The Chicago Cubs had a pretty decent Saturday. A walk off win at Wrigley, a series all tied up against the Giants, and somewhere in the middle of all that excitement — a quiet but interesting roster move that flew completely under the radar.
Because the Cubs front office never really stops working. Even on game day.
The Walk Off First — Because It Deserves A Mention
Before we get into the roster news, let’s take a second to appreciate what happened on the field. Michael Busch with a game winning RBI single in the tenth inning, scoring Dansby Swanson to seal a 3-2 victory and give Chicago their MLB leading eighth walk off win of the season.
Eight walk off wins. Nobody in baseball has more. Whatever you think about where this Cubs team is right now, they clearly know how to find ways to win tight games when it matters.
The Signing Nobody Was Talking About
While all that drama was unfolding at Wrigley, news quietly dropped that the Cubs had signed right handed pitcher Andrew Wantz and sent him down to the Iowa Cubs in Triple-A.
Wantz was designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays last month after appearing in just one game for them this season. Before Tampa Bay, he spent the first four years of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels — going 5-1 with a 3.88 ERA across 91 games. Solid, reliable bullpen numbers from a pitcher who knows his way around a big league mound.
At 30 years old and with five years of MLB experience under his belt, Wantz isn’t exactly a project. He’s a known quantity — a right handed arm with a proven track record who just needs a fresh start and a proper opportunity.
Why This Move Makes Sense For Chicago
With Jameson Taillon heading to the IL and the rotation already under pressure, having experienced pitching depth in Triple-A is exactly the kind of quiet insurance policy that smart front offices put in place. If Wantz performs well in Iowa he could absolutely find himself in a Cubs uniform at the big league level before the season is out.
It’s the Jed Hoyer way — low risk, high potential reward, barely makes the news cycle. And yet these are exactly the moves that end up mattering when September rolls around and rosters expand.
Where The Cubs Stand Right Now
At 34-31 through 65 games Chicago sit fourth in the National League Central — a .500 team hovering right on the edge of contention without ever quite committing to either direction. They’ve gone 5-5 over their last ten games, which is fine but not the kind of form that separates contenders from pretenders.
One more game against the Giants before heading out to Colorado for a series with the Rockies starting Tuesday night in Denver. A chance to build some momentum on the road — something this team has occasionally struggled with despite their impressive 20-14 home record.
The Wantz signing won’t make headlines. But in a long baseball season the depth moves made in early June have a funny habit of becoming really important by October. ⚾🔥
