The Chicago Cubs completed the renovation of their bullpen this offseason as the team traded for right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Brasier on Tuesday night.
The addition of Brasier caps an offseason where the Cubs added Ryan Pressly, Eli Morgan, and Caleb Thielbar as the Major League additions to their bullpen. The Cubs made a handful of minor-league deals throughout the offseason and while it seems likely that there will be a veteran or two who emerge from that mix, the pitcher won't be Rob Zastryzny.
Among the first moves that the Cubs made this offseason was claiming Zastryzny off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. At that time, outside of Zastryzny's connection to the 2016 World Series team, many fans rolled their eyes at the addition. It was a waiver claim that many Cubs fans felt was Jed Hoyer once again trying to improve on the margins instead of taking an aggressive approach to solving one of the team's biggest problems in recent seasons.
Of course, the trades for Pressly and Brasier prove Hoyer was not blind to the needs of the bullpen this offseason. Along those lines, as the Cubs officially announced the Brasier trade, they revealed the corresponding roster move.
The #Cubs today acquired RHP Ryan Brasier from the Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, LHP Rob Zastryzny has been designated for assignment.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 5, 2025
Welcome to Chicago, Ryan! pic.twitter.com/yFvjvwGivx
The Cubs no longer picking names out of a hat to solve bullpen woes
The hope is that Zastryzny will pass through waivers and the Cubs can outright him to Triple-A. Given that Zastryzny has Major League experience, he would seem like an ideal up-and-down reliever for the Cubs in 2025. Of course, the fact that the Brewers were unable to pass the veteran threw waivers earlier this season may not be an encouraging sign.
Regardless, the move does reflect a shift in Hoyer's approach to constructing a bullpen. Hoyer is no longer hoping to find a diamond in the rough when piecing together the Cubs' relief pitchers. Instead, Hoyer added established veterans who have given the Cubs, on paper, one of the strongest bullpens they have had in recent memory.