With the Cubs’ roster moves today, the team has strengthened a couple of areas of need ahead of the stretch run to a hopeful postseason. There were four moves made ahead of Tuesday’s game. These included designating Jon Berti for assignment and optioning Nate Pearson to Triple-A Iowa. The final two were reinstating RHP Javier Assad and catcher Miguel Amaya from the injured list. Both Assad and Amaya have been on the 60-day IL this season, and Assad will make his first start of the season tonight against Toronto. They are most likely bolstering an already solid rotation and will move Ben Brown or Colin Rea to the bullpen for the time being.
The Departures
Today’s roster moves presented by @NuveenInv: pic.twitter.com/Xq149qZCwi
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 12, 2025
Jon Berti was signed by the Cubs this offseason and has spent most of the year on the bench. He has 107 plate appearances on the year and is slashing just .210/.262/.230. Recently, he has primarily been utilized as a pinch runner, as he has 11 stolen bases on the season. He played a little second base and some third base this year, but has been mostly useless on the bench. Additionally, he has a 42 wRC+ this year and a -0.4 WAR. While no team is going to have a star on their bench, Jon Berti was no help to the Cubs roster.
Nate Pearson has spent some time in the majors this year, but mostly in Triple-A. For the Cubs, he has recorded a 9.20 ERA in just 14.2 innings pitched. He has mostly been used to just eat up innings when needed. Moreover, he has an extremely high FIP at 6.17 and a -0.2 WAR. On the other hand, at Triple-A Iowa, he has been a lot better. He’s posted a 2.27 ERA across 35.2 innings. It seems that Pearson is a depth option at this point in his career rather than a major league contributor.
The Cubs Roster Additions
Javier Assad is possibly the biggest change in this whole roster move. Assad suffered a left oblique strain in spring training and has been on the 60-day IL ever since. In his 3rd year at the major league level last year, he was tremendous, pitching to a 3.73 ERA in 147.0 innings. He was really solid for the Cubs all year and will be a great addition to the backend of their rotation. Although the Cubs have the best starting rotation ERA since July 1st, Assad will be great to have as arms are getting weaker and more tired. As mentioned above, he will make his first start of the season tonight against Toronto.
Miguel Amaya is the other piece that will be rejoining the Cubs. Like Assad, Amaya is coming back from a left oblique strain, but played a little early on. In 27 games played early this season, Amaya slashed .280/.313/.505. He was playing some fabulous baseball, and it was a huge step up from last year. Although Cubs catchers Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire have stepped up, getting Amaya back will be huge, especially if he plays like he did prior to his injury.
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