Chicago Cubs Roster
- NL Central
- Stadium
- Wrigley Field
The Chicago Cubs signed free-agent right-hander Tyler Duffey as a non-roster invitee on Friday, according to a source. Duffey will compete for a bullpen job in spring training. He made 295 appearances for the Minnesota Twins over the last eight seasons, and the Cubs have a good track record with these types of free-agent relievers. The 32-year-old veteran has a good shot of making the Cubs bullpen out of spring training. Last year with Minnesota, he had a 4.91 ERA (4.79 FIP), 1.36 WHIP, two saves and 21.1 percent strikeout rate in 44 innings over 40 relief appearances. In eight major-league seasons, he has a 4.57 ERA (3.96 FIP), 1.29 WHIP and six saves in 475 innings. If Duffey makes the big-league club, he won't have much fantasy appeal, if any.
Free-agent catcher Luis Torrens signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Torrens spent the 2022 season with the Seattle Mariners and hit .225/.283/.298 with a .581 OPS, three home runs, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored in 166 plate appearances and 55 games. The 26-year-old will provide catching depth in Chicago behind Yan Gomes and Tucker Barnhart, but he won't be much of a fantasy option if he's on the big-league roster at any point. In his five-year big-league career, Torrens has a .226/.288/.354 slash line with a .642 OPS, 19 home runs, 75 RBI and 66 runs scored in 251 games played.
Chicago Cubs right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. Leiter was designated for assignment last week but will remain with the Cubs for now. The 31-year-old made 35 appearances (four starts) for Chicago in 2022, going 2-7 with a 3.99 ERA (4.29 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, a career-high three saves, 25 walks and 73 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings pitched. In three major-league seasons, he sports a 4.95 ERA (5.06 FIP), 1.35 WHIP, three saves and 22.4 percent strikeout rate. Leiter will serve as relief depth for the Cubs in 2023 and can be ignored in fantasy.
The Chicago Cubs claimed right-hander Julian Merryweather off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. Merryweather was designated for assignment by the Jays recently so that they could make room on the active roster for first baseman Brandon Belt, but the 31-year-old reliever didn't make it through waivers. In his third MLB season in 2022, Merryweather tossed a career-high 26 2/3 innings (26 appearances, one start) and had a career-worst 6.75 ERA (4.35 FIP), 1.42 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and seven walks for Toronto. An oblique strain may have been to blame for his poor performance last year, but the Cubs will be hoping he can bounce back with better health as bullpen depth.
Chicago Cubs first base prospect Matt Mervis will almost certainly begin 2023 at Triple-A Iowa after the team signed first basemen Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini this offseason. Hosmer will take the at-bats against right-handers and even some lefties, with Mancini also a prime candidate at designated hitter. Mervis hit 36 home runs across three minor-league levels in 2022 and is considered Chicago's No. 21 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. But if Hosmer continues to struggle and Mervis is playing well on the farm, the Cubs won't hesitate to make a move. The left-handed hitting Mervis could still be a decent stash in NL-only leagues to begin the year and should have a good shot at making his big-league debut in 2023.
