Cubs roster moves: Cory Mazzoni claimed from Padres, Matt Carasiti added to 40-man roster

The Cubs look like they’re going to be playing the waiver game again this winter, as they claimed righthander Cory Mazzoni on waivers from the San Diego Padres Monday.

Mazzoni, who was the Mets’ second-round pick in 2011, spent most of the 2017 season in the minors split between Triple-A El Paso and the Padres’ Arizona Rookie League team, combining to go 2-0 with one save and a 0.59 ERA in 23 relief appearances. He struck out 48 and walked only three in 30⅓ innings pitched. He also made six relief appearances in the big leagues with the Padres, posting a 13.50 ERA (12 earned runs in eight IP), and made eight other relief appearances with San Diego in 2015.

As you can see, he’ll fit right in with Cubs pitchers with that beard.

The Cubs also sent outfielder Leonys Martin outright to Triple-A Iowa and selected the contract of righthanded reliever Matt Carasiti. Martin might wind up getting a spring-training non-roster invitation. Carasiti, who was acquired from the Rockies for Zac Rosscup last June, posted a 4.66 ERA in 19 appearances for Iowa, with 25 strikeouts in 19⅓ innings. Carasiti also made 19 appearances for the major-league Rockies in 2016.

Both Mazzoni and Carasiti figure to be in the mix for Cubs bullpen spots during spring training.

With these moves, the Cubs’ 40-man roster stands at 34.

At this writing there’s no official word on the Cubs giving qualifying offers to Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis, though the deadline passed at 4 p.m. CT. I’d be shocked if they didn’t both get QOs. As always, we await developments.