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Caleb Kilian's time with the Chicago Cubs was all but over last week after he was designated for assignment following the team's trade for Tom Cosgrove but his exit was officially confirmed on Sunday night.
After the Cubs' victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night, the team updated their transaction log with news that Kilian had been released. The Cubs could have outrighted Kilian to Triple-A after he cleared waivers, so it is somewhat surprising that the team decided to release their former top pitching prospect. Of course, Kilian could return to the Cubs on a minor-league deal but he likely will look for opportunities elsewhere first.
It would be easy to suggest that the Cubs should have kept Kilian in the organization following the news of Justin Steele being out for the remainder of the 2025 season, but he was never going to be a legitimate option to replace Steele at the Major League level.
The Kris Bryant trade didn't work out for the Cubs and that happens sometimes
Kilian's release is only further confirmation that the Kris Bryant trade turned out to be a bust for the Cubs' organization. It would be revisionist history to say now, in 2025, the Cubs made a mistake in trading Bryant to the San Franciso Giants as Kilian and Alexander Canario were promising prospects at the time. Unfortunately, it's a reminder that a prospect's success is not guaranteed at the Major League level. Keeping Kris Bryant wouldn't have been the answer either considering how quickly he has faded into obscurity with the Colorado Rockies.
The success of the Cubs' 2021 MLB Trade Deadline moves now lies with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Owen Caissie, and Kevin Alcantara. Considering the injury to Steele, one could suggest that one of Caissie or Alcantara will finish the 2025 season with another organization after the Cubs trade for a frontline starting pitcher. Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong figures to be an important member of the Cubs' core moving forward.