The Chicago Cubs have secured a minor league contract with right-handed reliever Yacksel Rios, according to Francys Romero. This agreement comes after Rios elected minor league free agency at the start of the offseason. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican pitcher has had a tumultuous journey in Major League Baseball (MLB), marked by both promise and setbacks.
Rios' career began with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he spent the majority of his early years. However, his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Oakland Athletics was more fleeting, spanning from 2019 to 2023. In the last two seasons, Rios has been a part of the New York Mets organization, but he hasn't yet made it to the MLB level.
Health issues have been a significant hurdle for Rios. He started the 2024 season with a strong 3.30 ERA over 30 innings in Triple-A, but an injury in late June cut his season short. He missed the rest of the year and most of 2025, only returning to action in the low minors for a rehab assignment in September. Despite his struggles, Rios has shown potential, with a 4.13 ERA and a 24.5% strikeout rate in his Triple-A career, averaging 97 MPH on his fastball.
While Rios' ERA at the big league level stands at 6.32 in just under 100 innings, his hard-throwing abilities make him a valuable depth piece for the Cubs' Triple-A Iowa team. Although he is unlikely to secure an Opening Day job, his presence adds depth to the organization's pitching rotation.
