First trade of Cubs offseason sees major need addressed while a fan favorite is DFA

The Chicago Cubs took a step toward solidfying their need in the bullpen as the team acquired right-handed relief pitcher Eli Morgan from the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday.

With the non-tender deadline on Friday, there likely will be a handful of moves before then as teams look to get value for players they may non-tender at the end of the week. Morgan likely fell into that category for the Guardians.

RELATED: Cubs add Owen Caissie to 40-man roster.

After making his Major League debut with the Guardians in 2021, Morgan had the best season of his career with Cleveland in 2024. In 32 appearances out of the Guardians' bullpen, Morgan posted a 1.93 ERA with 34 strikeouts against 11 walks.

Reshaping the Major League pitching staff is one of the top priorities for the Cubs this offseason. While the team still has hopes of adding an established starting pitcher, the bullpen was in desperate need of reinforcements. At first blush, Morgan could slide into the role that Drew Smyly had on the Cubs' pitching staff in recent seasons. Given his past experience as a starter, Morgan could eat multiple innings at a time while pitching out of the bullpen. Or, Morgan could be an option for the rotation in the event of injury.

In making room for Morgan on the 40-man roster, the Cubs have designated Patrick Wisdom for assignment. Wisdom, eclipsing the 20-home-run total in each of his first three full seasons with the Cubs between 2021 and 2023, fell out of favor this past season due to the emergence of Michael Busch at first base and the addition of Isaac Paredes at the trade deadline.

If not now, Wisdom's departure from the Cubs roster likely would have arrived on Friday. With a projected salary of $3MM for the 2025 season, Wisdom was a clear candidate to be non-tendered by the Cubs.

With Owen Caissie and Ben Cowles added to the Cubs' 40-man roster on Tuesday, it was a sign that a player like Wisdom was on borrowed time. Parting with veterans such as Wisdom was the expectation for the Cubs this offseason as they look to create opportunities at the Major League level for the position-player prospects they have in their farm system.