Cubs Select Owen Caissie and Ben Cowles, DFA Adbert Alzolay and Brennen Davis

Apologies for being redundant with this news, but it makes more sense to do a new post than to update an old one what with the way the almighty algorithm drives everything. The Cubs made an obvious move to protect Owen Caissie from the Rule 5 Draft by adding him to the 40-man roster and an equally obvious move to clear a roster space by designating Adbert Alzolay for assignment. Their slightly less obvious moves were to select infielder Ben Cowles, who they got from the Yankees as part of the Mark Leiter Jr. trade, and to DFA Brennen Davis.

Both Alzolay and Davis have seen their careers derailed by injuries, with the latter being particularly snakebit by a number of freak problems. The latest of these came when he suffered a broken leg while sliding into second, ending his 2024 season and possibly his Cubs tenure. It’s possible the Cubs will retain both players with minor league deals, though free agency is likewise an option for them.

No need to spend much time on Caissie, who everyone knew would be added. He’s the only prospect remaining — and maybe the only one still playing affiliated ball at all — from the Yu Darvish trade that signaled the Cubs’ intent to punt on multiple seasons, and is expected to make his MLB debut at some point next season. How the team makes that happen is obviously still an open question given the jam-packed outfield.

The 24-year-old Cowles saw very limited time at Double-A Tennessee due to a hand injury, but the Cubs felt highly enough about him to give him a roster spot. He’s got more players ahead of him than Caissie, though, so I could see him being dangled in what figure to be aggressive trade talks this winter.

Here’s the media release for more specifics…

The Chicago Cubs today selected the contracts of outfielder Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa and infielder Ben Cowles from Double-A Tennessee. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Adbert Alzolay and outfielder Brennen Davis have been designated for assignment. The 40-man roster now stands at 40 players.

Caissie, 22, spent the entire 2024 season with the I-Cubs, batting .278 (131-for-472) with 29 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs, 75 RBI, 11 stolen bases and an .848 OPS in 127 games during his first season at the Triple-A level. The left-handed hitting outfielder ranked in the top 10 in the International League in walks (T-7th, 71), OPS (9th) and on-base percentage (10th, .375). His 19 home runs were tied for the fourth-most among all Cubs minor league players.

The six-foot four-inch Caissie in 2023 was named a Southern League Post-Season All-Star and an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star after setting career marks in doubles (31), home runs (22), RBI (84), walks (76) and slugging percentage (.519), en route to a Southern League championship with Tennessee. In March 2023, Caissie participated in the World Baseball Classic for Team Canada, going 3-for-13 (.231) with one home run and four RBI in three games.

A native of Burlington, Ontario, Caissie was selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Notre Dame High School. He was acquired by the Cubs Dec. 29, 2020 as part of a seven-player trade involving right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish. In four professional seasons in the Cubs organization, Caissie has played in 406 minor league games, batting .278 (409-for-1,471) with 92 doubles, seven triples, 59 home runs, 246 RBI and an .854 OPS. He is currently rated by MLB Pipeline as the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect.

Cowles, 24, was acquired by the Cubs from New York (A.L.) July 30 with right-handed pitcher Jack Neely for right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. The right-handed hitting infielder appeared in four games with Tennessee following the trade, after missing time with a right-hand injury.

In 92 combined games this season between Tennessee and Double-A Somerset in the Yankees organization, Cowles batted .286 (97-for-339) with 25 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 51 RBI and an .829 OPS. In April, he was named the Eastern League Player of the Month after posting a .351 batting average (27-for-77) with three home runs, 14 RBI, a .623 slugging percentage and a 1.057 OPS.

The six-foot, Rochester, N.Y. native was selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Maryland. All told, across parts of four career minor league seasons in the Yankees (2021-24) and Cubs (2024) organizations, Cowles has batted .268 (302-for-1,128) with 68 doubles, 10 triples, 30 home runs, 158 RBI and a .790 OPS in 330 games. He is currently rated by MLB Pipeline as the Cubs’ No. 29 prospect.

Alzolay, 29, is 12-25 with a 4.04 ERA (114 ER/254.0 IP) and 27 saves in 121 career major league games (27 starts) all with the Cubs. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August.

Davis, 25, has hit .238 (283-for-1,189) with 61 doubles, three triples, 48 home runs, 165 RBI and a .766 OPS in 347 career minor league games, all in the Cubs organization.

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