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Jaxon Wiggins • SP • Cubs

Jaxon Wiggins Optioned to Minor-League Camp

Chicago Cubs right-handed pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins was sent to minor-league camp on Sunday afternoon. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect was given the opportunity to begin spring training with the MLB roster but will return to the minor leagues to continue his development. The 24-year-old was unlikely to begin the 2026 season in the major leagues, but should remain in the mix to join the Cubs later in the summer. In 2025, the former 2023 draft pick spent most of his time at High-A and Double-A before finishing the season with a short 9 2/3 inning stint at Triple-A Iowa. Across 68 1/3 innings at High-A and Double-A, Wiggins posted a stellar 1.84 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, with an 83:30 K:BB. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression at Triple-A, as he could be the first name called as an injury replacement.

Yesterday

Jonathon Long • 1B • Cubs

Jonathon Long Nearing Return to Baseball Activities

Chicago Cubs first base prospect Jonathon Long (elbow) is nearing a return to baseball activities, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Long has been sidelined with a bruised elbow but has avoided any structural damage and should be cleared to return to action in the coming days. Long is considered the team's No. 7-ranked prospect on MLB.com and one of the top hitting prospects in the system. The Long Beach State product joined the Cubs back in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Last summer, he spent his entire campaign at Triple-A Iowa and looked rather impressive. Across 140 games, Long held his own, posting a .305/.404/.479 line with 23 doubles, 20 home runs, and an .883 OPS. Given that Michael Busch is slated to be the everyday first baseman, Long will need to wait for an injury to be in the mix for his MLB debut.

Yesterday

Porter Hodge • RP • Cubs

Porter Hodge to be Placed on Injured List

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Porter Hodge (elbow) will begin the 2026 season on the injured list, according to manager Craig Counsell. Hodge has been diagnosed with a right flexor tendon strain and will be shut down from throwing for at least two weeks. That decision will end Hodge's chances of making the 26-man roster to start the season. Before the injury, Hodge wasn't helping himself with seven walks and yielding seven earned runs in two innings of Cactus League play. The 25-year-old posted excellent rookie numbers in 2024, but couldn't get anyone out last season. He was once viewed as a possible closing option in Chicago, but Daniel Palencia has run away with that job.

Yesterday

Matt Shaw • 3B • Cubs

Matt Shaw to Start Seeing More Time in the Outfield

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw will begin to play more outfield over the next two weeks in spring training, according to Bruce Levine of the Marquee Sports Network. Levine reported in mid-February that Shaw is expected to start in right field in Chicago this year against left-handed pitchers, with outfielder Seiya Suzuki moving to designated hitter on those days. The 24-year-old didn't exactly play well in his first exposure to big-league pitching in 2025, slashing .226/.295/.394 with a .690 OPS, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 437 plate appearances over 126 regular-season games. Shaw will be in more of a super-utility role in his sophomore season. The role won't help Shaw's case to rack up counting stats in fantasy, but it could make him more productive overall at the plate. Shaw's fantasy stock has fallen going into 2026, but he's still worth consideration as corner-infield depth late in drafts, and he should eventually have outfield eligibility.

6 days ago

Shelby Miller • RP • Cubs

Shelby Miller Officially Placed on 60-Day Injured List

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Shelby Miller (elbow) was officially placed on the 60-day injured list on Sunday. This was expected as Miller is recovering from UCL and flexor tendon surgery that he underwent in October. The right-hander signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Cubs over the offseason. The 35-year-old won't pitch in 2026, but the Cubs are hopeful Miller can contribute in 2027. The move to put Miller on the 60-day injured list opens up a 40-man roster spot. In a corresponding move, Ben Cowles has been claimed off waivers by the Cubs from the Toronto Blue Jays. The 26-year-old infielder is expected to serve as depth at Triple-A Iowa to begin the season.

