Chicago Cubs Spring Training Roster Cuts: Live Updates

With the Chicago Cubs opening the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan on March 18 and 19, there will be plenty of focus on the roster cuts from the spring training roster over the next week.

As the Cubs trim their spring training roster, stay clicked on this page as this page will be updated with each cut made between now and Opening Day.

Chicago Cubs Spring Training Roster Cuts

In a round of cuts announced on March 7, the Cubs have optioned relief pitchers Ethan Roberts and Luke Little to Triple-A Iowa. Pitchers Phil Bickford, Chris Flexen, Ben Heller, Brooks Kriske, and Trevor Richards were optioned to minor-league camp. Position players Jonathan Long, James Triantos, Greg Allen, and Christian Franklin were also assigned to minor-league camp.

The name of note among those cuts was Little. Given the additions that the Cubs made to their bullpen this offseason, Little was not expected to be a part of the Opening Day roster. Little is working his way back from a left lat strain that ended his 2024 season prematurely. Once Little proves to be healthy, he likely will be among the up-and-down pitchers making the trips between Triple-A Iowa and the Major League level this season.

Bickford, Flexen, Heller, Kriske, and Richards were among the plethora of veteran pitchers the Cubs inked to a minor-league deal this offseason, Most veterans have opt-out clauses in their minor-league deals, so it remains to be see who will stick with the organization beyond spring training. Considering Flexen just signed with the Cubs, it would be a safe bet to assume he will stick with the organization to at least open the season.

There are no real surprises in terms of the position players. Triantos will be featured in the Spring Breakout game next week but his long-term future with the organization remains in question. Triantos could be a trade candidate at the deadline if the Cubs are in a position to dangle their top prospects in trade talks for win-now moves. If there is an injury to Michael Busch or Justin Turner at the Major League level, Long could get consideration due to the lack of first base depth the team has.