On March 12, the Chicago Cubs announced another wave of “roster cuts”, or trimming of the number of players in big league camp during Spring Training. James Triantos, Pedro Ramirez, and Jaxon Wiggins highlighted players “cut” in the previous wave, and this time around three players from the 40-man roster were involved.
Chicago Cubs latest roster cuts features three players from 40-man being optioned
Players on the 40-man roster optioned to Triple-A Iowa include outfielder Justin Dean and left-handers Luke Little and Ryan Rolison.
Dean joined the Cubs in January, after being acquired off waivers from the San Francisco Giants, although he ended the 2025 season on the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The speedy outfielder is just 4-27 this spring, which equates to a .148 batting average. Dean first made his MLB debut last season, and may remain a depth option for Chicago during the 2026 season.
Meanwhile, Little and Rolison are both returners from last year’s Cubs team. Little spent most of 2025 in the minor leagues and received just two games of big league action. Rolison got plenty of chances last year, 31 games and 42.1 innings, but had an ERA of 7.02.
Overall, these moves should catch nobody by surprise as they were long shots to make the Opening Day roster. However, Dean still offers intriguing speed and defensive value, giving him a chance to factor into the outfield picture if injuries arise. Meanwhile, Little and Rolison will look to refine their performances at Triple-A and position themselves for future call-ups. If either pitcher can show improvement and consistency, they could become bullpen options later in the year as Chicago navigates the long grind of the 2026 season.
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