Jan. 28: The Astros have formally announced the trade.
Jan. 26: After a few days of speculation, Ryan Pressly has agreed to waive his 10-and-5 no-trade protection to okay a deal that will send the veteran reliever from the Astros to the Cubs. Houston will receive right-handed pitching prospect Juan Bello in return, plus the Astros are sending $5.5MM along with Pressly to help the Cubs cover some of the righty’s $14MM salary for the 2025 season. In exchange for agreeing to the deal, Pressly will receive a new no-trade clause, plus an assignment bonus to cover the tax difference in relocating from Texas to Illinois. The trade will become official once the standard medical reviews are complete.
Pressly has been considered a trade candidate for much of the offseason, and probably even as far back as August, when he hit the minimum number of appearances to trigger the vesting option in his contract. Initially a two-year, $30MM extension, Pressly gained a third year and an extra $14MM by making 124 appearances over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, blowing past the vesting threshold of 110 appearances. While the Astros obviously valued the right-hander highly simply by dint of that frequent usage, Houston has been operating with fairly limited payroll space this winter, making a $14MM salary for a reliever entering his age-36 season seem a little pricey for their budget.
We already saw evidence of the Astros’ financial maneuverings in another major trade with the Cubs, when Kyle Tucker was sent to Wrigleyville for a trade package of Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and prospect Cam Smith. Like Pressly, Tucker was controlled just through the 2025 season, and he’ll be making $16.5MM in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The Astros have already used some of the savings from the Tucker and Pressly trades in signing Christian Walker to a three-year, $60MM deal, and today’s deal will surely add more fuel to the speculation that a reunion might be possible between Houston and Alex Bregman.
RosterResource estimates the Astros’ 2025 payroll at roughly $217.6MM, with a luxury tax number of $236.3M. This represents a drop from the Astros’ $244MM payroll and $262MM tax number in 2024, dropping Houston under the tax threshold by a bit less than $5MM. Owner Jim Crane indicated that the Astros would be willing to spend at their 2024 levels under the right circumstances, so re-signing Bregman remains at least a possibility, now that more money has been cleared off the books.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported three days ago that a Cubs/Pressly trade was “on the verge” of being finalized, though some late hurdles emerged, such as some apparent late interest from the Tigers and Blue Jays. Pressly ultimately held the final say given his no-trade protection, and it seems as though he chose Chicago over Detroit as his next landing spot.
Today’s news officially ends Pressly’s very successful run in Houston, which began when the Astros acquired the righty from the Twins at the 2018 trade deadline. Pressly posted a 2.81 ERA, 30.9% strikeout rate, and 6.16% walk rate over 333 innings for the Astros, somewhat flying under the radar as one of the more effective relievers in baseball. Beyond his regular-season work, Pressly posted a 2.78 ERA in 45 1/3 postseason innings for Houston, playing a big role in the club’s postseason success.
Initially used as a setup man, Pressly stepped into the closer’s role in 2020 and excelled as the team’s chief ninth-inning option, but the Astros still opted to sign Josh Hader to a five-year, $95MM contract last winter. With Hader on board, Pressly was moved back to setup work last season, but he’ll now be Chicago’s top saves candidate, which Nightengale said was one of the assurances Pressly received in order to get him to approve the trade.
Rookie Porter Hodge pitched well after becoming the Cubs’ closer last year, and while Hodge is probably still viewed as the closer of the future, Pressly brings much more experience and a longer track record of quality. Hodge will certainly still be used in high-leverage situations, and Pressly’s addition bumps everyone in the Cubs bullpen down a spot on the depth chart to strengthen the entire relief corps.
Pressly is the most prominent new face in a Cubs bullpen that has also added Eli Morgan and Caleb Thielbar to the mix this offseason. Relief pitching was a clear need for the Cubs given how injuries greatly hampered their pen down the stretch last season, though the acquisitions still reflect Jed Hoyer’s preference of not over-investing in the relief market. The Cubs did try to make a big splash as the runners-up to signing Tanner Scott, but with Scott off the board, Chicago pivoted away from another long-term options like Carlos Estevez to instead take on Pressly, who is a free agent next winter. Some more moves might be coming, as The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, Patrick Mooney, and Sahadev Sharma report that the Cubs remain interested in adding to their relief corps even after acquiring Pressly.
The bottom-line results were still solid for Pressly in 2024, though there were some red flags in age-35 campaign. Pressly’s strikeout, walk, and whiff rates were only slightly above league average, representing significant dropoff from his numbers in both categories just a season ago. On the plus side, Pressly continued to generate grounders at a strong 48.8% rate, and his ability to keep the ball on the ground has long helped the right-hander counter-act his penchant for allowing hard contact. Pressly also again was the among the league leaders in curveball and fastball spin rates, continuing his career-long run of elite spin.
As for Houston’s bullpen, the Astros figure to be on the lookout for some bullpen help to fill the void left behind from Pressly’s departure. Depending again on how much GM Dana Brown has available to spend, the team could pursue some lower-cost arms, or perhaps make more of a bigger strike if Bregman indeed goes elsewhere and the Astros won’t be adding another major long-term salary. Bryan Abreu, Tayler Scott, Kaleb Ort, and Bryan King project as the top setup or high-leverage options in front of Hader in Houston’s current pen.
Bello (who turns 21 in April) was an international signing for Chicago during the 2022 signing period, and he had a 3.21 ERA, 25.1% strikeout rate, and 7.7% walk rate in 89 2/3 innings for the Cubs’ A-ball affiliate in Myrtle Beach last season. While not ranked amongst the Cubs’ top 30 prospects by either MLB Pipeline or Baseball America, BA’s scouting report cites his four-pitch arsenal and increased ability to find strikeouts with several of his offerings. “He fits the Astros’ organizational philosophy of developing pitchers with three or more secondaries to play off of their fastball,” according to BA’s write-up.
The Athletic’s Chandler Rome was the first to report that Pressly agreed to the trade, and that at least one prospect was heading to Houston from Chicago. ESPN’s Jeff Passan added the detail that the Astros would be covering some salary, with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reporting the $5.5MM dollar figure. Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 reported Bello’s involvement in the trade package. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman had the additional details about Pressly’s new no-trade protection, as well as the assignment bonus.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
The Chicago Astros are looking pretty good.
Chicago just needs to add Bregman now.
No, please no thank you to Bregman.
Agreed, no Bregman!!
