The Cubs are gearing up for their March 18 opener in Japan and need to get their roster finalized before most other teams. As part of that, the Cubs made their first cuts on Saturday and sent five pitchers to minor league camp. One of them was Cody Poteet, the guy we got in the Cody Bellinger trade, so he won’t break camp with the big club.
The Players Cut from Cubs’ Major League Camp
According to Bleacher Nation‘s Brett Taylor, the Cubs sent the following five pitchers to minor league camp on Saturday:
- Caleb Kilian
- Cody Poteet
- Jack Neely
- Gavin Hollowell
- Riley Martin
None of these moves are a surprise. Riley Martin hasn’t entered his options years yet so he was always going to the minor league. The other four—Kilian, Poteet, Neely, and Hollowell—are all on the 40-man roster with options so the Cubs can send them down without exposing them to waivers.
Why Cody Poteet’s Cut Stands Out?
Poteet, acquired in the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Dodgers, won’t make the team out of camp this spring. A 4th round pick in 2015, Poteet took his time getting to the bigs, debuting in 2021 as a starter. He moved to relief in 2022 and then had Tommy John surgery soon after and missed all of 2023.
He’s back in 2024 with the Yankees and has a 2.22 ERA and 188 ERA+ in 5 appearances (4 starts). Despite his solid season last year the Cubs view him as AAA depth for now. Taylor says Poteet will be in the Iowa rotation and will be ready to fill in if the big team gets hit with injuries.
Caleb Kilian: Still Seen as Starting Depth
Caleb Kilian, once a top prospect, is headed to Triple-A. Despite being out of options, the Cubs aren’t considering converting him to the bullpen. He’ll be starting depth, waiting in the wings in case of injury or need.
Jack Neely and Gavin Hollowell: Future Bullpen Pieces
Jack Neely and Gavin Hollowell are the Cubs’ top relief prospects. Both will be in the mix later this season or beyond as veteran arms depart next offseason. For now they’ll keep developing in the minors, getting occasional call-ups to the bigs until they can stick for an extended period.
What This Means for the Roster?
Narrowing Down the Active Roster
These moves mean the Cubs are focusing on their Opening Day roster. With just weeks until the Japan opener, they’re prioritizing players who can help now and keeping developmental pieces like Neely and Hollowell around for spot duty.
Starting Rotation and Bullpen Clarification
The Cubs keeping Poteet and Kilian in the minors means they like their current rotation and bullpen depth. But both are insurance policies in case of injuries during the long MLB season.
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