Cubs roster move: Jason Kipnis added to 40-man roster, Trevor Megill outrighted

With one week to go before this year’s 60-game season gets under way, the Cubs have made a 40-man roster move.

Jason Kipnis, who was signed to a minor-league contract February 18, has had his contract selected and added to the 40-man roster. Kipnis is expected to get significant playing time at second base this season, likely platooning with David Bote.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Kipnis, the Cubs sent a cash consideration to the San Diego Padres in exchange for the rights to right-handed pitcher Trevor Megill . Megill was selected by the Cubs from the Padres in last December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Megill has been outrighted off the 40-man and assigned to the Cubs’ South Bend Alternate Training Site.

The Cubs 40-man roster thus continues to be full at 40, and the team’s 60-man player pool remains at 57 players: 39 at Wrigley Field and 18 at South Bend, so three more players could be added to that 60-man pool before or during the 60-game season. Of those 60, 30 will begin the regular season next Friday and the rest will go to South Bend.