Chicago Cubs Miss Out on Waiver Claims While Reds Pounce

The Chicago Cubs were unable to land any players in Major League Baseball’s waiver wire party on Thursday.

More than 10 Major League veterans hit the waiver wire on Thursday, with teams allowed to make claims based on current reverse order.

If the Cubs needed something off the waiver wire, they either passed on it or it was scooped up by another team.

If the Cubs were looking for outfield help, they can direct their ire at the Cincinnati Reds, their opponent for the next four games starting on Friday.

The Reds picked up two players — New York Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader and Angels outfielder Hunter Renfroe.

The Reds (59-66) got an earlier choice than the Cubs (71-62) and they pounced to get a potential offensive boost for not just this weekend, but for the stretch drive.

While the Cubs currently have the second Wild Card berth and are two games ahead of San Francisco, the Reds are not out of the race. Cincinnati is one game back of the final Wild Card berth, and a good series with the Cubs this weekend could close the gap.

This weekend is the final meeting between the two NL Central rivals.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians gobbled up most of the available pitching, picking up Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. Another Angels reliever, Dominic Leone, ended up with the Seattle Mariners.

Lopez and Moore may have been of particular interest to the Cubs, as they could use an additional arm in the bullpen. Moore would have given the Cubs a left-handed reliever, and one that has become one of the most effective left-handed relievers in baseball since he took on the role with the Texas Rangers last season.

Lopez, who was with the White Sox before a trade in July, turned around his season with the Angels and had a sub-3.00 ERA while with the Halos.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Cubs could still pick up a veteran.

At least three players cleared waivers on Thursday — Angels outfielder Randal Grichuk, Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco and White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger.

They now revert back to their teams unless they are designated to a minor league affiliate, at which time the player could elect for free agency.

In that case, the Cubs — or any other MLB team — would not have to pick up the remainder of that player’s current contract and can sign them to a new deal. It’s likely that Grichuk, Carrasco and Clevinger cleared waivers because no one was willing to take on the remainder of their salaries.

The Cubs have won seven of their last 10 games heading into Friday’s doubleheader with Cincinnati.