Inside The Cubs

Cubs Reliever Elects Free Agency After Clearing Waivers

The Chicago Cubs have lost a reliever to free agency.
Brad Wakai|
Jun 11, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Genesis Cabrera (92) reacts after allowing a home run against Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm (28) in the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park
Jun 11, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Genesis Cabrera (92) reacts after allowing a home run against Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm (28) in the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are looking for bullpen help.

Whether that's from their internal options or turning to some external ones ahead of the trade deadline, it's clear that this needs to be addressed if they are going to contend for a World Series.

Someone they thought could give them a boost was Genesis Cabrera.

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Signed to a Major League deal on May 29 of this year after he was designated for assignment by the New York Mets, the Cubs were hoping he'd be a left-handed weapon out of the bullpen.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way.

Cabrera made nine appearances with Chicago, and in those outings, he gave up a total of nine earned runs on 10 hits, striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings pitched.

On June 21, the Cubs decided to designate him for assignment. And after he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa, Cabrera decided to elect free agency instead.

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The 28-year-old will now be searching for his third team this season.

Originally signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent in 2013, he was shipped to the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline in 2018.

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He made his Major League debut the following year and spent five seasons with the Cardinals before he began bouncing around to other teams.

Cabrera has a career ERA of 4.03 and an ERA+ of 102 across his seven years in the bigs, pitching in 287 games with two starts while striking out 283 batters in 292 2/3 innings pitched.

For more Cubs news, head over to Cubs On SI.

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Brad Wakai
BRAD WAKAI

Brad Wakai graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Journalism. While an undergrad, he did work at the student radio station covering different Penn State athletic programs like football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and other sports. Brad currently is the Lead Contributor for Nittany Lions Wire of Gannett Media where he continues to cover Penn State athletics. He is also a contributor at FanSided, writing about the Philadelphia 76ers for The Sixers Sense. Brad is the host of the sports podcast I Said What I Said, discussing topics across the NFL, College Football, the NBA and other sports. You can follow him on Twitter: @bwakai

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