Cubs' quiet trade could mark the end for Ryan Pressly’s role

Entering the MLB trade deadline, it felt like Ryan Pressly's days in the Chicago Cubs' bullpen were coming to an end. After piecing together some success after his early-season struggles, Pressly has once again become a pitcher the Cubs can't expect to go into a situation with any amount of leverage. Pressly sports an ERA over 5 through his last 15 appearances, and it feels like the Cubs just replaced him with their trade for Andrew Kittredge of the Baltimore Orioles.

In landing Kittredge from the Orioles, the Cubs are giving up recent international signing, shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz. Collecting 113 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League this season, De La Cruz was hitting .262 with a 137 wRC+. At 17 years old, De La Cruz is a raw talent and the type of lottery ticket the Cubs should be willing to give up in a deal like this.

Like their trade for Michael Soroka and the impact on the starting rotation, it feels like Kittredge is the first of what is likely to be two additions to the bullpen before the deadline passes at 5 pm tonight.

In 30 appearances out of the Orioles' bullpen this season, Kittredge is sporting an ERA of 3.56, with under-the-hood numbers that match the production, 3.78 xERA and 3.56 FIP. One thing to note, Kittredge didn't make his 2025 debut until May, and he had a stinker on June 18 against the Texas Rangers, where he gave up 4 runs in an inning of work. If you removed that from his ledger, his ERA falls to under 2.50.

Cubs' Kittredge move speaks volumes about what they think of Ryan Pressly

Most importantly, Kittredge does what few others do in the Cubs' bullpen: he misses bats. Kittredge is striking out 25.2 percent of the hitters he has faced this season, and in terms of the Cubs' bullpen, only Daniel Palencia, Caleb Thielbar, and Drew Pomeranz have a higher rate. In comparison, Pressly is striking out 15.4 percent of the hitters he has faced this season.

In other words, knowing that their bullpen lacks relievers who can miss bats frequently, the Cubs added a reliever who has been doing that at an above-average clip this season. It's hard to see the flaws in that logic, but again, there is a need to see what other moves are in the works for the Cubs before the deadline passes.

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