The Cubs announced the eighth round of spring roster cuts on Sunday afternoon. LHP Tsuyoshi Wada asked for and was granted his release from the organization. Wada was in camp on a non-roster invitation that was agreed upon when he signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in the off-season.
Tsuyoshi Wada did not look good while in camp and his release should not come as a surprise. Wada appeared in three Cactus League games with one start and allowed seven runs on 10 hits with five walks and seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings (11.12 ERA, 2.65 WHIP).
The Cubs spring roster officially stands at 35 players.
With Tsuyoshi Wada no longer an option, the fifth spot in the rotation is down to Carlos Villanueva and Chris Rusin. And depending on what direction the team goes with the fifth spot in the rotation, the Cubs will have either two spots or three spots to fill in the bullpen. Hector Rondon, Justin Grimm and Alberto Cabrera remain in the mix for the last spots in the pen. If the Cubs decided Rusin is the better option for the rotation, Villanueva will begin the season in the pen and leave only two open spots in the bullpen to go along with Jose Veras, Pedro Strop, James Russell and Wesley Wright.
Spring Roster Moves
Optioned to the Minors
- Arismendy Alcantara, IF (Triple-A)
- Logan Watkins, IF (Triple-A)
- Matt Szczur, OF (Triple-A)
- Dallas Beeler, RHP (Triple-A)
- Jorge Soler, OF (Double-A)
- Arodys Vizcaino, RHP (Triple-A)
- Brett Jackson, OF (Triple-A)
- Josh Vitters, OF/IF (Triple-A)
- Zac Rosscup, LHP (Triple-A)
- Christian Villanueva, 3B (Triple-A)
- Blake Parker, RHP (Triple-A)
- Neil Ramirez, RHP (Triple-A)
Reassigned to Minor League Camp
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Albert Almora, OF
- Carlos Pimentel, RHP
- Jeudy Valdez, IF
- Marcus Hatley, RHP
- Eric Jokisch, LHP
- Kyle Hendricks, RHP
- Rafael Lopez, C
- Armando Rivero, RHP
- Mitch Maier, OF
- Tommy Hottovy, LHP
- Javier Baez, IF
- Brian Schlitter, RHP
- Jonathan Sanchez, LHP
- Chang-Yong Lim, RHP
- Chris Valaika, IF
- Casper Wells, OF
Released
- Aaron Cunningham, OF
- Tsuyoshi Wada, LHP