But the return for ONE YEAR for a RP that Houston was trying to unload – had better not be at the cost of a top 20 prospect.
Pressly isn’t any longer expected to be near the top of the heap.
I’d probably be ok with Canario to Houston. Give the kid a chance somewhere else.
ESPN says “The Astros will receive a low-level Cubs prospect who is not on Chicago’s 40-man roster, according to a source.”
Teams don’t give up top prospects for salary dumps.
Dog – Agreed!!
But man did Cherington blow it when he left Pressly exposed in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft.
Really poor roster management, one of the reasons he eventually got fired.
Nah, Astros are going to use the Presley savings to sign Breman.
Who is Breman?
That’s the one with the donkey, dog, cat and rooster who were fired by their owners. They team up to scare some thieves that have a nice house, a lot of food and gold. So they end up living large.
Lrtexasman: *PRESSLY. If you’re an Astros fan, you’re not a knowledgeable one.
An assisignment bonus to offset taxes
He’s thinking of Elvis.
No thanks
Do I need to say it?
Aloha uncle, no you don’t, lol! I don’t like helping out Houston but I hope this ends the Bregman speculation stuff. Let Shaw have the opportunity. Let’s hope for the best, maybe Jed is on his way out after this season. Mahalo!
You can sign 4 WAR players and watch the Cubs in the playoffs, or you can save money and let the prospects try to play in the majors for the 1st time.
As a fan of another team that will be fighting for that playoff spot, I say mahalo for the Cubs not signing the proven player.
Aloha web, it’s more than that, this current FO going back to the Theo days has not done the best job of evaluating talent, who to keep and who to trade. Too often they have traded away too much or not been patient to allow, work with the young players. I didn’t wish Cody harm but because of his injury, PCA got an opportunity. After trading away an almost 4.0 WAR player in Paredes Plus adding in Can Smith for a rental in Tucker, I at least thought that opened up the door for Shaw. Now, granted he is projected I think in the 2.5-2.7 WAR in his first season, not bad for a rookie. I say, save the money in regard to Bregman, because honestly the Cubs still need more pieces to get back to a championship caliber team. Bregman wants 4+ years, with our Cubs young talent getting ready to come, I’d only offer him a 1yr contract with option, higher AAV. Thus, better he goes back to Houston or to Detroit, Toronto imho. As a Cub fan enduring the past many years, I’d like to see some of the young talent get a chance. Take care now. Mahalo!
Like I said, sign a proven and consistent 4 WAR player and watch your team in the playoffs or save money and play the rookies and pray for a miracle. There are 3 times as many players with the prospect pedigree of the 55 FV Shaw that never make it to 2.5 WAR than those that do. May the odds forever be in your favor.
Guess who was also a 55 FV as a prospect?
One Alex Bregman.
It would be a terrible allocation of resources to sign Bregman and block an elite prospect unless they want to trade Hoerner and put Shaw at second.
And Nick Madrigal was once inexplicably considered a FV 60 prospect…
It’s not an exact science
Trading away the wrong guys can hurt for years. I have a feeling the Cam Smith trade will hurt.
Aloha Halos, I’m very concerned about that trade. Even if you said the Cubs were a “Tucker” away from a championship team, for one year of service, Jed could have offered a Horton, Triantos and/or Rojas instead to go with Paredes. I also felt the organization didn’t have a long enough look at Cam Smith as he was only in the system for so many months. Him being traded away could be very painful in the future. And let’s all wake up to reality as Cub fans, the largest FA contract given out was to Jason Heyward for $184mil over 8yrs. That was back in the 2015 off season. Realistically is this ownership going to give Tucker $400+ to stay? I hope Tucker has a great walk off year, which I believe that means he’s gone after this season. And imho, I’d call that a failure of a trade unless they got to the WS. I live in “realville” and the Cubs right now aren’t a WS caliber team. But I hope one day they will be again. Mahalo
Kg cubs.. You’re making a lot of assumptions. First off, they definitely needed a next level talent like Tucker. You don’t get that level of a player without giving up something substantial. Paredes showed that Wrigley was not a great place for his pull tendencies. Can Smith may or may not end up being great. We do know Tucker is…They’ve been full of 2-3 WAR players for several season and it’s gotten them nowhere. And the chances of getting Bregman are very slim…
VTA, you missed the point. 1 in 4 prospects with a 55 FV produce a 2.5 WAR in the major leagues. That literally points out that its not an exact science.
Do you know who is a proven and consistent MLB player today? Alex Bregman.
Why would it be a terrible allocation of resources in your opinion? Shaw is not a proven player. He has a 25% chance of even being MLB average. A 5% chance of becoming an Alex Bregman level of player. Bregman has nearly a 100% chance of playing at an All Star level.
Try to explain your position, because at this point you have not done so.
Wouldn’t change anything with Shaw, he’d start at 2B b/c they would move Nico if they signed Bregman. Look at it as swapping Bregman for Nico, Shaw just goes to a more natural position at 2B.
That’s exactly what they would do. Shaw goes to 2B, Bregman at 3B and Nico to SEA or someone else.
In the chat today Polishuk said the Cubs would move Shaw for pitching if they sign Bregman. Seems to imply cubs are in on Bregman.
With Hoerner not likely to start the season on the active roster, I can see Shaw starting at 2B on opening day anyway.
Aloha Rondon, I absolutely hear you. So to your point, can you guarantee that Tucker comes back and plays an entire season injury free, because what he suffered last year can return. Secondly, are the Cubs a “Tucker” away from a championship? Why I ask, because it made sense to me that the Yankees gave up so much for 1 year of Soto but they got to the world series and had the resources to sign him long term. The Cubs need more than just a Tucker and this ownership hasn’t shown it’s willingness to pay for higher producing players. I still think Jed could have given less, meaning not Cam Smith but even a combination of Horton and Rojas to go with Paredes. The other thing is, if Jed was more “alert” he could have asked Houston to include Pressly, take on his whole salary and maybe just Paredes and Wesneski are shipped back. That’s my issue is that our FO isn’t creative, doesn’t think of different trade scenarios, etc. But I do understand what it means to have productive players and my hope is that the organization can develop strong talent that will be the next core for a while. They’re not the best at evaluation, development and deciding who to keep and to trade. But I always hope for the best. Mahalo!
