Cubs claim RHP Julian Aguiar off waivers from the Reds, 40-man move pending

What happened

The Cubs have claimed right-hander Julian Aguiar off waivers from the Reds, according to a club announcement from Cincinnati reported by Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors. Aguiar, who had not previously been reported as designated for assignment, will now look to continue his career with one of Cincinnati's NL Central rivals. Because Chicago currently carries a full 40-man roster, a corresponding move is still pending, per the report.

Why it matters

Late-September waiver claims are a familiar piece of the roster calendar — clubs with postseason aspirations use this window to add depth before the active roster expands to 28 players for the final stretch of the regular season. For the Cubs, adding a right-handed arm at this stage suggests the organization sees something worth protecting in Aguiar, enough to absorb whatever roster gymnastics come next. The corresponding move, once made, will be worth watching: a full 40-man means someone else has to make room, whether through a transfer to the 60-day injured list, an outright assignment, or another transaction entirely.

For the Reds, the claim means Aguiar departs for a division rival — a minor sting in the standings math, even if the practical impact at this point in the season is limited.

Where the club stands

The Cubs enter this transaction sitting at 88-73 (.547), second in the NL Central and eliminated from the division race, 13.5 games back. Their Wild Card position is more relevant: they rank 2nd in the NL Wild Card standings, sitting +0.5 relative to the cut line — a margin that makes every roster decision carry real weight. Chicago has dropped their last two games heading into Sunday's contest against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field.

The broader roster picture around this claim has been eventful. Pete Crow-Armstrong became the 7th player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club, a milestone that arrived earlier this week. Alex Bregman, who suffered facial fractures and was ramping up activity as he worked toward a return, has since cleared his injury scare and played a full game for the Cubs, per earlier reports — a significant development for a club navigating a tight Wild Card race with a thin margin for error.

What we don't know yet

The corresponding 40-man roster move has not been announced. It is not yet clear who will be removed to make room for Aguiar, what role he might fill on the active roster, or whether he will be available for the Cubs' remaining games. The report notes only that a move will need to be made — the shape of it is still unresolved.

What to watch

The corresponding roster move is the immediate next step. Once that transaction surfaces, it will clarify both who absorbs the roster cost and whether Aguiar is in line for active-roster consideration during the final days of the regular season. With the Cubs sitting just above the Wild Card cut line, any pitching depth addition — and any roster subtraction — carries more than routine significance right now.