The MLB Trade Deadline has come and gone, and the Jed Hoyer-lead Chicago Cubs were……very underwhelming. They didn’t really live up to the “aggressive” nature that they promised in the weeks leading up to July 31st, and it left fans with a bitter taste in their mouths. Sure, the front office did do their job. They did fill the necessary holes that needed to be taken care of. But the guys that they got…..were basically “bargain bin” ballplayers that came to them at a cheap price.

The Northsiders were a bit of a let down, and didn’t bring the “excitement” that Cubs’ fans were expecting. But now…..it’s over. Now…..it’s time to deal with the fallout, and figure out how we’re going to utilize these new bats and arms in our every day lineup.

And to do that, I think the first thing on the agenda needs to be DFAing JON BERTI!!!

Pitch Jon Berti with a spectacular play 👏
pic.twitter.com/SeYsQ29HJq

— Six Point Sports (@SixPointSports) July 4, 2025

(I felt like I had to put something there, and this was the only highlight of Berti I could find).

Berti, for those of you who are unaware, has been one of this team’s biggest bench warmers all season long. In just 48 games (99 ABs) this season, the former Miami Marlin has put up a stat-line consisting of;

.212 BA, 0 HRs, 2 RBI, .264 OBP, .496 OPS

He has been, for lack of a better term…..bad. He has been nothing more than a replacement infielder for someone who needs a day off, or an extra bat for whenever Craig Counsell needs to “switch things up” mid game. But besides those two things? He hasn’t been anything special, and has turned into a VERY expendable individual on this roster.

The man has become a SHELL of himself when compared to year’s past, and is taking up a spot on the major league roster that could be filled by LITERALLY anyone else, including;

#Cubs roster moves:

-INF Willi Castro, RHP Andrew Kittredge and LHP Taylor Rogers have reported and will be active today.
-RHP Gavin Hollowell and C/DH Moisés Ballesteros have been optioned to Triple-A.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) August 1, 2025

MOISÉS BALLESTEROS! You know Moisés Ballesteros, right? He’s the #2 overall prospect in the Cubs’ farm system, who was reportedly “too valuable” to trade at the deadline. He is one of the MANY quality prospects that this team has waiting in the minors, eager for a chance to show what they can do at the next level on a full-time basis.

He has a bat that can become something special……and we’re keeping Jon Berti over him? That makes absolutely NO SENSE! I get that the kid only has four hits in his 18 at-bats with the team. But if the Cubs think the world of Bally……then shouldn’t he still be on the main roster? Shouldn’t the organization be trying to give him as many cuts as possible, so that he can get a true taste of the majors?

The answer is YES! There is no reason for them to ship this kid back to Iowa, unless they want to bring someone else up to take his place. They just traded for Willi Castro, so they don’t have to worry about losing a glove out in the field. If anything, a “bench role” would just give the young Venezuelan a chance to get more reps at an easier pace.

There are more reasonable routes that this team could be taking right now, and Jon Berti is keeping them from making those said “routes” happen. They need to dump him as soon as possible, and make room for the future of this franchise.

But in the end, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.