Getting Tucker for one year is actually more of a reason to try and get Bregman. Shaw can play second as Nico wont even be healthy to start and if you are “going for it” then you should not worry about blocking a good prospect but trying to field the best team now. They won’t pay Tucker anyways and they got 40 mil coming off on26 when Happ and Suzuki are up. Bregman would not kill yhem
websoulsurfer
As a fan of another team that will be fighting for that playoff spot, I say mahalo for the Cubs not signing the proven player.
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Of course, SD could sign the same player, right?
Yes. Cook uncle. Lol.
Why would the Padres sign Bregman? Explain that if you can.
Why do fans like you never ask what the budget is? You’re solution to improvement is always spending all the money improve the club when all the Ivy League gms who run every franchise all know that’s a terrible way to do business if you want to bloat your payroll and limit your competitive window.
Felix pie and Corey Patterson say hi!
Lou Brock
kgcubs You said “can you guarantee that Tucker comes back and plays an entire season injury free, because what he suffered last year can return.”
He fouled a ball into his shin. How does that “return” ??
kgcubs… I hear ya! But there are a lot of ifs in there. First, I think the fact that what you say is true about Ricketts being unwilling to pay big $$. Which in turn, limits Hoyer’s options to mostly the trade market for improving the team this season. Honestly, I like his aggressiveness right now. Tucker may not be the end all be all, but he sure as heck is a major boost to that team across the board that they desperately need. And to my knowledge, he doesn’t have an injury history that raises red flags. And as far as different prospects going back to Houston, who’s to say Horton and/Rojas don’t turn out to be great major league players? There’s no guarantee Smith will be. Like I said before, we’ll see how it plays out. And like you, I hope for the best! Mahalo!.
Aloha Astros, I meant more about reinjuring his shin, not necessarily by a foul tip. There’s always a risk. Tucker has been pretty injury free most of his career. Mahalo!
Aloha Rondon, very true. I had supported Jed a lot in the past given the restraints put on him. But felt he was a little too cautious in the past when Matt Olson and Sean Murphy became available by the A’s. Controllable good players, he didn’t consider. But all of a sudden in his walk off year, Jed’s making moves. I know Tucker makes the team better. And that one can’t keep all players but Cam was just drafted in the summer then traded in the fall. I hope for the best. Mahalo!
websoulsurfer
Why would the Padres sign Bregman? Explain that if you can.
===========================
“sign a proven and consistent 4 WAR player and watch your team in the playoffs “
Bregman wouldn’t do much better than Paredes did in Chicago. He’s not worth the loot or the years he wants
@web you’re forgetting the part where the proven guy starts getting old soon, and hamstrings the team with a big contract for long period of time. That is what the Cubs are trying to get away from…or at least it appears that way
@astros It wasn’t necessarily eloquent, but I think what he meant to say is that he can return from what happened last year (the shin)
Cub fans are the only MLB fans that talk about EVERY Cub prospect like a sure thing. It’s as if they think that a highly rated farm system is an end onto itself. It’s the taint left over from the massive tanking that Theo and Jed did leading up to 2016 World Series Championship. The years of deliberate losing netted the Cubs tons of high draft picks. Now that tanking is a discredited strategy, Cubs fans still hope for another massive injection of prospect talent. But every prospect is a suspect until they proof otherwise. And very few are going to be MLB stars. Hoyer would take Bregman in a heart beat if he could get him – leaving Matt Shaw to spend at least another summer in Iowa.
Let’s put this myth to rest. Jed had as much to do with the 2016 team as Hawkins has to do with the 2023-25 team. Absolutely nothing. I’ve seen a few people say that here lately and once I was eating and almost died because I live alone and can’t do the Heimlich maneuver by myself. Hoyer was the same deaf mute that he expects Hawkins to be. I hope that clears up the ridiculous nonsense I’ve been reading here.
@kg Sorry but I have to agree with Web here. You re opposed to them spending and also critical of trading as it comes at expense of prospects. So basically you just want all acquisitions to pan out and come at a bargain. All fans want that but it is in no way realistic.
Signing Bregman on top of what they already have would make them a pretty dangerous contender. Those are the moves you make when you are adding final pieces.
As for trading Paeredes, the guy has already been moved by 3 teams in just a few years. He’s had solid production last few seasons but I seriously question if it’s sustainable and I think DET, TB, and CHC might ve felt the sane.
Aloha Tigers, actually I’m not opposed to trading for Tucker. What I’m concerned about is the motivation, the plan? Tucker is a rental as you know. Currently I reside in the SF Bay Area. Was in baseball through college. Have so many friends and colleagues that played in the show and currently in front offices across the country. Well, one such colleague is with the A’s. When they signaled a sell off after the 2021 season, the same season the Cubs traded away their core, one player I’ve watch a lot of made sense to me, Matt Olson. GG defender, pop in the bat/produces and a nice replacement for Rizzo. Olson still had controllable years too! I thought, come on Cubs you may have to give up Brennan Davis, Howard, Killian who they just got from SF for Bryant but now you have our next 1B and extend him. Nothing and the Braves swooped in and did what I described above. Then Murphy becomes available the following year, we no longer have Contreras, same situation GG defense, produces at the plate and great manager of his pitchers. And again nothing!
It takes time to build a championship team. I wish the ownership would spend a little more or have a plan like the Braves but that hasn’t been the case. In 2016 after many impactful transactions were made in the previous 2 years, the FO felt the need to trade top prospect Torres away for a rental in Chapman from the Yankees. As tough as it was, it made absolute sense. The team in the summer of 2016 was right there, a big impactful trade for Chapman solidified them to have a chance at a championship.
So fast forward, the Cubs haven’t made huge moves over the past few years position wise in trades except for Busch. Dansby signed via FA. Jed is in his walk off year, the team is not championship caliber, it needs more than just a Tucker or in 2016 Chapman. That’s why some of us wonder what is the plan when you just traded away our current 3B, then our #1 draft pick from a few months prior and a BP arm for 1 year of Tucker? I wish our FO had the foresight to ask Houston at the time: Tucker and Pressly, his whole salary for just Paredes/Wesneski and maybe Horton for example. They get controllable years in Paredes, BP arm in Wesneski, etc we get potentially 2 rentals but it makes the team better and Houston saves some $$$.
I’m not against big impactful trades like Chapman was in 2016, nor am I opposed to spending money but do it wisely like the Braves trading for and extending Olson and Murphy. Or like LA getting Freddie Freeman, I couldn’t believe our FO didn’t try for him either. So, I hope the team does well this season but I’m still not convinced they are at a championship level to trade away so much. Though today they are a better team. Take care now! Mahalo!
