Top 10 Chicago Cubs trade candidates, ranked

Chicago Cubs Trade Candidates: #5 – Ryan Tepera

UPDATE: Ryan Tepera was traded to the Chicago White Sox on July 29 in exchange for pitching prospect Bailey Horn.

Look. Trading Kris Bryant or Craig Kimbrel is front page news. Those are the sexy moves we all love to talk about and write about, especially in the weeks leading up to the deadline. But a lot of times, it’s those lower-tier moves that wind up making a world of difference for teams.

Enter Ryan Tepera.

The veteran right-hander has returned to form in a big way in Chicago, playing a key role in the team’s dominant bullpen in the first half this year. Owner of a 3.18 FIP across 37 appearances, Tepera is set to return from the IL later this week for a big series against St. Louis, giving him – and the team – plenty of time to show he’s at 100 percent before the July 30 deadline.

His .180 XBA ranks in the top four percent of the league and a rediscovered slider has played a huge role in his resurgence this year. He’s answered the call for David Ross time and time again this year – in countless high-leverage spots.

On a one-year, $800K deal, this is as affordable as quality relief help gets in today’s game. Given he turns 34 this fall, there’s little long-term value for a team like the Cubs, who look poised for another lengthy rebuild. But for a team with its eye on October looking for late-inning depth, there’s a ton of value here and Chicago needs to capitalize on that opportunity.