Mar 1

Justin Steele • SP • Cubs

Justin Steele "Full-Go" on Throwing, Still Eyeing May or June Return

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) has been cleared for "full go" on throwing and is eyeing a return to the big-league mound in either May or June, per Jared Wyllys of CHGO Sports. Steele is making his way back from elbow surgery, which ended his 2025 campaign last April. In 2024, Steele pitched to a 5-5 record with a 3.07 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 135 strikeouts across 134 2/3 innings (24 starts). The 30-year-old left-hander owns a career K-BB rate of 17.1% and posted a WHIP of 1.17 or lower in both 2023 and 2024. Upon his return, Steele should be locked into a spot in the Cubs' rotation, which will provide him a chance to rack up wins. Depending on the league format, fantasy managers will have to gauge how long they are willing to hold Steele through the early portion of the season. Still, Steele should be a quality fantasy starting pitcher once he makes it back to the mound for Chicago.

Mar 1

Jonathon Long • 1B • Cubs

Jonathon Long Takes Swings on Tuesday, Progressing Through Injury

Chicago Cubs first base prospect Jonathon Long (elbow) took some swings on Tuesday, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. Long suffered this injury during a spring training contest over the week but appears to be progressing rather well. Cubs manager Craig Counsell also noted that is "soreness is dissipating." Montemurro also noted that while Long was expected to depart on Tuesday for the World Baseball Classic, he will instead depart the team on Friday to ensure he is fully healed. Last season, the former ninth-round pick spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Iowa and held a strong .304/.404/.479 slash line with 23 doubles, 20 home runs, and a 116:79 K:BB. If he continues this level of play, Long should be in the mix for a promotion within the first half.

Feb 25

Jameson Taillon • SP • Cubs

Jameson Taillon Can Be a Sneaky Late-Round Value

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon can be a nice depth addition late in mixed-league drafts, since his ADP (average draft position) is currently around 300. Taillon had a solid season overall last year, making 23 starts and going 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA. His 4.65 FIP was a little high, but he was able to work around some extra hard contact effectively last year. He is starting his 10th season in the majors and is 34 years old, so he's in a race against time to stay effective. He's proven that he can be effective even without a high strikeout rate, and with the Cubs' solid lineup, he should be a good source of wins as long as he secures one of the starting spots and stays healthy. He isn't a flashy late-round sleeper with a ton of upside, but the solid veteran brings a relatively high floor as a late-round option if you're looking for some stability.

Feb 24

Michael Conforto • LF • Cubs

Michael Conforto Joins Cubs

Free-agent outfielder Michael Conforto signed with the Chicago Cubs on a minor-league deal on Sunday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Conforto will have to prove himself in spring training to earn an Opening Day roster spot with Chicago, likely in a bench role. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed-hitting outfielder really struggled in 2025 with the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers, slashing .199/.305/.333 with 12 home runs in 486 plate appearances during the regular season. Conforto struck out 121 times in 138 games played and drove in only 36 runs. If he makes the roster, Conforto will most likely be an option against right-handed pitchers in right field if the Cubs want to give Seiya Suzuki a day off in the field. His xBA of .237 in 2025 suggests that he could bounce back in 2026, but he probably isn't going to see enough volume to be relevant in shallow mixed fantasy leagues.

Feb 23

Moisés Ballesteros • C • Cubs

Moises Ballesteros Officially Reports to Camp

Chicago Cubs catching prospect Moises Ballesteros officially reported to camp on Sunday. The young backstop had his start to the 2026 campaign delayed by visa issues, but was finally able to join the Cubs. The 22-year-old is expected to immediately begin the season in a lead role on the offense, likely serving as the primary designated hitter. Last season, Ballesteros made his MLB debut and held a solid .298/.394/.474 slash line with two doubles, one triple, and two home runs across a 20-game stint. At Triple-A, Ballesteros was one of the most productive hitters in the minor leagues, posting a .316/.385/.473 line with 29 doubles, 13 home runs, and a strong .858 OPS. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in camp and should view him as a solid C2 in all formats with the solid power upside. If he is able to fully claim the DH role, he could carry starting-caliber upside in standard leagues.

Feb 23

Jonathon Long • 1B • Cubs

Jonathon Long Exits With Left-Elbow Sprain

Chicago Cubs first baseman Jonathon Long (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's Cactus League matchup versus the Texas Rangers. Long suffered a left elbow sprain while attempting to make a catch at first base. The timetable for his injury is unknown right now, but Long is expected to miss some time. The expectation is that Long will make his MLB debut at some point in 2026. Last season, Long slashed .305/.404/.479 with 20 home runs and 91 RBI in 140 games at Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs have Michael Busch at first base, but Long could become a platoon partner at first base at some point. The 24-year-old figures to begin the season at Triple-A, but figures to see action in Chicago this season.

