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
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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.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Placed on 10-day IL
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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.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
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.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Continues strong play
Rotowire
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: Strikes out four in 2021 debut
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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.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Will make team
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Manager David Ross said Maples will be in the Cubs' Opening Day bullpen, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
This looked likely when Brad Wieck, Shelby Miller, Pedro Strop and Trevor Megill were all reassigned to the minors Saturday, and now the manager has provided confirmation. Maples probably won't be a high-leverage option for the Cubs, so his fantasy appeal remains limited, though he does offer some strikeout potential.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: On roster bubble
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Maples will be competing for one of the Cubs' last bullpen spots in spring training, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Sharma identifies Craig Kimbrel, Rowan Wick (chest), Jason Adam, Dan Winkler, Andrew Chafin and offseason addition Brandon Workman as the "core" of the team's bullpen. That could leave Maples, who is out of minor-league options, on the outside looking in, though he figures to compete for one of the final spots on the roster during spring training. The 28-year-old appeared in just two games for the Cubs last season and spent most of the year at the team's alternate training site.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Sent to alternate camp
Rotowire
Maples was optioned to Chicago's alternate camp site Thursday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
This move comes after Maples failed to record an out during his appearance against the Reds on Wednesday, where he allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit and four walks before exiting. Righty Colin Rea was summoned to the majors in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Headed to Wrigley Field for camp
Rotowire
Maples will be a part of the Cubs' 60-man player pool this season and will head to Wrigley Field for summer camp.
Maples was optioned to Triple-A Iowa back in March, but he's now technically back with the big-league club. He's still not a lock to make the Opening Day roster, as the Cubs are carrying 39 players (including 22 pitchers) in their Wrigley Field group and can only have 30 on their final roster. Maples appeared in 14 games for the Cubs last season and logged 38 games for Triple-A Iowa. He did tally 97 strikeouts across 54.2 innings combined at the two levels, so he does bring some swing-and-miss stuff to the table.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Headed to Triple-A
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Maples was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Maples was in competition for a spot in the big-league club's bullpen, though he'll now presumably start the season in the minors. He threw sparingly prior to the suspension of the Cactus league, striking out three and walking one across two innings of work. Maples has pitched for the Cubs in each of the past three seasons, so he'll likely serve as bullpen depth at some point once the campaign begins.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Competing for final bullpen spot
Rotowire
Maples, who has yet to appear in a Cactus League game this spring, is competing for one of the team's final bullpen spots to begin the year, Russell Dorsey of MLB.com reports.
Maples threw live batting practice Sunday for the second time this spring, and manager David Ross said the righty should appear in a game soon. Once Maples gets rolling in the Cactus League, expect him to get a long look as the Cubs figure out the back of their bullpen. The 27-year-old bounced between Triple-A and the majors last season, ultimately posting a 5.40 ERA and 18 strikeouts across 11.2 innings with Chicago.
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Cubs' Dillon Maples: Back in minors
Rotowire
Maples was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old returns to the minors after struggling in his lone major-league appearance after being recalled -- allowing two home runs in 1.1 innings -- with Kyle Ryan (personal) activated from the bereavement list. Maples owns a 4.72 ERA with a 63:30 K:BB in 34.1 innings pitched with Triple-A Iowa this season.
