Cubs Re-Sign Andrew Wantz to a Minor League Deal After a Brief Free-Agency Stint

The Chicago Cubs have re-signed right-handed reliever Andrew Wantz to a minor league contract, according to a report from Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register as relayed by MLB Trade Rumors. The move returns a depth arm to the organization after Wantz had briefly elected free agency following an earlier outright assignment.

Wantz’s recent Cubs connection centers on a narrow roster window created by the team’s bullpen shuffle late in the season. MLB Trade Rumors reported that the Cubs designated right-hander Jameson Taillon for assignment shortly before Wantz’s brief major-league moment, and that Wantz came up for a one-off appearance last week.

In that single call-up, Wantz threw two innings and allowed a run, a brief sample that offered the Cubs a fresh look at a relief option during a stretch when teams often rely on internal flexibility. For Chicago, the immediate takeaway was not a long-term bullpen fixture but the ability to bridge innings while managing the consequences of roster decisions.

The timing also matters for how clubs handle players who are on the fringes of the 40-man roster. MLB Trade Rumors reported that Wantz was outrighted over the weekend, which then led to him briefly electing free agency. His return on a minor league deal effectively resets his place in the organization without tying the club’s active roster to an extended commitment.

From a roster-building perspective, re-signing a reliever like Wantz can serve multiple purposes. First, it preserves organizational depth in a phase of the year when bullpen usage can accelerate. Second, it gives Chicago a known quantity at the lower levels, where late-season promotions often hinge on which arms have the most recent, practical track record in bullpen preparation and short-stint game plans.

This kind of transaction also illustrates the practical reality of MLB bullpens and deadlines. Designations and roster churn can create short-term openings, but the team still has to plan for what happens when those openings close. Bringing Wantz back suggests the Cubs viewed his brief major-league look as sufficient evidence to keep him in their mix rather than letting him fully move on.

What to watch next is whether Wantz’s next assignment comes quickly and how the Cubs integrate him into their late-season relief plans. If he’s used in higher-leverage bullpen spots in the minors, it could report readiness for another call-up. If not, the re-signing still functions as a hedge, keeping a right-handed option available while the organization continues to manage inning demands across its pitching staff.