Following a flurry of roster moves, third baseman Kris Bryant was back in the lineup on Tuesday, as the No. 2 hitter for the Cubs’ series opener in Pittsburgh. He hit behind leadoff man Ian Happ, and manager David Ross indicated that’s the order he’s likely to stick with for a while.

Bryant finished his final touchup Monday with a round of batting practice that Ross called “really loud” and took as a strong sign the third baseman was game-ready and prepared to return to live action.

“The balls were coming off the bat really well,” Ross said. “He said he feels great, he moves around great, he’s ready to play third or left. Everything I've thrown at him and asked him how he feels about this or that, he's been fine with.”

Bryant and outfielder Steven Souza Jr. were both activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and were a part of a group of five players added to the active roster. The other three arrived to the team in deals prior to Monday’s Trade Deadline: outfielder/infielder José Martínez, outfielder Cameron Maybin and left-handed pitcher Josh Osich.

Martínez, who began the season with the Rays, was slotted in as the designated hitter vs. the Pirates.

Ross noted the improved depth of the team and the experience the new players bring as veterans, and expressed enthusiasm for finding playing time for everyone.

“We'll find spots for them and continue to define that role and how they fit in,” Ross said. “I think it's a really good job by the front office and to help fill some holes that it felt like we needed.”

The Cubs roster looks far different than it did over the weekend in Cincinnati. To clear room on the 28-man roster after all of the transactions, outfielder Albert Almora Jr. was optioned to the South Bend alternate training site, right-hander Tyler Chatwood was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain, retroactive to Monday, and right-hander Casey Sadler was designated for assignment.

Bryant had been on the injured list since Aug. 22, after injuring his left wrist and ring finger diving for a ball in left field on Aug. 12. He attempted to play through the issue at first but went 2-for-16 over his next four games before going on the IL. Souza has been on the IL since Aug. 18 with a right hamstring strain.

The Cubs also signed right-handed pitcher A.J. Ramos to a Minor League contract and assigned him to the South Bend alternate training site. Chicago’s 60-man player pool roster stands at 58 players, with 28 active players on the Major League roster (plus two 10-day IL players) in Chicago and 28 players in South Bend.

Martínez: a former Cardinal

A bubbly Martínez did not try to hide his excitement to play at Wrigley Field as a member of the home team, after years of visiting Chicago as the enemy, so to speak.

Prior to playing for the Rays this year, Martínez spent four seasons with the rival Cardinals, from 2016-2019. Though the fun, raucous Wrigley crowds he spoke about as one of the highlights of his trips there won’t be on the docket this season, he still looks forward to playing in a ballpark he is so familiar with and that sparks great memories.

He also looks forward to playing the Cardinals, whom the Cubs will host this weekend, following the series in Pittsburgh.

“As soon as I got traded, everybody's sending me the schedule, like, ‘Hey look, this is what you’ve got,'” he said with a laugh. “I’m excited for that, too. I’ve got good friends over there. It’s going to be fun because I played over there, and I’m here now, so I can actually feel how it is on both sides.”

Maybin redux

Last year, Ross made a point to engage Maybin in conversation when he was visiting Yankee Stadium as an ESPN broadcaster. While he didn’t normally spend a lot of time in clubhouses, Ross found himself in a 20-minute conversation with Maybin, who began his career as a young up-and-comer with the Tigers and Marlins more than a decade ago. Maybin is now in his 14th Major League season.

“We had a long talk about just how he had grown,” Ross said. “It’s the age thing -- he’s old, and he was 32 last year. We were talking a little bit about how comical that is.”

Maybin was brought to the Cubs to add some substance to the lineup vs. left-handed pitchers, but he’s also viewed as an asset because of his ability to come off the bench and fill myriad roles.

“That’s a very difficult role and I understand how hard it is, being a bench player -- and I didn't have to come off and hit too often,” Ross said. “He's had some success in that area so we’ll rely heavily on him in that realm.”