Up to now, everything you’ve read here about the Cubs’ Trade Deadline deals has been basic facts about the players themselves and what the Cubs gave up for them.
Let’s do a bit of next-day analysis.
Before I get to what roster changes are likely coming, here’s some analysis of the Cubs deals from Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic, who wrote that the Cubs were a “winner”:
Coming out of the All-Star break, the Cubs’ rotation lined up like this: Colin Rea, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon
and David Peterson. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer overhauled that group ahead of the trade deadline, adding a pair of two-time All-Star right-handers, Clay Holmes and Kevin Gausman, and lefty Braxton Garrett. The Cubs, who also have Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown on the injured list, should be able to flex some of their surplus starters into relief roles in the postseason.
Tyrone Taylor is another rangy outfield option for the Cubs, but he also has hit left-handed pitching well this season, which could come in handy in October. All of that adding came at a significant cost to the Cubs’ farm system. The departure of Jefferson Rojas, in particular, will sting. But the major-league roster is undeniably better because of it, and, in the midst of a division race, that matters most.
I concur with this. As I’ve noted elsewhere, my grade for this is a solid “B”.
Where will these players fit in and what roster moves need to be made to add them?
First, the Cubs announced all these trades by press release Monday. Let’s look at them in chronological order.
Gausman and Garrett were added to the 40-man roster and it was full. Garrett was then optioned to Triple-A Iowa, where he’s likely to stay the rest of the year. He’s coming off Tommy John surgery and is likely a project for 2027.
Zeferjahn was acquired, in part, for Moisés Ballesteros, so that deleted one player (Ballesteros) from the 40-man and added one (Zeferjahn).
When Holmes and Taylor were added, Luke Little was designated for assignment.
Looking at the Cubs’ 40-man roster as of this morning, there appear to be 41 players listed (excluding guys on the 60-day IL).
So what’s going to happen here?
Gausman hasn’t officially been announced as the starter for Thursday, but that seems likely. He doesn’t have to be added to the 26-man active roster until then, and at that point I would think that Jake Woodford will be designated for assignment, opening a slot on the active roster and also the 40-man, reducing it to 40.
When Taylor is activated, Kevin Alcántara should be headed back to Iowa. I’m happy for Alcántara hitting his first MLB home run on Monday.
Holmes and Zeferjahn likely replace Tyler Ferguson and Antoine Kelly on the active roster. Both Kelly and Ferguson have options remaining so they’ll both be sent to Iowa.
What isn’t clear at this point is whether Holmes will be used as a starter — which he’s been for the Mets the last two years — or in relief. Holmes was the Yankees closer from 2022-24 and did a decent job, posting a 2.84 ERA over 195 appearances, with 74 saves in 89 opportunities (13 of the blown saves were in 2024).
Thus after all of these deals and moves, the active roster should settle this way (before anyone returns from the injured list):
Catchers (2): Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly
Infielders (6): Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Pedro Ramirez, James Triantos
Outfielders (5): Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Tyrone Taylor, Michael Conforto
Starting pitchers (5): Javier Assad, Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, Shōta Imanaga, David Peterson
Relief pitchers (8): Aaron Civale, Clay Holmes, Colin Rea, Ryan Rolison, Caleb Thielbar, Trent Thornton, Jacob Webb, Ryan Zeferjahn
If Holmes is used in the rotation, then Assad would likely go to the bullpen.
Or it could be different! If you have other roster ideas, let us know in the comments.
