Sunday, the Cubs swapped out Porter Hodge for Jordan Wicks in the bullpen. (That didn’t work out so well, either.)
They also announced the acquisition of Aaron Civale on waivers from the White Sox, with Tom Cosgrove designated for assignment, and there were multiple reports the team had signed Carlos Santana as a free agent.
Neither Civale nor Santana was added to the active roster Sunday, but both being in the organization by 11 a.m. CT today makes them postseason-eligible.
Today, Sept. 1, team rosters
can expand by two players, to 28. The limit on pitchers increases to 14, so functionally teams can add one pitcher and one position player.
Civale and Santana are being added to the 28-man active roster effective with today’s game. To make room for Santana on the 40-man roster, Ben Cowles was designated for assignment.
One further move was announced for Monday: outfielder Kevin Alcántara was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and outfielder Owen Caissie was optioned to Iowa. Caissie hit .208/.240/.375 (5-for-24) in 11 games in his first taste of Major League Baseball, including a home run. Alcántara, since he hits right-handed, could be more useful than Caissie in certain platoon situations, and could possibly give Pete Crow-Armstrong a day off every now and again vs. a left-handed starter.
Meanwhile, Civale will go to the bullpen for long relief (per Craig Counsell), and Santana, who is a switch-hitter, will likely be used as an occasional DH and/or first baseman.
There are your Sept. 1 roster moves. As always, we await developments.
