Cubs roster moves: Kyle Ryan recalled to replace Andrew Chafin, Cory Abbott also returns

Andrew Chafin was traded to the Athletics late Monday night. This, you already know.

The swap left an open spot on the Cubs’ 26-man active roster and Tuesday afternoon, the team announced that Kyle Ryan and Cory Abbott had been recalled from Triple-A Iowa. Keegan Thompson, who had quite a bit of work over the last few days, was optioned to Iowa.

Ryan is in his sixth stint with the Cubs this year with an 8.31 ERA, four walks and three strikeouts

Abbott is in his fourth stint with the Cubs with a 6.35 ERA, seven walks and eight strikeouts.

Chafin had a 2.06 ERA and 0.839 WHIP in 43 appearances for the Cubs this year covering 39⅓ innings. That was worth 1.3 bWAR, a good number for a setup man. Including four games he pitched for the Cubs in 2020, he departs with a 2.13 ERA and 0.850 WHIP for the team in 47 appearances, with 40 strikeouts in 42⅓ innings.

It should be noted that Chafin has a $5.25 million mutual option for 2022, which seems unlikely to be picked up by the small-market A’s. Thus Chafin’s likely to become a free agent, and the Cubs like him. Who knows, he might be back.

In any case, best of luck to Chafin in Oakland.