Triple-A Lehigh Valley released Maples from his minor-league contract Friday.
Maples, who made MLB relief appearances with the Cubs in each of the past five seasons, joined the Phillies on a minor-league deal in March. He ultimately didn't make enough of an impression to earn a call-up to Philadelphia, as he was dropped by the Triple-A club after submitting a 6.28 ERA and 2.20 WHIP while walking 22 batters across 14.1 innings out of the bullpen. Lehigh Valley opted to replace Maples on its roster with another reliever with previous MLB experience in Jace Fry, who signed with the organization after being released by the Nationals a few days earlier.
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Phillies' Dillon Maples: Reassigned to minor-league camp
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Maples was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Maples struggled as a non-roster invitee this spring, as he allowed five runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five in 2.2 innings. Although his strikeout rate remained high, he'll need to work on his command and ability to limit runs at Triple-A Lehigh Valley early in the 2022 campaign.
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Phillies' Dillon Maples: Joins Phillies' camp
Rotowire
Maples signed with the Phillies as a non-roster invitee Tuesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The 29-year-old is great at missing bats, posting a 30.6 percent strikeout rate in 54.2 career major-league innings. Unfortunately, it seems as though neither he nor his opponents know where his pitches will end up, as he's also walked batters at a 19.4 percent clip, leading to a poor 5.10 ERA. If he ever sorts out his control issues, he could be a real weapon out of the bullpen, but it's highly unlikely that he'll suddenly correct such a significant issue in his 11th professional season.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Maples cleared waivers Tuesday and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Maples owns a 2.59 ERA in 31.1 innings this season, but his 18.0 percent walk rate evidently scared off any potential suitors. He'll remain in an organizational depth role for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: DFA'd Sunday
Rotowire
The Cubs designated Maples for assignment Sunday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Maples has managed a 2.59 ERA and been one of Chicago's better relievers in spite of an alarming 40:25 K:BB. The reason for his demotion is unclear, but his numbers are attractive enough that he could draw interest on waivers.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Activated Wednesday
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Maples (finger) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Maples landed on the injured list due to a right middle finger blister in late July, but he joined Triple-A Iowa for a rehab assignment Aug. 11. Across nine rehab appearances, the right-hander posted an 8.64 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in 8.1 innings. He has a 2.28 ERA in 27.2 innings across 24 innings with the major-league club this year, but he hasn't been used in many high-leverage situations.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Rehabbing at Triple-A
Rotowire
Maples (finger) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 11 and has made four appearances, covering 4.1 innings while giving up four runs on five hits and four walks while striking out seven.
Before going on the injured list July 29 with a blister on his right middle finger, Maples was a productive reliever for Chicago with a 2.28 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 24 appearances, but he hadn't yet moved into a high-leverage role. With that in mind, the Cubs may want to see Maples turn in better results during his rehab assignment before bringing him back from the IL.
Maples was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right middle finger blister Thursday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Maples spent over a month on the injured list with a right triceps strain recently, but he was activated July 19. He made six relief appearances since then and allowed two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four in five innings. It's not yet clear whether he'll miss more than the minimum of 10 days due to his blister, but right-hander Trevor Megill will take his place in the bullpen.
Maples (triceps) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Maples began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa in late June, and he posted a 3.72 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 9.2 innings across seven appearances with the minor-league club. He should be available to pitch mainly in low-leverage situations going forward. Left-hander Kyle Ryan was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Slated to begin rehab assignment
Rotowire
Maples (triceps) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Maples has been on the injured list with a right triceps strain since June 16, but his rehab assignment could be the final step in his recovery. Since he hasn't had a lengthy absence and pitches in short stints, the right-hander could return to the big leagues after a brief rehab assignment.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Heads to IL
Rotowire
Maples was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right triceps strain, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
The righty must have suffered the injury during his scoreless inning of relief Monday against the Mets, in which he struck out one and allowed no baserunners. Maples has been one of the Cubs' more dependable bullpen options this season, posting a 1.99 ERA in 22.2 innings. It's unclear exactly how long he'll be sidelined with the triceps injury.
Maples, who logged a scoreless inning of relief in Wednesday's loss to the Nationals, now has a 1.72 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 25 strikeouts across 15.2 innings this season.
The most important part of Maples' success has been his ability to limit walks, at least by his standards. He currently has a 5.7 BB/9, which, elevated as it is, would qualify as a career-low figure. The righty has always struggled with his command, and that's kept him from really breaking through at the MLB level. If Maples can continue pounding the strike zone, he has the stuff to be an effective reliever for the Cubs the rest of the season, as evidenced by his 14.4 K/9.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Keeps racking up strikeouts
Rotowire
Maples struck out four batters Wednesday against the Brewers and now has 11 strikeouts through six innings this season.
Maples also has six walks across that span, and free passes have always been a concern with the righty. The Cubs seem to like using him for multiple innings, as he's pitched exactly two innings on three occasions while doing well to allow just a single earned run. However, Maples is unlikely to take on a more prominent bullpen role if he keeps struggling with walks.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Strikes out four in 2021 debut
Rotowire
Maples pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts in Tuesday's loss to the Brewers. He walked two and did not allow a hit.
Maples looked good in his 2021 debut, though walking a batter per inning is slightly concerning for a pitcher who has dealt with control issues. Because the 28-year-old can be volatile, he'll likely stick in a lower-leverage role for now, though he could work his way up the bullpen pecking order if he keeps racking up strikeouts.
