While the Cubs received some good news over the weekend with regards to a couple of their key relievers, they also had to digest some more adversity.

Yency Almonte, a crucial veteran in the bullpen, will not pitch again in 2024 as he is set to undergo shoulder surgery.

“It’s unfortunate,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s difficult news but he’ll handle it all the right way and be back better than ever.”

Almonte was acquired from the Dodgers in the same offseason trade that brought first baseman Michael Busch to Chicago.

The 30-year-old right-hander made 17 appearances for the Cubs this season with a 3.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP before landing on the IL in early May with a shoulder strain.

He was working his way back from the injury and even got as far as heading out on a rehab assignment but the injury persisted.

“It didn’t get to the point where I was feeling better like I thought I would,” Almonte said.

[WATCH: Almonte discuss his season-ending injury]

So Almonte went for a second opinion, which essentially informed him that he had two options: Either continuing trying to push through the injury after another period of rest or undergo surgery.

He opted for surgery and will miss at least the rest of this season and his status for the start of next year is unknown.

Almonte said he has actually been pitching with the tear in his labrum since 2014, his first full season in the minor leagues.

“The tear got bigger than what it was like before,” Almonte said. “I’ve had it for years in the minor leagues. I was able to pitch through it and then it finally just went.”

The Cubs picked up Almonte as a buy-low candidate in the bullpen. After sporting a 1.02 ERA with 1 save and 9 holds in 2022, he took a step back last year in the Dodgers bullpen (5.06 ERA).

He is under team control for another season but this is certainly a setback for Almonte and the Cubs bullpen this season.

“It’s upsetting,” he said. “I came in here with a positive mindset from the trade, ready to go dominante. And I felt like I started off really well and I was in a good place mentally. Being in a new organization just trying to fit in and just be that source for younger guys and then come down with some injury that you think you can come back from.

“And unfortunately you can’t so it’s a first time for me. It’s the first big injury in my career where I have to go get surgery. It’s a little upsetting but at the end of the day, it’s part of what I need to go through and it’s God’s plan.”