Chicago Cubs claim veteran infielder Gabriel Arias

Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs claim veteran infielder Gabriel Arias

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Alex Patt | Last updated Aug 19, 2026 8:33 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs have claimed infielder Gabriel Arias from the Mets. Arias, 26, was recently designated for assignment by the Mets after appearing in just two games for them. Earlier this season, he was with the Guardians, whom he had played for since his MLB debut in 2022.

This move comes in the wake of the Dansby Swanson injury, adding some infield depth while the Gold Glover is sidelined.

The Cubs claimed INF Gabriel Arias off waivers from the Mets. Gives them a guy with some experience to back-up around the diamond with Dansby Swanson down.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 19, 2026

Picking up a versatile infielder in Arias.

Jul 19, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Gabriel Arias (13) celebrates after scoring during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Arias is known more for his glove than his bat. In 364 career MLB games he has slashed .218/.274/.358 with 30 homers, 111 RBI, and a 76 wRC+. He has played all over the infield, with 189.2 innings at first, 261.1 innings at second, 1,488 innings at short, and 572.1 innings at third. Sprinkle in 173 innings in the outfield, and he’s played pretty much everywhere but catcher.

The defensive metrics slightly vary from position, but he’s a career 7 OAA (Outs Above Average) fielder at short. Last year he was a 3 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) fielder at short in a career-high 862 innings. He’s fairly average around the rest of the infield based on OAA, ranging from -1 to 3 between the other three infield spots in his career. One thing to note is that he has a very strong arm.

Nifty catch by Gabriel Arias in the sixth, and a strong throw to turn a double play.

Arias also has hit a three-run homer tonight. pic.twitter.com/axKwsL4VQb

— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) April 11, 2025

It’s not overly exciting, and if he sticks, he won’t play much, but it’s depth. Since Swanson’s injury, there have been several plays that demonstrated just how impactful his glove is. Arias is no Swanson, but adding experience there in certain situations can be useful. It also potentially takes some pressure off rookie Pedro Ramirez in a late-game situation.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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