Cubs Trying to Sign Reliever Following Trade for Closer

The Chicago Cubs remain in the market for more bullpen help even after trading for veteran reliever and new closer Ryan Pressly. The 36-year-old waived his no-trade clause this past weekend, accepting a deal that will send him from the Houston Astros to the Cubs for the 2025 season.

Pressly has been with the Astros since being traded to the AL West team in 2018 from the Minnesota Twins. The right-handed reliever quickly won over fans in Houston with his postseason success, culminating with a World Series title in 2022.

Assuming the trade goes through, Pressly will be getting an assignment bonus to cover the tax difference plus a new full no trade https://t.co/ukyLOjGnSA
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 26, 2025

The Cubs are reportedly trading 20-year-old pitching prospect Juan Bello to the Astros for Pressly. Meanwhile, the Astros are paying $5.5 million of Pressly’s $14 million salary in 2025. As for other details, Pressly will receive a bonus and his full no-trade clause remains intact with the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs will pay $8.5 million of Ryan Pressly’s
$14 million contract and give up Class A pitcher Juan Bello
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 27, 2025

Bello made 22 starts with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at low-A Ball in 2024. The young righty had a good season, posting a 3.21 ERA with 91 strikeouts and 28 walks in 89.2 innings. Back in December, FanGraphs’ writer Eric Longenhagen ranked Bello 31st in the Cubs’ minor league system.

Pressly, who saved 102 games from 2020-23, was moved to a set-up role in Houston’s 2024 bullpen after the team signed free agent closer Josh Hader. Pressly will now return to the ninth inning for the Cubs to begin the 2025 season, but he may not be the only former Astros’ reliever to join Chicago’s bullpen this year.

Even after trading for Pressly the Cubs reportedly remain engaged with several free agent relievers, including 33-year-old Ryne Stanek. The hard-throwing righty pitched for the Astros from 2021-23.

Despite trade for Ryan Pressly,Cubs still pursuing more bullpen depth. Conversations with David Robertson and agent for Ryan Stanek have been a part of their due diligence.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) January 27, 2025

Stanek has also been a good postseason reliever, recording a 2.89 ERA, 0.82 WHIP with 29 strikeouts in 28 playoff innings with the Miami Marlins, Astros and New York Mets throughout his career. Overall in his career, Stanek has a 3.65 ERA in 402.1 innings.

While the recent results haven’t been up to par for Stanek, he would bring something the current group of Cubs relievers don’t have much of and that’s elite fastball velocity.

A RP free agent that continues to intrigue me is Ryne Stanek

His stuff is amongst the best in MLB, and it is exhibited by his elite ability to generate whiffs in the zone, particularly with his fastball. Walks will likely limit his effectiveness, but the strikeout upside is nice pic.twitter.com/FMhhObJviQ
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) January 24, 2025

You can read more about former Cubs reliever David Robertson here.

We’ll see what Jed Hoyer pulls off to end the offseason, but it’s actually quite impressive (and maybe that was out of desperation) how the Cubs’ bullpen has been completely revamped since last year’s trade deadline and they might not be done yet.