Berti will start at third base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Berti will occupy third base for the third time in four games and looks to have at least temporarily emerged as the Cubs' preferred option at the position following the April 15 demotion of Matt Shaw to Triple-A Iowa. Rule 5 pick Gage Workman had previously represented Berti's top competition for playing time, but the Cubs designated Workman for assignment Wednesday and brought in veteran utility infielder Nicky Lopez in on a one-year deal in a corresponding move. Berti thus may have some work to do in order to build up job security, especially while he's maintained an underwhelming .250/.344/.250 slash line through his first 14 games of the season.
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Cubs' Jon Berti: Starting Saturday
Rotowire
Berti is starting at third base and batting ninth in Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Berti will be making just his sixth start of the season in Chicago's 23rd game. The 35-year-old has been used mostly as a bench player for the Cubs, and he's batting .238 with a .598 OPS and no home runs or runs scored, giving him limited fantasy appeal despite the six stolen bases.
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Cubs' Jon Berti: Drawing start at third base
Rotowire
Berti will start at third base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game versus the Padres.
Gage Workman drew the first start at the hot corner Tuesday following the demotion of Matt Shaw, but it will be Berti getting the call Wednesday against right-hander Nick Pivetta. Cubs manager Craig Counsell will likely mix and match at third base until someone emerges.
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Cubs' Jon Berti: Back to bench role
Rotowire
Berti is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Berti made a pair of starts at second base in the Cubs' season-opening series in Tokyo versus the Dodgers on March 18 and 19, but he's since shifted back to a utility role with Nico Hoerner (forearm) completing his recovery from flexor tendon surgery. The Cubs gave Hoerner an off day in Saturday's 4-3 win, which allowed Berti to pick up his lone start of the four-game series in Arizona.
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Cubs' Jon Berti: Collects three hits, steal
Rotowire
Berti went 3-for-4 with a run and a stolen base during Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers in Tokyo.
The 35-year-old started the first two games of the season at second base with Nico Hoerner (forearm) unavailable. Chicago didn't provide much offense during the two-game set in Japan, but Berti was able to reach base four times and steal a pair of bases. He's expected to fill a utility role once Hoerner is healthy.
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Cubs' Jon Berti: Could be temporary starter
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With Nico Hoerner (forearm) set to miss the Cubs' two-game, season-opening series in Tokyo, Berti is an option to slide in as the starter at second base, Jesse Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The Cubs will face the Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, and with Hoerner still recovering from flexor tendon surgery, the team won't rush him back for the quick set. Berti and Vidal Brujan could see time at second in the meantime, though Hoerner could be ready to go later in the month, which would push both players back to bench roles.
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Cubs' Jon Berti: Signs with Northsiders
Rotowire
Berti signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cubs on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
A calf injury limited Berti to just 25 regular-season games in 2024, during which he slashed .273/.342/.318 with six RBI and five stolen bases across 74 plate appearances with the Yankees. If healthy this season, the 35-year-old infielder has a path to semi-regular playing time in Chicago, which is facing some uncertainty at third base. However, he'll likely face some competition during spring training in the form of top prospect Matt Shaw.
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Jon Berti: Let go by Yankees
Rotowire
The Yankees non-tendered Berti on Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Berti appeared in 25 games for the Yankees during the regular season, slashing .273/.342/.318 with six RBI over 74 plate appearances. The 34-year-old's defensive versatility and ability to reach base at a high rate should earn him some attention in free agency, though a full-time starting role is unlikely.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Battling hip injury
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Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Berti was left off the Yankees' World Series roster due to a right hip flexor injury, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
The Yankees skipper noted that Berti's injury occurred while he was running the bases in Game 4 of the ALCS, and he would have been part of the roster had he not gotten hurt. Because of the utility man's absence, Nestor Cortes (elbow) will rejoin New York's roster to provide additional pitching depth for the World Series.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Absent from World Series roster
Rotowire
Berti is not on the Yankees' World Series roster.
