Nov. 22: OF Harold Ramirez acquired from Cleveland for a cash consideration
The Cubs added some outfield depth with the acquisition of Ramirez, who was designated for assignment by the Guardians on Nov. 19. The right-handed-hitting outfielder posted a .268/.305/.398 line with seven homers, 21 doubles and 41 RBIs in 99 games for Cleveland last season. Ramirez had a .288/.333/.441 line against left-handed pitching and played all three outfield spots (49 games in left, 34 in right and 20 in center). In parts of three MLB seasons between Miami and Cleveland, Ramirez has turned in a 90 OPS+ (10 percent below MLB average) in 221 career games.
LHP Brailyn Marquez (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: Spring Training
Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Cubs'
No. 2 prospect, Márquez did not pitch in 2021 after missing time because of COVID-19 and then the shoulder strain. He is now in an offseason throwing program and is expected to be ready for Spring Training. With a fastball that cracks 100 mph, he could be in the big league picture in 2022.
(Last updated: Nov. 11)
INF David Bote (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: 2022
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer noted at the GM Meetings in Carlsbad, Calif., that Bote recently underwent surgery on his left shoulder. The Cubs estimate a six-month rehab process. On May 29, Bote separated the same shoulder, but returned from the injured list before the end of July. Overall, the 28-year-old Bote hit .199 with eight homers, 35 RBIs and a .606 OPS in 97 games for Chicago last season in an injury-marred campaign.
(Last updated: Nov. 11)
OF Jason Heyward (concussion)
Expected return: Spring Training
Prior to the end of the season, Heyward traveled with the team to Pittsburgh, where he saw a concussion specialist who helped formulate a rehab plan for the offseason. On Nov. 11, the team said Heyward is symptom-free. Heyward was inadvertently kneed in the head by Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford in a collision at third base on Sept. 11. Heyward is expected to be fine come Spring Training.
(Last updated: Nov. 11)
LHP Brad Wieck (irregular heartbeat)
Expected return: Spring Training
Wieck had a successful heart procedure on Aug. 31, and the Cubs said on Nov. 11 that he has been cleared for all activity. He is working out in Arizona and should be ready for Spring Training. The operation was similar to the cardiac ablation the reliever had done late in Spring Training 2020.
(Last updated: Nov. 11)
1B/OF Alfonso Rivas (right middle finger tendon)
Expected return: Spring Training
Rivas was placed on the IL on Sept. 21 with a finger injury. His rehab should conclude in December, and the club said Rivas should have a "normal offseason" after that. In 18 games for the Cubs in 2021, the 25-year-old Rivas hit .318 (14-for-44) with one homer, three RBIs and a .797 OPS. Rivas is
ranked No. 30 on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Cubs prospects list.
(Last updated: Nov. 11)
LHP Brendon Little (left elbow stress reaction)
Expected return: TBD
After one appearance in the Arizona Fall League, Little has been shut down from throwing for six weeks and will be evaluated after that. He posted a 3.24 ERA over 26 Minor League appearances in 2021, split between Triple-A and Double-A.
(Last updated: Nov. 11)
C Willson Contreras (right hip inflammation)
Expected return: 2022
Contreras tweaked his hip late in Chicago's Oct. 1 game in St. Louis and exited the next night's contest early with the same issue. For the final game of the season, the Cubs opted to shut down their two-time All-Star, but the setback is not considered serious. In 128 games this year, Contreras hit .237 with 21 homers, 57 RBIs and a .778 OPS. Contreras is expected to be ready to go come Spring Training.
(Last updated: Nov. 4)
INF Nico Hoerner (right oblique tightness)
Expected return: 2022
Hoerner was officially shut down on Oct. 1, ending an injury-marred 2021 campaign. In 44 games this past season, Hoerner hit .302 with a .752 OPS for the North Siders. The Cubs will be in the market for help up the middle this offseason, but Hoerner is currently the No. 1 option for shortstop. He could also be in the mix in '22 at second base or in the outfield.
"I was glad that I was able to get back on the field and do some stuff and play a little bit of shortstop," Hoerner said of playing a handful of games before the season-ending setback. "That felt good to do for sure. Now, the focus is on what I need to do this offseason and how that sets me up and sets the team up for next year. "
(Last updated: Nov. 4)
RHP Keegan Thompson (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2022
Thompson logged three impressive innings in a limited start on Sept. 26, ending with a career-high seven strikeouts with one run allowed against St. Louis. In the wake of that outing, however, the rookie developed shoulder soreness and the Cubs opted to shut him down for the rest of 2021. In 32 games (six starts) this season for Chicago, Thompson has a 3.38 ERA with 55 strikeouts against 31 walks in 53 1/3 innings. Thompson will be in the running for a rotation spot in Spring Training.
"I thought it was real good stuff he showed his last start," Cubs manager David Ross said at the end of the season. "To get him back to throwing the baseball the way we believe he can and going into the offseason with that confidence, I think [it] is huge for us and him."
(Last updated: Nov. 4)
RHP Manuel Rodríguez (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: 2022
In 20 appearances for Chicago this past season, the hard-throwing Rodríguez posted a 6.11 ERA with 16 strikeouts against 12 walks in 17 2/3 innings. Eight of the 12 earned runs he allowed in the Majors this year came within his last four outings (2 2/3 innings). A right shoulder issue ended his season prematurely, but the reliever is expected to be ready to go come Spring Training
(Last updated: Nov. 4)
OF Michael Hermosillo (left forearm soreness)
Expected return:
2022
Chicago opted to place Hermosillo on the 10-day IL prior to their Sept. 8 game against the Reds. Six days later, the club transferred him to the 60-day IL, ending his season. The outfielder traced the forearm setback to an awkward slide into home on Sept. 3 against the Pirates. The 26-year-old outfielder has hit .194 with three homers, seven RBIs and a .737 OPS in 16 games with the Cubs, but had a .905 OPS in a limited sample against lefties. If the Cubs hold on to Hermosillo through the offseason, he could compete for a bench outfield role for the '22 season.
"It's the type of injury to his forearm that's going to take a few weeks to heal," Cubs bench coach Andy Green said on Sept. 8. "It's really unfortunate because he was doing a lot of really, really good things for us."
(Last updated: Nov. 4)
2B Nick Madrigal (proximal tear of right hamstring)
Expected return: 2022
Prior to being dealt to the Cubs by the White Sox as part of the trade that sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the South Siders, Madrigal had season-ending surgery on his right hamstring. Madrigal joined the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sept. 10 for their weekend series against the Giants. The infielder met with the media on Sept. 11 and noted that he has been cleared to resume jogging and working through a running progression plan. Madrigal noted that medical experts have said he might feel 100 percent again by November, barring any setbacks. If everything goes according to plan, Madrigal could be the Cubs' Opening Day second baseman for '22.
"We have so much time," said Madrigal, who will continue his rehab in Arizona following the brief visit to Chicago. "There's really no rush right now. The ultimate goal is to be as strong and ready as possible in Spring Training. So, we're taking it kind of one day at a time."
On July 13, the White Sox announced that Madrigal "underwent successful surgery today to repair the proximal tendon tears in his right hamstring. The procedure was performed by Drs. Nik Verma and Shane Nho at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago."
(Last updated: Nov. 4)