Feb 21

Shota Imanaga • SP • Cubs

Shota Imanaga Showing Increased Velocity With Better Health

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Thursday that left-hander Shota Imanaga is throwing his fastball harder this spring, which is mostly a "product of his hamstring being healthy," according to Bruce Levine of Marquee Sports Network. Counsell thinks Imanaga's hamstring injury last year "created some bad mechanical issues while the pitcher compensated for the injury." The 32-year-old Japanese southpaw was an All-Star in his first year in the U.S. in 2024, going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 174:28 K:BB in 29 starts (173 1/3 innings). Imanaga carried that over into the first half in 2025, posting a 2.65 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 12 starts before the All-Star break. After a hamstring injury caused him to miss two months, his ERA jumped ot 4.70 with a 1.04 WHIP in the second half. He was even worse in a small sample size in the playoffs, but now back to full health, Imanaga is a clear bounce-back candidate in fantasy.

Feb 19

Moisés Ballesteros • C • Cubs

Moises Ballesteros Should be in Camp This Weekend

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that designated hitter/catcher Moises Ballesteros should be in camp by Saturday or Sunday, according to Bruce Levine of Marquee Sports Network. Ballesteros is making his way through Colombia with visa issues. Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly are expected to split the catching duties in 2026, with Ballesteros serving as the team's primary DH against right-handed pitchers. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter made his major-league debut with the Cubs last year and appeared in only 20 games, going 17-for-57 (.298) with two home runs, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored. The fact that Ballesteros might not regain catching eligibility in fantasy is a major drawback, but his bat will play, and he could have 20-25-homer upside at the major-league level. At Triple-A Iowa in 2025, he slashed .316/.385/.473 with 13 home runs and just a 13.2% strikeout rate in 114 games.

Feb 19

Matthew Boyd • SP • Cubs

Matthew Boyd Could Be a Candidate to Regress in 2026

After signing in free agency on a modest two-year contract, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd entered 2025 profiling as a quality depth arm but little more. The 35-year-old instead delivered a career season, posting a 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 154 strikeouts across 179 2/3 innings pitched (31 starts). Still, a look under the hood at Boyd could reveal that he's a prime regression candidate in 2026. Across 68 innings after the All-Star break, Boyd posted a 4.63 ERA. Additionally, with a below-average 21.4% strikeout rate, Boyd is unlikely to provide significant help to fantasy managers in the strikeout category. The veteran lefty also remains a significant health risk, as 2025 was his first time throwing more than 78 2/3 innings in a season since 2019. Boyd has a spot in the Cubs' rotation, which gives him a chance to rack up wins as long as he can stay on the mound. However, fantasy managers may want to price in some regression back to career norms and health risk before targeting him in drafts.

Feb 19

Dansby Swanson • SS • Cubs

Dansby Swanson to Sacrifice Power for Contact This Year?

Marquee Sports Network's Bruce Levine says that Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson has a new approach at the plate this year and is going to "forsake some of the power for more contact," and he also mentioned that Swanson wants to hit the ball the other way more often. The 32-year-old veteran hasn't hit over .244 in any of his three seasons on the North Side, although he did clobber 24 homers (three off his career high) in 159 regular-season games in 2025. Swanson had his first 20-20 season in the big leagues last year, but he'd like to drop his strikeout rate, which has been at 25% in the last four years. Plate discipline hasn't been the issue, but rather making contact with hittable pitches inside the zone. Swanson has been good but not great for fantasy managers, and he ranks as RotoBaller's No. 16 shortstop. As long as he continues to run like he did last year, fantasy managers probably won't mind a little power trade-off for a higher average.

Feb 18

Kevin Alcántara • RF • Cubs

Kevin Alcantara a Good Bet to Make Opening Day Roster?

