Cubs add left-hander Braxton Garrett, option Tyler Ferguson to Triple-A

The Chicago Cubs made a bullpen move on Wednesday, recalling left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett from Triple-A Iowa and adding him to the major league roster. The move shifts the Cubs’ relief corps toward another lefty as they look to manage matchup needs through the late part of the season.

Garrett was acquired by Chicago from the Miami Marlins on Monday, and he will wear uniform No. 60. He joins a relief group where the ability to bring a left-hander into specific innings has become a core part of in-game planning, particularly when opposing lineups feature top-heavy left-right splits.

In a corresponding transaction, the Cubs optioned right-handed pitcher Tyler Ferguson back to Iowa. The pairing of a recall with an optioning move keeps the Cubs’ 26-man roster balance intact while allowing them to adjust the bullpen’s handedness and late-game look.

Roster moves like this can carry more meaning than the names on the jersey. Adding Garrett gives the Cubs another left-handed option in high-leverage situations, while sending Ferguson down indicates Chicago wants that roster spot to serve Garrett’s skill set and the matchup value of a lefty arm. For Ferguson, the immediate task is to get back into a routine quickly in Triple-A and be ready if another opportunity opens.

For Garrett, the jump from Iowa to Wrigleyville is a fast runway into major-league innings. His path now turns on how the Cubs deploy him, whether it is middle relief or setup work, and how effectively he handles hitters in the first look of the season at this level after the recent acquisition.

What to watch next is how the Cubs use their left-handed bullpen depth in upcoming games. The timing of Garrett’s first appearances, the length of his outings, and whether the team leans on him in specific platoon matchups will provide early clues about his role going forward.