has gone unclaimed on waivers and become a free agent, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. According to his at MLB.com, hed been released upon being designated for a signment two days ago. There was little suspense with this sequence of events after Tuesdays trade deadline pa sed. He was DFA to clear space for the recently acquired . As a player with over five years of MLB service, he can decline any minor league a signment while retaining all of his salary. With no trade lined up, Mancini had to go on waivers, where his contract made it a lock hed be unclaimed. Hed signed a two-year, $14MM free agent deal in January. The move didnt work out as Ryan Braun Jersey he or Chicago had envisioned. His few months on the North Side were among the worst of his career. Mancini hit .234/.299/.336 with only four home runs through 263 trips to the plate. He struck out at an alarming 29.7% clip, the highest rate of his career. Mancini hit a career-high 35 home runs in 2019 before mi sing the 2020 campaign after a colon cancer diagnosis. His return to the diamond after beating the disease was one of the sports best stories the following season. Mancini spent another season and a half with the Orioles, hitting .260/.334/.421 in a little more than 1000 trips. It wasnt the impact production of his 19 campaign but remained slightly above-average offensive output. Baltimore dealt Mancini to the Astros in a three-team trade at last summers deadline. His production slumped in Houston, as he mustered only a .176/.258/.364 line through 186 plate appearances. Mancini collected a World Series ring but didnt play much of a role in the Astros championship run. The Cubs hopes for a rebound didnt materialize. Mancini carries a .210/.282/.348 slash through 449 plate appearances dating back to last years trade. As a player whos best suited for first base or designated hitter hes a below-average defender in the corner outfield the lack of offensive productivity pushed him off the Chicago roster. The 31-year-old has a career .263/.328/.448 line in just under 3400 trips to the dish. Mancini is due around $2.2MM through seasons end and $7MM next year. The Cubs will be on the hook for virtually all of that money. Any team that adds him in free agency within the next season and a half would pay just the prorated league minimum salary for time spent in the majors, whichll come off the Cubs ledger. The well-respected veteran is sure to at least find minor league interest and could land an immediate MLB roster spot elsewhere now that thered be virtually no financial cost for another team to add him as a bench bat. Taylor Clarke Jersey