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that outfielder Kevin Alcantara has prepared well for a job coming into spring training, according to Bruce Levine of Marquee Sports Network. Alcantara said on Wednesday that he is confident in his ability and has matured while waiting for his chances. Additionally, the 23-year-old Dominican said he made swing adjustments in the offseason to find more consistency at the plate. In the last two years, Alcantara has only appeared in 13 major-league games with the Cubbies, going 5-for-21 (.238) with no homers, one RBI, one stolen base, one walk, and five strikeouts. He slashed .266/.349/.470 with 17 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and a 29.8% strikeout rate in 102 games at Triple-A Iowa in 2025. Alcantara has plus speed and raw power, but no clear path to playing time in Chicago in 2026. He also has minor-league options remaining, so starting in Iowa again is a possibility.

Feb 18

Dansby Swanson • SS • Cubs

Dansby Swanson Remains a Highly Projectable Shortstop Option Heading into 2026

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson may not be a standout fantasy producer in any one area, but he's been a remarkably consistent player since signing with Chicago heading into the 2023 season. Across 645 plate appearances in 2025, Swanson hit .244/.300/.417 with 24 home runs, 77 RBI, 84 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. Swanson carries a limited batting average ceiling. In 2025, he struck out in 26% of his plate appearances, in line with his career strikeout rate of 24.4%. However, he's hit at least 22 home runs in four out of his last five seasons and swiped at least 18 bases in three out of the last four years. Swanson is also locked in as the everyday shortstop in what profiles as an excellent Chicago lineup, so he should continue to rack up counting stats. He's topped 80 runs in all three of his seasons with the Cubs, and has collected at least 77 RBI in four out of his last five campaigns. Swanson is entering his age-32 season, which brings about some risk of age-related decline. Still, his steady track record and max-playing time profile should allow him to pay off his current average draft position of pick 142.

Feb 18

Seiya Suzuki • RF • Cubs

Seiya Suzuki to DH Against Lefties

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki is expected to serve as the designated hitter in 2026 when the team faces a left-handed pitcher, according to Bruce Levine of Marquee Sports Network. Moises Ballesteros will operate as the Cubs' primary DH when the team faces right-handers, but Suzuki will get a break from the outfield and serve as the DH against most southpaws. On days when Suzuki is the DH, Matt Shaw is expected to play right field. The 31-year-old Suzuki made 102 starts at DH last year and had career highs in home runs (32) and RBI (103) while slashing .245/.326/.478 with an .804 OPS in 151 regular-season games (651 plate appearances). Suzuki's altered approach to pull the ball in the air more often paid off for fantasy managers in 2025, although it came at the expense of batting average. Heading into a contract year in 2026, Suzuki should be considered a top-25 fantasy outfielder in a strong Cubs lineup.

Feb 17

Matt Shaw • 3B • Cubs

Matt Shaw Could be in Platoon in Right Field

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell told Bruce Levine that third baseman Matt Shaw is "definitely going to be getting a lot of time in the outfield" in 2026. When the Cubs face a left-handed pitcher, the expectation is that Shaw will be in right field, with Seiya Suzuki moving to designated hitter. After struggling with regular playing time at third base in his first taste of the big leagues in 2025, the 24-year-old Shaw figures to be in more of a utility role in Year 2. He hit just .226/.295/.394 with a .690 OPS, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 126 regular-season games over 437 plate appearances. After a demotion to Triple-A, Shaw rebounded at the plate for a bit before finishing cold in the postseason. The addition of Alex Bregman will make it tougher on Shaw's development, but he showed enough power/speed promise last year to be worth a late-round corner-infield investment in 2026 fantasy drafts.

Feb 17

Justin Steele • SP • Cubs

Justin Steele Targeting May or June Return

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) is targeting a May or June return to the majors, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. Steele has sidelined since undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery last April, but he resumed throwing less than one month ago. He's not ready to face live batters yet, but he has built up to throwing 30-pitch bullpens. He has thrown sliders in his last two bullpens and will begin throwing other secondary offerings soon, too. Steele was the ace of the Cubs' staff when he was fully healthy in 2024, putting together a 2.74 xERA with 9.02 K/9, 2.47 BB/9, and a 44.8% ground ball rate. It's unclear which rotation spot he'll slot into upon his return, as the Cubs' five current projected starters all had sub-3.75 ERAs last year. His track record should guarantee him an impact spot in the rotation, but the Cubs' depth will allow them to be patient so they won't have to rush him back.

Feb 17

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