KG is absolutely right. it’s not the trading of prospects or spending that people mind. It’s the stupid way it’s done. There is no plan. For instance the Cubs do the sell off. That’s fine. Then with a ton of good of good prospects he starts spending like a drunken sailor. He gives Happ an extension and Suzuki a 5 year deal both with NMC’s. He has 15 SS’s in the system and yet he gives Swanson a 7 year deal;. Then we have ONE awesome 3B prospect so who does he trade for a 1 year rental? One of the 15 SS’s? Nope. he trades the 2 3B we have for that guy. Look, I have NO PROBLEM with the Cubs being a Tax team. NONE. But if you’re going to be that, You need somebody with a brain to run it. 241 million is enough to put a really good team on the field. You can even have a couple of 40 million dollar players if you’re smart about the rest. Hoyer is not smart. He has a good young base that you can run through but you have to 1) Trade them when the arb years are over like the Rays do, And spend wisely and draft well. The best part about the Cubs is the Scouting Dept. and the draft guys. They are first class. Drafting in the middle they find gems. Hoyer could do something else but guess what they signed in the INTL. pool? Yep 3 more SS’s. He better start moving some of those guys because none of them see Wrigley with Swanson here. Now I like Swanson but it was a stupid sign. Cubs already had Nico there and he was excellent. There was no need. And his idiotic refusal to spend for a Closer is beyond belief. He’s done some good things but the overall team photo will never compete with the Dodgers and Mets but that’s supposed to be the point right?
No. No they don’t. Hard pass.
Anybody who thinks this is a good thing I have 2 words for you-Hector Neris.. Wait. More EXPENSIVE Hector Neris.
Pressly definitely just made the Chicago pen much worse.
Nonsense, In a few months time your comment will look so silly.
Still rather be a White Sox fan.
Masochism does have its place in this world and bottoms play their role.
Ha, I hope that’s a joke or you live in Oakland.
They acquire two Astros and suddenly that’s the entire MO of the team in your eyes
The Cubs just need to sign Alex Bergman and they’ll literally be the Cubs —- Astro’s style!!!
(They still need a #1 or #2 starting pitcher to not only be a NL Central Division Champion but also a National League Champion contender!)
cubs have their 2025 closer
They already had their closer, Porter Hodges
hodges is great but cubs werent comfortable with such an inexperienced arm closing. so they got pressly. there’s a chance hodges ends up in the 9th by the end of the yr anyway.
and most likely 2026 opening day closer
Pressley had a massive FOUR saves last year, and ’25 will be his age-36 season.
jammin… Unless something’s changed, set up men don’t get saves.
Unless something’s changed, the comments above were about Pressley as a CLOSER.
Yes, he’ll be the closer for the Cubs, but he was only a setup man last year for the Astros. Obviously, he’ll get a lot more save opportunities and therefore a lot more than just 4 saves this year when he’s actually used as the closer.
Hamilton Porter Hodge will get chances and become their closer for 2026 and beyond. I wish the Cubs hadn’t traded Hunter Bigge. He has closer stiff. And the Rays will trade him at his highest value in 2 years.
Look the Cubs have a lot of guys who could end up Closers. You have Boyd, Who if he flames out as a starter can do it. Might even be better at it than Scott. You have Hodge, who proved he can do it in the short term. You have Horton, Who was a Closer in college after his surgery, And might be his fastest track to the Majors. And now Pressly who has done it before but I have my doubts about. At least if I’m reading this right they didn’t have to add any years at least. Closing more about your head than your arm. Lots of guys COULD do it. But your head will eventually determine your ability to do it.
It’s Hodge, not Hodges, get it right!
Enjoy his knit-picking the plate and running the count 3-1 or 3-2 consistently.
Right! And when he doesn’t get any calls and is forced to throw it over the plate he gets absolutely crushed!
That’s okay Wrigkey is a pitchers park ball rarely carries
Unless the wind is blowing out, which is close to half the time.
Not lately it isn’t.
Might pick a new sport if you think Pressly is a closer haha!
His post season record and WS ring says you are wrong, but I guess you are accustomed to that.
He’s definitely the closer, and was for the ‘Stros until they signed Hader.
You’re off your rocker, Rocker. Pressly is elite. Four-pitch mix. Devastating Curve and Slider. With HOU, 333 IP, 31% K Rate, 2.81 ERA, 6% BB Rate. Postseason 45.1 IP, 2.71 ERA. 14/14 consecutive postseason Saves and a WS Ring. Also 46% Ground Ball Rate. Plenty of DPs. Cubs fans will be glad to have him. Good luck and Godspeed Ryan Pressly.
Rocker49, this guy, always with some of the worst comments…
Pressly was great for the Astros years ago, but if he performs for the Cubs like he did in 2024, he won’t be closer for long. Every appearance an adventure.
Pressly was in 5 save situations when he entered the game in the 9th inning. He got 4 saves. The one he blew was April 20th against the Nationals,
That’s a small sample but he has performed better as a closer. Still, given his overall recent performance, I’d be surprised if he did well as a closer going forward. We’ll see.
Glad he will get a chance to close again.
I’m not so sure that Pressly will have a lock on the closers role. People here are possibly underestimating Porter Hodge. Hodge last year performed well as closer – esp for a young guy who was basically thrown into the role.
He looked like he had the stomach for the job.
Do you think Pressly would have waived his no-trade clause without a promise from the Cubs that he would be the closer?
I guess time (and Pressly’s) performance will tell, won’t it Tom. Now go smoke a cigarette, lol. I hope he pitches so well, that he’d fill that role as closer. It would help the Cubs tremendously. And it’s doubtful Hodge would be used for multiple innings – except in rare cases.
without a promise from the Cubs that he would be the closer?
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I don’t think any team would make that promise. First shot at being the closer is a reasonable promise on both sides.
He’s definitely closing, Hodge will go in the 7th/8th inning role. I could see them using him as a 2 inning shutdown guy before Pressly takes the 9th.
He deserves it.
Cubbies see wide open central and are not f-ing around. Good to see
Too many others in the Central are f-ing around.
Sadly I’d say about half the league isn’t really trying but Pirates and Reds are definitely two of the worst culprits
I don’t think the Reds should be put in the same category as the Pirates. They have spent way more on FAs and keeping home grown talent than the Pirates, even during their current rebuild.
Not to mention hiring Tito.
