Should Cubs trade for closer Ryan Pressly? |
Anytime you miss the postseason, you spend the entire offseason wondering what you could've done differently to change the outcome. When it comes to the Cubs, there are many things that this team could've done differently, but the lack of an early-season bullpen comes to mind.
Since Jed Hoyer took over for Theo Epstein as President of baseball operations, the team has had a unique philosophy regarding building a bullpen. Instead of spending a ton of money and going after the high-prized names, Hoyer's approach has always been to look at things as an analytical piece and go with players who could perform above their projections. That has worked at times, which you saw with guys like Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin, David Robertson, and several others, but you also have cases where it has backfired in this team's face. Last season was a prime example of that, as Yency Almonte and Julian Merryweather were hurt less than a month into the season, while guys like Mark Leiter Jr, Adbert Alzolay, and Hector Neris never panned out. Even with the bullpen adding pieces like Tyson Miller, Nate Pearson, Jorge Lopez, and Porter Hodge later in the season to stabilize things, this team still blew a major league-leading 26 saves, ultimately costing them another shot at the playoffs. That can't happen again, and Hoyer knows that, so he made it a point to address the bullpen this offseason. Sure, having guys like Miller, Pearson, and Hodge back will help stabilize things, but this team can't afford to go into the season with the pen the way it is now, as Eli Morgan and Caleb Thielbar are their big relief acquisitions. Both have shown success in the past, but neither will take this team to the next level. Another massive concern has to be the closer spot once again, as Hodge appears to be the man for the job right now. No disrespect to Hodge, who performed well last season; he is still an unproven closer at best, and if the Cubs want to avoid a situation like last season, they need to find a way to add a stud in the back of the pen. Chicago thought they had their man in Tanner Scott when they offered him a four-year, 66-million dollar deal only to have him sign with the Dodgers. That was a crushing blow, to say the least, but with Carlos Estevez, who continues to be linked to the Cubs, and Kirby Yates, who may be the best remaining option on the market, the Cubs still have time to make something happen. However, with Spring Training less than three weeks away, time is running out for the Cubs to address their biggest remaining hole, which is an issue for the fans. During the Cubs convention last weekend, Hoyer stated that this team wasn't done making moves and that searching for bullpen help and another third baseman would be at the top of his list. At this point, the bullpen should be the primary focus, but at what cost are the Cubs willing to go to add an arm? With free agent prices continuing to skyrocket and Tom Ricketts operating under a budget he doesn't want to pass, finding the right guys to round out this roster has been challenging. That is where the trade market could come into play, as the Cubs not only have the assets and pieces to move but could offer anyone a better package. If that is the route the Cubs are looking to go, Ryan Pressley could be a name to watch as the Houston Astros could be willing to move on from the veteran righty. 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. These are the moves and questions Hoyer will face in the coming weeks as the Cubs need to add a few more pieces.
