MARCH 9 • MLB.COM
Tucker launches spring HR for first hit with Cubs MESA, Ariz. -- After heading down the dugout steps on Sunday afternoon, Kyle Tucker was greeted by silence. His teammates sat on the bench o...
Nicky Lopez off Cubs' travel roster for Tokyo trip as team makes series of camp cuts Other notable cuts included outfielder Travis Jankowski and left-handed reliever Brandon Hughes.
MARCH 9 • SUNTIMES.COM
Carlos Pérez - Sent out to minor-league camp The Cubs reassigned Perez to minor-league camp Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Impact Perez's dismissal from big-league camp leaves Carson Kelly, Miguel Amaya and Reese McGuire as the catchers who are likely competing for two spots on the Cubs' season-opening roster. The 34-year-old Perez has seen big-league action in parts of five seasons but spent the entire 2024 campaign with the Athletics' Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, where he slashed .260/.344/.544 over 468 plate appearances.
MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Hughes - Fails to make cut The Cubs reassigned Hughes to minor-league camp Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Impact After turning in an 8.15 ERA and 1.92 WHIP over 17.2 innings in the majors with Arizona in 2024, Hughes had to settle for a minor-league deal with the Cubs over the winter. His contract included an invitation to MLB spring training, but the 29-year-old lefty faced long odds to win a spot in the Cubs' season-opening bullpen. Hughes is expected to begin the campaign in a relief role at Triple-A Iowa.
MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE
Travis Jankowski - Sent to minors camp The Cubs reassigned Jankowski to minor-league camp Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Impact Jankowski was part of the Cubs' latest round of cuts as the team looks to trim its travel roster to 31 in advance of the two-game, season-opening series in Tokyo versus the Dodgers that begins March 18. The veteran outfielder attended big-league camp as a non-roster invitee after slashing .200/.266/.242 over 207 plate appearances in the majors with the Rangers in 2024. Jankowski is tentatively slated to open the season at Triple-A Iowa, though the Cubs could grant the 33-year-old a release from his minor-league contract if he requests it.
MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE
Ben Cowles - 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
Nearing the end of a short spring, Dodgers, Cubs make final preparations for season opener in Japan
Shohei Ohtani’s bat is ready for the Los Angeles Dodgers while Shota Imanaga has looked good on the mound for the Chicago Cubs with less than 10 days remaining before baseball's re...MARCH 9 • Associated Press
