One of the Cubs’ most valuable relievers is returning. 

The team is activating the righty from the 60-day and optioning RHP Hunter Bigge to Triple-A Iowa. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Merryweather, LHP Luke Little was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Merryweather landed on the IL in mid-April and has been out since, while the Cubs bullpen has struggled to find some consistency. The Cubs are tied for third with the most blown saves in baseball (18). 

Last season, Merryweather developed into a key piece in the Cubs bullpen mix, forming a potent, three-headed monster with Mark Leiter Jr. and Adbert Alzolay. 

Merryweather had allowed 1 earned run in 4.2 innings across 4 outings before suffering the injury. 

His return comes at an interesting time — the Cubs bullpen is finally starting to show some cohesion. Porter Hodge, Mark Leiter Jr., Tyson Miller and Héctor Neris have developed into leverage options for Craig Counsell. Merryweather’s return gives Counsell another option in those situations. 

It’s also just over a week before the trade deadline — a pivotal time for a team that is 3.5 games out of a playoff spot, but 5 games under .500. There’s no clear direction on what path the Cubs might take at that time, but if they were to sell, their relief corps could be their strongest asset. 

Little’s move to the 60-day IL is procedural — Counsell said over the weekend that Little was “likely out for the season” with a left lat strain in his shoulder.