FanSided

3 Chicago Cubs players on the chopping block with roster moves approaching

By Rich Eberwein |
Chicago Cubs v Texas Rangers
Chicago Cubs v Texas Rangers / Dylan Buell/GettyImages
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The Chicago Cubs will have a couple of key players returning from injury very soon in starting right fielder Seiya Suzuki and left-handed reliever Brandon Hughes. That means a couple of players will have to be sent to Iowa or designated for assignment to make room on the active roster. Here are the three weakest links on the roster who may be leaving Wrigley soon.

1. Nick Madrigal

There is an abundance of capable infielders on the Cubs' 26-man roster right now, and Nick Madrigal may be the odd man out. Other than cemented starters like shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner, playing time at first and third base is being split between Patrick Wisdom, Eric Hosmer, Edwin Rios, Trey Mancini, and Madrigal. As a natural second baseman who is struggling to transition to the hot corner, Madrigal has nowhere to play in this lineup with Hoerner locked in at second.

Madrigal's inability to hit for power does not help his case either as the lineup needs power, not contact. I would expect Madrigal to be the first guy sent back to Iowa when Seiya Suzuki is activated since he still has minor-league options available. The only thing that may keep him on the roster is his performance in the Rangers series over the weekend and a big stolen base in extra innings against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

2. Miles Mastrobouni

Miles Mastrobouni at Wrigley Field was a fun little undertaking while it lasted, but I think it is time for him to hit the road. Over an admittedly small sample size of 17 plate appearances, the 27-year-old utility man is slashing .176/.176/.412 with a wRC+ of 5. That is atrociously bad considering he is supposed to be a spark while Suzuki rehabs his way back to the team. Not to mention Mastrobouni arguably lost the second game of the season to the Milwaukee Brewers when he failed to make a dive for a bloop game-winning single in the 8th inning.

Suzuki is expected back any day now and Mastrobouni is not needed for outfield depth now that Nelson Velazquez is back and Christopher Morel is tearing it up in Iowa. I wish Mastrobouni all the best but he has simply not gelled with the Cubs and there are others who can help the team. A DFA could be on the horizon for Mastrobouni this week.

3. Julian Merryweather

After lighting up the radar gun in Spring Training, Julian Merryweather has not carried his dominant stature to the Majors. In 2.2 innings, the 31-year-old has surrendered 5 runs, 2 walks, and 6 hits. He is performing the worst of all the bullpen pitchers by far and if a pitcher needs to go down when Brandon Hughes returns, it will likely be Merryweather. But since Javier Assad was already sent back to Iowa, there is an open spot in the pen when Hughes gets activated meaning a position player will likely be the corresponding move. So Merryweather still has a chance to turn things around, but if he continues to struggle, his time at Wrigley will be short-lived.

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