The Chicago Cubs have made several moves to create space on their 40-man roster in November and the list will probably have a few more names before the offseason is over. Here’s a look at all the players the Cubs have let go from their active roster following the 2024 season.
Patrick Wisdom
3B/1B/OF
Acquired: signed as free agent on Aug. 23, 2020
2024 stats: 174 PA, .171/.237/.392, .629 OPS, 75 OPS+, 75 wRC+, 8 HR, 33.9 K%, 5.7 BB%
Stats with Cubs: 1,387 PA, .208/.290/.462, 104 OPS+, 106 wRC+, 84 HR, 36.5 K%, 9 BB%
The Cubs DFA’d Patrick Wisdom on No. 20, 2024. The right-handed hitter appeared in two games in 2020 after the Cubs scooped him up on a minor league deal. From 2021-23, Wisdom averaged 25 home runs per season, but he never really evolved from the all-or-nothing production that he was able to give the team during his tenure.
Wisdom had a strong start defensively at third base, but quickly regressed and was ultimately used sparingly in the past two seasons. Wisdom only had 75 plate appearances in 2024, which was by far his worst year with the Cubs. By letting Wisdom go the Cubs are shedding a projected $3 million from next season’s payroll, the estimated arbitration salary for Wisdom in 2025.
Trey Wingenter
RHP
Acquired: claimed off waivers from Boston Red Sox on Aug. 2, 2024
2024 stats: 7 G, 8.1 IP, 9.72 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, 6 K, 4 BB
Stats with Cubs: 5 G, 3.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 3 K, 2 BB
The Cubs picked up Trey Wingenter from the Boston Red Sox, claiming the right-handed pitcher off waivers in early August. The right-handed reliever was called up to the big leagues on Sept. 4, and was fine in his five outings, but was ultimately optioned back down to Triple-A after a couple of weeks in the majors. He always seemed like a DFA candidate once the season ended and the Cubs did just that on Nov. 20, 2024.
Wingenter was projected to earn $1.4 million in 2025.
Adbert Alzolay
RHP
Acquired: signed as international free agent on Nov. 28, 2012
2024 stats: 18 G, 17.1 IP, 4.67 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 13 K, 6 BB
Cubs stats: 121 G, 27 GS, 4.04 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 269 K, 77 BB
Believe it or not, right-handed pitcher Adbert Alzolay was the longest-tenured player in the entire Cubs organization until he was DFA’d earlier this week. After emerging as the closer in 2023, Alzolay’s 2024 season was a complete bust. The righty had a brutal opening month, losing his closer role and was then placed on the injured list in May.
Alzolay attempted to return later in the summer, but suffered a setback and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery that officially ended his season. Alzolay is expected to miss most of the 2025 season as well.
Once the top pitching prospect in the Cubs minor league system, Alzolay’s time in the organization is ending on a sad note.
Brennen Davis
OF
Acquired: picked in the second round of 2018 MLB Draft
2024 stats: 217 PA, .220/.369/.451, 120 wRC+, 11 HR, 23.5 K%, 13.4 BB%
Cubs stats: n/a
The 25-year-old outfielder never made it up to the majors with the Cubs after reaching his peak as a prospect following the 2021 season. Brennen Davis was primed to be a cornerstone in the Cubs outfield, but injury after injury derailed his progress and his 2024 season at Triple-A ended with a broken leg in September.
Just a brutal decline for Davis, who was a consensus top-100 prospect just a few years ago.
Jimmy Herget
RHP
Acquired: claimed off waivers from Atlanta Braves on Sept. 13, 2024
2024 stats: 8 G, 12.1 IP, 4.38 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 15 K, 3 BB
Cubs stats: n/a
The Cubs claimed right-handed pitcher Jimmy Herget, but the reliever never got the call to the big leagues. He was DFA’d in early November and then the Colorado Rockies claimed him off waivers a few days later.
Other players moving on:
Kyle Hendricks: signed with Angels
Drew Smyly: option declined, became free agent
Jorge Lopez: elected free agency
Yency Almonte: elected free agency
Christian Bethancourt: elected free agency
