This is a transaction you did not expect to read about.
The Cubs have made a waiver claim on infielder Ben Cowles. This transaction fills the 40-man roster, for now.
Cowles came to the Cubs, along with Jack
Neely, in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade July 30, 2024. Neely pitched in six games for the Cubs in 2024, but Cowles never appeared in the majors for the Cubs before he was designated for assignment Sept. 1, 2025, when the Cubs claimed and activated Aaron Civale — ironically, from the White Sox.
Cowles played in 15 games for Triple-A Charlotte in the White Sox system last year after the deal, and the Sox DFA’d him last week when they claimed catcher Drew Romo on waivers from the Mets.
This isn’t the sort of deal that makes any real waves in the organization and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cowles DFA’d again before the 2026 season begins. If nothing else, he’ll be around to play some Spring Training games while some Cubs regulars are off playing in the World Baseball Classic.
Cowles turns 26 next month and batted .238/.304/.382 with nine home runs at Triple-A Iowa last year. It could be he winds up as roster depth at Iowa again.
In any case, again (for now), the Cubs’ 40-man roster is full.
