In an intriguing development, the Chicago Cubs have reached a minor league agreement with reliever Yacksel Ríos, as reported by Francys Romero. This announcement follows Ríos's decision to enter minor league free agency at the start of the offseason, seeking new opportunities to showcase his skills.
At 32 years old, Ríos is a right-handed pitcher who has experienced parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball. Hailing from Puerto Rico, he initially made his mark with the Philadelphia Phillies early in his career. However, between 2019 and 2023, his appearances were less frequent, as he played for several teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Oakland Athletics. For the past two seasons, he has been part of the New York Mets organization but has yet to make a return to the major leagues.
A significant factor contributing to his absence from MLB games has been health-related issues. In 2024, Ríos posted a commendable 3.30 earned run average (ERA) over 30 innings pitched at the Triple-A level before an injury sidelined him towards the end of June. Unfortunately, this injury kept him off the field for the remainder of that season and most of 2025 as well. Although he did manage a few appearances in the lower minor leagues during his rehabilitation, he only returned to Triple-A action in mid-September. His comeback was rocky, yielding four earned runs in his first outing, but he ended on a high note, delivering a flawless inning with a strikeout in his final appearance of the season.
Throughout his major league career, Ríos has maintained a 6.32 ERA over nearly 100 innings pitched. In contrast, his Triple-A statistics are more impressive, showcasing a 4.13 ERA across 200 1/3 innings, along with a solid strikeout rate of 24.5%. Notably, during his brief stint in Triple-A last year, he averaged an impressive fastball velocity of 97 miles per hour. While it's unlikely he will be considered for a position on the Opening Day roster, he is expected to serve as a valuable depth option for the Triple-A Iowa team, providing much-needed support as they proceed through the season.
