The Cubs non-tendered Madrigal on Friday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, Madrigal will enter free agency for the first time in his professional career. Injuries have plagued the 27-year-old infielder, and in 2024 he was limited to just 51 regular-season games after fracturing his left hand in early June while playing for Triple-A Iowa. Madrigal finished with a slash line of .221/.280/.256 over 94 major-league plate appearances, and he'll look to catch on with a team in need of depth in the infield.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Recalled, goes on 60-day IL
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The Cubs recalled Madrigal (hand) from Triple-A Iowa and placed him on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
After he was optioned to Iowa on June 2, Madrigal fractured his left hand three days later when he was hit by a pitch and was placed on the Triple-A club's injured list a day later. He hasn't played since and had continued to occupy a spot on the Cubs' 40-man roster, but Madrigal's move to the big club's 60-day IL will clear room for lefty Jordan Wicks (oblique), who will return from the 60-day IL to start Sunday's game in Washington. Madrigal is without a clear timeline to return to game action at Triple-A.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Fractures hand at Triple-A
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Madrigal suffered a fractured left hand when he was hit by a pitch during a game with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports. Iowa placed him on its 7-day injured list Thursday.
Madrigal was playing in his first game with Iowa after being optioned to the affiliate earlier this week. It's not clear at this juncture how much time he might miss, but he certainly he won't be an option to return to action at Iowa for several weeks.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Sent to Triple-A
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Madrigal was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Networkreports.
The 27-year-old saw limited playing time down the stretch in May and is being sent down in favor of David Bote, who had his contract selected Sunday. Madrigal has appeared in 51 games for the Cubs this season and has a .221/.280/.256 slash line in 94 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Moving back to bench role
Rotowire
Madrigal is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta.
Madrigal had started at second base or third base in seven of the past eight games, but his opportunities to pick up playing time in the infield are likely to be more limited moving forward after shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner both recently returned from injuries. The 27-year-old hasn't done much with the opportunities he's received with the Cubs this season, slashing .213/.276/.250 with no home runs and one stolen base across 87 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Three-hit effort in win
Rotowire
Madrigal went 3-for-4 in Wednesday's 7-1 win over Atlanta.
All three hits were singles as Madrigal earned his fourth multi-hit effort in 39 contests this season. The infielder is slashing .234/.300/.281 with no home runs, nine RBI, four runs scored and one stolen base over 69 plate appearances. Madrigal had been limited to a bench role for much of the season, but he's receiving more playing time while Dansby Swanson (knee) is on the injured list and Nico Hoerner (hamstring) is out of the lineup.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Sitting in fourth straight
Rotowire
Madrigal is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Madrigal will take a seat for the fourth consecutive game, with each of those absences coming against right-handed pitchers. At least for the time being, Mike Tauchman appears to have edged ahead of Madrigal for the final spot in the Cubs' regular lineup versus righties.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Madrigal is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Madrigal started the first two games versus Los Angeles and went 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Christopher Morel will man the hot corner while Mike Tauchman receives a turn in the outfield Sunday.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Strong performance in win
Rotowire
Madrigal went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Tuesday's 12-2 win over the Rockies. He also stole a base.
Madrigal batted eighth but got in on the fun as the whole Chicago lineup rolled. The 27-year-old started at third base in this one, though he's still behind Christopher Morel on the depth chart and is serving more as a utility player at this point. Madrigal will need more regular playing time to really take off as a fantasy asset this season.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: On bench for third straight
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Madrigal is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.
Madrigal is on the bench for the third consecutive game, with two of his absences from the lineup coming against right-handed pitchers and one coming versus a lefty. After drawing the Opening Day nod at third base and going 1-for-3 with a double in a 4-3 loss to the Rangers, Madrigal has since ceded the hot corner to Christopher Morel. Morel had been expected to see most of his starts at designated hitter this season, but the Cubs now appear inclined to take a rotational approach to that spot in the lineup while lefty-hitting outfielder Mike Tauchman essentially replaces Madrigal when Chicago faces right-handed pitching.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Remains on bench Sunday
Rotowire
Madrigal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Texas.
It's the second straight game on the bench for Madrigal after starting at third base Opening Day. Christopher Morel will receive another start at third base while Ian Happ serves as the designated hitter.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Not in lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Madrigal isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Saturday's game versus Texas.
Madrigal started at third base for Chicago on Opening Day, but he will get a day off Saturday to allow Christopher Morel to play at the hot corner while Garrett Cooper serves as the DH.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Starts at third base in opener
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Madrigal will start at third base and bat eighth in Thursday's season opener versus the Rangers.
Madrigal was a question mark for Opening Day not long ago due to a hamstring injury, but he's avoided an injured list stint and is in the Cubs' Opening Day lineup. Presumed third baseman Christopher Morel is starting at designated hitter.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Expected to avoid IL
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Madrigal (hamstring) is expected to avoid the injured list and be part of the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Madrigal returned to Cactus League play Sunday after missing three weeks with a right hamstring strain. He'll finish the spring with just 19 plate appearances, but evidently the Cubs have deemed that sufficient. The 27-year-old is a candidate for some playing time at third base for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Resumes baseball activities
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Madrigal (hamstring) had resumed some baseball activity, including taking batting practice, Cubs.com reports.
Madrigal has been sidelined since March 4 due to the right hamstring strain, but he seems to be making progress. The utility player is expected to be back later this month, and with the Cubs beginning their year March 28 in Texas, he may not have to miss the start of the regular season. The team will likely be cautious with Madrigal for the rest of the spring schedule, however.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: MRI reveals hamstring strain
Rotowire
Madrigal was diagnosed with a mild right hamstring strain Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Madrigal will be re-evaluated in a week, at which point the team will have a better idea of when Madrigal will be able to return to game action. The 27-year-old infielder landed on the injured list twice last season due to problems with his hamstring, and Madrigal's most recent tweak indicates that it may remain a recurring problem this year as well.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Receives MRI on hamstring
Rotowire
Madrigal underwent a precautionary MRI on his right hamstring Tuesday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Madrigal exited Monday's game versus the Padres with what was deemed a leg cramp, but the Cubs have now specified that he's dealing with a hamstring-related concern. The Cubs are optimistic the injury isn't serious but wanted to put Madrigal through imaging just to be safe, particularly with his history of leg problems. Madrigal is competing for starts at the hot corner for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Leaves with leg cramp
Rotowire
Madrigal was pulled from Monday's game against the Padres with a right leg cramp, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Madrigal grounded out in his lone plate appearance before exiting. Leg problems have plagued the 26-year-old throughout his career, so hopefully this is indeed just a cramp and it's a day-to-day situation. Madrigal is competing for playing time at third base for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Gets $1.8 million from Cubs
Rotowire
The Cubs and Madrigal avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.8 million contract Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Madrigal receives a salary bump in what was his second year of arbitration eligibility. The infielder slashed .263/.311/.352 for the Cubs in 2023 and is in the mix for starts at third base again for the upcoming season.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Placed on 10-day IL
Rotowire
Madrigal was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right hamstring strain, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Madrigal strained his hamstring in Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks and will be sidelined until at least Sept. 27. Christopher Morel is covering third base Tuesday against the Pirates and the Cubs have also recalled Jared Young from Triple-A Iowa to provide some extra infield depth.
