The Cubs sent relievers Christian Roa and Eduarniel Nuñez through outright waivers on Wednesday, according to the MLB.com transaction tracker. Both pitchers were designated for assignment a week ago.
Roa, who has been outrighted multiple times in his career, declined the minor league assignment in favor of free agency. This is the first time that Núñez has cleared waivers, so he doesn’t have that right. He’ll remain in the organization.
Roa and Núñez were both in-season waiver claims. The former began the year with his hometown Astros and bounced to the Twins and Orioles before landing with Chicago. Roa gave up five runs over 8 2/3 big league innings with Houston, walking seven batters and hitting three more. He has otherwise spent the season in Triple-A.
It hasn’t been a good year in the minors for the 27-year-old righty. Roa has surrendered 17 runs over 15 1/3 Triple-A frames. He has issued another 10 free passes and given up 21 hits. Roa had impressed in Astros camp with a dominant Spring Training but has been unable to carry that over. The Texas A&M product has an ERA close to 5.00 over 185 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level.
Núñez has had a similarly rough year in the minors. He has given up 16 runs across 19 2/3 frames, walking 20 batters between stints in the A’s, Orioles, and Cubs systems. Núñez, an ancillary part of the Mason Miller trade return, made a brief MLB debut with the A’s last year. He averaged 98 mph with his heater in the big leagues but is down three ticks in Triple-A. Núñez, who began his career as a Cubs signee in 2017, was at their Arizona complex for mechanical work when he was designated for assignment. It’s not clear if the Cubs will keep him there or now send him back to Triple-A Iowa.
