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Cubs expected to add Drew Pomeranz to bullpen by selecting his contract after Jordan Wicks option
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Jul 3, 12:46 PM EDT

Cubs expected to add Drew Pomeranz to bullpen by selecting his contract after Jordan Wicks option

Chicago is moving to fill a 40-man vacancy with veteran left-hander Drew Pomeranz, a move expected to come after the club optioned fellow left-hander Jordan Wicks to the minors.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Chicago Cubs are expected to select Drew Pomeranz’s contract and bring him back to the major league roster, according to multiple reports, including coverage by 670 The Score. The transaction is expected to be paired with a roster reshuffle that already cleared a spot on the Cubs’ 40-man list, which means Chicago would not need an additional corresponding move. Roster management has been a constant theme for MLB clubs this season, but the Cubs’ timing suggests a practical goal: add a bullpen option without complicating the rest of the roster. In the report stream, the mechanism is straightforward. Jordan Wicks, a left-hander, was optioned to the minors, and Chicago is left with a vacancy on the 40-man roster that can be used to elevate Pomeranz. Pomeranz’s path back to Chicago comes with context. Reports describe him as opening the year with the Los Angeles Angels, then struggling before later landing with the Cubs on a minor league deal. According to MLB Trade Rumors’ season recap as carried by, Pomeranz posted a 5.01 ERA across 25 appearances for the Angels and also missed time with elbow inflammation. Los Angeles released him in mid-June, after which he joined Chicago on a minor league contract and later reappeared in the Cubs’ system. What appears to matter most for the Cubs is what came before this season. The same recap notes that Pomeranz spent 2025 with the Cubs and produced a 2.17 ERA, described as a meaningful bullpen contribution. That previous run in Chicago is likely the reason a club would be comfortable using a roster spot on him now, even if his 2026 start did not match his prior effectiveness. The Cubs’ expected call-up also connects to the broader bullpen picture, where depth can be tested by routine innings management, matchups, and the wear that accumulates across a season. Adding a veteran left-hander can be useful in high-leverage situations, particularly when managers want to shape matchups against batting orders that frequently turn toward left-right splits in late games. From a procedural standpoint, selecting a contract from a minor league deal is often less about changing a roster philosophy and more about adding immediate major league leverage. If Pomeranz is promoted as expected, he would join a staff in which left-handed bullpen arms already represent an important part of the game-day plan. For Wicks, the optioning indicates the Cubs are prioritizing roster flexibility and keeping their mix of left-handers available at the right level. What to watch next is not just whether Pomeranz makes his debut immediately, but how quickly the Cubs integrate him into late-inning usage. If the promotion goes through as described, his first few appearances could reveal what the Cubs are trying to solve, whether that is a specific matchup need, a workload reset for the existing bullpen, or a longer-term plan to stabilize high-leverage innings. The coming games against key opponents will provide the clearest read on how Chicago intends to deploy the veteran once he’s on the active roster.

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Why It Matters

  • The move adds a left-handed bullpen arm at the major league level without requiring additional roster gymnastics, since a 40-man vacancy already exists.
  • Selecting a contract often indicates immediate in-season need, which can affect how Chicago manages late-game leverage and matchup planning.
  • Pomeranz’s prior success in a Cubs bullpen role makes the promotion part of the club’s ongoing effort to balance short-term performance with roster flexibility.
  • For Jordan Wicks, the option decision suggests the Cubs see a temporary step back as the most efficient way to manage roster constraints and pitching options.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Multiple reports say the Cubs are expected to select Drew Pomeranz’s contract to add him to the major league roster.
  • The reported plan is tied to a cleared 40-man roster spot after Jordan Wicks was optioned to the minors.
  • Reports also describe Pomeranz as having opened 2026 with the Angels before later being released mid-June.
  • According to the season recap cited in reporting, Pomeranz posted a 5.01 ERA in 25 Angels appearances and missed time with elbow inflammation.
  • He later joined the Cubs on a minor league deal and had previously produced a 2.17 ERA during the 2025 season with Chicago.