Cubs trade for standout closer Ryan Pressly |
The Chicago Cubs have agreed to acquire standout closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, pending a physical.
Details on the return package from the Cubs is reportedly Low-A pitching prospect Juan Bello. He pitched 89.2 innings in 22 starts and finished with a 3.21 ERA. Pressly agreed to waive his no-trade clause to make the trade happen. Pressly wanted a chance to close games again, as he wouldn't be able to do that with the Astros as they currently have Josh Hader. As part of the deal, the Astros will contribute toward his $14 million salary for the 2025 season. In 2024, he had a 3.49 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 59 appearances. In seven seasons with the Astros, he had a 2.81 ERA with 1.03 WHIP with 11 saves. He has a career 3.27 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, including a sparkling 2.78 ERA in 45.1 postseason innings. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story. CubsHQ writeup earlier last week on Pressly: Despite being 36 years old and nearing the end of his career, Pressley remains one of the more reliable relief options in the game, even after going 2-3 with a 3.49 ERA last season. The two-time all-star has been around the game for a long time, and there was a time when he was one of the more dominating relievers in baseball. That came when he was the Astros' closer from 2020 to 2023. During those seasons, Pressly emerged as one of the top closers in baseball, combining for a 3.17 ERA and 105 saves. That included a career-high 33 saves in 2022, 31 in 2023, and 26 in 2022, as Pressley cemented himself as one of the best in the game, even if he wasn't considered a lockdown guy. He is not your typical closer. Pressly doesn't live in the high-90s range with his fastball but instead uses location and deception to get hitters out. When he is on top of his game, you can expect his fastball to be in the 93-94 MPH range, but the breaking ball will continue to be his go-to pitch. Even with his struggles over the past two seasons, Pressly is still a guy that anyone can count on, and he would be an upgrade for a pen that needs a lift. With a modest 14 million dollars for this season, Pressly is still making a lot of money, but it's not as much as Scott and some of these other guys would cost. REPORT: The Cubs are finalizing a trade to acquire Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, per @JeffPassan. pic.twitter.com/644xpGmC3J RHP Ryan Pressly will reportedly waive his no-trade clause to accept a deal to the Chicago Cubs. pic.twitter.com/9YsOwD2xYN Ryan Pressly in 7 seasons with Houston 🔥
2.81 ERA
1.03 WHIP
111 Saves
