Cubs trade Andrew Kittredge back to Orioles in bizarre bullpen circle

There was expected to be a healthy amount of turnover in the Chicago Cubs' bullpen this offseason, and the makeover started on Tuesday. Reversing course from their trade just months before at the MLB trade deadline, the Cubs have traded relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations.

Entering the offseason, the expectation was that the Cubs weren't going to pick up the $9MM club option for Kittredge. The Orioles picking up the option now feels like a foregone conclusion. With Shota Imanaga's contract options also decided on Tuesday, the Cubs still have decisions to make with Colin Rea and Justin Turner before Thursday. Turner has a mutual option for 2026, while Rea has a $6MM club option.

Cubs make strange U-turn with Orioles in Andrew Kittredge trade

The Cubs paid a hefty price for Kittredge at the deadline in July, offering up international prospect Wilfri De La Cruz. Kittredge posted a 3.32 ERA down the stretch for the North Siders, emerging as one of Craig Counsell's trusted relievers during the team's playoff run.

It's an awkward trade. On one hand, credit the Cubs for getting something for Kittredge--even if it's just cash considerations--when the expectation was that he was going to become a free agent on Thursday. On the other hand, giving up De La Cruz for a rental relief pitcher now looks even more questionable.

As things stand, Daniel Palencia remains the only high-leverage relief pitcher expected to return to the Cubs' bullpen next season. Brad Keller, Caleb Thielbar, and Drew Pomeranz all have declared for free agency, and it would seem unlikely that the Cubs will rush to re-sign any of those three veteran pitchers.

Between the decision with Imanaga and the trade of Kittredge, the Cubs are ending the day with more financial flexibility than they had at the start of the offseason. They already had nearly $100MM to spend this winter before reaching the first level of the luxury tax. Tuesday's moves should give the front office more incentive to be aggressive this offseason.