To say that the Chicago Cubs’ 2024 season was a disappointment would be an understatement. The Cubbies entered the year with high expectations after emerging from the offseason with a rejuvenated Cody Bellinger and securing the services of Shota Imanaga, among others, and had many pegged them as favorites for the NL Central.
As the last week of August approaches, the Cubs are still far from the top of the standings, four teams separating them from a wild card spot. A 5 1/2 game deficit can be made up in five weeks, but Chicago’s chances of making the playoffs seem nil.
While it’s a bitter pill for the Cubs and their fans to swallow, the makings of success in 2025 are there. Chicago won’t bring back its entire roster, but the makings of a solid core are there. They could use September as an opportunity to develop young players who have had excellent seasons in the minors and give more young players a chance.
Of course, when a new player arrives, someone always has to go. Whether it’s a demotion, a waiver transfer, or an outright release, it’s never easy for a player to lose a spot on the MLB roster. Some are lucky enough to find a new home fairly quickly. That could be the case for some Cubs whose time in the Windy City could soon be over.
Players must be on a team’s 40-man roster by the end of August to be eligible for the postseason, but they can still make an impression on a contender in September. The Cubs have several players who could meet those requirements.
Journeyman to reliever looking for another team
Jorge Lopez has had quite a year. The right-hander began the season with the New York Mets and posted a 3.76 ERA with two saves in 28 games. His time with the Mets ended prematurely on the second-to-last day of May after he threw his glove into the stands and apparently criticized the team after being ejected.
The Cubs signed him despite his behavior, and he’s done a great job for Chicago. Lopez has allowed two runs in 21 2/3 innings and has a 0.83 ERA with the Cubs. He’s struck out 23 batters compared to seven walks and earned his first save with the club on Saturday despite allowing a solo home run.
The previous August, he was flawless, giving the Cubs seven scoreless games with 11 strikeouts. Opponents have a .215 batting average against Lopez during his time in Chicago, a significant improvement over the .265 batting average they had against him when he was in New York.
While it doesn’t make much sense for the Cubs to place Lopez on waivers, the veteran may ask to be released in hopes of landing a deal with a contending team in September. He’s a free agent at the end of the season and Chicago doesn’t owe him much money, so releasing him to cut his salary isn’t conceivable.
Still, Jorge Lopez is a player teams would look at, especially if they desperately need another bullpen player. If he feels his time in Chicago is over, the Cubs would serve him right by letting him go in search of what could be his sixth MLB team in the last two seasons.
Experienced catcher ends brief stint with the Cubs
Backup catchers tend to be a gamble in today’s MLB. There are barely 30 playable backstops, so the pool of backup/platoon options is larger than the pool of starters. Among the former is Christian Bethancourt, an eight-year veteran who is making a small comeback in the Cubs uniform.
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After being released by the Miami Marlins in June, the Cubs signed Bethancourt to the minor leagues on July 5. Chicago promoted him three weeks later when Tomas Nido went down with a knee sprain. Bethancourt is now playing in a limited role.
The defense-first catcher has hit 7-for-20 in nine games with the Cubs. Five of his hits resulted in extra bases, including two home runs and seven RBIs.
Nido resumed baseball activities last week and is expected to return in early September. The Cubs have to choose between him and Bethancourt and will likely lean toward Nido. If that’s the case, there’s little reason to keep Bethancourt.
He won’t start for a playoff team, but if a contender is looking for a veteran catcher late in the season, there are few better options than Bethancourt. He’s still a great defender and has a knack for throwing runners off base. This year, he’s knocked out 33 percent of runners on 27 steal attempts, well above the MLB average of 21 percent.
Christian Bethancourt has also gained valuable playoff experience over the past two seasons, starting two games for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022. He’s not a name that will move the needle, but he’s at least an option for a team if their current backup is out in the next few weeks if the Cubs send him to waivers.
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