Cubs Claim Pitcher Off Waivers From Phillies
The Cubs claimed right-hander Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Phillies, designating righty Christian Roa for assignment in a corresponding 40-man move.
A Rotation in Crisis
Earlier the same day, the Cubs placed both Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown on the injured list, Cabrera with a hamstring strain and Brown with a neck strain.
That left Chicago without three-fifths of its rotation in a single afternoon, and with Jameson Taillon also sidelined, the team is now down five starters until the All-Star break at the earliest, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Chicago Cubs claimed RHP Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Phillies. pic.twitter.com/KGd2WiOMqq
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) June 24, 2026
To make matters worse, the Cubs were playing a doubleheader against the Mets on Wednesday, putting extra strain on an already depleted staff.
"Look, man, a lot of bad stuff's happened. We get to make our own story from it," manager Craig Counsell said before the doubleheader. "And it gets a little tougher. But stack the chips against us, whatever you want to say. That's fine. Circle the wagons, let's go."
Who Wilson Is
Wilson, 28, is a nine-year veteran who debuted with the Atlanta Braves in 2018 as a top prospect and has since pitched for the Braves, Phillies, Brewers, White Sox, and Pirates.
He carries a career 4.80 ERA over 164 games and 463 innings, with his most recent extended big league action coming in 2025 with the White Sox, where he posted a 6.65 ERA across 47.1 innings.
He spent most of 2026 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before the Phillies selected his contract on June 18 when he triggered an upward mobility clause, used him for two scoreless innings against the Mets, and then designated him for assignment just four days later.
Bryse Wilson was claimed off waivers by the Cubs, the Phillies announced. pic.twitter.com/zVy4EAxajW
— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) June 24, 2026
His Triple-A numbers carried an unflattering 6.29 ERA, but he struck out over 23 percent of hitters faced while walking 8.5 percent, with a more encouraging 4.06 FIP suggesting some bad luck on balls in play.
There is a familiarity factor at play.
Wilson's best big league stretch came with the Brewers when Counsell was still managing there, often working in a multi-inning relief role.
He will not replace Cabrera or Brown, but for a Cubs team that has its closer and 80 percent of its Opening Day rotation on the shelf, Wilson is depth they could not afford to pass up.
The move puts the onus on Jed Hoyer's front office to bolster the staff before the August deadline if Chicago wants to stay in buy mode.