Pirates are set.
Hayes 3b signed 2030 or something. His back is toast maybe but Triolo pre arb.
SS IKF 1 year Peguero pre arb. Not good but no other options.
2b Gonzales pre arb TJ prospect
1b Horowitz pre arb
Lf Reynolds 2030 or so
CF Cruz pre arb
If they sign Grichuk they filled their needs. Verdugo meh.
Obviously not a 100 win team but with 100m max payroll not a lot you can do.
Brewers bet on Yelich aging well even though he still had years left on that amazing Miami extension. Made a bad choice signing Hoskins. Big chunk of inefficiency.
Brewers have quietly won the NLC 3 of last 4 years. There is the appearance of being wide open, but that FO continues to push the right buttons and get just enough out of its offense to support strong pitching.
@cwsOverhaul Good point. They’ll play a glove in LF and get two wins from Frelick and tolerate a chirping press rather than put a slugger statue out there and get less.
They also only missed by a game in 2022. If they can carry on where they’ve been since 2017, there’s no FO in the Central that’s particularly close.
Still, replacement level production from DH and 1B… that’s surprising from this FO, Rhys’s contract or no.
cwsOverhaul: What’s been quiet about it?
The cliche every year is NLC wide open even after Brewers continue to get the job done.
Nah, they’re f-ing around. Jed’s mostly content with wolfing down the table scraps that the real contenders let fall to the floor.
Seriously? Kyle,Tucker is scraps? Suzuki is scraps? Boyd is scraps?
C’mon.
Boyd is scraps. Tucker is not. Suzuki was not picked up this year.
Tucker was likely picked up as a one year rental. It allowed them to dump Bellinger’s contract with the risky opt in.
wide open central?
brewers were without devin williams for 4 months, traded away corbin burnes, lost woodruff to injury, yelich got hurt late in the season, and they still ran away with the division.
and reds maybe have the best young player in all of baseball, plus some amazing young pitching- greene, abbott, lowder, chase burns
cubs fans are delusional
Yelich had a great year aside from the late season injury. Contreras is awesome and Chourio could have been ROY. Add in a good hitting Adames and they more than made up for not having the pitching. 2025 has no Williams at all and no Adames.
Reds do look good. I can see them jumping out to the front of the pack early on. Biggest question is if they can sustain it.
@johncoltrane
Most of the comments regarding the Central teams not doing much – are not being made by Cub fans. The comments are by the other teams fans in the NL Central.
Personally I think the NL Central is a solid division with many very talented young players (with the exception of the Cardinals)!!!!
Happy to hear! Ryan deserves to be a closer again.
Always good to have a veteran closer. Not what he used to be but solid still.
Cubs are not done! Cubs vs. LA for the pennant.
The article says they are likely done with all but minor moves.
Wrong link.
The Cubs win the pennant! The Cubs win the pennant!
I wish it was 2016
Jed has been a busy man
He’s been busy wheeling and dealing with Houston. I do like this move, but not to complain but another reliever like David Robertson would be a nice way to end a very good offseason for Jed.
Agreed on the second reliever take, I’m feeling kenley? Even more closer experience which Jed had emphasized he wants
Agree. I’m still waiting to see who they sent to Houston. The cash Houston’s sending back may mean a higher prospect. Guess we’ll find out.
Hearing an infielder, possibly Rojas.
No chance. I really doubt the Cubs will have to give up a top 25 prospect even. This is a salary dump for HOU and level of prospect depends on money return but no matter the money this will be a flier low end prospect.
Juan Bello, 20 year old international pitcher
Rojas signed with the W Sox.
I totally agree. He’s pretty long in the tooth but still really effective.
Agreed, but no reason to not sign him.
Bregman back to Astros incoming?
Most definitely
NOT
I doubt it
Please, NO.
I think, or hope so. I don’t want Detroit signing him for the years it’d take. I’d rather have Flaherty and Grichuk. Then let Vierling and Jung play 3B.
He damn well better.
Presley is always welcome in the H. Thank you RP!
We needed a closer and now they have him. Hopefully he still has that closer mojo.
Jed hoyer not dumpster diving???
OF going back.
Whoever woke up Jed Hoyer from his slumber, thank you
Pressly has left the building. Ahahahahaha!
36 yr old that blew 8 of 12 saves last year. So Cub.
The blown save statistic isn’t a good one to look at when judging a non closer.
Pot calling the kettle black are we? You need a nap .
Bita/kocita
How many accounts are you using? Now you are responding to yourself….
He only had 12 blown saves the previous 3 years combined as closer, I agree with Bita and think it had more to do with his role as set up man rather than his actual ability.
8 blown saves, 4 saves, 25 Holds. That’s 8 blown saves in 37 chances, not 12 chances. Still not stellar but nowhere near as bad as you’re trying to make it out to be.
When were the closing opportunities? If they were in the 7th inning, then not a good indication of how well he pitched. If they were in the 9th inning, then they are a red flag.
Web, most were in the 8th inning. He only had 5 save opportunities when he came in for the 9th or to finish the game. He converted 4 of them.
Hope the jays add 25 million to their Bregman offer…as an Astro’s tax.
I don’t think the Jays need to add any money to their offer. I would be willing to bet the Astros six year $156 million offer is not still on the table. If the Astros were interested it would not be under the same terms. Dana Brown said it is a “long shot” – which is a polite way of saying “no way in hell”
There are cardinal/arenado articles often even when nothing has even changed, what are you on about?
Cards aren’t doing jack this off-season except trying to shed Arenado. Every other article has already stated that….
They’ll trade the expiring contracts at the deadline. Just sit back and enjoy the Cards not making the playoffs for a few years…
That is Mozeliak not on MLBTR.
Which is it, are they ignoring the cards or writing articles about things that haven’t happened yet?
I really hope the Cubs didn’t give up anyone from their top 25 of 30 prospects.
The Astros paid down a chunk of Pressly’s salary to get a high prospect. rumor is that its a top 7. Would you rather have a proven closer for cheap for a year or a prospect?
I’ve seen that 20-year old pitcher Juan Bello is going back to the Astros. Don’t link it’s verified, but it might be true.
+1 Polishuk for “simply by dint”.
Hoyer should be happy to continue to facilitate the Astros/Bregman reunion. The Astros now have two 3B and rumors flying about some really wild accommodations to facilitate the Bregman return. Astros should trade Paredes back to the Cubs, free up additional money for Bregman and solve the Astros overcrowded infield problem.Sure Hoyer would accept a deal for Paredes with Cub minor league talent going back to Houston. Everybody is happy !
