Cubs make Jon Berti the scapegoat as roster shake-up brings big returns

Cubs finally get crucial roster pieces back in playoff push
Washington Nationals v Chicago Cubs
Washington Nationals v Chicago Cubs | Matt Dirksen/GettyImages

Jon Berti's lasting image in a Chicago Cubs uniform will be his failed stolen base attempt during the Chicago Cubs' loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night. In a flurry of roster moves announced before their three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cubs announced that Berti has been designated for assignment. Berti's DFA opened a spot on the Cubs' 40-man roster, which was needed as both Miguel Amaya and Javier Assad were activated off the 60-day IL.

In making room for Assad on the 26-man roster, Nate Pearson was optioned back to Triple-A Iowa.

While Ben Brown was the original scheduled starter for tonight's game against the Blue Jays, Assad is now expected to start tonight's game. For Assad, it will be his 2025 debut after being sidelined since the start of the 2025 season with an oblique injury.

Assad was a key piece to the Cubs' rotation last season, posting an ERA of 3.73 through 147 innings pitched. With Michael Soroka landing on the IL, that has placed importance on Assad's return to the Major League pitching staff. With Assad starting on Tuesday night, the assumption is that Ben Brown will be serving in a bulk role in the bullpen.

Cubs target Jon Berti in roster purge to bring back major reinforcements

An oblique injury has had Amaya sidelined since the last week of May. Before the injury, Amaya was one of the early success stories of the Cubs' season, posting a 126 wRC+ through his first 100 plate appearances. As Amaya works his way back, the Cubs are moving forward with having three catchers on their Major League roster. For now, Reese McGuire remains a part of the Cubs' bench. As Amaya shakes off the rust, it will be curious if McGuire remains on the roster. Moises Ballesteros would seem like a clear candidate to get a bench spot over the veteran catcher, considering the offensive upside.

The Cubs' decision to move on from Berti once again speaks to the failed approach Jed Hoyer has to constructing a bench. Vidal Bruján's failed experiment was confirmed before the trade deadline, and Berti's 42 wRC+ left a lot to be desired this season.

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