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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterNov 19, 2024, 03:35 PM ET
- Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are designating former closer Adbert Alzolay for assignment, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.
Alzolay, 29, underwent Tommy John surgery in August and won’t be available to pitch until late in 2025. The veteran righty started and saved 27 games for Chicago over the course of his six years with the team. He spent the last couple of seasons as their closer but faltered last year, losing his job and then getting injured.
Overall, Alzolay was 12-25 with a 4.04 ERA for the Cubs. His best year came in 2023 when he saved 22 games while compiling a 2.67 ERA over 64 innings. As recently as 2021, Alzolay was starting for Chicago but in the end he was more suited for the bullpen.
The move opens a 40-man roster spot for the Cubs who will be responsible for the cost of Alzolay’s rehab unless he signs with another team.
