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Cubs finalize 2025 26-man roster following plethora of moves

8 months agoAndy Martinez

The Chicago Cubs roster for their domestic opener is set.

The team announced a series of roster moves that finalized the 26-man crew that will kick start the rest of their regular season against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cubs selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Brad Keller and designated right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. They also placed right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier on the 15-day IL, retroactive to March 25, with a left groin strain and recalled right-handed pitcher Eli Morgan from Triple-A Iowa. Infielder Vidal Bruján was placed on the 10-day IL with a right elbow sprain. The Cubs placed right-handed pitcher Tyson Miller (left hip impingement) on the 15-day IL, retroactive to March 21. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa.

The moves finalize the Cubs 26-man roster – Gage Workman, a Rule 5 pick this past winter – occupies the final spot on the Cubs’ bench and Keller and Morgan will snag the final spots in the bullpen. Nico Hoerner, who had offseason flexor tendon surgery that caused him to miss the Tokyo Series last week, will be active to start the rest of the regular season.

Keller has been impressive all spring – his velocity on his fastball hit the upper 90s and he had a 4.22 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 10.2 innings. He’ll provide manager Craig Counsell with a valuable bullpen piece – he has been stretched out so he can cover multiple innings, or he can pitch in short bursts if needed, too. The Cubs have had a wonky spring with the Tokyo Series – they’ve built pitchers up for the two-game set in Japan, then ramped them back down as they returned to play exhibition games. Having someone like Keller (and Colin Rea) available to cover innings early in the season will be crucial.

Brasier was acquired from the Dodgers after being designated for assignment in February. He has struggled this spring – he’s allowed three home runs in five Cactus League outings, posting an 8.31 ERA in that time. He permitted a run on two hits and a walk in his Cubs debut in the Tokyo Series against his former team. Morgan pitched a scoreless 1.1 innings in Tokyo and has a 3.18 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in 5 Cactus League appearances.

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Poteet was acquired from the Yankees in the deal that sent Cody Bellinger to New York. The righty has a lifetime 3.80 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 24 games across three seasons. He made two appearances this spring, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in 3.1 innings (10.80 ERA) and was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on March 1.

Bruján and Workman were competing for the final bench spot, but the switch-hitting Bruján suffered a right elbow sprain after he crashed into the wall over the weekend trying to make a catch, Counsell told reporters in Arizona this week.