Ben Cowles - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports

Moves to Southsiders The White Sox claimed Cowles off waivers from the Cubs on Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte.

Impact Cowles has had a rough season with Triple-A Iowa, slashing .242/.306/.389 with nine home runs and 16 stolen bases while striking out at a 28.6 percent clip across 462 plate appearances. He's just 25, though, and has a chance to carve out a career as a utility infielder.

SEPTEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Booted from 40-man roster Chicago designated Cowles for assignment Monday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact The Cubs needed the 40-man roster spot for Carlos Santana. Cowles has yet to make his MLB debut, and his numbers have taken a hit in 2025 after he was added to the 40-man roster last winter in order to keep him protected from the Rule 5 Draft. Cowles has slashed .238/.304/.382 with nine home runs, 44 RBI, 55 runs scored and 16 stolen bases at Triple-A this season. His strikeout rate has also ballooned to 28.6 percent from 17.7 percent last season.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Booted from 40-man roster Chicago designated Cowles for assignment Monday.

Impact Cowles will cede his spot on the 40-man roster to first baseman Carlos Santana, who was signed to a one-year contract. Acquired from the Yankees last summer, Cowles has yet to make his MLB debut, and his numbers have taken a hit in 2025 after he was added to the 40-man roster over the winter. Cowles has slashed .242/.306/.389 with nine home runs and 16 stolen bases while striking out at a 28.6 percent clip across 462 plate appearances with Iowa.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to Triple-A The Cubs optioned Cowles to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

Impact The 25-year-old was added to Chicago's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a likely candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Cowles spent last season at the Double-A level with both the Cubs and Yankees organizations, and he had a .286/.372/.457 slash line with nine homers and 14 steals in 92 games.

MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE

Receives 40-man spot The Cubs selected Cowles to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Cowles was acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline as part of the Mark Leiter deal, though a wrist injury limited Cowles to playing just four games with Double-A Tennessee at the very end of the year. Prior to his injury, the 24-year-old infielder had slashed .292/.372/.471 with 52 RBI across 379 plate appearances. He'll likely be bumped up to Triple-A Iowa for the start of 2025.

NOVEMBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Healthy heading into fall Cowles (wrist) went 1-for-13 with two walks and two runs over four games for Double-A Tennessee after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Sept. 9.

Impact Acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline July 30, Cowles wasn't expected to make his organizational debut with the Cubs until 2025 after he suffered a wrist injury when he was hit by a pitch in his final game for Double-A Somerset on July 25. Cowles ended up healing quicker than expected and got a few games under his belt with Tennessee, and he's now scheduled to pick up some more at-bats in the Arizona Fall League. Per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cowles was one of eight Cubs prospects assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox for the start of the Fall League, which begins Oct. 7.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Likely out for season Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Wednesday that Cowles will likely miss the rest of the minor-league regular season as a result of being hit on the wrist by a p...

Impact Cowles was placed on Somerset's 7-day injured list this past Saturday before he was dealt to the Cubs three days later as part of a two-prospect package that sent reliever Mark Leiter to the Yankees. The Cubs were presumably aware of the nature and severity of Cowles' injury before the trade was agreed upon, and the wrist issue shouldn't dramatically affect the 24-year-old infielder's long-term outlook. He had been in the midst of a productive season with Somerset prior to getting hurt, slashing .292/.372/.471 with nine home runs and 14 steals over 88 games.

AUGUST 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to Chicago The Cubs acquired Cowles (undisclosed) and right-hander Jack Neely from the Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Mark Leiter, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Cowles, 24, slashed .295/.376/.472 with nine home runs and 14 stolen bases over 88 games this season with Double-A Somerset before he was placed on the 7-day injured list Saturday with an unspecified injury. The Cubs likely aren't too concerned about the injury, given his inclusion in the trade. He can play second base, third base and shortstop and profiles as a potential utility infielder at the major-league level.

JULY 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to Chicago The Cubs acquired Cowles and Jack Neely from the Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for Mark Leiter, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Cowles, 24, has slashed .295/.376/.472 with nine home runs and 14 stolen bases over 88 games this season with Double-A Somerset. He can play second base, third base and shortstop and profiles as a potential utility infielder at the major-league level.

JULY 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE