The Orioles have acquired right-hander Cody Poteet from the Cubs in exchange for cash considerations, per an announcement out of Baltimore. Poteet had been designated for assignment by the Cubs prior to Opening Day to make room for right-hander Brad Keller on their 40-man roster. The righty has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles, whose 40-man roster now stands at 39.
Poteet, 30, was acquired by the Cubs over the offseason as the return in the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Yankees. Chicago’s priority in that trade was, of course, dumping the remainder of Bellinger’s contract after he decided against opting out last winter. Bellinger, who is now serving as the primary center fielder in the Bronx, was squeezed out of the Cubs’ lineup by the club trading for Kyle Tucker to man right field as well as the emergence of top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong in center. Given the nature of the trade, the club’s decision to DFA Poteet earlier this week was hardly a surprise despite frustration from many on the North Side over the issue.
For the Orioles, the move means adding some depth to a pitching staff that is currently without Grayson Rodriguez, Trevor Rogers, Chayce McDermott, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells due to injuries. A fourth-round pick by the Marlins back in 2015, Poteet made his big league debut in Miami during the 2021 season as a starter, making seven appearances as part of the club’s rotation where he pitched to a 4.99 ERA (85 ERA+) with a 5.62 FIP. Those lackluster results in a rotation role led the Marlins to use him more as a swing man in 2022, and he did fairly well for himself in the role; Poteet threw 28 innings at the big league level in total spread between two starts and ten relief appearances that year, and his 3.86 ERA (106 ERA+) was decent despite a lackluster 18.4% strikeout rate.
Unfortunately, Poteet’s Marlins career would come to an end when he required Tommy John surgery in late 2022, leading Miami to designate him for assignment. He spent the 2023 campaign rehabbing and made a brief appearance in the Royals’ minor league system before landing a major league deal with the Yankees last January. The right-hander did reasonably well for himself in the Bronx, posting a strong 2.22 ERA in 24 1/3 innings of work at the big league level while pitching to a 3.40 ERA in 13 minor league starts last year.
Now on his third franchise in the past four months, Poteet heads to Triple-A to serve as depth behind the club’s rotation, which still includes a solid quintet of Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, Dean Kremer, and Cade Povich even after the aforementioned injuries. Kyle Gibson figures to join that group at some point in the season’s first month or so after signing on with the Orioles earlier this month, but Poteet provides optionable insurance for the club against another injury in the meantime.
If a starter were to go down, it’s possible Poteet could slide directly into the rotation, although with veteran swingman Albert Suarez in the big league bullpen it seems more likely the Orioles would lean on Suarez to start while pushing Poteet into his spot in the bullpen. Poteet will likely be pushed further down the club’s depth chart once Gibson is ready to pitch, but an optionable arm capable of throwing either out of the rotation or in relief as needed is still a valuable asset to have in the fold over the course of a 162-game season.
As for the Cubs, the club already has plenty of optionable starting depth already that may have made it easier to part ways with the righty. Optionable righty Ben Brown is currently serving as the club’s fifth starter with southpaw Jordan Wicks standing as the likely next man up at Triple-A, though the eventual return of Javier Assad (who also has options remaining) from an oblique strain could push both youngsters down the depth chart in the future.
The Yankees should have tried to get him back, bummed to see him elsewhere in the AL East. Especially with Carlos Carrasco as starter number 5, I want options.
Yeah, he gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in 2 innings today.
The O’s have higher priority to claim him first even if the Yankees wanted to.
YBC – It wasn’t a waiver claim, it was a trade.
Yes. You’re correct, Lars. I don’t see who the Yankees would drop for Poteet as well.
Ricketts gardener must feel like it’s Christmas in March as Hoyer keeps giving people away for shrubbery.
Who says they didn’t try?
Maybe the O’s offered more money.
Or, maybe the Yankees didn’t want to take anyone off their 40.
@Lars – Braden Shewmake could have been cut or Yerry De Los Santos.
Make it Shewmake. Poteet if he’s healthy has to be a better option than Carrasco.
Boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew!
Optionable depth arms are useful over the course of 162, so sure, why not?
Welcome aboard, Cody!
Orioles should have dangled Mayo and McDermott for Cease. Maybe they should be asking Miami what would it take for Sandy.
Never rub another man’s rhubarb.
They are probably talking to Miami but not San Diego because they don’t want another ace in his walk year.
Mayo and McDermott for 1 yr of Cease is way more than DH Hall and Joey Ortiz. Sandy is likely sticking around till the deadline where his value will be super high as long as he stays healthy and does typical Sandy for the 1st half.
My hope is that the O’s skip Cease and make the Fish an offer they can’t refuse prior to the deadline to maximize the benefit for the whole rotation sliding down a spot.
MacGromit;
Two games in and the O’s D picked up where it left last season. Not so much physical errors…..mental ones. Out of position, throwing to the wrong base, etc. Going to miss McCann as the back-up catcher (and that has nothing to do with O).
Brandon Hyde worked through this with the position players in his early years with the O’s. Sure he’ll do it with these youngsters as they’re far more talented. Still stand by that they may have to take a step back in 2025 to get those guys in line. With all due understanding that MLB for fans and media revolves around the 3 outcomes and that pitching is all about K vs. W and K/9, fact is that fundamentals – primarily playing smart D )and baserunning) – is what makes a difference on the impact the pitching staff will have in winning or losing games…..
Add that MLB is now a bullpen game, and the O’s FO did the smart thing and strengthened that area. Nowhere near the expense of starting pitching and far, far more effective in MLB today.
Great to see you posting.
Your welcome Belli. Wish you well Cody P.
Little Poteet!
Lost his sweep
That’s what I call him!
Cubs legend.
Jays asleep at the wheel. Love to see it.
Not the orioles acquisition we are hoping for.
Way too soon to tell.
O’s actually 6 pitchers down. You forgot Kittredge.
Vacationing at Club Med, Andrew Kittridge would like a mention. “For the Orioles, the move means added some depth to a pitching staff that is currently without Grayson Rodriguez, Trevor Rogers, Chayce McDermott, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells due to injuries.”
So now Jed shows absolutely nothing in the rerun for Cody bellinger. Way to go Jed! Here’s wishing that Cody has one heckuva with the Yankees because it would hasten your exit out of town.
Nice to see that a team took my advice on this guy.
mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/cubs-designate-cody-pot…
You’re welcome, Baltimore.
Another dumb move by the Cubs. Here, trade away 3 starters for a one yr rental. Here, trade away a former MVP for a bag of popcorn. Only good thing about this is that Jed will get canned.
I still firmly believe this trade was all a Ricketts promotion. And it was done only to create a belief that Ricketts ‘toy’, was trying to create publicity – that would promote ticket sales and create more spending in the ‘Rickettsville neighborhood’.
Trading Smith who was off to a phenomenal start within the Cubs organization – for ONE year of Tucker (and giving away Belli), made zero sense. Seems to only make sense if you consider the desire to sell tickets and create publicity.
So not only did Ricketts not spend the money they saved on trading Bellinger they have now traded the guy they got for him lol.. of course
Hopefully this helps the Cubs break even.
An we get pateet back and instead give the orioles Morgan- if the orioles go for it? At least we’d still be showing a return for bellinger.