Cubs' Javier Assad: Option declined, but staying put
Rotowire
The Cubs declined Assad's $3.3 million club option for 2027 on Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Assad remains in the organization and is arbitration eligible, so the Cubs will simply look to bring him back at a lesser salary. The 29-year-old swingman gave the Cubs solid work again this season, posting a 3.63 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 63:27 K:BB over 94.1 innings covering 11 starts and 17 relief outings.
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Cubs' Tyler Austin: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
Austin (knee) was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.
Austin underwent right knee surgery in March, though it's currently unclear where he's at in his rehab. He'll remain with the organization but is no longer a member of the 40-man roster following Monday's transaction.
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Cubs' Eric Orze: Goes to Cubs in waiver claim
Rotowire
The Cubs claimed Orze off waivers from the Twins on Monday.
Orze made 36 appearances for the Twins this season, collecting a 5.66 ERA and 36:21 K:BB over 41.1 innings of work. The 29-year-old is out of minor-league options, so he would have to be exposed to waivers again if the Cubs try to send him to the minors.
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Cubs' Jacob Webb: Re-signs with Cubs for one year
Rotowire
The Cubs re-signed Webb to a one-year, $2 million contract with a $4 million club option (or $500,000 buyout) for 2028 on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Though he was miscast as a high-leverage reliever, Webb provided the Cubs with some good work in 2026, posting a 3.36 ERA and 73:25 K:BB over 67 innings while notching nine saves. He could fill more of a middle relief role in 2027 if the Cubs are able to land upgrades from outside the organization.
Gausman took the loss after giving up three runs on five hits and no walks across 3.1 innings during Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Wednesday. He struck out one.
The veteran right-hander surrendered two runs during the second inning and was pulled with one out in the fourth after allowing a double to Xander Bogaerts, who later came around to score on Gavin Sheets' two-run homer. Gausman finished the regular season pitching well with two runs allowed over exactly 5.2 frames in each of his last two starts, but his overall performance for the Cubs after being acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline was underwhelming. Including the playoff start, he pitched in 10 games for Chicago and had a 5.03 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 58:11 K:BB across 53.2 innings. Gausman heads into free agency this winter after posting a 4.51 ERA in 32 regular-season starts in 2026, which is his worst mark since 2019.
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