Two new Cubs players who are already paying off after the trade deadline

2. RHP Jose Cuas

The lone bullpen arm the Cubs added at the deadline was Jose Cuas. I was skeptical of the capital the Cubs forked over as they sent power-hitting outfielder Nelson Velazquez to the Kansas City Royals for the relatively unproven Cuas. But Cuas has yet to surrender an earned run in his first eight games with the Cubs. He has been shaky at times as he's walked eight batters in 7.2 innings, but he has been able to pitch out of the trouble and is emerging as one of manager David Ross's secondary options behind Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, and Mark Leiter Jr.

Cuas has had quite the journey getting here and it's cool to see him get a chance to prove himself on a contending team. After minor league stints with the Brewers and Diamondbacks, Cuas was unsigned in 2020 and he worked as a FedEx driver to make money. He signed a minor leagued deal with the Royals in 2021 and he had a 4.10 ERA over two seasons before the Cubs went out and got him. Hopefully the 29-year-old can continue his hot streak because the bullpen could always use a solid arm like his.

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