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, though Houston is currently still a bit over the $241MM tax line. 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.
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
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.
===============================
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!.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Lies lies lies lies lies lies lies
Pressly has left the building. Ahahahahaha!
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
He could have been traded to the Cardinals and this site would have 100% ignored it
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….
Weird. This site said they were going to trade everyone.
And yet….
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?
Its easy to ignore the most boring team in all of sports
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.
The blown save statistic isn’t a good one to look at when judging a non closer.
Get a life loser
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….
Hows the fake fiance weirdo?
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”
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
Cubs getting fleeced but the article is so bias you’d think they landed Judge and Cole for Horner
It’s “BUYEST”, not “biased”. Get it straight, and get yourself a strait-jacket for all your multiple personalities while you’re at it.
Must be a Cardinal fan, always crying about something. How can you they were fleeced when you don’t know the full transaction.
Stop attacking me based on my race and heritage. That’s not only mutable but I’m reporting you loser.
Muted because you’re a moron.
Copy, cut, repeat. Old material. Say your case once. Redundancy not appreciated.
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.
You mean the MLBTR loser poll…. Some profoundly dumb takes in the comment section…
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.
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.
That’s how trades go.
I think Paredes is extremely overrated. He was out producing his expected stats severely until he came to Chicago. I think Shaw could very easily beat his production.
Deal will come down to what Cam Smith becomes and how the cubs do in ‘25. I think Paredes will be a 2-2.5WAR player at best. Stros might be looking for another upgrade at 3B in ‘26.
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.
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.
Not if he can’t get a visa out of Columbia.
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
Cubs fans are all the same. Losers and white Chads
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.
Pressly will receive an assignment bonus to cover the tax difference from moving from Texas to Illinois? For a guy who makes millions and millions of dollars a year? Uh can we all have assignment bonuses as a work benefit? See, it’s bs like this why so many downtrodden people commit violent crimes, and other crimes too. The rich get richer and get more privileges, while the rest of us get f’ed in the a. There are so many extremely hard working American’s busting their butts every day, sometimes working multiple jobs to make ends meet having to pay out the ass for literally everything-not to mention those who are homeless and get scraps and barely drinkable water, while these rich pieces of crap get tax breaks, assignment bonuses, luxurious comfort, and so on. Everyone will get theirs in the end-the rich will get the scraps, and the poor will be filled. But let’s still give the good to others that they need and work together to stand against these injustices.
What a profoundly irrelevant screed. He had a full no trade clause. In order to waive it, he has leverage. Way more leverage than working schlubs have. Go to X if you want to pontificate silly about politics.
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.
I think you need to get a soapbox and sell your crap in a park somewhere.
But major league pitchers are not replaceable. Unlike the average person driving a Hilo or whatever
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.
Where did you put the duffle bag Joel? Tell us and this all ends. I’ve looked in Janet’s garage already. and saw the bus tire but not the bag. Last chance loser
3
2
1…..
Umm. You ok?
Put down the antifreeze
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!
This has nothing to do with the Reds. This is between the Cubs, Astros, and Cardinals. I think you’re in the wrong article man. You people are all the same
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
14 mil for a so so reliever, wow!
More like 9. Allegedly, 5 mil going to the Cubs.
We’re a week in, and I have to ask: Why have so many American citizens decided that fascism is good for America? It’s a giant middle finger to the many brave men and women who fought hard to make this a freer and better country.
This is a baseball site, not a politics site.
The wave of fascism is harming millions of Americans. Remaining silent while that is happening should not be an option. Unless, of course, you’re okay living under that kind of regime.
Actually the new administration is undoing all the harm created by a mentally incompetent predecessor and his puppet masters.
Give it a rest.
Yes, Ryan Pressly would have gone on being an Astro and all would be right with the world.
This is a wonderful troll post. I’ll give you 9/10 for this one.
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…
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 ?
Cubs helping the Astros rebuild while pretending to contend….
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.
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.
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?