The World Series is over, so the MLB off-season has begun.
Cubs Article XX-B MLB free-agents Jesse Chavez, Jorge de la Rosa, Jaime Garcia, Daniel Murphy, Bobby Wilson, and Justin Wilson were automatically removed from the Cubs MLB Reserve List at 9 AM (Eastern) today, so the 40-man roster now stands at 34 (six slots are open).
There are five other players on the 40 with various types of 2019 contract options who could become Article XX-B free-agents in the coming days (no later than Friday, although many contract option deadlines are prior to Friday), including Cole Hamels (club option), Jason Heyward (player opt-out option), Brandon Kintzler (club option, or a player option if club option is declined), Jose Quintana (club option), and Pedro Strop (club option), although only Hamels is likely to actually become a FA.