The Chicago Cubs pruned their roster from thirty-two to thirty when they chose to non-tender catcher Reese McGuire and pitcher Eli Morgan at the deadline for tendering contracts on Friday.
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Having ten roster spots to fill on their 40-man roster is in line with what amounts to a bit of a rebuild this coming season as Chicago seeks to reconstruct almost their entire bullpen as well as add several depth pieces and, possibly, a high-end starting pitcher.
However, the moves made by other major league teams on Friday may have made the Cubs’ job of filling up their roster a bit easier.
Here are some areas of concern for the Cubs and some potential fits from the list of sixty-six players recently non-tendered.
Chicago Cubs’ need for a fourth outfielder
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The Cubs’ outfield is fully set at center field and left field, with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ taking those respective spots. In right field, Seiya Suzuki looks to be the replacement for outgoing free agent Kyle Tucker, with rookie Owen Cassie fighting for playing time there as well. But there’s a definite need for someone who can be the team’s full-time backup in the outfield.
Mike Tauchman, non-tendered by the White Sox, is a former Cub who hails from the Chicago area and became a well-liked figure among the Wrigley Field faithful for his tenacious play and clutch performance. Being let go by the Sox seems more a business dealing than commentary on his work. Although he’ll be 35 by opening day, the lefty Tauchman still has some life in him (he hit .263 last season, with 9 home runs in 335 at bats), as well as the ability to play all three outfield spots in a pinch.
Another outfield option could be Adolis Garcia, now-formerly of the Rangers. A one-time postseason hero for Texas, the 32-year-old has fallen on hard times, but he’s only two years removed from a 39-home run, 107 RBI, Gold Glove season. He’d be a pricier option than Tauchman (he made $9.2 million in 2025), but the upside is considerably bigger.
There are many reasons to be skeptical of a potential reunion with former Cub Christopher Morel, but there does remain a distant possibility of a positive outcome coming from the idea. With the Rays, Morel showed himself to be what he is– a hitter with high potential and extreme bat speed, whose inconsistency at the plate and inability to play defense, anywhere, has hurt his ability to be an every day player in the majors. Used primarily in left field and DH in Tampa Bay, Morel has also played third base and second base. At 26, there’s still the possibility of development, but gambling on Morel, at this point, would be all about having his right-handed power off the bench and the energy he brings to the clubhouse.
The search for utility
The Cubs love multi-purpose players and will have a special need for a utility infielder as a backup to Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Matt Shaw this coming season. One of their rumored trade deadline targets just became available on Friday.
Ramon Urias, who was ultimately traded from the Orioles to the Astros at the deadline, can play third base, second base, first base, and a little shortstop. He also has some pop in his bat, with 11 home runs in each of the past two seasons in limited play off the bench. The 31-year-old has proven himself to be a sturdy, consistent bench player.
And, of course, pitching…
As stated above, the Cubs need to bring some pitchers aboard and need them to be capable of moving right into the major league roster.
A pair of former Cub bullpen arms, Mark Leiter Jr. and Scott Effross, were just non-tendered by the Yankees, making room for the possibility of a patented Jed Hoyer reclamation project play. Leiter, especially, was a valuable asset before being traded to the Yankees in 2024.
Evan Phillips was a bullpen stud for the Dodgers from 2021 until the beginning of 2025 before undergoing Tommy John surgery this past May. He should be back sometime mid-2026 season and he’s the kind of pickup totally in character for the Cubs– one who would come at a bargain price and could be a legitimate asset by the dog days of a hopeful pennant race.
Alek Manoah looked to be on the path to elite-level starter status with the Blue Jays (he finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2022) before suffering through injury and inconsistency the past two seasons. After nearly a full season on the shelf due to a torn UCL, Manoah made a handful of rehab starts with mixed results towards the end of 2025 before being designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Braves. He’s now a free agent and has enough success in his past to warrant a serious look.
All in all, there’s some talent to be had from the list of non-tendered players and the Cubs would be wise to at least consider all of the above for 2026 roster spots.
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