CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 05: A ball bag with the Chicago Cubs logo is seen on the field prior to the game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on April 05, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The Chicago Cubs have enjoyed a strong start to their season, but after a loss to the crosttown rival Chicago White Sox on Sunday, they face some questions as they prepare to take on another rival in the Milwaukee Brewers.
And in the midst of this key turn in the season, with their hopes of a deep playoff run growing closer, the team made some roster moves.
“The Cubs selected the contract of left-hander Ty Blach before Sunday’s finale, optioning right-hander Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa where they plan to stretch him out as a starter,” Andy Martinez wrote for the Chicago Tribune. “Right-hander Hunter Harvey was moved to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster for Blach. The team also claimed right-hander Christian Roa off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa. The corresponding move was transferring right-hander Riley Martin to the 60-day IL.”
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga
Mets’ Bo Bichette Offers 4-Word Response On New Lows After Blue Jays Exit
Chicago Cubs’ Former Depth Reliever Chase Watkins Ends Career At Age 26
Though the Cubs could use another frontline starter following some early-season injuries, the team is relatively set in the rotation and on the position player front. But, like virtually every contender, some changes will continue to come in the bullpen.
And as the team shuffled the fringes of its big-league roster, it received some surprising news about a former lower-level relief option as 26-year-old southpaw Chase Watkins suddenly retired on Sunday, per the official transactions log.
The Cubs selected Watkins in the ninth round of the 2021 draft and he persisted in the team’s farm system for four years, reaching the Triple-A affiliate for a single game last season. But he was released by the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate in late March and signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox shortly afterward.
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga
Yankees’ Aaron Judge Praises Brewers Star Amid Infield Doubts: ‘I Wish We Had Him’
Former Chicago Cubs Reliever Retires Shortly After Release Pushed Him To Join Rival
At the time, Watkins seemed optimistic that the move across town could help push him into the majors.
“Some of the teams that are doing really well at the big league level, it’s harder to break in,” the California native told Jim Seimas of the Santa Cruz Sentinel. “And the teams that aren’t doing as great might want to switch things up at the higher levels. They might be more inclined to give guys a chance and promote younger guys.”
But he appeared in just 19 innings for the White Sox, posting a 7.11 ERA, before his retirement became official on the transactions log.
The timing of his retirement and his relatively young age made the decision a surprise, but Watkins was struggling to find his groove on the mound. In his six years in the minor leagues, he posted a solid 3.66 ERA, but he gave up 15 earned runs in just a dozen games in Double-A for the White Sox.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com