Reds lose former top pitching prospect to Cubs in strange end-of-season roster move

The Chicago Cubs claimed right-handed pitcher Julian Aguiar off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds less than a week after his 2026 debut. Aguiar, 25, missed the entire 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and spent most of 2026 pitching for Triple-A Louisville, where he recorded 56 strikeouts over 58 innings across 16 starts. Since he was added to the Cubs roster after September 1, he is ineligible for their postseason roster but could start Chicago's final regular-season game to allow the team to rest starters before the Wild Card Series.

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