The Cubs continue to prioritize roster flexibility over production, repeatedly sending Javier Assad to Triple-A despite his impressive results and proven versatility.
Baseball can be an unfair game. And that's never been more true for Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Javier Assad in 2026.
For the entirety of his major league career, Assad has done everything that's been asked of him. He's never posted an ERA higher than 3.73 in a season. And entering 2026, he had appeared in 78 games with 54 career starts, totaling an 18-12 record with a 3.43 ERA.
He's never had the most overwhelming stuff. Assad's fastball sits in the lower 90s, and he relies on three different versions of that fastball, including an 88 MPH cutter, to get consistent outs. He throws a sinker, four-seam fastball, or cutter over 70% percent of the time, and many of his pitches grade out as average at best when looking at their shapes and spin rates.
But Assad has always understood the art of pitching. He has a repeatable delivery, he pounds the strike zone, and he induces plenty of soft contact.
So while the pitch mix may not jump off the page, it's hard to argue with the production, especially given the versatility Assad has shown and his ability to deliver in a starter's role, a long relief role, and even in high-leverage relief situations.
And yet, time and time again, the Cubs seem set on making him the odd man out.
After Assad did not make Chicago's Opening Day roster, he was quickly recalled from Triple-A Iowa on April 6 and spent over a month in the big leagues.
After being optioned back down on May 17, Assad once again got an MLB opportunity on June 6, and from then on, he has been one of the best pitchers employed by the Cubs.
Dating back to the start of May, Javier Assad has appeared in 17 games for the Cubs. He has thrown 64.1 innings with a 2.24 ERA and a WHIP just below 1.00. Of those 17 appearances, six have been starts. And while his record is 4-0 with two saves along the way, the Cubs are also 15-2 when Assad enters the game.
And yet, when Edward Cabrera was returned from the IL on August 16, it was Assad who was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. He returned just one day later after Cabrera landed back on the IL with a blister on his middle finger and came out of the bullpen to deliver three scoreless innings against the White Sox in a tight 4-3 win.
It seemed as if Cabrera's IL stint gave the Cubs an opportunity to make things right and walk back their poor decision to option Assad in the first place. Normally, when a player is optioned to the minor leagues, they must stay there for a minimum of 15 days. The only exception is if they return to replace an injured player on the roster. But the Cubs didn't wait too long before once again making the controversial decision to option Assad.
With Daniel Palencia reinstated on Friday night and rejoining Chicago's roster, Assad was once again sent to Triple-A.
"The way Javy's pitched definitely doesn't warrant going to the minor leagues," said Cubs manager Craig Counsell regarding the decision. "The other decisions mean we lose the pitcher forever. That's really what this is about."
Obviously, it's a move for the Cubs to preserve depth, because the elephant in the room is the minor league options remaining for each of these players.
David Peterson, Colin Rea, Aaron Civale, and Caleb Thielbar all seem like candidates for the Cubs to move on from. But the reality of baseball is that with none of them having minor league options remaining and the Cubs looking to maintain as much pitching depth as possible, designating one of those pitchers for assignment to keep Assad on the active roster is a tough call.
That's understandable logic from the Cubs' perspective. The other side of that coin, though, is the current division race the Cubs are in.
Chicago is running out of time to track down the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. In the words of Counsell himself...it's go time. And if the organization is serious about fielding the best team possible, it's impossible to make the argument that Assad isn't one of those 26 guys deserving of a spot.
Caleb Thielbar has a 5.35 ERA on the season. He has a 7.71 ERA over his last 18 appearances. Keeping him on the roster while punishing Assad for doing everything right is, in my estimation, a serious roster mistake by the Cubs.