Astros have Paredes and a prospect that played last season in AA. Bregman would move Paredes to 2B where he plays better defense than Altuve who would move to LF where he would undoubtedly play better defense than Alvaraez. A win-win-win for the Astros.
With nearly $`100 million coming off the books at the end of 2025, $40 million for Abreu and Montero, the Astros can add some great players and still dip back under the CBT line for a year in 2026.
Don’t forget Wesneski was in that trade for Tucker too. Astros pitching coaches have already solved his problems and he is part of the starting rotation in 2025.
Wesneski had a 3.86 ERA last season. That seems pretty good to me. 4th or 5th starter on most teams, a #2 or #3 on the Angels for sure.
And then Chicago can put Shaw at 2B and trade Hoerner to Seattle for Castillo. Probably not straight up, but I’m a Tigers fan just spitballin here
Poverty franchise. Pathetic.
Any chance it’s for Suzuki?
Hum. Interesting.
Heelll no. Houston would have to pay the whole 14 mil and add something, imo. They just wanna dump as much of the 14 as possible to either get under the 241 threshold or to resign Bregman
I’d really like to know why he would say yes to the deal if he only got a new no trade deal and some money to offset taxes. So basically he gets nothing for causing an upset of his and his family’s lives.
Only Pressly and his family know what their priorities are and choose to live their lives, not the fans.
Hes not going to retire after this year so he plans to enter free agency next year w 35 saves under his belt vs 30 holds…….
I have to believe the 35 saves makes him more coin
Yea it’s a move to better position his future earnings at the cost of a relocation in the short term. Chances are his wife is a stay at home baseball mom and doesn’t contribute to the family income.
Lol. Maybe Pressly should’ve consulted with a MLBTR user poll to help decide the career/life choices he should make.
The list of pro players in history who make less than their spouse is very short.
Justin Verlander. Tom Brady. All i can think of at the highest levels. They aren’t married but Kelce is dating a billionaire, so much, much less,
At lower levels I am sure a large number of them do, especially in the minor leagues. Most minor league players are probably being out earned by their spouses.
Mr Showtime, I think that is the most likely reason. He is a free agent after 2025 and he will not close in Houston. Closers get paid. Setup men do not.
Good for Cubs fans!
An entertaining pitcher. That said, his contributions will be lost within the statistical noise, regardless of the stories that will be spun.
The 2nd part of this is Bregman signing with the Astros.
I sincerely hope not.
Why?
Bregman is 4+ WAR almost automatically
Paredes is a defensive improvement over MLB worst Altuve at 2B and his swing is built for that ballpark.
Altuve is a defensive improvement over Alvarez in LF.
Trammell is on the bench instead of starting in LF
I see no downside to that.
The reason for the trade, imo, was to get under the cap. I’d be very surprised to see them jump back over for Bregman.
For pitching prospect Juan Bello
So Cubs get:
Kyle Tucker
Ryan Pressly
Astros get:
Isaac Paredes (for Morel and Bigge)
Hayden Wesneski
Cam Smith
Juan Bello
Yeah that’s a big W for the Cubs.
Although not an excuse cuz they are a top market team, the Astros are saving money by trading Pressley and not having to resign Tucker to a huge deal. As an Astros fan they got fleeced but i guess the money could work out in the long run
1 year of Tucker (5.2 WAR)
1 year of Pressly (0.4 WAR)
for
3 years of Paredes (9.3 WAR)
5 years of Wesneski (2.0 WAR)
6+ years of Smith
A prospect that has not been named yet
Astros crushed on these two trades in long-term total value. It’s not close even without Smith.
If the Cubs make the playoffs they get a short-term gain for 2025. As a fan I would take the playoff run, but just those two are probably not enough. 3 more wins would not have put them in the playoffs last year.
Your WAR on Presley is irrelevant because on the Astros he was an 8th inning guy, he’ll close on the Cubs and be worth more than that. And Paredes on the Cubs was worthless they have the second deepest left field wall he couldn’t do anything. On the Astros yes he’ll still have all his shortcomings but the short porch will help.
Tucker is by so much the best player in either trade. Losing Smith hurts, however this is almost a perfect duo of trades for either side.
That is Pressly’s average the last 3 seasons. Same with all of those players.
What I said is smack dab on the money. You may not like it as a Cubs fan, but it is what it is. Cubs get a short-term gain IF and only if they make the playoffs. Otherwise, the two trades equal a huge win for the Astros long-term.
But also traded belli as well to fit tuckers salary
Good point. Taking 2.2 wins off the board.
You can’t seriously think the Cubs won these trades? Tucker isn’t signing an extension and Pressly is a reliever who is likely leaving after the year. The Cubs gave up tons for one season. Anything short of a WS victory makes it an L.
What an odd all or nothing take. Define tons? Cam Smith and Christopher Morel?
Just a question, but what happens to Cam Smith if Bregman resigns in Houston for six years? Smith will be 28 by the time Bregman steps out the way.
I defined it a above.
1 year of Tucker (5.2 WAR)
1 year of Pressly (0.4 WAR)
for
3 years of Paredes (9.3 WAR)
5 years of Wesneski (2.0 WAR)
6+ years of Smith
If you are wondering, those are the respective players 3-year WAR averages.
Does that explain it well enough?
You are just way too flawed in your math! This is apples vs oranges 101. You type that as if Paredes 9.3 WAR over 3 years is somehow better than 1 year of Tucker at 5.2. Would you rather have a 3 WAR player each year for 3 years or a 5.2 WAR for one – NOT TO MENTION Tucker got hurt so that was 5.2 over a partial season.
Your 2.0 of Wesneski? Over 5 years?!?! So that means he’s worth 0.4 for 2025. Got it. Same as Pressly.
Some trades just aren’t big enough to declare that someone got fleeced or someone won it easily. Cubs got the most impactful player hands down and gave up NOTHING in Paredes and Wesneski. Cam Smith if he turns into a star in 4 years okay fine maybe it’ll hurt then. But for now? Ain’t nobody in Chicago crying over losing Hayden and Isaac !
If Wesneski and Pressly are worth the same per season and Wesneski and Paredes are Astros long term, then the Astros win the trade long term.
That is Tucker’s average WAR over 3 seasons, not one year. His WAR last season was 4.7. Did you read the post?
