Cubs recall bullpen option, bringing back Drew Pomeranz in roster shuffle

The Chicago Cubs made a bullpen adjustment on July 3, recalling left-hander Drew Pomeranz and optioning fellow left-hander Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa. The move reflects a common midseason calculus for MLB teams, balancing short-term relief usage with the need to maintain multiple arms capable of handling leverage innings in the same week.

Wicks’ most recent Cubs work came in a short relief window that included four innings, one run allowed, and two strikeouts, part of a stretch that also produced two saves. According to Cubs transaction coverage, his pitch count and usage in the previous game factored into the Cubs’ decision, with Wicks having thrown 40 pitches in a Wednesday win over the San Diego Padres before being moved to Iowa on the following off day.

To fill the opening on the active roster, the Cubs selected the contract of Pomeranz. Coverage indicates he joined Chicago earlier in the summer on a minor-league deal after being released by the Los Angeles Angels, with the Cubs having signed him June 22 following the Angels’ June 18 release. In his most recent Triple-A outing for Iowa, Pomeranz posted two scoreless innings and struck out three batters, positioning him to step back into a major-league bullpen role quickly.

The Cubs have had recent historical familiarity with Pomeranz. In 2025, he was a core piece of the relief corps, appearing in 57 games over 49.2 innings with a 2.17 ERA and a 1.067 WHIP. He also walked 15 batters and struck out 57, numbers that supported his ability to miss bats while keeping baserunners under control. Chicago ultimately did not re-sign him after that season, and Pomeranz signed a one-year contract with the Angels in the offseason.

Back in 2026, his path to the Cubs included a reset through Triple-A after a brief run with Los Angeles. When the Angels released him, Chicago’s addition means Pomeranz is now on the hook for a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary for the rest of the season, according to reporting that framed the deal as a low-risk option to bolster bullpen depth rather than a long-term commitment.

For the Cubs, the immediate impact is roster configuration and bullpen flexibility. Optioning Wicks trims the active left-handed relief mix, but it also suggests the Cubs believe they can manage their next set of games with Pomeranz available as another left-handed option, even if usage patterns and matchup preferences will determine when he enters.

What to watch next is how quickly Pomeranz handles major-league volume again after time in the minors. If he continues the form that fueled his 2025 success, the Cubs will have improved late-inning choices without sacrificing roster spots, while Wicks’ performance at Iowa will matter in case Chicago needs a left-hander back on short notice.