The Chicago Cubs are making a change.
The Cubs claimed right-hander Eduardniel Nunez off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, the team announced and optioned him to the Arizona Complex League. The move does not come with a corresponding roster move, with the Cubs already carrying open spots after designating Ty Black and Nicky Lopez for assignment last month.
Nunez, 27, is a familiar name to the Cubs. The team signed him as an international amateur in 2017, and the hard-throwing righty reached Triple-A Iowa in 2024 before leaving in minor league free agency. He signed with the San Diego Padres, made his major league debut in 2025 and later moved to the Athletics in the Mason Miller trade. Baltimore acquired him in May, then designated him for assignment on Thursday.
Today’s roster update presented by @NuveenInv: pic.twitter.com/EanJkMLOct
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 8, 2026
The velocity has outpaced the results. Nunez has posted a 7.13 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 17 2/3 innings in the minors this season. His 2025 fastball velocity of 98.1 mph ranked him among the 95th percentile in the league at the time, according to Baseball Savant.
The claim comes as Chicago manages a thinned-out pitching staff. Right-hander Jameson Taillon exited Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco Giants with a left hamstring strain and is headed to the injured list, joining Justin Steele, Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd among sidelined arms. The Cubs sit at 34-32.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
For now, the Cubs get a low-risk, high-reward option in Nunez, who can develop away from the majors. Whether he gets to stay on the 40-man roster will depend on what the team sees in the weeks ahead.
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