I didn’t see where he included anything for Smith other than saying he would be under team control for 6+ years. Just Paredes and Wesneski.
3 WAR players like Paredes are far from nothing. They are well above the 2.0 WAR average. All of the articles about that trade raved about how his swing is built for a ballpark like Minute Maid. Paredes is projected to repeat his 2023 production in Houston. You may want to look at what that was. If he does, the trade is far more lopsided in favor of Houston.
Wesneski will be in the starting rotation in Houston, so if he is able to do that for a full season his WAR will be substantially higher. Even if he doesn’t, as you pointed out he is as valuable as Pressly.
Cam Smith will be in the majors in early 2026. Resigning Bregman would push that back to late 2026. He is not 4 years away.
That you are strident about this shows you are rattled and know he is right. Houston won the trade long-term.
The Cubs are going for it in 2025 and hoping to make the playoffs. If they don’t, these two trades will haunt them and likely cost Hoyer his job.
Comparing WAR for a SP and a reliever is nonsense.
Pressly can be far more valuable and post a lower WAR due to innings pitched. Wesneski was the Cubs 8th starter. Pressly will be a high leverage reliever.
Oh gosh not rattled at all. Just trying to tamper down anybody trying to claim the Astros won it big time. I have no problem with the trade and think it works for each team.
Wesneski unfortunately for you will NOT be a starter. For 4 years we’ve been hoping he could have an impact he just doesn’t have it and can’t stay healthy. Paredes is good at pulling the ball and that’s about it. The Crawford Boxes will help him. But it is no loss I worry about. Cam Smith will be the only thing that maybe hurts but you never know with prospects.
So those things for Pressly and Tucker is totally acceptable for me. Plus Hou paying about 40% of Pressly salary.
And back to the WAR on Tucker he was on pace for like an 8+ WAR season last year. His avg over 3 years was whatever you said it was but he’s a top 10 position player in baseball so sign me up.
The Cubs are a better team than before these trades. If Cam becomes a star in 4 years so be it. If these moves help the Cubs get to the playoffs where anything can happen then it’s worth it. Hope Wesneski and Isaac do something for you.
Thank you for some common sense. The two teams have different short- and long-term goals It appears to me that the Astros want to duck under the cap, while still maintaining a competitive team.
So they got younger and cheaper. And their under/over is still one game better than Texas and two games better than Seattle.
outinleftfield
3 WAR players like Paredes are far from nothing.
===================
In trades involving projected WAR, the team getting the kids and the years almost always projects out to be better.
The the Padres acquired Soto, they gave away a ton of future WAR. When they traded him to the NYY, they acquired a surplus of future WAR. 2 years of King alone was going to be almost equal to one year of Soto.
And WAR is not linear at the lower echelons.
Cubs get a closer, so that part fills a need. So did Tucker, It’s a short term win for them sure. But I don’t think it’s a win long term. The guys the Astros got will be there for 3-6 years and they are all good players. Over that time frame they will have much greater performance then Tucker and Pressly will in one year. Here is hoping your Cubbies make the playoffs this year so the trades pay off.
Hector Neris 2.0? I hope not…
This is going to be bad for Cubs future. The prospect will be much better than Pressly.
Must be a Cardinal fan, always crying about something. How can you they were fleeced when you don’t know the full transaction.
Muted because you’re a moron.
Muted for being too lazy to even establish a user name for his trolling.
Anyone who thinks Pressly will be a good reliever in Chicago is in for a rude awakening. Dude hit a wall in 2024 and gets absolutely blasted when he throws it anywhere near the plate. Have fun watching him get ripped in 2025.
No, that’s not quite true. I hear he has learned the Roger Beshens Football slider and he now unhittable; so great signing by the Cubs!
He’ll be great!
He was just wore out playing in depressing out dated Houston.
He’s about to have the Cadillac of surroundings.
Welcome to Chi Town Pressly!!!
tucker will be a met 2026
while cam smith will turn into an AS in houston
Copy, cut, repeat. Old material. Say your case once. Redundancy not appreciated.
Why would Pressly uproot his entire family living situation to go play 1 year in a new city like this? Is he that selfish?
Seriously? I’m sure he discussed w his family and they were on board. First off they don’t need to relocate if they don’t want to. Secondly if he has aspirations to play after next year he will find a much better market going back to being a closer.
Rey
What you say only makes sense if he is retiring after 2025.
Houston does not seem likely to pay Pressly for 3026 so he would be moving anyhow.
He will be 1036 years old in 3026 so I hope not. J/K. I know what you meant.
To be a closer. His career is not over after 2025 and closing games pays better in free agency than being a setup man. Its all about the money,
Yes, terrible move, he should have consulted you to help him make a better decision.
His family isn’t joining him for one season. He will get an apartment for the season and then find another place next year.
For more money? Closers get paid. He will be a closer in Chicago. In Houston he is playing 2nd fiddle to Hader. When he is a free agent at the end of the 2025 season he wants a closer’s pay day.
Its easy to ignore the most boring team in all of sports
Only a matter of time here Jed was under pressure to do anything regarding adding closer. Only surprise here would be cubs giving Houston cash to finish deal not the other way plus some decent prospects going to Houston. That’s Jed’s style.
Go Reds!
Go Reds!
Going to finish better than the Cardinals
cards are destined for last place at least on paper.
Facts. They are doing something wrong structurally in the Lou. I don’t know how so many highly touted prospects can fall flat in MLb or get traded to other teams and flourish. It’s so strange.
Lack of info about Houston’s return isn’t very promising. This reeks of pure salary dump
If it was pure salary dump would the Astros be paying part of Pressly’s salary?
Thats how bad / overpaid/ they wanted out of his deal
websoulsurfer
If it was pure salary dump would the Astros be paying part of Pressly’s salary?
============================
I think it is fairly obvious, but the deal gets them under th cap.
Still no name(s) of the prospects going back to HOU?
Bello, that’s it.
Buckle up Cubs nation gonna be a fun summer and October.
Cubs will be golfing in October. Another 83 win season
He didn’t ask to be traded. The contract and NTC was agreed to by both parties.
It was 10-5 rights not a negotiated NTC.
14 mil for a so so reliever, wow!
More like 9. Allegedly, 5 mil going to the Cubs.
Cubs outrage brigade is very disappointed.
the hints are saying the deal is contingent upon the physical…but there is an undercurrent that says the deal is one for one.. but, if the Cubs can get Pressley to extend.. then an additional prospect (Jaxson Wiggins) will be added.. All conjecture from marginal resources.. Wait and see, time..
