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Elijah Morgan RP | KC
Cubs' Eli Morgan: Traded to Cubs
The Cubs acquired Morgan from the Guardians on Wednesday in exchange for Alfonsin Rosario, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Morgan boasts a 3.27 ERA over the last three seasons out of Cleveland's bullpen, although his strikeout rate dipped to 20.4 percent in 2024. He has past starting experience but will likely fill a middle-relief role in Chicago.
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Trenton Brooks DH | SD
Padres' Trenton Brooks: Lands with Friars
Brooks signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday.
Brooks struggled in his first 12 regular-season games as a big-leaguer, going just 3-for-25 with an RBI and six strikeouts with the Giants last year. However, he slashed .302/.410/.453 with 58 RBI over 407 plate appearance in the minors, which is good enough for the Padres to bring him in as organizational depth at first base.
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Carson Ragsdale P | ATL
Giants' Carson Ragsdale: Added to 40-man roster
The Giants selected Ragsdale to the 40-man roster Tuesday.
Ragsdale appeared in 27 games between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento in 2024, producing a 5.03 ERA and 1.62 WHIP with 57 strikeouts over 53.2 innings in 13 appearances, including 12 starts. The right-hander will likely open the 2025 campaign with Sacramento in an attempt to refine his skills before a potential major-league debut during the season.
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Kai-Wei Teng RP | HOU
Giants' Kai-Wei Teng: Dropped from 40-man roster
Teng was designated for assignment by San Francisco on Tuesday.
Teng spent the majority of the 2024 campaign with Triple-A Sacramento, producing an inflated 8.60 ERA and 1.81 WHIP with 61 strikeouts over 75.1 innings in 23 appearances, including 13 starts. Additionally, the right-hander gave up 12 earned runs over 11 innings in four appearances with the Giants last year. He'll now be placed on waivers and if he goes unclaimed, he'll likely remain with Triple-A Sacramento ahead of the 2025 season.
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Joe Elbis SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Joe Elbis: Shielded from Rule 5 Draft
Elbis was selected to the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster Tuesday, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
Elbis started 24 games between High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo in 2024, producing a 4.57 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 45.1 innings in eight outings at the latter affiliate. The right-hander will now be protected from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft and he will look to prove himself with Arizona during spring training.
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Brennen Davis CF | SEA
Cubs' Brennen Davis: Designated for assignment
The Cubs designated Davis for assignment Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Although Davis slashed .214/.359/.469 at Triple-A Iowa in 2024, various injuries limited him to just 55 minor-league games (47 in Triple-A, eight in High-A). His 40-man roster spot will now be handed to top prospect and fellow outfielder Owen Caissie.
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Adbert Alzolay RP | NYM
Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Officially DFA'd
The Cubs designated Alzolay (elbow) for assignment Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in August, Alzolay isn't expected to pitch again until 2026, and the Cubs seemingly would rather use his 40-man roster spot to shield Ben Cowles from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. Alzolay has put up a 3.10 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 81.1 innings over the last two seasons, and there's a good chance he draws some interest from other teams on waivers.
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Benjamin Cowles SS | CHC
Cubs' Benjamin Cowles: Receives 40-man spot
The Cubs selected Cowles to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Cowles was acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline as part of the Mark Leiter deal, though a wrist injury limited Cowles to playing just four games with Double-A Tennessee at the very end of the year. Prior to his injury, the 24-year-old infielder had slashed .292/.372/.471 with 52 RBI across 379 plate appearances. He'll likely be bumped up to Triple-A Iowa for the start of 2025.
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Jean Cabrera SP | PHI
Phillies' Jean Cabrera: Protected from Rule 5 draft
The Phillies added Cabrera to the 40-man roster Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Cabrera logged a 3.39 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 77 innings at High-A and a 4.85 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 29.2 innings at Double-A last season. He may have worn down after the promotion to Double-A, and if he can recapture his form from High-A, where he had a 21.0 K-BB% and a 51.6 percent groundball rate, he could re-emerge as a fantasy prospect of note for late 2025 or 2026.
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John McMillon RP | PHI
Phillies' John McMillon: Ousted from 40-man roster
McMillon cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The Phillies claimed McMillon off waivers from the Marlins earlier this month, but he'll lose his 40-man roster spot again with Philadelphia protecting some prospects from the Rule 5 draft. McMillon's career has been greatly affected by arm injuries, and he averaged 95.3 mph with his fastball in 2024 after he sat at 99 mph with the pitch in 2023.