'Play Gasolina': Palencia returns to Cubs' bullpen, though not to 9th-inning role

SEATTLE – Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia hopped onto Instagram on Friday morning, posted a montage video of himself pitching and added a four-word caption:

“Hey Siri, play gasolina…”

With that reference to his entrance music -- “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee -- Palencia was announcing his return to the Cubs’ bullpen. Sure enough, the North Siders activated the hard-throwing righty from the 60-day injured list prior to Friday’s game against the Mariners, optioning righty Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa to clear an active roster spot.

Palencia grew into Chicago’s closer last season, worked as a high-leverage fireman in the postseason and clinched the World Baseball Classic triumph for Venezuela this past spring. His 2026 season, however, has been marred by injuries -- first a left oblique strain in April and then a flexor strain in his right elbow in June.

Following a five-game Minor League rehab stint, Palencia is ready to get rolling again for the Cubs.

“I’ve been growing up since that last playoffs,” Palencia said. “I feel like I’m a new pitcher right now. I feel way more confident and I’ve been working a lot this offseason and during the season, doing my recovery. I’m just trying to be me. I don’t want to change anything.

“I just want to keep attacking the hitters and I just want to be the ‘Gasolina.’ Just throw the heat.”

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the priority right now when it comes to Palencia’s comeback is to get the righty into games on a regular basis, so he can build back up to earning high-leverage chances. Righty Jacob Webb (2.25 ERA in 56 games) is currently the primary closer and Palencia needs runway to get back to form.

Palencia, 26, has only logged 16 2/3 innings between 19 appearances this season, posting a 2.70 ERA with 19 strikeouts against six walks. Last year, the righty had a 2.91 ERA in 54 outings, picking up 22 saves and striking out 61 with 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings as Chicago’s main ninth-inning arm.

“This is a player capable of pitching in big innings,” Counsell said. “We’ve got to get him back to being that pitcher. So, that’s what we’re going to try to do. And I think also, it’s just Danny needs to pitch to get back there, too. One of the biggest things, he just needs to get innings under his belt. And the more innings we can get him, the better, kind of in my eyes.”

Palencia said he is ready for whatever innings Counsell has to offer.

“I’m 100% open,” Palencia said. “I’m here to help my team. I’m open to every opportunity. I just want to pitch. I just want to be that guy, that guy you can trust.”

Decision on Assad about depth
Throughout this season, Assad has been a valuable reserve piece for both the rotation and relief corps. Even so, the righty was optioned to Triple-A, where he will make a start in his next appearance, per Counsell.

The Cubs manager explained that the decision was not performance-based, especially not when Assad has a 2.24 ERA in 64 1/3 innings between starting and relieving going back to the beginning of May. Sending the righty down had more to do with maintaining as much depth as possible, given that other relievers on the staff do not have Minor League options.

“Look, the way Javy’s pitched definitely doesn’t warrant going to the Minor Leagues,” Counsell said. “The other decisions mean we lose the pitcher forever. And in Javy’s case, he is there in case somebody were to get hurt. That’s, really, what this is about.”

Arias added to active roster
Besides the pitching moves, the Cubs also officially added infielder Gabriel Arias – claimed off waivers from the Mets on Wednesday – to the active roster. Chicago designated Owen Miller for assignment to clear an active roster spot.

Arias provides the Cubs with a backup shortstop behind Nico Hoerner while Dansby Swanson (10-day IL) is out with a left oblique injury. Chicago’s other backup at the position, utility man Matt Shaw, is currently on a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa, working back from a sprained left hand. Shaw went 2-for-4 with two RBIs while playing second base on Friday.

“With Dansby’s injury,” Counsell said, “we didn’t feel like we had another true shortstop in the organization. And Gabriel is someone who’s played a lot of shortstop in the Major Leagues.”

Counsell said Shaw will remain with Iowa for a handful of games in the upcoming week and should be ready to advance to back-to-back games the following week. The manager added that, if needed, Shaw might be available for the Cubs by the next homestand, but the preference is to get him a larger volume of at-bats since he has been out since late June.