Toronto Blue Jays claim Chicago Cubs infielder off waivers

The Toronto Blue Jays have added infield depth, claiming Ben Cowles off waivers from the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago had designated the 26-year-old for assignment earlier this week after signing veteran reliever Shelby Miller.

To clear room on their own 40-man roster, Toronto transferred right-hander Bowden Francis to the 60-day injured list.

The Cubs originally added him to their 40-man roster in November 2024 to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

He spent most of last season on optional assignment in the minors before being designated for assignment in early September.

He was briefly claimed by the White Sox, only for the Cubs to bring him back on waivers in January.

Now, for the second time in a matter of months, Chicago has lost him on the wire.
Cowles’ appeal lies largely in his athleticism and defensive versatility.

He has logged extensive minor league experience at second base, shortstop, and third base, giving him value as a utility option.

He’s also consistently contributed on the basepaths, recording double-digit stolen base totals in each of the past four minor league campaigns.

Offensively, however, there are questions.

Cowles enjoyed a breakout year at Double-A in 2024, hitting .286/.372/.457 with a 141 wRC+.

That strong showing prompted the Cubs — who had acquired him from the Yankees in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade that summer — to give him a roster spot at season’s end.

But his production dipped significantly in 2025 after a promotion to Triple-A. He slashed .235/.300/.371 and posted a 71 wRC+.

His walk rate fell from 10.4 percent in 2024 to 7.2 percent, while his strikeout rate spiked from 17.7 percent to 28.8 percent — a troubling trend that likely contributed to his repeated trips through waivers.

Even with that regression, multiple teams have shown continued interest, suggesting Cowles’ speed, defensive flexibility, and prior offensive upside remain intriguing.

For Toronto, the move carries little risk. With Francis expected to miss the entire 2026 season following Tommy John surgery, the Blue Jays had an open roster spot to utilize.

They’ve opted to take a flier on a controllable, versatile infielder who could develop into a useful depth piece — or potentially more if his bat rebounds.

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