The short answer to the titular question is that we don’t really know for sure, but I wanted to get into some of the nuances of this transaction. Be forewarned that this entails digging into the timing of the move and roster-rule minutia that I admittedly must rely on others to provide, so much of this is speculative in nature. What we know for sure is that the Cubs officially announced the signing of Colin Rea, which necessitated the clearance of a 40-man roster spot. Rather than removing Gavin Hollowell or the recently acquired Matt Festa from the roster, they opted for Michael Arias.
So Why Did Cubs DFA Promising Pitching Prospect Michael Arias?
