The Cubs optioned Cowles to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
The 25-year-old was added to Chicago's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a likely candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Cowles spent last season at the Double-A level with both the Cubs and Yankees organizations, and he had a .286/.372/.457 slash line with nine homers and 14 steals in 92 games.
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Cubs' Benjamin Cowles: Healthy heading into fall
Rotowire
Cowles (wrist) went 1-for-13 with two walks and two runs over four games for Double-A Tennessee after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Sept. 9.
Acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline July 30, Cowles wasn't expected to make his organizational debut with the Cubs until 2025 after he suffered a wrist injury when he was hit by a pitch in his final game for Double-A Somerset on July 25. Cowles ended up healing quicker than expected and got a few games under his belt with Tennessee, and he's now scheduled to pick up some more at-bats in the Arizona Fall League. Per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cowles was one of eight Cubs prospects assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox for the start of the Fall League, which begins Oct. 7.
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Cubs' Benjamin Cowles: Headed to Chicago
Rotowire
The Cubs acquired Cowles (undisclosed) and right-hander Jack Neely from the Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Mark Leiter, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Cowles, 24, slashed .295/.376/.472 with nine home runs and 14 stolen bases over 88 games this season with Double-A Somerset before he was placed on the 7-day injured list Saturday with an unspecified injury. The Cubs likely aren't too concerned about the injury, given his inclusion in the trade. He can play second base, third base and shortstop and profiles as a potential utility infielder at the major-league level.
