With the middle of March approaching, MLB teams have begun to increase the rate of 2026 Spring Training roster cuts. The Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Guardians were among the many teams to trim their rosters down on March 8. Additionally, free agent Zack Littell and now-ex-Royal Dairon Blanco found new homes.
Wiggins among Cubs cut
The Cubs cut nine players from camp on March 8.
Riley Martin, Jack Neely, Ben Cowles, and James Triantos were optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Infielder Pedro Ramirez was optioned to Double-A Knoxville. Pitchers Grant Kipp, Connor Noland, Connor Schultz, and Jaxon Wiggins were sent to Minor League camp.
Kipp, Neely, and Noland all got looks in Cactus League action. Neely pitched well, as he struck out six over three innings in Arizona.
Wiggins, arguably the best pitching prospect in the Cubs’ system, gave up six hits and five earned runs over 3.1 innings.
D-Backs demote
Arizona optioned five players to Triple-A on the 8th. Infielder Jose Fernandez, plus pitchers Mitch Bratt, Kohl Drake, Juan Burgos, and Grant Holman, were sent to Reno.
Both Bratt and Drake pitched very well in Double-A last season. However, the two didn’t perform particularly well in Cactus League action.
Bratt struck out six and walked six over six innings. Drake, meanwhile, gave up eight hits and four walks over six innings.
Marlins trim down roster
Miami optioned pitchers Dax Fulton, William Kempner, and Josh White, plus infielders Jared Serna and Deyvison De Los Santos, to Triple-A Jacksonville.
Nigel Belgrave and Dylan Jasso were reassigned to Minor League camp.
Nationals make moves
The Nationals were a busy team on March 8.
Per reports, Washington signed pitcher Zack Littell. Littell, who posted a sub-4.00 ERA last season between the Reds and Rays, was effective last season. It was a motto of Littell’s career, as he became a reliable starter with the Rays after working as a reliever.
He’s a strike-thrower. Among starters with 100+ IP, Littell had the fifth-best BB/9 (1.5) in the Majors last season. However, his 1.74 HR/9 was among the bottom 10 rates in the Majors.
Additionally, the Nationals optioned pitchers Luis Perales and Riley Cornelio to Triple-A Rochester.
Other moves
The Rays optioned Alex Cook and Dom Keegan to Triple-A Durham. Pitchers Logan Workman and Ty Johnson were sent to Minor League camp.
Jack Brannigan and Ryan Harbin (Pirates) were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
The Guardians optioned pitchers Daniel Espino and Franco Aleman to Triple-A Columbus.
Rangers pitchers Leandro Lopez and David Davalillo were optioned to Triple-A.
The Rockies optioned outfielder Sterlin Thompson, reliever Welinton Herrera, former first-round pick Gabriel Hughes, as well as Carson Palmquist and Luis Peralta to Triple-A.
Coleman Crow (Brewers), Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (Athletics), Alex McFarlane (Phillies), and Reed Trimble (Orioles) were optioned to Triple-A.
Outfielder Dairon Blanco, DFA’d by the Royals last week, was claimed by the Rangers.
Toronto optioned injured pitchers Ricky Tiedemann and Jake Bloss to Triple-A. Tanner Andrews, Nate Garkow, and Chay Yeager were sent to Minor League camp.
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