Hold on, Cubs fans! A familiar face is back, but is it a strategic move or just shuffling the deck? Infielder Benjamin Cowles, after a brief stint with the White Sox, has been claimed off waivers again by the Chicago Cubs. This move fills the Cubs' 40-man roster to its absolute limit, meaning any further roster changes will require some serious juggling. But why bring back a player they previously let go?
Cowles, you might remember, was part of the return package (along with reliever Jack Neely) in the 2024 trade that sent Mark Leiter Jr. to the other side of town. However, his performance at Triple-A Iowa in 2025 didn't quite live up to expectations. He struggled to find his footing, leading to his removal from the 40-man roster in September – which then allowed the White Sox to snatch him up. Now, in a surprising turn of events, the Cubs have brought him back into the fold.
For the time being, Cowles projects as additional utility infield depth at Triple-A Iowa. He'll be joining a rather crowded infield mix that already includes prospects like James Triantos and Pedro Ramirez, veterans like Scott Kingery, and other hopefuls like Hayden Cantrelle, Ed Howard, and Devin Ortiz. It's a situation of quantity over immediate impact, although the Cubs undoubtedly have high hopes for Triantos and Ramirez, evidenced by their recent additions to the 40-man roster. Think of it as insurance. If, for example, the Cubs were to trade away a promising infielder like Matt Shaw, having that extra depth in the system becomes all the more crucial.
Cowles's value lies primarily in his defensive versatility. He's known as a solid defender capable of playing multiple infield positions. This means he doesn't necessarily need to be a power hitter to contribute. But here's where it gets controversial... to date, he hasn't demonstrated consistent hitting ability at the Triple-A level, let alone in the major leagues. He's a glove-first player, and in today's game, you need to be able to do more than just field your position.
And this is the part most people miss... the Cubs might not be planning on keeping Cowles on the 40-man roster long-term. A potential scenario could see the Cubs attempting to sneak him through waivers later this offseason. This would allow them to outright him to Triple-A Iowa, keeping him within the organization without taking up a valuable spot on the 40-man roster. It's a common practice, but it's not without risk, as another team could claim him.
Ultimately, the move to reclaim Cowles raises some interesting questions. Is this a genuine attempt to provide infield depth, or is it simply a low-risk gamble on a player they know well? Could Cowles surprise everyone and develop into a valuable utility player at the MLB level? Or is he destined to be a career minor leaguer, providing depth and experience at Triple-A? What do you think the Cubs' long-term plan is for Benjamin Cowles? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – are you excited to see him back or do you think this roster spot could be better utilized?
Written by Brett Taylor, Lead Baseball Writer at Bleacher Nation. Find him on X at @Brett_A-Taylor, on Bluesky at @Brett-Taylor, and on LinkedIn here.
