Cubs could quickly cut ties with forgotten late-season addition once Dansby Swanson returns

With rain throwing a wrinkle in the final week of the regular season for the Iowa Cubs, Dansby Swanson was with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, taking part in a simulated game before the team's victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Despite Swanson not having a minor-league rehab assignment after being sidelined with an oblique strain since the middle of August, the expectation remains that the veteran shortstop will be reinstated from the IL on Friday.

It's a pretty easy guess for who will be the odd-man out with Swanson making his return. While the roster expansion has led to B.J. Murray spending the month with the big-league club, it wouldn't make much sense for him to head back down to Iowa, considering their season is over on Sunday. At the very least, there is value for Murray remaining with the Cubs through the rest of the regular season, not to mention he gives Craig Counsell another option at first base if needed.

Dansby Swanson's return leaves Cubs with an obvious decision on forgotten roster addition

Instead, it seems likely that veteran infielder Gabriel Arias will be designated for assignment. In the immediate aftermath of Swanson's injury, the Cubs claimed Arias off waivers from the New York Mets. With Pedro Ramirez already on the roster and Matt Shaw returning, the expectation was that Arias wouldn't be used much.

That expectation has proved correct. Arias has only appeared in six games with the Cubs over the past month, and most of those appearances were as a late-inning replacement. To his credit, he's made the most of his limited playing time, considering he has three hits in his eight plate appearances with the Cubs.

While Arias' defense does give him value, it's not something that Cubs need on their roster, considering they already have Shaw and Ramirez. It would have been a tough sell to expect Arias to make the playoff roster, but that does lead to a larger question of who will take up a spot on the Cubs' bench during the playoffs.

Beyond the usual suspects of Ramirez, Shaw, Carson Kelly, Michael Conforto, and Tyrone Taylor, given the nature of the Wild Card series, chances are the Cubs will carry more position players than pitchers. Former Los Angeles Dodger World Series hero Justin Dean feels like a candidate to be on the roster, given the value he brings to the bench with his speed and ability to play all three outfield spots.

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