Cubs Option Struggling Reliever Jose Cuas to Triple-A Iowa

After joining the Cubs in a trade with the Kansas City Royals in 2023, Cuas finished his first season on the North Side with a respectable 3.04 ERA. Given the Cubs' track record of pitching development, Cuas can certainly bounce back and pitch meaningful innings later this season despite rough early returns.

The Cubs haven't made a corresponding move as of this writing, but they have a quality supply of pitchers down on the farm to choose from.

Hayden Wesneski and Keegan Thompson would both be reasonable picks to join the team in Seattle on Friday. Both pitchers also have experience starting if the team requires some length in its rotation.

Carl Edwards Jr.  recently returned to the organization, but it's unclear if the team thinks he would be ready to take a role in the big-league bullpen.

Regardless of who the Cubs elect to promote, sending Cuas to Triple-A was the right move. The side-arming righty has been largely ineffective in his recent appearances, and the team simply can't afford any weak links in their pitching staff.

Due to Kyle Hendricks' rough outings and Julian Merryweather going on the injured list, it's all hands on deck for a Cubs team that's trying to weather the storm.

Entering the weekend at 7-5, the Cubs appear to be doing better than most would in this predicament, but it shouldn't be a given that such stability can last.