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SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Not wanting to wait even one more day (until the Cubs have their only off day of the spring) before making a few roster moves, the Cubs announced the following roster adjustments late Wednesday afternoon. None of them should surprise you.
Arismendy Alcantara, Logan Watkins, Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur were optioned.
Kris Bryant, Jeudy Valdez, Albert Almora, Carlos Pimentel and Eric Jokisch were reassigned to minor-league camp; minor-league games begin Thursday so if you're in the area, you can still see these guys (and the four optioned) in games on the back fields at Cubs Park. The exact minor-league assignments for these players will be announced later. The difference between "optioned" and "reassigned" is that the optioned players are on the 40-man roster; the reassigned players aren't.
Aaron Cunningham, who wasn't likely to make the team, was granted his release.
After these roster cuts, 56 players remain in camp.
The game preview for the contest tonight between the Cubs and Mariners in Peoria will post at 7 p.m. CT. A reminder that the game is on MLB Network starting at 9 p.m. CT.