The Cubs declined their part of a $5 million mutual option with Boxberger (forearm) on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boxberger will get an $800,000 buyout as he moves into free agency. The veteran reliever logged only 5.1 major-league innings in the second half of the 2023 season due to nagging forearm issues, but he compiled a 3.15 ERA in 141 appearances between 2021-22 and could be viewed as a potential bounceback candidate among the long list of teams seeking bullpen help.

Boxberger (forearm) is expected to resume throwing in mid-November, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boxberger made only five relief appearances with the Cubs in the second half of the 2023 campaign because of forearm troubles, but he should be able to enjoy a relatively normal offseason. The veteran right-hander carries a $5 million mutual option (or $800,000 buyout) for 2024.

The Cubs placed Boxberger on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right forearm strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boxberger already missed nearly four months earlier this year due to a forearm injury, and his latest trip to the injured list will keep him out for the rest of the regular season and the first part of a potential Cubs playoff run. Keegan Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to fill Boxberger's spot in the bullpen.

Boxberger (forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boxberger has been sidelined since mid-May with a right forearm strain but is finally ready to rejoin the Cubs' bullpen after making eight rehab appearances, the last four of which were scoreless. He could be eased back into a high-leverage role but eventually should work as a setup man.

Boxberger (forearm) is scheduled to make another rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

The appearance will be the seventh overall of Boxberger's rehab assignment and his fourth in a row for Iowa, with whom he's given up two earned runs on three hits and two walks across two innings through his first three outings. If Boxberger checks out fine following Wednesday's appearance, the Cubs could look to bring him back from the 60-day injured list when the active roster expands to 28 players Friday. Once activated, Boxberger will likely handle a middle-innings role out of the Cubs' bullpen.

Boxberger (forearm) will start a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

He has faced hitters in live batting practice and is ready to begin pitching in games. Boxberger has been on the shelf with a forearm strain since mid-May, so he could require a longer rehab stint than the typical reliever, but he will likely make it back before the end of the month if he avoids setbacks.

Boxberger (forearm) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boxberger threw several bullpen sessions in late July, and he will get back up on the mound Tuesday. It's unclear how many more sessions he will need before heading out on a rehab assignment, but it may not be many.

Boxberger (forearm) is set to throw another bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boxberger could advance to live batting practice or perhaps even a minor-league rehab assignment if Friday's workout goes smoothly. He originally landed on the injured list in mid-May because of a right forearm strain and then suffered a setback in late June. The veteran reliever is trending toward returning to the Cubs' bullpen around mid-August.

Boxberger (forearm) is throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is his first mound workout since he suffered a setback in late June. On the shelf since mid-May, Boxberger could be an option again for the Cubs' bullpen sometime in August if he is able to avoid further complications.

Boxberger (forearm) is expected to begin throwing bullpen sessions during the upcoming week, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boxberger started up his throwing program at the Cubs' spring training facility in Arizona earlier this month and has been in the process of gradually stretching out his long-toss distance off flat ground over the past three weeks. He now looks like he's ready to move on to the next phase of his rehab by stepping back on the mound. After a week of throwing off the mound, Boxberger could then be cleared to face hitters in live batting practice before he heads out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Boxberger has been on the shelf since May 15 with a strained right forearm.