According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Chicago Cubs have non-tendered relief pitcher Adbert Alzolay, which will send him to free agency. Alzolay opened the 2024 season as the Cubs closer but struggled as he posted a 4.67 ERA and 1.44 WHIP and tallied only four saves while blowing five opportunities. He was then optioned to Triple-A Iowa and eventually had to undergo Tommy John surgery. His recovery process will keep him sidelined through all of the 2025 campaign. As a result, fantasy managers in keeper and dynasty formats do not need to hold the 29-year-old on their roster, as he is at least an entire season away from returning to the mound. In addition, given his unstable production as a closer, he may only find a middle-relief role with a potential suitor in 2026.
Cubs Likely To Designate Adbert Alzolay For Assignment
The Chicago Cubs are likely to designate former closer Adbert Alzolay (elbow) for assignment on Tuesday, according to a source. Alzolay underwent Tommy John surgery in August and won't put again until late 2025, at the earliest. The 29-year-old Venezuelan right-hander had a career-high 22 saves in 2023 and entered the 2024 campaign as the favorite for saves in Chicago, but he certainly didn't have the year the Cubs were hoping for. Before his season-ending elbow injury, Alzolay had a rough 4.67 ERA (7.38 FIP), a 1.44 WHIP, four saves, 13 strikeouts and six walks in 17 1/3 innings over 18 appearances out of the bullpen. If another club doesn't claim Alzolay on waivers, there's a chance the Cubs could work out a trade to send him elsewhere. Obviously, Alzolay will be off the fantasy radar in 2025 as he recovers from elbow surgery.
Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Adbert Alzolay (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, according to manager Craig Counsell. There was a good chance we weren't going to see Alzolay again this season, and now it's confirmed. And on top of missing the rest of 2024, the 29-year-old is unlikely to pitch for most, if not all, of the 2025 campaign after having elbow reconstruction. The Venezuelan hurler opened the year as Chicago's closer but only ended up pitching 17 1/3 innings over 18 appearances out of the bullpen before going down with his elbow injury. In his 17 1/3 frames, he allowed 13 runs (nine earned) on 19 hits (six homers) while walking six, striking out 13 and securing four saves for the Cubbies. Veteran right-hander Hector Neris has since taken over the closing duties in Chicago.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adbert Alzolay (forearm) is set to undergo surgery, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Cubs skipper Craig Counsell expressed that Alzolay will seek a second opinion to determine the exact specifics of the operation. The 29-year-old has been out of action since May due to a flexor strain. Prior to the injury, Alzola struggled with a 4.67 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and a 6:13 BB:K ratio across 17 frames. The right-hander tallied 22 saves in the Northside last season but only four this season before suffering the injury. Currently, Alzola remains without a definite timetable for his return, but after the surgery, it is hard to picture him returning to the mound this summer. Fantasy managers should expect Hector Neris to continue to see the majority of save opportunities in Chicago.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adbert Alzolay (forearm) struck out each of the three batters he faced in his first rehab outing at the Arizona Complex League on July 19. Alzolay hit the 15-day injured list on May 13 after being diagnosed with a right forearm strain and was eventually moved to the 60-day injured list. The 29-year-old entered the season as the primary ninth-inning option on the Northside but struggled with a 4.67 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and a 6:13 BB:K ratio across 17 innings. Alzolay will likely need several rehab appearances before returning as he was sidelined for a significant amount of time and could reclaim a high-leverage role when he returns to the big leagues.
Adbert Alzolay Beginning Rehab Assignment, Julian Merryweather Could Return Soon
Chicago Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay (forearm) has been cleared to start a minor-league rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Friday. Meanwhile, right-hander Julian Merryweather (rib) is planning to make his fourth minor-league rehab appearance on Friday for Triple-A Iowa. If all goes well, manager Craig Counsell said that Merryweather will be activated from the injured list by next weekend "at the latest." Alzolay obviously won't be back as soon as Merryweather, but he's making progress after suffering a right flexor strain in mid-May. Both relievers should return to high-leverage, late-inning bullpen roles in Chicago when they are activated, with Alzolay potentially taking over closing duties from Hector Neris.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adbert Alzolay (forearm) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session at the team's spring training complex in Arizona on Friday. The right-hander continues to work his way back from a forearm strain that has sidelined him since the middle of May. Barring any setbacks, Alzolay could be ready to rejoin the Cubs bullpen before the end of July. He was struggling in the closer role before going down with this injury. It's uncertain if he'll be the primary ninth inning option once he returns.
Adbert Alzolay Throws Bullpen, Julian Merryweather Makes Rehab Appearance
Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Adbert Alzolay (forearm) threw 30 pitches in his bullpen session on Tuesday and checked out well. Meanwhile, reliever Julian Merryweather (ribs) threw 11 pitches in an inning of work in a minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday night. Both pitchers are making progress but aren't going to be an option to return to Chicago's bullpen until after next week's All-Star break. Alzolay had a career-high 22 saves in 2023 but went 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA, four saves and a 1.44 WHIP in 17 1/3 innings before landing on the injured list with a flexor strain in mid-May. Merryweather made just four appearances for the Cubs before suffering a rib stress fracture. When they return, they could both be options for saves in Chicago, along with veteran Hector Neris.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adbert Alzolay (forearm) has built back up to throwing bullpen sessions, per pitching coach Tommy Hottovy. Alzolay is "progressing well", and he will continue tossing bullpens for the time being before ramping up to facing hitters later in July. On the 60-day injured list with a right flexor strain, Alzolay is working toward becoming an option to rejoin Chicago's beleaguered bullpen sometime either in late July or early August following a minor-league rehab assignment that should begin sometime in the next couple of weeks. In 18 appearances this season, the 29-year-old right-hander has an uninspiring 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks, and six homers allowed in 17 1/3 innings and lost his closing job to veteran Hector Neris early in the year. Neris has saved 11 games for the Cubs in 2024, rattling off four consecutive scoreless appearances since June 22.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adbert Alzolay (forearm) will be shut down from throwing for at least two weeks, manager Craig Counsell said on Wednesday. No surprise here, as Alzolay has gone for a second opinion on his strained right flexor. The Cubs will follow a conservative treatment plan for the 29-year-old right-hander, and while surgery is not off the table, they'll know more after his down time. After posting a poor 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks, and six home runs allowed in 18 games over 17 1/3 innings out of Chicago's bullpen this year and getting removed from the closer's role, Alzolay looks like a drop in shallow fantasy leagues and a weak stash in deeper formats. Hector Neris owns a 2.50 ERA with six saves across 18 frames and is the current favorite for ninth-inning work in the Windy City.
