On Saturday morning, we wrote that the stars were aligning for Julian Merryweather to be designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs in the very near future, and as it turned out, that future date proved to be Saturday.
Brooks Kriske was promoted from Triple-A Iowa as the Cubs look to continue their trend of turning reclamation projects into effective relief pitchers at the Major League level. Kriske did see two innings of work during the Cubs' loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, pitching scoreless frames while giving up a hit and two walks.
Entering the season, the Cubs did not have much roster flexibility with their bullpen. Between veterans who could refuse an assignment or pitchers with no minor-league options remaining, there were gymnastics needed for the bullpen's roster management. With Merryweather being designated for assignment, that could make it easier for the Cubs to map out their bullpen once Shota Imanaga returns from injury and Ben Brown is potentially moved to the bullpen.
Changes may be coming to the Chicago Cubs' training staff after the season. The Cubs have had an unusual number of oblique injuries during the first two months of the season. An oblique injury has all but derailed Javier Assad's 2025 season, while Ian Happ and Porter Hodge each have suffered an oblique strain in recent weeks. Miguel Amaya is the latest player added to that list and will officially be placed on the IL before Sunday's game against the Reds.
Soft tissue injuries tend to be more frequent during the opening months of a Major League Baseball season, but the trend the Cubs are developing will need to be studied. If there is a flaw within their player development and training, it will need to be corrected sooner rather than later.
While Jordan Wicks likely doesn't have much of a future on the Chicago Cubs' Major League roster, he remains a cost-controllable starting pitcher who the Cubs can dangle in trade talks ahead of the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.
The Cubs' ability to do so may have taken a hit after Wicks' start with the Iowa Cubs on Sunday. After retiring the first batter of the game, Wicks limped off the field before facing another batter. An update was not provided on Wicks after the game.