The Cubs officially announced their signing of right-hander Shelby Miller today, and in a corresponding move designated infielder Ben Cowles for assignment.
Cowles, who celebrates his 26th birthday today, has not yet made his MLB debut. He was a tenth-round pick by the Yankees back in 2021 and climbed his way through the minors before being traded alongside right-hander Jack Neely to the Cubs in exchange for right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. at the 2024 trade deadline. Cowles was injured at the time of the trade and appeared in just four games with the Cubs organization that year, but was promoted to Triple-A headed into the 2025 season.
His age-25 campaign wasn’t anything to get excited about. Cowles hit a middling .238/.304/.382 in 462 trips to the plate with the Iowa Cubs, with nine homers and 16 steals while playing mostly shortstop and also getting occasional reps at second and third base. He was designated for assignment by the Cubs in September to make room for Carlos Santana on the 40-man roster, and was claimed by the crosstown rival White Sox shortly thereafter. Cowles appeared in just 15 games for the team’s Triple-A affiliate down the stretch and was DFA’d once again in January to make room for Munetaka Murakami on the 40-man roster.
That allowed the Cubs to reclaim him, and while he doesn’t have a clear path to a bench role in the majors at this point given the presence of Matt Shaw on the roster, it wouldn’t have been a shock to see him make his big league debut in a bench role for Chicago at some point this year in the event of an injury somewhere on the big league club. Now, however, Chicago will have one week to either trade Cowles to try to pass him through waivers. If he gets through waivers unclaimed successfully, he’ll be assigned outright to Triple-A and serve as non-roster depth for the Cubs going into the season. Should he be claimed, he’ll join the claiming team’s 40-man roster and depart the organization for the second time in the past six months.
Even without Cowles, the Cubs have decent infield depth behind Shaw for a bench role if needed. Scott Kingery and Owen Miller are veterans who joined the organization on minor league deals this winter, while prospects James Triantos, B.J. Murray, and Pedro Martinez all figure to start the year at Triple-A but could be depth options for the Cubs at some point this year if a need should arise.
On his birthday
I remember in 2016, Almora got sent down the day after he got married to his pregnant GF. Timing for those moves is never good.
OK, Jack Suwinski and Ben Cowles are at least siblings. Their pictures are eerily similar.
“Happy birthday Ben, Now get out!”
Happy new year to you too. In jail!!
I just don’t see it with Shelby Miller am I missing something
Youre not missing something the way Shelby Miller is not missing bats
What I don’t see is why Miller didn’t just go immediately to the 60 IL. He’s not going to pitch this year most likely. Maybe it can’t be done that way? But seems to me it has been done.
You are correct. That is not allowed.
If Cowles clears waivers, they don’t necessarily need to outright him. They can add him back to the 40-man if they choose.
I really doubt they re-add him to the 40 man roster for no benefit. He costs less in-season as a non-roster player, in almost every instance.
Instead, they’d probably start placing claims on players, like teams do.
The article of Miller signing explained, by rule, that he needed to be on the 40 man before being eligible to go on the IL.
He definitely will go on the 60 day, thus creating an opening on the 40 man.
I think the best news of this is that the Cubs had the option, when spring training began to put Justin Steele on the 60 day creating an opening on the 40 man.
If the Cubs think the timeline was June for Steele to return there would be no issue in putting him on the list to create a roster opening.
This could signify that he is ahead of schedule and could be ready to be back during the first two months.
Outfielder resume
Play all 3 positions well
Work the count
Can hit and run
Some power
Last 2 years hit about 250
Asking for 2.5 to 3 million
Where are you Jeb and Carter?
I really hate it here. So many bonehead comments. How is this scrub gonna help you win anything?
My name is Mike Tauchman
Can Tauchman really play CF any more? Even in 2024 he was a little shaky at times in CF.
Go to bed.
Just bring Tauchman back!
….is what a bad team does.
Weird comment considering Tauchman played great for Cubs
So did Frank Schwindel. What’s your point?
Cubs need a 4th outfielder not a 1st baseman go back to BN
Decent infield depth behind Shaw? That list sucks!