The Chicago Cubs made two additions to their 40-man roster on Wednesday, though one move drew far more attention than the other. In a trade finalized Wednesday night, the Cubs acquired emerging right-hander Edward Cabrera, sending top Cubs prospect and consensus No. 1 Owen Caissie to the Miami Marlins. Miami also received minor-league infielders Edgardo De Leon and Cristian Hernandez as part of the deal.
While negotiations for Cabrera dominated much of Wednesday, the Cubs also quietly added a less proven arm. Team transaction records and a social media announcement confirmed that Chicago claimed left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison off waivers from the rival White Sox. Rolison, 27, made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies last season and endured a challenging introduction, posting a 7.02 ERA while surrendering 55 hits and 11 home runs across 42 1/3 innings.
Rolison’s offseason has been marked by frequent movement. After being designated for assignment by Colorado, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash on Nov. 19, waived by Atlanta on Dec. 11, claimed by the White Sox the following day, and then released again on Dec. 23 before landing with the Cubs.
It remains to be seen whether Rolison’s journey has finally settled, but if it has, he will compete for one of the final pitching spots in spring training. With one minor-league option still available, the Cubs can keep him in the organization even if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster—provided they believe he’s worth a place on the 40-man roster.
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