The Cubs selected the contract of RHP Brad Keller from Triple-A Iowa.

Fantasy Impact: Keller earned a spot in the Cubs Opening Day bullpen.

The Cubs designated Cody Poteet for assignment. (Source: Jesse Rogers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Poteet was acquired from the Yankees in the Cody Bellinger trade. He'll hit the waiver wire on Opening Day.

Jameson Taillon will make his first start of the season on Friday against the Diamondbacks. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Taillon will follow Justin Steele and start ahead of Shota Imanaga, who already made his first start of the season against the Dodgers in Japan. Taillon will take the mound for game two of this weekend's four-game series.

The Cubs placed Tyson Miller on the 15-day IL Tuesday due to a left hip impingement, per team updates, sidelining the reliever. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Miller’s 2.15 ERA and 42:10 K:BB in 50.1 innings last year set him for middle relief, but Tuesday’s IL move delays his 2025 start, eligible for April 5 return pending readiness. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues should stash him, banking on his arm for value in Chicago’s bullpen once he’s back healthy.

The Cubs outrighted Keegan Thompson to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, per team updates, after he cleared waivers post-DFA and stays with the organization. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Thompson’s versatility as a starter and reliever lands him in Iowa Tuesday, role TBD, after going unclaimed off waivers from the Cubs’ DFA. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues should stash him, banking on his dual experience for a potential 2025 call-up to Chicago’s staff if he excels in either capacity at Triple-A.

Colin Rea will start the season in relief after Ben Brown was named the Cubs’ No. 5 starter Tuesday, per team updates. (Source: Sahadev Sharma)

Fantasy Impact: Rea’s edge for the Cubs’ rotation faded Tuesday with Brown’s nod over Javier Assad’s oblique absence, post-Jordan Wicks’ Triple-A Iowa option, despite Rea’s 4.29 ERA in 167.2 innings last year with Milwaukee. Fantasy managers in deep leagues might stash him, banking on spot starts for limited 2025 value in Chicago’s staff.

The Cubs confirmed Tuesday that Ben Brown will open the season as the No. 5 starter, per team updates, after a solid spring showing. (Source: Sahadev Sharma)

Fantasy Impact: Brown’s 3 runs (2 earned) in 2.2 relief innings in Japan last week, atop a 3.58 ERA and 64:19 K:BB in 55.1 rookie innings last year, secure his Cubs rotation spot Tuesday, though Javier Assad’s return looms. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should roster him, banking on early value in Chicago’s 2025 rotation.

Vidal Brujan may require a 10-day IL stint due to a right elbow injury from a weekend wall collision, per team updates Tuesday. (Source: Sahadev Sharma)

Fantasy Impact: Brujan’s right elbow, banged up over the weekend chasing a catch, might delay his utility role with the Cubs Tuesday, with the injury lingering. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues should stash him, banking on his versatility for spot value in Chicago’s 2025 lineup once he’s back and healthy from this potential short-term setback.

Nico Hoerner (forearm) will start at second base and bat sixth in Tuesday’s exhibition against Atlanta, per team updates, nearing full readiness. (Source: Chicago Cubs)

Fantasy Impact: Hoerner’s 1-for-6 in 3 of the Cubs’ last 5 spring games, post-October flexor tendon surgery, sets him for an everyday role in Arizona this week after missing Tokyo’s opener versus the Dodgers, where Jon Berti filled in. Fantasy managers in all leagues should roster him, banking on his skills for value in Chicago’s 2025 lineup.

Shota Imanaga is under the weather and could throw an extended bullpen session in place of exhibition start. (Source: Mark Gonzales on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Imanaga is one of a few Cubs under the weather in their return from Japan. He is expected to pitch the third game of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Justin Steele will start the Cubs’ domestic opener March 27 in Arizona, per team updates, following his Tokyo Series outing against the Dodgers this week. (Source: Paul Sullivan)

Fantasy Impact: Steele’s 5 runs over 4 innings in Tokyo’s second game versus the Dodgers this week precede his March 27 start in Arizona, ahead of Jameson Taillon, for the Cubs’ home opener. The 29-year-old leads off. Fantasy managers in all leagues should roster him, banking on his arm for strong value in Chicago’s 2025 rotation if he sharpens post-Tokyo.

The Cubs released Nicky Lopez on Friday, per team updates, after he requested freedom upon learning he’d miss their domestic opener roster next week. (Source: Jon Heyman)

Fantasy Impact: Lopez’s release Friday from the Cubs, after being excluded from their domestic opener lineup, sets the veteran infielder loose to join a new team. The 30-year-old’s next stop is TBD. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues might stash him, hoping his versatile glove and contact skills land him a utility role elsewhere, offering spot value in 2025 if he signs soon.

The Cubs sent Eli Morgan to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, per team updates, after he pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in Tokyo against the Dodgers this week. (Source: Ryan Herrera)

Fantasy Impact: Morgan’s 1.1 scoreless innings in Tokyo versus the Dodgers couldn’t secure his spot for the Cubs’ domestic opener, landing him in Iowa Thursday post-trade from the Guardians. The righty’s MLB bid pauses. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues should stash him, expecting the 28-year-old’s arm to push for a midseason call-up if Chicago needs bullpen help in 2025.

The Cubs sent Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, per team updates, after he joined but didn’t pitch in their Tokyo series against the Dodgers. (Source: Ryan Herrera)

Fantasy Impact: Wicks, part of the Cubs’ Tokyo roster versus the Dodgers, misses the domestic opener cut Thursday, heading to Iowa’s rotation as Colin Rea locks in the fifth spot. The lefty’s MLB wait continues. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues should stash him, expecting the 25-year-old’s arm to earn a midseason call-up if Chicago needs rotation depth in 2025.

Matt Shaw is batting fifth and playing third base Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first game of the 2025 Tokyo Series. (Source: Chicago Cubs on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It's a great sign for fantasy managers who drafted Shaw, the Chicago Cubs' No. 1 prospect, to see him hit in the heart of the order in the first game of the season. He has 25-homer/25-steal potential and posted a .303/.384/.522 slash line in 159 minor league games.

The Cubs have optioned Daniel Palencia to Triple-A Iowa. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Palencia posted a 5.06 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in five games this spring. The 25-year-old provide depth for the Cubs in the minors.

Travis Jankowski signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on Wednesday, including a spring training invitation, per team reports. (Source: Chicago White Sox)

Fantasy Impact: Jankowski, dropped by the Cubs to minors Sunday and likely freed up, lands with a White Sox team thin in the outfield—Andrew Benintendi and Austin Slater iffy—boosting his Opening Day odds after a .200/.266/.242 line, one homer, and 11 steals in 207 plate appearances with the Rangers in 2024. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues can eye his speed; he’s a sneaky bench stash.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced that Gage Workman has made the travel roster to Japan. (Source: Maddie Lee on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Workman will head to Japan with the Cubs to open the season against the Dodgers. The 25-year-old turned in an excellent spring, posting a .385 average, three home runs, 11 RBI, and one stolen base in 12 games.

The Cubs have reassigned Moises Ballesteros to minor-league camp. (Source: Maddie Lee on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ballesteros posted a .333 average, with one home run, and two RBI in 15 at-bats this spring. The 21-year-old will continue to develop in the minors.

The Cubs have reassigned Cade Horton to minor-league camp. (Source: Maddie Lee on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Horton allowed one run in one inning during his lone spring appearance. He posted a 4.46 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in nine games in the minors last season.