the season. In 11 games (10 starts) overall for the Cubs this year, Wicks posted a 5.48 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 20 walks in 46 innings. (Last updated: Sept. 29)
RHP Cade Horton (right lat strain; No. 2 on Cubs' Top Prospects list, No. 28 overall)
Expected return: 2025
Horton’s 2024 season ended in August after he suffered a setback in his rehab from the right subscapularis strain that sidelined him in May. Cubs GM Carter Hawkins said on Aug. 13 that, "at this point of the year and this point of his career, it's not something that we wanted to push. We feel confident that he'll be ready to rock and roll come Spring Training, and certainly he’ll be part of our plans for next year."
Horton, who was Chicago’s first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2022 MLB Draft, exited his May 29 start for Triple-A Iowa after logging 20 pitches in one inning (two runs allowed) against Louisville. The righty posted a 7.50 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks in 18 innings (five starts) for Iowa, following a four-start stint (1.10 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks in 16 1/3 innings) with Double-A Tennessee to begin the season. (Last updated: Sept. 29)