Cubs Make Surprising Bullpen Move Following Tokyo Series

Right-handed reliever Eli Morgan made his debut with the Cubs earlier this week against the Dodgers in Tokyo and pitched well, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings during Tuesday's 4-1 loss. However, the 28-year-old won't be in the big-league bullpen next week, when the Cubs have their domestic Opening Day against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Following the Tokyo series the Cubs have optioned Morgan as well as left-handed starting pitcher Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa. Neither will be on the active 26-man roster to start up the regular season a week from today.

Today the #Cubs option RHP Eli Morgan and LHP Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) March 20, 2025

This appears to be a numbers game and not based on anything wrong with Morgan, who had a great 2024 season with the Cleveland Guardians. Instead, optioning Morgan to Triple-A now allows the Cubs to keep other pitchers who do not have any minor league options remaining and would be in danger of being grabbed by other teams on waivers.

Tyson Miller, Julian Merryweather as well as Keller, who remains in the mix to be added to the active roster, all do not have minor league options.

In 2024, Morgan made 32 appearances with the Guardians and posted a 1.93 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP in 42 innings of work. The righty has a career 3.95 ERA in 162 MLB games. In his Cubs debut Morgan struck out a batter, walked none and only gave up one hit, a Michael Conforto double.

Pretty good Cubs debut for Eli Morgan. 1.1 scoreless out of the bullpen. pic.twitter.com/yBr4jtREZY

— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) March 18, 2025

You'd have to imagine that Morgan will be the first reliever to be called up whenever the Cubs are shorthanded in the bullpen, an injury pops up or other guys are underperforming. The Cubs traded outfield prospect Alfonsin Rosario for Morgan last November.

As for Wicks, he'll continue to pitch as a starter and remain stretched out in the Iowa Cubs rotation to begin the 2025 season. He was in the mix to be Chicago's fifth starter, but it appears as though right-hander Ben Brown is set to take that role after an oblique injury to Javier Assad opened up the competition early in spring training.

Brown threw 65 pitches in 2.2 innings against the Dodgers on Tuesday.

The Cubs resume Cactus League play in spring training on Friday. They'll have five more spring training games before the Diamondbacks' home opener on March 27.