Today is September 1 and thus MLB teams can expand rosters.
This is done differently now than in years gone by, when the entire 40-man roster could be recalled if teams wanted to do that. Now, teams can add just two players for a 28-man active roster.
And the Cubs have added right-handed reliever Tyler Ferguson and utility player B.J. Murray to the active roster.
Let’s talk about Murray first. He’s a native of the Bahamas but attended high school in Florida, from where the Cubs drafted him in the 15th
round in 2021. He’s played a lot of first base at Triple-A Iowa this year, likely why he’s being called up. The Cubs didn’t really have a right-handed first base backup for Michael Busch, and now they do. Murray has batted .294/.395/.500 with 16 home runs in 118 games for Iowa this year, by far his best minor league season.
He’ll be the second Bahamas native to play for the Cubs when he makes his debut. Shortstop Andre Rodgers played for the Cubs from 1961-64, and was the regular there for the last three of those seasons. The other native of the Bahamas currently active in MLB is Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees.
Murray will wear uniform No. 83.
Ferguson has a 3.45 ERA (6 ER/15.2 IP), 19 strikeouts, two walks and a 0.77 WHIP in 16 games with the Cubs this season. He was acquired from the Athletics on May 7 for cash considerations. All told in 2026, the righty has a 5.29 ERA (10 ER/17.0 IP) with 20 strikeouts, two walks and a .215 opponent batting average in 17 major league games between the two clubs. Ferguson has posted a 0-1 record with a 3.79 ERA (8 ER/19.0 IP) across 17 games with the I-Cubs since joining the organization
Murray needed to be added to the 40-man roster, while Ferguson was alreadyon it. There was one open spot following the DFA of Hoby Milner last week, so the 40-man roster is now full.
