Breaking: Cubs’ deadline deals for 25 and beyond are concluded with the no.1 trade.
President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer set a goal to start thinking ahead to next year in his approach to 2017 Trade Deadline, since the Cubs’ odds of making the postseason have diminished this year. This required addressing certain pressing issues and designating certain players for future assistance.
The days and hours before Tuesday’s 5 p.m. CT Deadline, the North Siders made progress on both fronts. The final touch for Hoyer’s team came on Tuesday when late-inning reliever Mark Leiter Jr. was traded to the Yankees for infield prospect Benjamin Cowles and pitching prospect Jack Neely.
TRADES PRICING INFORMATION
Cubs get: INF Benjamin Cowles (Yankees’ No. 29 prospect) and RHP Jack Neely (Yankees’ No. 22 prospect).
Received by the Yankees: RHP Mark Leiter Jr.
We sought to reach agreements that, in our opinion, made sense for 2025 and beyond. Before the Cubs lost 6-3 to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, Hoyer stated via Zoom that the objective wasn’t merely to gather assets. “We didn’t do a lot of deals that didn’t make sense for us; instead, we did the deals that crossed our line.”
The trade with the Yankees followed a few actions that were mostly directed toward Chicago’s Major League roster. In addition to acquiring reliever Nate Pearson from the Blue Jays on Saturday for two prospects, the Cubs also acquired All-Star Isaac Paredes on Sunday for Christopher Morel and two prospects.
On Tuesday, Paredes made his formal Cubs debut. He wore a No. 17 jersey—a number that Kris Bryant had previously worn in Chicago—and was placed in the fifth position in the starting lineup. Hoyer clarified that Paredes’ history of strong defensive play at third base, together with his power and consistency at the plate, made him an appealing addition to the roster, despite the fact that Morel was a fan favorite with tremendous offensive potential.
Hoyer calculated that the trade took around a month to complete.
Hoyer remarked, “That was not a deal that started overnight, but it’s challenging.” “I know a lot of teams were involved in that bidding, based on the number of teams that contacted me after we acquired Paredes.”
Paredes, who was first signed by the Cubs in 2015, was prepared for the new task.
Through a translator, Paredes stated, “I spoke with the manager, and he definitely gave me a lot more confidence.” “My only goal is to support the squad in whatever way I can. There are many skilled and seasoned players in this group. Overall, really good players in every way.
