Former Guardian Gabriel Arias goes from a 2027 playoff hopeful to a 2026 one by landing with Cubs

Right now Gabriel Arias is in the best spot that any fringe MLB player can be in. 

While he hasn’t done enough to stick around on a team’s big league roster, he’s out of options and was claimed in both of his trips through the waiver wire, which means he’s going to stick in the big league wash cycle. 

He added another chapter to that cycle on Wednesday when the Cubs claimed him off waivers, making them the second team to claim him since the Guardians designated for assignment at the beginning of the month. 

Gabriel Arias could help the Cubs fill their Dansby Swanson void

When the Mets claimed Arias after his Guardians DFA, it seemed like their decision to add him was one made around the 2027 as much as the 2026 season.

The Cubs’ decision to sign him is clearly one to help them win in 2026 since they’re 74-54 and a lock to make the postseason. 

But they also just lost Dansby Swanson to the injured list with an oblique strain that could keep him out for the rest of the season. 

The Cubs have used Nico Hoerner at shortstop in the time since Swanson went down, but he’s a second baseman by trade. Arias should fit into the picture as the backup shortstop (which was held by former Guardian Owen Miller, of all people). 

Arias has posted a .235/.273/.371 slashline this season across his stints with the Guardians and Mets, which fits into his career averages.

He started the season hot for Cleveland (including a strong series against the Cubs) but missed two months due to a hamstring injury. He was a quiet contributor for the Guardians in July before being cut.

He appeared in just two games for the Mets and went 0-for-5 with a strikeout before they DFA’d him. 

One added bonus that comes from having Arias on your roster is that he can move around the infield with ease. It doesn’t make up for the fact that he’s stuck out in nearly 42% of his at-bats, but it does help negate it a bit. 

Arias is out of options, which means the Cubs are going to need to keep him on their big league roster for the duration of his time with the team. The only way he can be added to a team’s minor league system is if he goes unclaimed on waivers following a DFA. 

While Arias is likely going to be non-tendered after the season by whichever team has him on its roster, he’s in a situation where he keeps getting big league opportunities thanks to his skillset and roster status.

He’s going to face a bit of an uphill battle to make a team’s 40-man whenever he eventually clears waivers, but that’s a future problem. For now, he’s going to keep getting chances.

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