Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have designated Trey Wingenter for assignment. (Source: Jesse Rogers on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Wingenter will lose his spot on the 40-man roster to clear a spot for Matt Thaiss. The 30-year-old posted a 9.72 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP in seven games last season.

The Cubs have designated Patrick Wisdom for assignment. (Source: Jesse Rogers on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Wisdom will lose his spot on the 40-man roster after the Cubs acquired Eli Morgan from the Guardians. The 33-year-old hit .171, with eight home runs, and 23 RBI in 75 games last season.

The Cubs have designated Adbert Alzolay for assignment. (Source: Cubs on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Alzolay will not be available to pitch next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. He could still draw interest on the waiver wire, but the Cubs will hope to pass him through waivers.

The Cubs have designated Brennen Davis for assignment. (Source: Cubs on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Davis will lose his spot on the 40-man roster to Owen Caissie. He was limited due to multiple injuries in 2024 and will likely start the season in the minors.

The Yankees have signed Cristian Hernandez to a minor-league contract. (Source: Gary Phillips on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Hernandez has not pitched above Double-A, so he will likely serve as depth option in the minors this season. He posted a 3.40 ERA over 42 innings with Double-A Reading last season.

The Rockies have claimed Jimmy Herget off waivers from the Cubs. (Source: Rockies Club Information on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Herget will now head to the Rockies to compete for a spot in their bullpen in 2025. He posted a 4.38 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in eight games last season.

The Cubs have claimed Rob Zastryzny off waivers from the Brewers. (Source: Maddie Lee on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Zastrynzy will join the Cubs and should compete for a spot in their bullpen heading into the 2025 season. He posted a 1.17 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP in nine games last season.

The Cubs have declined the mutual option on Drew Smyly. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Smyly posted a 3.84 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 50 games out of the Cubs' bullpen. The 35-year-old is now a free agent.

Cody Bellinger has picked up his $27.5 million option with the Cubs for the 2025 season. (Source: Kiley McDaniel on X)

Fantasy Impact: Bellinger will not hit free agency after hitting .266 with a 109 wRC+ in 2024. He will remain a fixture in the Cubs' lineup between first base and the outfield.

The Cubs announced that Nico Hoerner underwent flexor tendon surgery on his right arm. (Source: Meghan Montemurro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hoerner underwent the surgery earlier in October. He was still able to post one of the better seasons of his career including playing in a career-high 151 games and should be fully healthy heading into spring training.

Dansby Swanson is out of the starting lineup for the Cubs Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Swanson will head to the bench for the season finale with the Reds. Luis Vazquez will start at shortstop and bat ninth.

Luis Vazquez is in the starting lineup for the Cubs Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Vazquez will start at shortstop and bat ninth against the Reds. He is looking for his first hit of the season.

Kevin Alcantara is in the starting lineup for the Cubs Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Alcantara will start in right field and bat eighth against the Reds. He is hitting .143 in limited playing time this season.

Porter Hodge delivered a flawless inning in Saturday's 3-0 victory over the Reds, striking out one without allowing any hits, walks, or runs.

Fantasy Impact: This performance continues a season of strong relief appearances for Hodge, who boasts a 1.88 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (10.9 K/9) while keeping his walks low contributes significantly to his fantasy value, especially in formats that reward strikeouts and WHIP. Given his consistent performance and the metrics like a low BABIP (.189) and solid FIP (2.84), Hodge remains a reliable option for fantasy managers needing bullpen stability. His role in high-leverage situations could increase, making him even more valuable in leagues that count holds and saves.

Kyle Hendricks delivered a masterful performance, allowing just two hits and two walks over 7 1/3 scoreless innings as the Cubs blanked the Reds 3-0 on Saturday.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a bright spot in what has been a challenging season for Hendricks, who entered the game with a bloated 5.92 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. His ability to limit the Reds to minimal baserunners and keep them from scoring could hint at a return to form, but fantasy managers should remain cautious. Given his overall season struggles and a low strikeout rate of 6.0 K/9, Hendricks remains a risky play in all but the deepest of leagues. This performance might not be enough to suggest a significant turnaround, so it's wise to keep expectations tempered.

Jameson Taillon delivered a masterful performance, allowing no earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over seven innings in Friday's 1-0 win over the Reds.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a classic display of efficiency and control, enhancing his already solid season statistics. With a 3.27 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP now bolstered by this shutout performance, Taillon continues to assert himself as a reliable option in fantasy rotations. However, his modest strikeout rate of 6.8 K/9 remains a limitation for those in strikeout-heavy formats. Overall, Taillon's ability to limit walks and maintain a low BABIP suggests he can sustain this level of performance, making him a valuable asset down the stretch.

Michael Busch is in the starting lineup for the Cubs Friday.

Fantasy Impact: Busch will serve as the DH and bat fifth against the Reds. He is hitting .252, with 21 home runs, and 65 RBI this season.

Javier Assad struggled mightily in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Phillies, surrendering eight earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over just 4.1 innings.

Fantasy Impact: This performance was a stark departure from his otherwise steady season, where he maintained a 3.73 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP across 29 starts. The outing inflated his ERA and further exposed some underlying issues, notably his high FIP of 4.73, which suggests he might have been outperforming his actual pitching skills. Fantasy managers should be cautious, as his vulnerability in games like this could be a sign of regression, especially considering his relatively low strikeout rate of 7.6 K/9 and a modest strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.97. Moving forward, it might be wise to temper expectations and monitor his next few starts closely for signs of bounce-back or further decline.

Seiya Suzuki is out of the starting lineup for the Cubs Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Suzuki will head to the bench for a day of regular rest. Patrick Wisdom will serve as the DH and bat fifth against the Phillies.

The Cubs have optioned Miles Mastrobuoni to the Arizona Complex League. (Source: Taylor McGregor on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Mastrobuoni will continue to work at the Cubs' facility in Arizona over the next week. Kevin Alcantara was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.