In a move that has generated considerable buzz, the Houston Astros are set to trade their standout reliever Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs, as reported by The Athletic’s Chandler Rome. Pressly has consented to waive his no-trade clause, which allows this significant transaction to proceed. Notably, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman has indicated that Pressly will be granted a new no-trade clause along with an assignment bonus to compensate for the tax difference associated with his relocation from Texas to Illinois. Additionally, the Astros will contribute financial support to cover part of Pressly’s $14 million salary for the 2025 season, and in return, Houston is expected to secure at least one prospect from Chicago, pending a review of the involved medicals, as stated by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Throughout the offseason, Pressly has been viewed as a viable trade candidate, a perspective that dates back to August when he met the minimum appearance requirement to activate a vesting option in his contract. Originally signed to a two-year, $30 million extension, Pressly’s contract was extended for a third year, adding another $14 million due to his impressive tally of 124 appearances over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, significantly surpassing the 110-appearance threshold. The Astros clearly regard this right-hander as a valuable asset given his frequent usage; however, their tight budget this winter has made Pressly’s $14 million salary appear steep, especially as he approaches his age-36 season.

Evidence of the Astros’ strategic financial management surfaced earlier in another notable trade with the Cubs, where they dealt Kyle Tucker in exchange for a package that included Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and prospect Cam Smith. Similar to Pressly, Tucker was under club control through the 2025 season and was poised to earn $16.5 million in his final arbitration year. The financial flexibility gained from both the Tucker and Pressly trades has already been utilized in signing Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal, fueling speculation about a potential reunion between Houston and Alex Bregman in the near future.

Recent reports from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale revealed that the trade involving Pressly and the Cubs was nearing finalization, although some last-minute complications arose, including interest from teams like the Tigers and Blue Jays. Ultimately, Pressly had the final decision due to his no-trade rights, and it appears he has opted for Chicago as his next destination over Detroit.

This announcement marks the conclusion of Pressly’s impressive tenure with the Astros, which began when they acquired him from the Minnesota Twins during the 2018 trade deadline. Over his time with Houston, Pressly achieved a commendable 2.81 ERA, a remarkable 30.9% strikeout rate, and a mere 6.16% walk rate across 333 innings, establishing himself as one of the more effective relievers in the league. Initially, he served as a setup man before transitioning into the closer’s role in 2020, where he excelled as the team’s primary option for closing games, although the Astros opted to sign Josh Hader to a lucrative five-year, $95 million contract last winter.

With Hader now part of the roster, Pressly returned to setup duties last season. However, he is expected to take on the role of the Cubs’ primary save candidate. Rookie Porter Hodge performed admirably as the Cubs’ closer last year, and while he is still projected as the closer of the future, Pressly brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. Hodge will continue to be utilized in high-leverage situations, while Pressly’s addition enhances the overall depth of the Cubs’ bullpen, pushing all other relievers down a rung on the depth chart.

Pressly stands out as the most significant new addition to a Cubs bullpen that has also welcomed Eli Morgan and Caleb Thielbar this offseason. Given that injuries severely impacted the Cubs’ bullpen performance toward the end of last season, securing reliable relief pitching was essential. Despite this, the acquisitions reflect Jed Hoyer’s strategy of avoiding over-investment in the relief market. The Cubs sought to make a significant move by pursuing Tanner Scott but shifted focus to Pressly after Scott’s signing elsewhere, a decision that aligns with their short-term needs as Pressly will be a free agent next winter.

While Pressly’s overall performance in 2024 was commendable, some concerning trends emerged during his age-35 season. His strikeout, walk, and whiff rates were only marginally above league averages, indicating a noticeable decline compared to his previous season’s metrics. On a positive note, Pressly maintained an impressive ground ball rate of 48.8%, which has historically allowed him to mitigate hard contact against him. Additionally, he continued to rank among the league leaders in both curveball and fastball spin rates, underscoring his sustained excellence in this aspect of his pitching repertoire.

More to come…