The Cubs announced Monday that they’ve designated right-hander Michael Arias for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to fellow right-hander Colin Rea, whose previously reported one-year deal is now official.
Arias, 23, was selected to Chicago’s 40-man roster in the 2023-24 offseason in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. The infielder-turned-reliever spent the 2024 season in the upper minors, pitching to a combined 4.77 ERA in 60 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Arias was more effective at the former than the latter, logging a 3.75 ERA in Double-A but a 5.35 mark in Triple-A.
Command was an issue for Arias at both levels, as has been the case since he moved to the mound. The hard-throwing righty sits mid-90s with his sinker but has walked a dismal 16.5% of opponents in his professional career — including 19.6% of his opponents in 36 1/3 Triple-A frames this past season.
Even with that notable flaw, Arias still landed 11th on FanGraphs’ recent ranking of the Cubs’ farm system. Eric Longenhagen and Travis Ice profiled the righty, touting a potential plus-plus changeup, a bat-missing slider and the ability to work multiple innings in relief. Arias’ location struggles — FanGraphs’ report notes that Arias “hasn’t even progressed to 40-grade control” yet — are prominent enough that the Cubs are comfortable trading him or exposing him to waivers.
While the Cubs may feel they don’t have room for him on their 40-man, Arias is a 23-year-old with a sinker up to 98 mph, a pair of average or better secondaries, and two minor league option years remaining. He seems like he’ll draw interest from another club, be it via a small trade or simply via waivers. The Cubs have five days to trade Arias. After that, he’ll need to be placed on waivers (a 48-hour process).
Arias doesn’t seem horrible, he could find success on the white Sox, or A’s
He will get picked up by a team, will he make MLB this year – probably but was not going to do that in Chicago this year for Cubs. So let’s see what future brings for him.
He’ll get traded. Arms like that don’t come around every day. Kid has a cannon.
Interesting……..
Better than selling VCR’s in Arkansas at a Walmart.
They stopped selling VCRs on Wednesday
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
@brian
you should have said this on this colin rea article, it would have fit.
I did. And also, Colin is mentioned in this article.
Colin he come from a land down under
Arkansas has electricity now?
Wow poor Arias, what did he do- walk somebody in January? that mean
Good arm. They let him loose to keep Festivus? This guy is a Rays closer in waiting.
Cubs cutting loose yet another power arm they will likely regret. For yet another waste of $ soft tosser. When will Jed learn? Megill and Estrada would look really good in their bullpen this year.
Meanwhile Vasquez, Hollowell, Zastryzny, Festa, Cowles, Merriweather are all still here. With all the IF’s they have in the system what a stupid play.. I hope the big news at the convention is Hoyers firing.
No way, hoyer fired! Its cubs lovefest at their convention no matter!
A better package at deal would be rickets relinquishing control of team to work for Trump along with Jed getting the heave ho. Now, that would leave no stones unturrned
I’m OK w giving Merriweather another shot to prove he’s healthy, but plenty options to trim off this roster to keep Arias and his upper 90s power sinker. Journeymen soft tossers abound.
Unclemike, Rob Z and Matt Festa taking up space on this roster is a freaking joke. No playoff team would carry these guys.
Uncle Mike is on the roster w Festa and Rob Z?
House has this last year on his deal. They won’t fire him until after the season starts.
Hoyer, not House. House is in reruns, similar to Homer, though….
Plus Megill a meanie. He threw gum at us after we heckled him when he was a Twin and ran in from the bullpen to join a fight at US cellular. You keep those guys, old school bullies
They didn’t cut him loose, they are just sending him to the minors. He has two more option years left.
I stand corrected. He was DFAd. My error.
Seems like the Cubs could have had someone else they could have let go than him. I understand his control is in need of a lot of work but he is young and still new to pitching. A bit surprised that they would expose him.
Possible project for the Guardians?
Or Brian Bannister. Getz gets him
Hoyer gets rid of another excellent young arm. Please get rid of this guy. There are so many other guys he could have got rid of. Jeremiqh Estrada 2.0. Vintage Hoyer stupidity.
Shows how dumb you are,can’t even spell Estrada name correctly .
Calm down. It’s an obvious typo
We’ve all poked fun at Uncle from time to time, usually meant with good, clean fun.
Considering the command of the English language in your post, you probably shouldn’t be throwing stones.
Why, Did he say something? I didn’t notice. LOL Poke away! I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I’m smarter than Hoyer, Pretty sure anyway.
Aloha uncle, I’m with you Hoyer needs to go. No plan, trade away so much for Tucker then nothing since. I say this because if one trades away for a rental then doesn’t that mean they are going for it? Or was that move just to “appease” fans to have a “star” on the roster.
Now to Arias. Notice how our Cubs “seem” to be risk adverse to hard throwing arms. They haven’t been the best at developing them. Look at Estrada now with SD. The Rea signing made no sense to me and now letting Arias go makes no sense. Well there’s always next year, lol! Hang in there. Mahalo!
I was so frustrated when they cut Estrada loose. I knew that would bite the Cubs. Great stuff just needed some time to get dialed in. Some of these guys must be looking wrong at Mrs. Hoyer or something…
I only asked Santa for one thing this year and that was for Hoyer to be gone. Will Santa let me down?
Having two option years is huge. I’d snag him.
Padres or Rays should be sniffing around. They have already had success w cubs cast offs, so why not grab another.
2 option years makes him so much more appealing
I will predict Arias is going to be traded or will be part of a bigger trade in few days.
Sounds like a perfect project for Matt Blake.