Rucker elected free agency Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals booted Rucker from their 40-man roster and he has decided to try out free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The 30-year-old spent the entirety of the 2024 campaign in the minors, holding a 6.16 ERA and 39:11 K:BB over 30.2 innings.
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Nationals' Michael Rucker: Claimed by Washington
Rotowire
The Nationals claimed Rucker off waivers Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Rochester.
The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Wednesday, and he'll stick in the NL East after being claimed off waivers. Rucker hasn't pitched in the majors this season and has struggled at the Triple-A level with a 7.36 ERA across 22 innings, though he was a solid bullpen piece for the Cubs in 2022 with a 3.95 ERA in 41 appearances.
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Phillies' Michael Rucker: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Phillies optioned Rucker to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.
He'll give up his spot on the 26-man active roster and in the Philadelphia bullpen to right-hander Carlos Estevez, whom the Phillies acquired from the Angels over the weekend. Rucker has spent most of the season recovering from a right hand arterial vasospasm, but the Phillies brought him back from the 60-day injured list Friday. The righty didn't end up making any appearances out of the bullpen over the weekend in the Phillies' series with the Guardians, however.
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Phillies' Michael Rucker: Restarts rehab assignment
Rotowire
Rucker (hand) resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, working one inning while striking out a batter and giving up one run on three hits and one walk.
Rucker had been pulled off his rehab assignment last Sunday due to turf toe in his right big toe, but he evidently made a swift recovery from that injury. The 30-year-old is still in the process of building back up while he's been on the injured list all season due to a right hand arterial vasospasm. He'll likely work in middle relief for the Phillies once he's activated from the 60-day IL.
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Phillies' Michael Rucker: Continuing rehab at Double-A
Rotowire
Rucker's rehab assignment as he comes back from a right hand injury was transferred from Single-A Clearwater to Double-A Reading on Tuesday.
Rucker made his first rehab appearance Friday with Clearwater, tossing a scoreless inning. The outing was Rucker's first in-game action since March 1, and he'll continue his recovery at Double-A Reading. Rucker will likely require a handful of rehab outings before being reinstated.
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Phillies' Michael Rucker: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Phillies transferred Rucker (hand) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Rucker has already missed more than 60 days with right hand arterial vasospasm, so the move is merely to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. The reliever is without a clear timeline to begin a minor-league rehab assignment or return from the IL.
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Phillies' Michael Rucker: Sidelined by finger injury
Rotowire
Rucker hasn't made a Grapefruit League appearance since March 1 due to numbness in his right middle finger, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The reliever has traveled back to Philadelphia in order to have his finger examined. A stint on the injured list to begin the season would certainly appear to be possible, but more will be known after he's evaluated further.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Exits 40-man roster
Rotowire
Rucker was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Thursday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
The 29-year-old reliever loses his spot on the 40-man roster in favor Hector Neris, whose signing became official. Rucker has put up a 4.96 ERA and 120:50 K:BB covering 123.1 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen over the last three seasons.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Optioned to Iowa
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Keegan Thompson is up to replace him in Chicago's bullpen ahead of Thursday's series opener versus the Pirates. Rucker, 29, has registered a 4.91 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 40:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings of relief this year in the majors.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Rucker from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rucker will return to the Cubs' bullpen mix ahead of Tuesday night's game against the White Sox. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 5.03 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 39:17 K:BB across 39.1 major-league innings this season.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Optioned to Iowa
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rucker has taken a notable step back from his 2022 campaign, accumulating a 5.17 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 38.1 innings out of the bullpen. He could return to Chicago if he shows signs of improvement in the minors, but for now Hayden Wesneski will come up from Triple-A to take his spot on the staff.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Snags win in relief Wednesday
Rotowire
Rucker (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Wednesday against the Brewers. He didn't allow a hit and walked three.
Rucker wasn't his sharpest, as he needed 35 pitches to cover two frames and issued the three free passes, though he still managed his first win since April 11 when the Cubs scored three times in the top of the ninth to earn a 4-3 victory. The righty was sent to Triple-A Iowa at the end of May due to some struggles, but he's been good since returning in early June, allowing just one run across 11.1 innings.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Recalled from Iowa
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Rucker from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Rucker will rejoin the Cubs' bullpen following the placement of Edwin Rios (undisclosed) on the 10-day injured list. Rucker was enjoying a strong start to the season with Chicago but gave up 10 earned runs in 8.1 innings over his last four appearances, leading to his demotion May 28. Now that he's back, Rucker will likely return to a multi-inning relief role.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Rucker has yielded 10 earned runs over 8.1 innings across his last four appearances, causing his ERA to balloon from 2.45 to 5.48. He will head to Iowa in order to right the ship, and Hayden Wesneski was recalled to take Rucker's roster spot.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Could start year in minors
Rotowire
Rucker could be squeezed out of the MLB bullpen to begin the regular season, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.
With veteran relievers Brad Boxberger and Michael Fulmer signed by the Cubs in the offseason, as well as Tyler Duffey on a minor-league deal, Rucker could get squeezed from the Opening Day bullpen and start the year with Triple-A Iowa. Rucker did pitch reasonably well in 2022 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 54.2 innings for Chicago, so he could certainly get extended run in the majors at some point in 2023.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Rucker was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
After spending a month with Iowa, Rucker will return to Chicago for another stint with the big club. He figures to work in middle-to-long relief like he did last time he was in town.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Heading to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rucker was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Rucker allowed four runs (three earned) without recording an out his last time on the mound June 4, and he'll now make his way back to the minors. Chris Martin (personal) was reinstated from the restricted list in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Rucker (toe) began a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, striking out one over a scoreless inning while working around a hit and a walk.
Rucker has been on the shelf since May 19 due to a bout with turf toe, but he looks on track to return when he's first eligible or shortly thereafter. It's unclear if the Cubs plan on having him make another tune-up appearance in the minors prior to being activated.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Advancing through throwing program
Rotowire
Cubs manager David Ross said Tuesday that Rucker (toe) is progressing through a throwing program, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Rucker was placed on the 15-day injured list last Thursday after he was diagnosed with turf toe, but his ability to resume throwing a few days after being deactivated suggests that he'll be inactive for only a brief period of time. Prior to landing on the shelf, the 28-year-old righty worked 15 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen and submitted a 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.
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Cubs' Michael Rucker: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Rucker was placed on the 15-day injured list due to turf toe Thursday, retroactive to May 17, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Rucker has made eight relief appearances for the Cubs this year, and he's posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 15 innings. The right-hander will be sidelined until at least early June due to his toe injury, but it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to return once he's first eligible.