Berti has made three starts at first base against lefties this postseason, but the Yankees have elected to carry Nestor Cortes (elbow) on their World Series roster instead. With Berti off the roster, the Yankees will either start Anthony Rizzo or Oswaldo Cabrera at first base versus left-handers.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Back at first base for Game 4
Rotowire
Berti is starting at first base and batting ninth Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS in Kansas City, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Berti received his first professional start at first base in Game 2 and will be back there in Game 4 as the Yankees try to close out the series. Oswaldo Cabrera -- who started Games 1 and 3 at first base -- will begin this contest on the bench.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Swipes bag, reaches three times
Rotowire
Berti went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's win over Oakland. He was also hit by a pitch.
Berti singled in his second trip to the plate before eventually stealing third as part of a double steal with Anthony Volpe. The infielder would go on to reach three times in the contest after also being hit by a pitch in the eighth, showing that he can be a solid contributor for the Yankees in his first start since May 24. It marked Berti's fourth multi-hit performance this season, while the stolen base was his fifth on the campaign.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Brought back from IL
Rotowire
The Yankees reinstated Berti (calf) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Berti is back with the Yankees for the first time since late May after completing a lengthy recovery from a left calf strain. Prior to being activated, Berti was sent out on an extended rehab assignment, during which he slashed .342/.422/.526 with two home runs and five walks over 12 games. Though Berti looks to be dialed in at the plate, he'll have to settle for a utility role with the Yankees and may not be guaranteed much more than the occasional start against left-handed pitching.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Won't return Sunday
Rotowire
Berti (calf) will continue his rehab stint through the weekend and "a handful of days" into next week according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
The Yankees can add two players when rosters expand Sunday, but Berti won't be one of them. The utility man has been rehabbing with Double-A Somerset since Aug. 24 and has gone 2-for-12 with a home run, three RBI and a 2:4 BB:K through five contests. It's unclear if New York believes Berti needs more games in the minors to ramp up or if the team has simply elected to go in another direction with its roster expansion, but it appears the 34-year-old won't be back with the big club until at least the end of next week.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Homers in first rehab game
Rotowire
Berti (calf) went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run for Double-A Somerset in a rehab game Saturday.
In his first game action since suffering a calf strain May 24, Berti crushed a three-run blast in the fourth inning. Considering the length of his absence, the versatile veteran may need at least a few more rehab games before he's ready to rejoin the big club. When he does return to the Yankees, Berti is likely to fill a utility role that probably won't include everyday at-bats.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Cleared for full activity
Rotowire
Berti (calf) has been cleared for full baseball activity and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, per MLB.com.
Berti's last game action took place May 24, so he'll likely need to play in multiple minor-league contests before he's deemed ready to return to the big club. The utility man slashed .273/.322/.327 with a home run, six RBI, six runs and four steals over 17 games with New York prior to landing on the IL due to a calf strain. Upon his return, Berti will probably see action at multiple positions, though he's unlikely to have an everyday role.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Nearing rehab assignment
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Berti (calf) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, per MLB.com.
Berti has been participating in hitting and fielding drills at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla. The 34-year-old last saw game action May 24, so his rehab stint could last several games. Berti is likely to settle into a utility role upon his return, and he could help fill the team's void at third base with Jazz Chisholm heading to the injured list due to an elbow injury.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Running at 80 percent
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Berti (calf) has increased his running intensity to 80 percent, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that the utility man is "trending back in a good direction," per MLB.com.
Berti has been on the injured list since late May after suffering a left calf strain. He resumed running in late July and has since upped his intensity, though he remains without a definite timeline for a return. Boone did mention Saturday that Berti is closer than Anthony Rizzo (forearm) to rejoining the Yankees, according to the Associated Press.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Running, but not back to full speed
Rotowire
Berti (calf) ran and performed other baseball activities Friday, but he's not yet back up to full speed, per MLB.com.
Berti has been on the shelf with a left calf strain since late May. He resumed running at approximately 95 percent prior to the All-Star break, then had a setback and was given a PRP injection. Though he's back to being able to run, Berti isn't likely to begin a minor-league rehab assignment until he's up to full speed. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said July 22 that it's "going to be a little bit of time" before Berti is ready to return, though a clear timeline hasn't been shared.
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Yankees' Jon Berti: Getting PRP injection after setback
Rotowire
Berti will be given a PRP injection after suffering a setback with his left calf strain, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone deemed it a "minor" setback, but Berti won't be ready for rehab games this weekend as originally planned. It will also push back his timetable for a return, although that remains fluid. Berti has been shelved since late May.