Guy is already on the decline. Huge drop in K% in 2023 that hasn’t recovered.
1.99 era his last 32 appearances doesn’t seem like falling off to me.
@ReyDay
His SIERA and K% tell me everything about his decline. I don’t expect much from him in 2025.
We’ll see I guess, I don’t think he’s gonna be as good as he was In HOU closing but he should have a good year 36 not that old for RP anymore. I expect similar to Kenley Jenson numbers for Boston last year.
@ReyDay
Fair enough. We’ll see who’s right. Probably you but I shorted him in 2025 with $10K.
How do you short a baseball player lol I’m curious now, what’s the criteria?
Reported the prospect is Juan Bello
Where?
Bleachernation has it
Who did the Astros get in return??
northsidebound.com/2024/05/15/prospect-profile-jua…
I think you need to get a soapbox and sell your crap in a park somewhere.
Pressly is fine but also has a lot of miles on that arm..cubs need to add another late inning guy if nothing else to be a setup guy/ocassinal closer option when pressly cant go..porter has a very small sample size ..to early to know if he can be the guy yet
Pressly will serve as closer and teacher to Porter Hodge and a few other youngsters.
If the rumors on the comments here turn out to be correct, here is the scouting report on Bello. baseballamerica.com/players/307757-juan-bello/
He was signed by the Cubs at 18, so just 3 seasons in pro ball.
x.com/sam_weiderhaft/status/1786895082001399862
92-93 MPH fastball with glove side run. 12-6 curveball that flashes plus. A slider that also flashes plus but tends to flatten out. He was ticketed for A+ ball in 2025 with the Cubs.
Just heard that the return depends on the medicals. Will be interesting to see what that means. Apparently, Juan Bello is not the only prospect headed to Houston,
All trades depend upon medicals. Nothing out of the ordinary there.
The return the Astros were getting depended on the medicals.
Do I need to repeat myself ?
What?
A trade is typically only final depending on the medicals. The RETURN on the trade is not typically dependent on the medicals, and there doesn’t appear to have been a return variable here.
Cubs helping the Astros rebuild while pretending to contend….
But major league pitchers are not replaceable. Unlike the average person driving a Hilo or whatever
Can’t tell if Pressley looks more like Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum
Since Houston is sending $5.5M to help offset the $14M salary, does the 5.5M count against Houston payroll or is it merely cash added in the total trade package? Can anyone comment on that, Please?
The $5.5M is added in when the Astros CBT tax calculation is done. It is deducted from the Cubs total payroll numers for CBT purposes.
I have a good friend of 25+ years. He’s was a poor immigrant from Haiti. Worked three jobs to put himself through college earning a Masters and then a PhD (when he was 43 y.o.). He is still paying off his school loans today. Climbed his way up the corporate ladder. Guess what? When he met his wife and they wanted to move to Texas, my friend’s company paid him a generous relocation bonus (which was negotiated) in order to keep him at the company. It was enough to pay for a down-payment for his first home.
When you make yourself invaluable
and hard to replace, you can ask for things if they want you bad enough.
YankeesBleacherCreature
my friend’s company paid him a generous relocation bonus
===========================
That’s pretty common. My first job chipped $1,200 for a used car when they relocated. 2nd job gave me $10k towards a new car and a salary adjustment. 3rd job moved to the mid-west in the middle of the mortgage crisis and offered to pay the first $50,000 of any losses you would take if your mortgage was under-water.
That is pretty huge for the Cubs. I am guessing that this came out hours ago and was updated, because it says 11:08 cdt and it’s only 11:41 CDT now.
Cubs came into the offseason needing to add 4 or 5 pitchers to their pen including a closer and now they have the last piece of that.
The Cubs – Astros trade train has been fruitful for both teams, although I think that long term everyone would agree that the Astros have received more value.
I like how he was compensated for the change in income tax from Texas to Illinois. Smart move and I bet no small amount of change.
It’s around $350k
hopefully this means all the bregman talk will die down, I don’t think he would be good for us
today’s deal will surely add more fuel to the speculation that a reunion might be possible between Houston and Alex Bregman.
==========================
IMO, it does just the opposite. The purpose of the deal was to duck under the salary cap. Why would they eat salary on Pressly and then go back over for Bregman?
SadMsFan
Uh can we all have assignment bonuses as a work benefit?
=======================
The answer to that is yes. There are companies dedicated to that. If you are a controller making $100K in South Dakota, and they want you to move to NYC, they don’t to pay you the same amount. And if you get transferred overseas, companies will pay the tax differential.
It goes on and on. If my boss wants me to ply to LA for week, every month, then I am asking him for 12 extra vacation days.
Was initially surprised the Astros couldn’t get more and had to pay down $5.5M to boot. But then I looked at his stats and he’s basically a middle reliever now..
How so? More than one strikeout per inning and remains one of the best at limiting homeruns.
3.50 ERA last 2 years for a closer is below average….
I think his peripheral stats say he is still good enough. He doesn’t have to be elite. Last season, the Astros pitched him in the 8th inning to set up for Hader. Some guys do better starting an inning clean with no runners on with a full windup.
He could do it but I would still rather have Hodge close
He only would exercise his NTC to a few teams. Excluding ALL of the east and west coast teams. Didn’t leave many to deal with.
Good deal for both teams. Pressley should push the Cubs past the other NL Central teams and gives them another fall back option along with not giving Hodge the reigns too early. Really smart deal by Hoyer. Astros get a decent arm but it’s more about developing for them down the line. Hopefully it’s a trade that works beneficial for both clubs in some capacity.
Bold speculation alert! Wee-ooo wee-ooo! Given the trend, I kind of expect the Cubs to sign Bregman.
The Astros just pillaging the Cubs farm system so that they can remain competitive in a diminished AL is wild.
The Cubs has shown zero appetite to retain their talent so it’s like, what exactly are they doing past 2025?
They still have 7 top 100 prospects.
I mean, Houston probably didn’t want to make that trade but they DID receive Juan Bello-va prospect from the Cubs! I’ll see myself out…
So in the end, The Cubs send an all-star 3rd baseman, a stud prospect, a serviceable, back end SP with potential, and a low level lottery pick for one year each of a legit superstar and an aging quasi-closer. It’s very hard to imagine Hoyer not getting fleeced big time in the long run.